| Message: 65 of 200 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT by: SRASD TEACHER 10/06/00 05:24 pm THANK YOU MR. PRATT FOR YOUR SHOW OF SUPPORT. JUST ONE SUGGESTION WHEN YOU SAID THE BOARD MEMBERS LOOKED AT US AND VOTED NO IT SHOULD REALLY SAY THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT US BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE ONE OF THEM MADE EYE CONTACT WITH US. HMMMMMM... Message: 66 of 200 Re: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT by: RPratt 10/06/00 07:52 pm You're very welcome! Ok. I get your point. It would have been more descriptive to have said: "Mr. King, district solicitor, nervously counted teachers with his astonished eyes, while the Board members averted their cowardly eyes from those who only ask for respect." Good luck and keep the faith! RPratt Message: 67 of 200 Re: Fed up with high teacher salaries!! by: Joe Public 10/07/00 09:50 pm Just like our Board, I'm fed up with teachers and their huge salary demands. Many people around here can't afford the taxes we pay now! If it was up to me, I'd pay them baby sitting wages. I'd be glad to give them $3 an hour out of my own pocket - and I'm only going to pay them for 5 hours - no lunch, coffee breaks or planning periods. That would be $15 a day - every parent can afford that. It's cheaper than private daycare. Now how many in a classroom? Let's say 20. That's $15 x 20 = $300 a day. And since they only work 180 days a year (I'm not paying for all those vacations!) $300 x 180 = $54,000 Now I know lots of teachers will complain that they have advanced degrees and are more than babysitters. OK. Maybe to be fair, they could get minimum wage, maybe read the kids a story instead of just babysitting. I'll round it to $5 an hour, times five hours, times 20 children....$500 a day times 180 days.That's $90,000...UH??? Wait a minute. Let's get some perspective here. Baby-sitting wages are too good for these teachers. Maybe our Board should just go ahead and settle!!! Message: 68 of 200 Wondering by: Miss Curious 10/07/00 10:59 pm Is there any truth to the rumor that the Board renewed Dr. Spinella's contract for 3 years in July 2000? And then demoted him, etc. in August 2000? If so, this would be typical of the actions and knee-jerk reactions taken by this Board. So now we have a teacher's aide (with a PhD) making $68,000 a year. I am also wondering how the teacher's aides who make $9,000 a year feel about that. And while I am wondering--why are these people on the Board when they obviously are against the public education system, teachers, and students? One more question, are the students in Harrisville able to drink the water yet? Show some decency, settle with the teachers, and take care of business in a responsible and humane manner. It probably wouldn't hurt to have some goals and plans for improving the school district, other than trying to make negative headlines in the Butler Eagle. Message: 69 of 200 Re: Wondering by: RPratt 10/08/00 11:27 am Hello Miss Curious! Our Board is always leaving a trail of puzzling evidence! I don't know if he got a new contract in July or not. Anybody out there know? Dr. Spinella is indeed a $68,000 aide? Certain Board members,in my opinion, (Adams, Youngman, and Christmann) are on the Board to do everything they can to destroy public education. In doing so, they can then prove to you and me that public education doesn't work. It's scientific! In the mean time, while collecting the numbers, they are doing their best to spend as little as possible, which of course, only adds to the destruction. No, the students at Har-Mer can't drink the water. Our Board has delayed the renovations there and at the MS, so those expenditures would come during these contract talks. Why, you ask? So they can declare that we can't afford to give the teachers a fair salary when the taxpayers face the finacial burden of renovations. Call me insane, but we are witnessing the calculated destruction of our educational system. Proving that our system doesn't work IS the long term plan, and not paying our teachers a fair wage is a goal to complete that plan (among others). One of the mandates of Chapter 4 is to develop a long term strategic plan. Teachers and community members are to be involved with the planning process. Of course our board, with the help of our attorney, rejected Chapter 4. Seems like our attorney helped Karns City reject Chapter 4, too, but that's another story. "A threat to local control", the board cried. Of course it is. If anyone besides the Board is involved, it becomes a threat. I wonder what the State would think about the Board's REAL strategic plan? First, take control of the curriculum - reject any ideas teachers/educational experts have in favor of fiscal and cultural conservatism. This way the public will believe we have a bunch of incompetent teachers. Next, throw out all of the administrators (well, some are staying for lots of different reasons....) - try to attract those who think like the board by advertising the Superintendent and Asst.Superintendent position on the Core Knowledge Web site (Hey, did you know we have official core knowledge schools in this district? I read it on their website, it must be true). Then make sure the board themselves interview All new employees. Then delay school renovations for three years. Such brilliant timing! That way when the teachers' contract comes up, the Board can poor mouth and say that they don't have the money to pay them. Hey, teachers don't work nearly as hard as those poor factory workers we'd have to tax...A raise? Those greedy teachers. I don't think so. Lest you think these ramblings are the product of a paranoid personality..... As Mr. Adams said to State Rep. Frank Lagrotta at a tax hearing last year, "One has to use an unpleasant word like 'insanity' to describe the mindless shoveling of more money to an institution that has failed so dismally." he commented further, "in less than a lifetime, we've gone from fair and equitable taxation to outright confiscation." So what would the State do if our Board sumbitted their real strategic plan, a plan that leads to the destruction of public ed in Slippery Rock? Maybe it's time our Board started their own charter school, since kingdoms are illegal in a democracy.... In the words of Dennis Miller, then again, I could be wrong, that's just my opinion! RPratt Message: 70 of 200 Re: Re: Fed up with high teacher salari by: SRASD Teacher 10/09/00 08:45 pm Loved your mesage joepublic Message: 71 of 200 Re: Wondering by: Miss Curious 10/10/00 07:02 am Don't school board members take an oath to uphold the state constitution or something? And wouldn't that include obeying the law? And if you have objections to that law, working within the system to change it? In ways that would not be harmful to your community schools--the same community schools you were elected to serve? I assume lawful means of change would be something other than a pouty statement of "No! Don't wanna! You're not the boss of me!" I hope the citizens are paying attention--election day is almost here. Thank you for your reply--very illuminating. Message: 72 of 200 Oops--hold that thought... by: Miss Curious 10/10/00 07:07 am I see by your election information that the opportunity to elect different school board members will not come up until 2001. However, the deadline for filing is February 2001--it would be great to see some candidates who support public education, teachers, and students. Message: 73 of 200 Free Speech/Free Assembly by: Outraged Citizen 10/12/00 10:19 am I hear that the Parent Teacher group at Har-Mer has been forbidden to use the school building for a meeting to discuss the fact finders report and the potential teachers' strike unless Board members and their attorneys are there. What could they be afraid of? What do they think would happen? Loss of total control? Sympathy for the teachers? I guess the Board believes it's time for hardball and dirty tricks...Can't wait to see what happens next - and I can't wait to see what happens in the next election. Message: 74 of 200 give them a circus... or a TV by: Jacob Riis 10/13/00 11:14 am What is all this concern about curriculum, quality teachers and building a future? The three "R-s" of the 40's and 50's are all people need to build a life around TV the three "B-s": Beer, babes, and brawls. Let's face it, the core point is, unless you have aspirations of being a factory owner, dentist, funeral home director, or college prof, your future doesn't demand much more than discounted out-moded textbooks, and "babysitters" for teachers. Besides, with more education, people are generally less willing to settle for 5$/hour factory jobs. And Sheetz might have to raise their pay from $7.20/hour. What was it the ruling French once said... Message: 75 of 200 How much of a raise did you get last yea by: No Name 10/13/00 11:48 pm How many people out there in the SRASD expect to come up with a $10,000+ raise over the next five years? How many of you got $2,500 last year? Or will get that much this year? I think it is time for teachers and bleeding hearts to get off their high horses and realize that MOST of the teachers are getting paid MORE than they are earning. They spend their time figuring out how to get out of doing the work, finding ways to get out of the classrooms, deciding where to park their BMWs (YES, check out the teacher's parking lots!!!), and complaining because the doors are locked and they can't get back in after sneaking out of their classrooms for a cigarette. I believe that most of us get about as much respect as we deserve and as much respect as we display toward others. As for Spinella. He does not have a contract (only protection under the administrators compensation plan and now, the infamous teacher's union). He has been a complete waste of taxpayers dollars from day one. But try to eliminate that waste and watch the union stand up for him (these would be the same teachers who spent last year laughing at him behind his back). Message: 76 of 200 Re: How much of a raise did you get last by: Worthy 10/14/00 02:22 am Well, actually, I got a $5,000 raise this year but that's another story. If Spinella does not have a contract, why can't this "waste" be eliminated without causing all of this waffling, confusion, humiliation--and probably just a bit of disruption for the class he was supposed to be teaching? Problems with specific teacher performance should be addressed by the administration. They are the ones accountable for classroom observations and evaluations. It is not impossible to fire a teacher with tenure; it only requires that you follow procedures, do your paperwork, and document substandard performance. It doesn't seem fair to punish the good teachers because you have issues with some or don't approve the type of car they drive. Communities used to be able to require that teachers remain unmarried and board with families in the district, chop wood, haul water, and fire up the school stove in the morning. Of course, that was 100 years ago. You realize, don't you, that the unsatisfactory teachers you complain of will be the only ones left? The good ones will get jobs in other districts where they can get some respect and a decent raise...and then you will have what you deserve. Message: 77 of 200 Upset! by: Proud Mama 10/14/00 07:48 am All I have to say is I hope for the sake of my childs education that there is no strike. I myself went through a strike when I was in 7th grade at Armstrong School District. It went on from September 3-November 12. I went to school until June 30 plus had to go on Saturdays for 5 different days. I don't want something as outrageous as this to happen to my child. She deserves her education and shouldn't have to sacrifice her summer vacation for one. I feel for the teachers who want a raise and benefits but try and work with the school board to get what you need. According to the Butler Eagle in last nights paper the avg teacher makes 45,000 in SRSD. Well my husband and I both work fulltime jobs and we only make about 36,000 combined! I love my job as a bank teller and I feel I am under paid for all the work I do but we sure can't strike to get what we want. They would just replace me with someone who they could pay less. All I ask is think before you make this strike happen and ruin this year for all the students of the district. Message: 78 of 200 Re: How much of a raise did you get last by: RPratt 10/14/00 03:17 pm Hello No Name. Thanks for the insightful info concerning Spinella. Could you explain the compensation plan that you mentioned? If the Board made him a teacher, why shouldn't he be "protected" by the teachers association? Ya know, during a school board meeting in the recent past, I heard Bill Adams make the same exact comment concerning cars parked in the parking lots. Seems he too has "Beamer" envy. Perhaps the BMW belongs to the new superintendent, who I hear will be making $101,000 or 7% MORE then the state average, while our teachers in this district make 7% BELOW the state average! Hmmm. More puzzling evidence! RPratt Message: 79 of 200 Driving Directions by: Amerigo Vespucci 10/15/00 11:00 am I was distressed to read (Butler Eagle, 10/15/00) that Dr. Duryea has been trying to reach the teachers for negotiation since Oct. 3. Please pass this information along to him as soon as possible-- Travel south on Main Street in Slippery Rock until you reach the traffic light at Keister Road (you will see the University on your left). Turn left at the light and go straight for about 2/10 of a mile. On your right, you will see two large buildings marked Slippery Rock School District. These are the Middle (the black and white one) and the High (the brick one) Schools. Teachers may be found there between 7:30 and 3:00 (and in many cases, earlier and later). Also, you may call direct by dialing 794-2960. It is not necessary to use the area code if you are calling from Slippery Rock. Slippery Rock Elementary School is located north on Main Street, Rt. 258, I believe. Message: 80 of 200 Re: How much of a raise did you get last by: high horse 10/15/00 11:01 am You cannot put a pricetag on what dedicated teachers do for the children in their care. They teach manners, respect, love for life, how to cooperate with others, how to be patient, how to cheer for another's victory, how to hurt for another's sorrow...This district has MORE than its share of dedicated teachers. Bill Adams needs to attend third grade again. Maybe he'll learn what he should have been taught years ago. The heart of teaching is teaching with the heart. It goes beyond facts, figures, and "core knowledge" (the Fall of the Roman Empire in third grade...be serious!). The majority of the teachers in this district nurture the children and build self-esteem IN ADDITION to teaching facts and figures. Dedicated teachers are gifted individuals who deserve every penny they earn and then some! Message: 81 of 200 Re: Upset! by: Imateacherlover 10/15/00 11:02 am If you have attended any meetings or been at any board meetings you know then that the teachers DO NOT want to go on strike. The teachers have been trying to negotiate with the board of education but it is the BOARD that you elected who is choosing not to negotiate with the teachers. Concerned for the students welfare? GET INVOLVED! Go to a board meeting and express your concerns, call a school board member, talk to others in your community and GET INVOLVED! As per the Butler Eagle's article please keep in mind that in order to make $45,000 you must be a teacher in THIS district for 16 years. Many of our teachers have their master's degrees plus. If the teacher's do not get the compensation they deserve then they will leave and be replaced with less competent teachers just like you will be replaced by someone just to save a buck. Do you want your child taught by an employee who was acquired for the lowest possible wages? Think about it! Message: 82 of 200 Re: Driving Directions by: MAD122 10/16/00 11:53 pm That has to be the best post I've seen yet!!! Maybe Dr. Duryea will get the hint... Absolutely Insane by: In a state of disbelief 10/17/00 06:14 pm I guess that I would like to know what ever happened to the "representatives" voting the way their constituents wanted. This has become a playground for personal interest. You can add on to Har-mer all you want to, but you cannot find a place big enough for some people's egos. This is not a game. Then I read that Duryea is disappointed because they have been trying to negotiate. Let me put it nicely, HOGWASH!!! How can you negotiate when board members do not show for meetings, or refuse to talk at all. Message: 84 of 200 Are you lining the pockets of several sc by: it's a free for all ( board members?) 10/17/00 06:43 pm If you attended last night's board meeting you know that even the public can't change the minds of several high horsed, ego blown, ignorant board members towards doing the right thing for the Slippery Rock School District teachers and the students they educate. My question is ......how can these men refuse to approve the fact finders report when they themselves make "BIG" money. Have you had your teeth cleaned by Dr. Dureyea lately? Do you have magnet men on your refrigerator at home? Do you pay tuition at Slippery Rock University for your children? Well, if you answered yes to any of the above....remember that you have just lined the pockets of Dr. Dureyea, Dr. Christmann, Dr. Watson, and the millionaire Mr. Adams. Think about that when the teachers go on strike and you are struggling to pay child care costs, or when your child is sweating at Slippery Rock and Harmer Elementary schools in the middle of June. Do these people care about your children as they sit their counting the money from their paychecks? Just something to think about! Message: 85 of 200 Re: How much of a raise did you get last by: boardgoer 10/17/00 08:33 pm Must have been the new superintendent's BMW in the district parking lot. After all $101,700 does go a long way. Message: 87 of 200 Re: Communisim revisited by: a lowly peasant 10/17/00 10:12 pm Perhaps it's time for a revolution. Let's continue to unite after this strike is settled and overthrow the board. Mutiny! Look at the Kuamontang & Mao in 1940's China. Education became the elite and were persecuted. The peasants had an uprising, they beleived that everyone should be equal, completely equal, Mao knew that education created thinking and dissention. Then the peasants realized they had to be educated and so had to rebuild their schools. Let's take back our educational system. We're being treated like the peasants, the board is the "party", controling us as we sit by and let these few people destroy our school district. Even the presidential debates are focused on education, how can a community sleep if the ship is going down, grab the lifeboats!!!! Get the 18 year olds to vote, call your neighbors, have your minister talk in Church about the need to be involved. The crime is being committed by Volunteers!!!!! Let's volunteer to stop the crime, let's take back our schools......Take out your appointment book, put in 1 Monday a month, think about your great ideas, you just might be great board material, this job is not for men only, this job is for mom's, single adult's, retired educaters, try to consider the opportunity to make a difference, Volunteer. Message: 88 of 200 Public Support by: RPratt 10/18/00 11:40 am Just wanted everyone to know that there seems to be a massive amount of public interest in the situation we find ourselves in. Yesterday this site received a record 275 visits. It's great to see this kind of involvement. The following is a list of this sites number of visits for the last 6 months! May 344 visits June 428 visits July 454 visits Aug 869 visits Sept 559 visits Oct up to the 18th 805 visits! I want to thank you guys for all the support! I would like to remind people that I do have a mailing list. I use it to send out updates and important info. If you would like to be on this mailing list, just send me your email address. WE ARE ROCK SOLID! Thanks again for your support! RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 89 of 200 Re: Ever consider getting a parent group by: REVOLT! (ether?) 10/18/00 07:41 pm Seems to me that a revolt by the community is needed if the school board is to keep the children's best interest at heart. A parent group should be organized to stop outrageous and expensive programs that are being shoved down our teachers and eventually our childrens throats. This has worked in other school districts and should be considered here at SRASD. Message: 90 of 200 Bad to the Core by: Empowered 10/18/00 08:21 pm Check this out: http://www.pde.psu.edu/issini/edempfacts.pdf Where is our new Superintendent from? Message: 91 of 200 Re: Bad to the Core by: Miss 10/19/00 12:38 am This is who we're paying $101,000 a year? This person comes from an area that ranks second in students failing? I'd like to know how this happened! Maybe the board will answer this...oh, I forgot, it's the Slippery Rock Board. (I guess we're all a little cynical, right Mr. Ciochetto?) Message: 92 of 200 board didn't have prof negotiator by: concerned parent 10/19/00 10:06 am I heard that board member, Mr. Giesler, has been saying that the reason he didn't vote for the fact finding report is because the board didn't have a professional negotiator like the teachers did. Is this true? One other thing. I heard at the meeting at Har-Mer that this core knowledge thing might be a a research project. why would our board be doing research on our children? Message: 93 of 200 Re: board didn't have prof negotiator by: Aren't you sick of the lies? 10/19/00 07:19 pm Mr. Giesler is so misinformed. The teachers and the board paid for the same fact finder. Each side paid equal amounts and now they want the public to think that they didn't have a professional negotiator. Whine , whine, whine, get out the crying towel. Another fact the public needs to be aware of is that Mr. Youngman and Mr. Angerett were the only two board members on the negotiating team. Confused by Dr. Duryea's recent comments in the Butler Eagle? I was......where has he and the rest of the school board been since negotiating started in January? It has also be rumored that a certain board member is pushing core knowledge on the teachers and students because he could use this information to profit both himself and the university. It's getting to the point where the public doesn't know what to believe....with the bombardment of lies told by the school board who knows when they are telling the truth. Got your shovel ready.... I'm sure more will follow! Message: 94 of 200 Re: My Anonymous Message Board by: Anonymous 10/20/00 09:11 am The morning kindergarten students at Moraine<br>Elementary received the<br>same Press Release, but none of<br>the other children in<br>the school did. The teachers<br>sent a letter home the<br>next day saying to disregard<br>the letter, it was<br>unauthorized. I don't think<br>there is one person in this school<br>district on the<br>same page. Message: 95 of 200 Re: Press Release by: RPratt 10/20/00 09:44 am Thanks for the info! I agree, no one seems to be on the same page, cept maybe this one, I hope! RPratt Message: 96 of 200 Re: Press Release by: Disillusioned 10/21/00 12:05 pm How would you like your job and future determined by this process? How about your standing in the community where you have gone to church, raised your kids, and tried to do a good job for twenty years? There are no winners in this situation. If board members leave before this process is over, then where will we be? And how about the new super and her agenda for the future? I guess the next two days will determine a lot of our fates. Thanks for providing a forum, Mr. Pratt. Message: 97 of 200 Re: disillusioned. by: RPratt 10/21/00 07:51 pm Well, I think the collective bargaining process is a good thing. But, the situation in our district sux. You are right, this is a "no win" situation. When this is all over, I hope we can all still speak in the Eagle, at our children's Bday parties, church etc. It is truly sad that our board has chosen to create an adversarial relationship with the public and the teachers. Truth is, they have chosen to follow the advice of Mr. King, their attorney, and say as little as possible to ANYONE, to avoid liability. This has led to zero communication. This board has forgotten that they are accountable to the community, this includes everyone! After attending nearly every board meeting in the last two years I feel I can speak to this phenomenon. I have seen citizens told to shutup and sit down. I have heard them tell the public they didn't have to explain their votes. A citizen speaks and asks questions and they just sit there like bumps on a log! They do nothing. They can't pass policies, we are still waiting (2 yrs) for revisions at a cost of thousands. The renovations are behind at least 2 years. They aren't even planning for growth. They can't approve new curriculum. They can't even buy books. Administrators leave screaming if they leave at all. My child has had four principals in 6 years! Core Knowledge and the hiring of the new Super is all designed to "teacher proof" the curriculum ( after all, according to Bill Adams, teachers don't have any business developing curriculum, calling them "amateurs"! Parents don't have a say. No one has a say. Just nine white guys have say and look where we are! I could go on and on. Where would we be if they resign before the teachers have a contract? THE SAME PLACE WE ARE RIGHT NOW! After years of watching the slow destruction of the system and the arrogance of these guys, I can confidently say A LOT BETTER OFF TOO! The sooner these guys leave the better for everyone. Sure, it might delay the contract and the much needed renovations. But, we would be that much closer to getting back our schools and uniting our community. Remember, as our board forgets, this is bigger then a teacher contract, bigger then renovations. This is about our children. Throw the @!#$%$# out. Just my opinion. RPratt Message: 98 of 200 Re: Upset! by: Anonymous 10/22/00 12:46 am I feel that you do not know everything you need to know about the strike... Just keep reading these pages of forums and you should understand everything. Teachers do a lot more than people think... dont just take my word from it, I'm not a teacher. Message: 99 of 200 Also disillusioned by: appalled citizen of SR 10/22/00 11:23 am The profession of teaching has become synonymous with panhandling....holding our empty bowls pleading,"Please,sir, I want some more." Appreciation for the ability to orchestrate, in a class of 25-30 students, a blend of respect for themselves and others, an appreciation for learning and a desire to learn more, while teaching and evaluating subject matter has gone by the wayside. The profession, which requires 50-60 hours a week when you add in planning, checking, and organizing, has lost respect. Maybe it's time to pay teachers what child care workers get, $3 per hour per child. That works out to $630 a day. Or let's even make it a bargain....$2 per hour per child, $420 a day. And that's only figuring a 40 hour week. Hmmm...over 9 months that works out to $75,600. I think we taxpayers are getting a bargain! Message: 100 of 200 New Superintendent's Vehicle by: No Name 10/23/00 04:03 pm I don't know or care what the new superintendent drives. The BMW IS driven by one of the teachers (you know the ones who are severely underpaid). Envy? I think not. I'm just tired of hearing all the moaning and groaning done about how hard the teachers work before, during and after school. I agree that SOME may do that, but I also know there are a lot more who come in just at the nick of time and leave exactly one time. Perhaps they are worried about core knowledge because it will mean changing lesson plans they have prepared years ago. I am no fan of the Board, but I think it is time for the teachers to be treated like human beings NOT the gods you people seem to have created. They are NOT remnants from the one-room school era. Message: 101 of 200 Re: No Name by: Observer of schools 10/23/00 08:41 pm I think the response to your message has to be.....get out there in the classrooms and check it out! The one room school is actually very alive and well! In a class of 25 students, at the very least, 6 different levels of learning are represented and all have to be met by the classroom (human being) teacher. In every profession, job, walk of life, there are people who do not do their job, and in every profession, the vast majority DO! Teaching is no exception! Before you criticize, go find out! P.S. Drop the car issue...it's a silly, irrelevant point....family income is not always, I'm sure you realize, based on salaries alone. Message: 102 of 200 merely a thought to ponder by: isn't it true 10/24/00 06:55 pm Think about it! Those who can....... ..TEACH, and those who can't.... sit on the school board and complain about those who can TEACH! Message: 103 of 200 Re: merely a thought to ponder by: Confused 10/26/00 01:10 am Since formal negotiations between the teachers and the board have been in the process since January, why has the rest of the board been clueless until recently? Were the two board members on the negotiations committee not communicating with the other members? Did the other seven members not ask questions concerning negotiations? Have any of the board members gone to school board training sessions offered at the IU IV or by the PSBA in Harrisburg? If not why not? Would we not be upset with our children if they were so uninformed and unprepared? Message: 104 of 200 Re: merely a thought to ponder by: RPratt 10/26/00 09:35 am It seems to be a pattern with the board. Too many of the members don't have the time or interest to informed or prepared. So decisions they make come late and cause everyone a lot of grief and aggrevation. Do they ever go to PSBA training? They argue every year about even joining PSBA. If it wasn't for the insurance, they wouldn't do it. They will, however, pay PSBA lots of money to re-do policies (stay tuned...). I guess they thought Mr. King could handle negotiations for them. The time commitments are too great for many board members to handle. I guess they didn't understand what the job entailed when they ran for office or were appointed. Too many personal politics at play here. It's time to clean house... Our current and future Board members need to understand that what this district needs is a vision for the future. We need to develop goals and work hard to realize these goals for the good of the children and the community. This takes commitment and hard work. Unfortunately, to date, there has been No vision for the future and way too much partisian devisive politics. RPratt Message: 105 of 200 Re: How much of a raise did you get last by: surveyor 10/26/00 05:08 pm People ought to understand that a raise of $1,850 is a MAXIMUM raise a teacher could get, but that most will get much less than that. Why? Because teachers get raises if they get more education. So, if a teacher went from a college degree to a PhD in one year [impossible while being a teacher] they could actually get an $1,850 raise. Some teachers will get raises of as little as $300 per year, much less than the cost of living. Some will get more, but the average increase will be much less than $1,850. As for BMW's in the parking lot, no one, I assure you paid for that on a teacher's salary. Most teachers are married. Some are married to doctors, lawyers and yes, even University Professors, and some have inheritances. So if they have a BMW, then you should be thankful that they are blessed and don't have to rely on a teacher's salary for all of their needs. So, because they married well, they should work for free or get a poor salary? Sure... I guess if you are a Communist or Socialist, you'd think that way. Hmmm... As a matter of fact... it sounds as if Bill Adams is a Communist, since he wants all teachers to get next to nothing for their labors. Yes... teachers should work for $10,000 a year like all of his other employees, with only the Party Bosses like him being able to drive Jaguars and have 10 houses. I never realized it before... Bill Adams is a Communist! Message: 106 of 200 Re: SR Head Has Big Agenda by: No Disagreements Here 10/29/00 11:14 am Did you see the article in Sunday's Butler Eagle about our new superintendent? It sure slammed anyone out there who is against Core Knowledge. The super is quoted as saying, "When people are totally opposed, they haven't studied it enough." Does this mean that to know Core Knowledge is to love Core Knowledge? If anyone in the District had bothered to do any research, they would have become Core Knowledge converts, too. Why can't they see that Core Knowledge is the one true path to cultural enlightenment? A lot of teachers and parents in the District do know a lot about Core Knowledge and they still oppose it. I guess those people just need a little more brainwashing (I guess all the speakers and the California conference didn't work). Good thing the new Superintendent is ready to straighten them out. Can't wait for the fun to begin! Message: 107 of 200 Lawyer King and Butler Eagle Collusion by: surveyor 10/30/00 10:49 am Did you know that the school board's lawyer makes more money if there is no agreement and a strike results? Did you know that the longer a strike goes on and the longer there is no settlement, the more money King makes? Did you know that many of the school districts his firm represents are on the brink of strike right now? Did you know that while many issues were close between the school board and teachers and could have been worked out that King made no effort to encourage the board to work out these differences from Jan to July, but helped them to make no proposals or even offer alternatives the whole time? Did you ever wonder why King's press releases are published in the Butler Eagle almost verbatim as News reports, when they are not accurate, honest, and when they don't even bother to present other sides? Did you know that the King family and the Wise family, who owns the Eagle, are third generation FRIENDS of each other? Is it any wonder that the Eagle is a mouthpiece for King's press releases rather than a true, fair, and impartial agency that seeks to report just the facts? Why don't they even bother to question or investigate the press releases? Don't believe the press. It isn't fair. It isn't even journalism. It is part of the propaganda machine. Want the truth? Ask both sides for the history and their positions, and then decide for yourself. Don't be as lazy as the Eagle when it comes to investigating the issues. Message: 108 of 200 Butler Eagle&SRASD - All The News That F by: George Seldes (their agenda)) 10/31/00 08:29 am Let's not get carried away with calling the BE a newspaper. Fact is, the "Pennysaver" might be as much a newspaper as the BE is. Perhaps the SRASD website has taken a lesson on newsworthiness from the BE: was the creation of the SRASD website the result of an informed, collective and cooperative spirit? Or was it the offspring of a secretive, mean-spirited, agenda-driven group of men? What spirit of "ownership" can the district's staff and students take in some web pages that were likely created "in secret" by an ex-superintendent, middle school principal, business manager, and a guidance councilor? The result is an "official" website, that seems to be no more current than February 2000! This creation is as newsworthy as the agenda driven BE - old news, ultra-sanitized for THEIR protection. If the district wants to truly use new technology, forget old backroom secret deals. Be inclusive. Don’t dictate to capable people. Of course, this might mean painting new stripes on old tigers. Or maybe removing them from the grounds... Given the politics at SRASD, how will the district ever honor this: DISTRICT VISION STATEMENT The vision of the Slippery Rock Area School District is: · to maximize individual student potential; · to create a partnership among the home, school and community that promotes the entire educational process; · to equip our students with the skills needed to meet the demands of an advancing technological society; · to enable our students to be problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and life-long learners; · to prepare our students to become responsible citizens. Message: 109 of 200 Let's Get on With It by: No Name 10/31/00 01:36 pm Now is the time for us to get on with the business of educating our children. One of the best ways we can do that is to teach them that in a democracy we don't always agree with one another BUT we collectively work with what we have decided. Perhaps it is time to quit worrying about WHY the contract passed and be glad that it DID pass and our students are in school today. Five more years of hard feelings? Sure, as long as we dwell on that and continue with the name-calling and finger pointing. As adults we need to set the example that we want our children to follow. I do not agree with Mr. Adams' ideas and rantings either, but he did not prevail so why give him the attention he wants? I, too, think too much money has been thrown into the premise of investigating Core Knowledge. We sent a crew of professionals led by the incompetent Dr Spinella to California to investigate it. We are spending more dollars for in-service. The public needs to be brought into the discussion and brought up to speed on what the value IS versus the downside. Message: 110 of 200 ??? by: -- 10/31/00 01:44 pm Spinella, the disk, the secretary, the cover-up -- what's the story? Message: 111 of 200 Re: Let's Get on With It by: RPratt 10/31/00 02:07 pm It has always been the time for us to "get on with the education of our children". I think the teachers have always been doing this, even thru these contract talks. Who's worrying about why it passed? I'm worried that some of our board members, some that voted no and some that voted yes, will have hard feelings about the process that led to the outcome. These hard feeling may have a negitive effect for years to come. While I am happy this contract passed, it is not the time to become complacent. It is time to become politicaly active, and in order to better do that we must all try and understand the reasons that these Board members brought this district to the brink of a strike. You call it "name-calling and finger pointing". I call it being a responsible citizen. A good start in setting a good example for our children is understanding what is going on around us and not being afraid to express our opinions in public and in the voting booth. Thanks for your post- No Name. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 112 of 200 Re: ??? by: RPratt 10/31/00 02:10 pm I don't know. Why don't you TELL us? RPratt Re: Let's Get on With It by: Gary Dunn 10/31/00 02:38 pm Not living in your area (I live in NY, I heard about this site on the K12 listserv) I hesitate to post, but felt I had to comment. In my opinion, your district is in deep trouble. No help to high and mighty Mr./Ms. No Name. A quick scroll through this message board shows that Mr. Pratt is one of the few that has the balls ( excuse the term) to put his name to a post. Your district will continue to sink to the lowest levels (if it can go lower) if everyone, like No Name, is too scared to put their name on their posts. It seems to me that if you want to teach your children something, you should teach them you are not afraid to back up your opinions with your name. No Name, you are hardly an example to your children hiding behind anonymity. Until your community can find enough people to stand behind their words and actions with their name, you will be failing all the children! Good luck Mr. Pratt and God help you all! Why are you people so afraid to speak up? This is why your district has gone to hell. Gary Dunn Message: 114 of 200 Re: Let's Get on With It by: Socrates 11/03/00 08:03 pm I have to take exception to the issue of speaking freely anonymously. It would be admirable to be able to always speak freely in our society. But in this vindictive world, sometimes anonymity is the better part of valor. Why do teachers insist upon tenure in 2 or 3 years? It’s obvious - agenda laden board members and administrators. Others in our society do not fare so well. You can be fired from most any job for no reason at all: Or often a wrong reason. When getting up on the soapbox, the speaker's identity should not matter - the ideas, facts, and concepts should live or die on their own merits, their own empirical value! Cyber media is the new town square of the new millennia. It doesn't matter who delivers the words. We should not make up our minds based on the looks or background of the talking-head messenger. What a wonderful political process we could enjoy if we were not umbillically connected to the sound bites and photo ops of the talking heads! There is nothing shameful in writing anonymously. But at some point, you must be prepared to drink your cup of hemlock. Message: 115 of 200 Where'd everyone go?? by: T. Consbruck 11/15/00 04:57 pm Has the Slippery Rock School District suddenly been delivered unto heaven with the resolution of the contract dispute? What has happened to the many voices heard in the month of October?? (Even if those voices felt the need for anonymity Mr. Socrates). Are there not other pressing issues in our district, our community?? Speak up people, for it is this very type of silence that historically allowed conditions in our community to evolve to the point of the October strike crisis. Open, honest, respectful discourse is the essential ingredient for the PROACTIVE resolution of problems. I encourage everyone to actively seek out information, then express their ideas and opinions in this wonderful open forum provided by Mr. Pratt. Message: 116 of 200 Re: Where'd everyone go?? by: I know! 11/16/00 12:25 pm All the teachers who posted here last month have all gone to the Outlets to spend their new raise! They got what THEY wanted and now have nothing to say. Why? Because it's all about them, them, them. It's never been about the children. What say you Mr. Pratt? Post your "this is all about me and not the children" hit totals since the teachers got what they wanted from their neighbors pockets. I bet they fell to new lows! It appears that only our school board cares about issues that effect all the citizens. Well, ok, maybe Mr. Pratt cares too. God help the children- the teachers/community won't! Message: 117 of 200 Re: I know! by: T. Consbruck 11/16/00 03:55 pm To they who seem to know! Let me fill you in a bit. Most of the voices on this message board during October were from the community...NOT teachers. But my request is to have ALL voices speak so as to be heard. Additionally, the teachers have not received that whopping raise yet...and when they do it will translate to about an extra 30 dollars per paycheck...not much to do at the outlet mall with 30 bucks. My point is this, the level of community engagement with educational issues (above and beyond the contract issue) over the last couple of months has been terribly refreshing. I hope and pray that this level of engagement is not waning again, like it did after the Tibetien Monk Fiasco. Yes, we as humans are inherent reactionary creatures; acting only when forced. However, with our God given intellects, it does not have to be this way. Issues and concerns must continuously be brought to the forefront for reflection, debate and decision. This is where I fear Mr. Dunn's condemnation of anonomous postings may have dampened the spirit of this page. I lay down the gauntlet to those with the will to enjoin the battle. The fact is teachers continuously help the children, and the community will as well, if the dialogue and flow of information continues. Message: 118 of 200 Re: Where'd everyone go?? by: katherine 11/20/00 08:37 pm It is not that the teachers are not still charged up, nor the public. We are at this time thankful to have the situation resolved momentarily. the issue at hand is now the presidential election. Will we have a department of education???? the next issue to attack is to get someone to replace Mr. Adams whose forum is the Butler Eagle. More education is needed. Too many parents are in the dark about the educational system their children are in. We have a very fast paced society. Public education is in a turmoil and the only way is for each person with passion to convince one person at a time to participate. I rely on Mr. Pratt for his information on the board. Look in on this forum after the holidays. The war is in a cease fire, we must prepare the troops through more information. Pass on Mr. Pratt's site that's how I found out, from a friend. Just like every vote should be counted, every voice in our district is important. Thanks Mr.Pratt Message: 119 of 200 Re: My Anonymous Message Board by: Gunny 11/21/00 02:42 pm Please say it ain't so: "Adams then went on to say he would rather have his kid drinking beer than playing soccer"! Knowing a little about being a teenager,having been one many years ago in Slippery Rock, I can tell you what the excuse will be for the next youngster caught drinking. Let's hope it is not in a case of a serious accident. If Adams said that, he needs to resign and slink away. Message: 120 of 200 Re: drinking by: RPratt 11/21/00 07:20 pm He did say it, but I don't think he was trying to encourage underage drinking. Of course killing brain cells playing soccer is much healthier then drinking. This all points out the need for a change by way of the next election. RPratt srschools@aol.com Message: 121 of 200 Random thoughts by: graduate 11/26/00 09:48 pm First, I would like to comment on the contract situation that just passed. Why did the board not sit down with the teachers prior to the expiration of the last contract and work out a deal that would benefit both sides? My guess is that a few certain board members hadn't seen their names in the newspaper for awhile and were starting to get a little anxious. It seems to me that these four board members don't like to, or can't, vote on their own. As for "Mr." Adams, I guess every organization has to have it's trouble maker. Time and time again he has berated members of the public at the school board meetings. He even goes so far as to belittle the faculty and staff of the district. If they were not there to teach, he wouldn't have anywhere to go to release his frustrations. Not once during my years of schooling did I see him in the building during an actual school day, which would make me think that he really doesn't have a clue as to what is going on with the students. I guess the board meetings are his idea of a stress management program from his long days of suction cups. I could go on for much longer about his antics, but that would give him even more satisfaction. Who would want to do that, since he seems to do it himself enough in his rantings anyway? Finally, I have read articles on Mr. Pratt's website mentioning Dr. Barnett and the maintenance department. I use both Dr. and department very loosely. While I'm sure Barnett has a very worhtwhile reason for accusing the various organizations that use the high school baseball field during the summer months of destroying the field, this does not warrant the fact that Barnett and his staff do nothing to maintain the facility during the summer months for the community other than mow the grass every three weeks or so, if we're that lucky. Both of the organizations using the field left the facility in better shape when they were done with it than when their seasons began, no thanks to Barnett. I would just like to know why the district has been paying this man to head the maintenance department when he really does very little for the facilities and tends to cause more problems than he's worth (ie. those wonderful speed bumps that we all love). Maybe a better idea would be to slow the bus drivers down and not let them fly around the school like they accuse the students of doing every year. Alas, the faculty of the district have my utmost respect, well most of them anyway. They stood together as a group and fought for what they deserved in the raise. They have provided me with many experiences to draw from in my first three years of college, and this has been a great benefit to me as well as many of my classmates. As Mr. Consbruck said in his last posting, "Issues and concerns must continuously be brough to th forefront for reflection, debate and decision." I hope this dialogue continues between the public and the board so that the relationship can be productive and beneficial to all parties involved in the future. Message: 122 of 200 Re: Duryea by: wondering 12/01/00 08:22 pm I hear that Dr. Duryea has quit the school board. Is this true? Message: 123 of 200 Re: Duryea by: RPratt 12/02/00 09:13 am I have heard this also. First, he hasn't done so in any official way. Second, I will believe it when I see it. Maybe this Monday night? RPratt Message: 124 of 200 Re: SRHS Athletic Director's position by: b.dabaldo 12/05/00 05:05 pm Does anyone know if the board has hired anyone yet for this position? The vote was supposed to happen on Nov. 21 and I cannot get any official confirmation. The posting for this position had a qualification requirement of FIVE years experience and the SUPPOSED recomended candidate only has one SEMESTER experience. How can this be? The recommended candidate by the Principal has ten YEARS experience and was the only final candidate (their were four "finalists")that met the experience qualification. HOW CAN THIS BE SRHS SCHOOL BOARD? If anyone has any information as to the name of the individual or WHY the board decided against the recommendation of the principal I would like to know. I review this website on a daily basis. Thank You. Message: 125 of 200 |
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