BTW , How could that shill Severson sit in and negotiate this agreement, then run to the paper with a comment llike that? We need to get people like himm off the board, what on gods green earth is he doing? Haven't you ever heard of good faith? You board members wonder why most teachers in this community view you as VILLANS! Run for public office like assembly or senate if you want to save tax dollars, leave our district alone, please!

I love idiots, you have to. I have commented for a couple of years now on the fund 10 balance, nobady has anything to say. I have gone back and forth with Sodemann on this issue with NO answers. The district continues to show over 27 million in this fund that was built on the HEALTH of the teachers in the district. Now when it comes down to it , this awful school board is pissing and moaning about a meager raise, really? The health care costs nationwidw are increasing, but that does not mean the districts costs are. The fund 10 balance was created to offset that. Yet it still stands at near 30 million dollars, and some want more in premiums from the teachers?
I agree with the new Janesville slogan "My life sucks , so yours should too." Perfect. The only Rhetoric being spun here is by the Sandmans and froggers, two of the biggest idiots in here. Comparing our education system to that of China and India? Is that symbolic of how high your hopes are for future generations? So what are you saying whats bankrupting the district are the breakfast programs? If parents have to get up and go at 5 am , or are having trouble affording breakfast for their kids , we should let them starve? Maybe that is China/India ed system. Thats why I live here. That is the biggest heap of steamin horse crap I have ever heard, no points you make are well put, I simply believe some of you tax whiners should redirect your anger to the city council which is almost as stupid and evil as the school board. Why are none of you teacher haters whining about the 2 million just approved for the ice arena? I am guessing if we have money for that , there should be no problem covering a 2 million dollar budget gap, right? Why in economic times that are sooooo tough for some, why in the hell are we spending money on ice arenas and softball diamonds? Wake up dummies! Leave the teachers alone, go after the people really ruining this city, the city council, and the school board.

Frogger, if you're talking about Williams Bay, that is the total tax, not the increase. From the article:"Williams Bay’s school tax would initially increase to $6.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s 65 cents more than the current rate and far less than the state average of $9.15."

The education system in this country is a joke. The book who's title is The deliberate dumbing down of America is on the internet . read it and you will get very angry about what is going on in this country.

Thanks, iteach. My son goes to a school where a teacher was named teacher of the year for the district, but you don't hear anything about it in the Gazette. I don't care to hear why the Gazette didn't report it yet, or if the district hasn't given them the information. The Gazette could just ask the district for the information so they could report it. Either way, as usual, good news doesn't sell as well as reporting negative news IMO!

Wonder how it feels to be one of the board members that gave so much time to negotiating, to only be let down by some of your fellow colleagues on the board. The future of our board and district does not look good under these circumstances, in my opinion.

Thank you for pointing that out, Allfor1. It is clear some posters here do not realize that through arbitration (the next step if this is voted down), odds are the costs would in fact likely increase, as you said. Negotiating a tentative agreement in good faith is important, and it seems that a few are undermining their colleagues' hard work for some other reason. Those concerns should have been voiced to them throughout the process. Too many tax payer dollars have already been spent on the hours of negotiating. Many of us have had a great start to the school year, and this headline was, to say the least, a bit disheartening in the midst of it all.

What a slap in the face by a few board members to their own negotiating team. To make comments like Mr. D. Severson has, makes me sick. Principals, District Administration, and School Board Members have negotiated with the JEA and worked on a settlement for over a year. It seems like a few members' personal agendas weren't met (imo) and now they cut down the work of their fellow members. If for some stupid reason the board votes down this contract, you not only will have a very angry teaching staff, but an unhappy group from both sides that spent so much time and resources. The next step would be arbitration and the teachers would gain more money, but lose contract language. Instead of a freeze for last year they could get 2% back paid and 2% for each additional year in the contract. How is that better?

Sandman, I see your point. By the intelligence in your response, it is sadly obvious that you have been failed by the education system.

MooPoo - I see you're still avoiding the question.

welcome to Janesville where the new motto should be---we spend only what we take in (maybe a less---omg gasp )

Welcome to Janesville, where the new motto is "My life sucks so yours has to suck, too."

Justintimberlakedrools...you just don't get it.

Sandman "Cowboy up and skip the raise (and the rhetoric) for year." We just did...the 2009-2010 school year.

sandman- well said!!
How could you possibly learn in a school with OUT a 72 million upgrade???

I cannot find the article from a different school that mentioned ONLY a $6.47 ish PER $1000 assessed increase in your taxes for the school system. Sorry but HOLY crap!! That is NOT just a little. That could be over $1000 more a year for some people.

Is this "just a little bit 1%-2% " raise that we are speaking of here??????? NO I CANNOT AFFORD THIS and JTR it isn't missing a meal at olive garden once a month. That is A LOT of groceries!!Maybe the teachers need to start packing their lunch like the rest of us!!!!

Just say no to a raise on this contract. Sorry teachers, but I'm very tired of the level of rhetoric, slogans, lobbying and campaign contributions by WEAC, its members and lackies.
Yes, it's a tough job and much is expected of you. Yes, it's changed over the years and it's not for everyone. But get over it--there a plenty of others who would love to give you job a try and put there all into it.
I assure you we WILL notice this unplanned expenditure on our tax bills, and I'm well past sick of getting every school-related issue eventually shoved down taxpayers throats on the ridiculous claim of "kids are our future."
Do you think that they have pools and central air or "feed my kid breakfast and lunch" programs in China or India? NO! But they have kids who are hungry to learn and realize that it's a great opportunity to get a foothold in the world, not just another way to warehouse and entertain 'em for five days a week so the immature parents don't have to search out and pay for a baby sitter!
Cowboy up and skip the raise (and the rhetoric) for a year. It'll do you good, and show a little compassion for the others in this community!

Accountant

By the way I did get nice raises in the years the teachers didn't. I also work for a company that is down over 50% in business since 2007 and I'm still getting raises, although they are the 2% variety. My company appreciates what we do and try to get us compensation for it. That is exactly opposite of what we have in Janesville, we have a community(like an employer) that doesn't value what a good education can bring. You wouldn't be able to sit here and read and type without them, so I guess they are fairly important. Just saying.

Here we go!!! Same old crap from the same old blue collar town. People, you will hardly notice this on your tax bill. You're all acting like they are trying to take an extra $1000 from us. That simply is not the case so quit dramatizing everything.

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Stop with the school referendum of the past. It passed when times were much better and it isn't anyone's fault that the bottom fell out of the economy.

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This city doesn't have a lot of jobs anymore due to many things, cheaper labor elsewhere, the state not working with industry etc.... There is one thing that could help bring people into the community and that is a great school system. Businesses and families look at that when deciding to relocate. If it is one of the few remaining things in town that could help draw people or business in why not make it as great as you can? Pay them what they are worth, which is much more than they are currently getting paid.

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FYI: I spoke to a few teachers and they were more than fine taking a pay freeze. Sometimes the union leaders idea's are not always in alignment with the union they represent. Keep that in mind before you hate on all of them.

justintimblakerules: Your salary increased by 85 percent in the last 10 years?! That is definitely very unusual I would think. What kind of work do you do?

Mr Parr do you ever see all the FORECLOSURES in the janesville paper everyday? just stick it to us.

SarahB1 - Yes, I do remember getting large raises. From 2000 to 2007 I received anywhere from 7 - 10% annual pay increases with the same company. From 2008 - 2010 I received a 5% raise each year. Just because you didn't see them doesn't mean nobody else did.

Bealab writes, " ... Remember when the economy was soaring and most people got a HUGE raise ..." I keep reading statements such as this on most articles re: teachers pay. I don't know about most people in Janesville, but I do know that I've never gotten a HUGE pay increase ... and I have been working for more than 30 years. Does anyone else here remember getting HUGE pay raises in better economic times?

mooshoo - I'm not sure where you could get that from my post. It's pretty typical for someone on the defensive to answer a question with another question.

What are you saying Justine Timberlake, paying property taxes makes you self-employed?

Perhaps more members of the school board should have been on the negotiating team if they felt so strongly about the results.

Remember when the economy was soaring and most people got a HUGE raise? If I remember correctly, teachers didn't even get a cost of living increase. Knock it off Janesville! You're making a big deal about a 1-2% raise? Give me a break!

"One should also remember that neither the JEA, nor the School Board are spending their own money. It's awfully easy to spend other people's money, but as Margaret Thatcher famously said, "...eventually you run out of other people's money." We've hit that point."

When did teachers stop paying property taxes?

Again, nowhere on this page does anyone suggest teachers take pay cuts. In addition to that, budget cuts have nought to do with negotiating a pay contract with the JEA - they are 2 separate things. If one has to cut, one cuts overhead first. If one is the unable to meet a projected cost increase, well, then it is what it is, one cannot spend money one does not have and one does not increase that cost. With respect to what may, or may not be the costs in any other district that is meaningless - they are not picking up our tab. We are.

JP,
Quoted from your post on Feb 24 "If there have to be budget cuts next year, then take it out of the administrators hides and if they don't like it then too bad, they can quit and see if they can get another job"

Jp,
That is the most ignorant logic I have seen on this page yet. Why don't you do some research and compare what costs are for other districts per student. THen you have an argument or maybe not. While you are at it why don't you compare how much you pay in taxes for schools in Janesville to comparable sized towns in the state. Then you for sure won't have an argument and maybe will be a little more appreciative of what you do have. Low taxes.

What is true about the $27 million is that all of it came from taxpayers.

From the Gazette on Aug 31, 2010. "-- Withdrawal from what has been called the district’s checking account, also known as the Fund 10 balance. The balance includes money not designated for specific spending. The board has reserved much of the $27 million balance to cover unforeseen operating expenses and insurance claims, but the board could change its policy."
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Isn't that a bit much for "unforeseen operating expenses and insurance claims ?? Most of this money came from money budgeted for insurance as part of the teachers' pay package. When there was a surplus at the end of any given year, none was returned to the teachers. Now this money sits in this fund accumulating interest and will continue to do so. When the insurance expenses exceed the budgeted amount (rarely), they pay it from the fund and then ask more from the teachers for the next contract. Seems to me that a 27 million dollar fund is a very nice surplus to keep stockpiling.

Nowhere on this page does it appear that anyone said anything about pay cuts. As for Japanese cars, they've got nought to do whatsoever with this topic. The fact remains that at this time there is no extra money to go around. It's awfully easy to spend other people's money but the question must be asked when is enough enough? Let's look at it this way: according to the Janesville Public School's own website they've got 10,000 students. According to a Gazette article they've got a $114 million dollar annual budget. By simple division that comes to $11,400 per student per year. That is enough. It is more than enough. If it can't be made to work on that amount then perhaps it's time to find people who can make it work.

One should also remember that neither the JEA, nor the School Board are spending their own money. It's awfully easy to spend other people's money, but as Margaret Thatcher famously said, "...eventually you run out of other people's money." We've hit that point.

So what? None of the foregoing changes the fact that there is no extra money at this time.

please remember that teachers did take a pay freeze, all last year they worked on an expired contact. the jea has agreed for no back pay for these teachers as well, that is going to save a lot of money. i believe dr. schulte explained that in the paper on sunday.

Look, here's the deal: in this economy it would not be out of line at all to grant no salary increase whatsoever. If we cannot get a handle on costs now then when ever will we? If some folks are unhappy with that they could do what unhappy employees always have done: seek other employment where they will be happier. We just got done spending $72 million on the High Schools so really nothing more to go around at this time. Sorry, but the answer should be 'no.' Sometimes 'no' is a very good word.

It seems that the district is on the hook for the insurance expenses. Isn't that where a lot of the fund balance came from? That's the risk of self-insuring; some years you "make" money, some years you don't. Since the extra $$ came from teachers, it doesn't seem unfair the the fund balance should be used for the extra salary expenses.

Twinkie,
The district has made millions (my guess 8+) over the last 15 or so years on the teachers health care. Last year they were 7% UNDER the amount set aside for claims, the district kept that money. Now the company the district hires to manage their insurance says that since we had one bad month they need to raise rates. It's all just a smoke screen by an incompetent advising company. The district still makes money off the teachers part of the insurance fund.

the teachers need less expensive health insurance plan or more out of pocket. they can afford it.

Looks like Severson has alot of faith in the other members of the board who were actually on the negotiation team. Maybe he should have sat at the table instead of hiding and then putting his two cents in the paper. He acts as if he had no idea of what was going to happen and all of a sudden this tentative agreement is thrown in front of him. Give me a break. Just trying to save face with the public again.

Yeah I'll probally take some heat for this opinion, But I feel If the school board wouldn't have approved adding all those new fandangled additions and improvements, We probally wouldn't be in such a financial mess and would be able to accomadate the teachers who work hard. Jmo.

Is it ever?