Comments about ‘Bill that would have given Jordan School District $15 million is defeated’

If we really want better education get rid of the Unions and the defined benefit pension plans. The true colors of the herd mentality came out last night!

Where were the teachers and parents months ago? Its not like this wasn't known until just now. If you want to educate as many students that Utah has you have to be willing to pay for it. This was brought up about 6 months ago about raising taxes and the citizens said no more taxes! Well then you have to let some teacher and staff go - you can't have both. Put your money up or shut up.

It is so noble that the Superintendent took a 10% pay cut. He now is almost a public servant at $213,300. Move over Mother Theresa!

Teachers SHOULD go on strike! AND

Teachers and/or PTA SHOULD circulate recall petitions for the school board members and replace them and the district administrators with people that the citizens can have some sort of confidence in.

The administrators obviously aren't the "best and the brightest" so THEY should be the first to go!

Teachers, here's a hint for making more money; if you want to be paid like someone who works for a year, get a job where you work for a year.
Those of us who work 240-plus days every year are disgusted that you work 180 days and demand equal salaries. If I don't work those extra sixty days, why would my employer pay me for them?
The fact is, you knew in college that you were going to work fewer days than any of your classmates in other majors. It's one of the reasons behind your career choice. Choices have consequenses, and in this case, it means you get less money with all your time off.
Good luck with that strike thing. I look forward to the money the district will save while you strut for the TV cameras. Oh yeah, you won't do it anyway, who are you kidding?

Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and others have far better schools than the United States, free to all citizens. What they do NOT have are teacher unions that turn education funding into turf battles. It is this simple: The money follows the child, not the school district. If there is a big influx in the population of children, there is also a big influx of money. It costs less, teachers are paid more, parents are happier and students perform better. It is time to say goodbye to our outdated system of education funding.

Can the teachers come rally at my work, they are doing laf-offs too! Or maybe I can get the taxpayers to pay an additional $19 per month so I can have a free period and relax for 45 minutes...
Better yet, maybe I can get some students to hide behind!!

Welcome to the reality of the economy! If you want to show your worth, improve our kids test scores and grades. Make yourselves irreplaceable!!

I am an administrator in Jordan School District and my salary is less than my counterparts in some other Utah districts. I know that teachers work very hard because I was one. I went into administration so that I could be a student and teacher advocate. However, I am tired of hearing that the solution is to cut more administrators. I also work 11-12 hour days and twelve months out of the year. I went to school for nearly 8 years to advance my education and I have over 20 years in the organization promoting the teaching and learning which takes place in our District. I love the students and teachers that are in my care and I resent the comments that suggest my contribution is less than worthy of my compensation.

We work more than 180 days. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR RAISES! We are asking that class sizes not increase. That teachers not lose their jobs. Many lawyers, dentists, businessmen work less hours than we do. They take lavish vacations. Teachers spend their vacation time in class improving their teaching skills and gaining higher degrees. I had two weeks off last summer. I spent both weeks in class. These higher degrees are the only raises I have gotten from the district and they were almost taken away! 20/20 and others, check your facts before you stick you foot in "ye ole mouth!"

I had to take a $40000 pay cut just to keep my job. Is my work less? no Am I required to do more? Yes. This is what is going on in Business. Mr Newbold, Your District was cut by 41%. Your Responsibility was cut by 41%. Did your Paycheck take a 41% cut? I doubt it. In fact you volunteer 10%. I would love to only give up $10000 and have less to do....But that is not the way the real world works and you in JSD need to think it more like a business and less like a requirement. Canyons vote was because you think so little of the people that pay you. In business you would be bankrupt to treat your customers like that. The Canyons Vote was a referendum of these policies and apparently you didn't learn from that.

Obviously, you are NOT working right now! My husband never has time to go online when he is at work and he makes much less than you, is an administrator, and has a huge budget to administer along with many people to supervise. He does NOT take tax dollars for his job. Why do you think you should earn more than the governor of the state of Utah when many taxpayers who can barely afford to pay their rent are paying your salary?

The $30 million shortfall amount to less than 7% of the $446 total budget (budget, page 6).

It also lists that 69% goes to instruction and 31% goes to support services.

Perhaps the most interesting figure is that it lists $6,184 per pupil expenditures (budget, page 10).

Do the math. A class of 30 students = $185,520. If the teacher is paid $40,000 that leaves $145,000. If the teacher is paid $70,000 per year, that leaves $115,000 - for the room, books (yeah, right), and all other costs associated with teaching. Schools cost money but the ratio of total expenditures to wages paid to the teachers seems totally imbalanced.

The problem seems to be extremely poor management of the available money. Maybe the old expression, "A fish rots from the head down" is true after all.

a strike will do nothing but get you fired. Teachers have zero leverage because there is an oversupply of teachers in Utah right now. Lots of college grad's looking for work and a school would love to replace a 35K teacher with a 25k teacher.

Our tax dollars need to go to students and teachers, not to bloated districts administrators and their bloated staffs. JSD has 18 high paid curriculum development staff members. Cut the staff by 2/3, put a few teachers and parents on the team, and put the saved money into the classrooms.

to schools if they saw that their contributes were going to students and not to bureaucrats, who have the time to surf the web while they're working.

The argument about the lawyers, dentists and businessman is a moot point. They are not getting their salaries from the tax payers. if you want the same rights they have, then become one. Otherwise your contract states what you are entitled to. Remember, it is a contract and can be voided.

Year round school? I'm up for it! That way I can make more money and you won't have anything to gripe about. I've got no problem with teaching for 12 months a year. Are you up for paying for year round teachers?

cantslodown610 | 12:05 p.m.

unfortunately if many of our teachers took a $40000 pay cut, they would be working for nothing.

I support Rep Bird's bill and hope it becomes law. Then all the canyons vote will have accomplished is to have added one more layer of administrative costs to those who selfishly voted for it.

Roy,

YOu obviously know nothing of the countries you just listed. Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium ALL have unions for teachers. In Sweden joining a union is mandatory for most professions.

' am an administrator in Jordan School District and my salary is less than my counterparts in some other Utah districts. " Care to but dollars to that are you only making 200,000 while others are making 250,000?