Banter with Griffsdad

[BootheBunch]

Frankly, the whole public educational system is in deep doo-doo, and it's not going to get solved by allowing my blood pressure increase.  My mantra right now is, "I'm still getting paid."  Works for me.  And I'll keep praying that the politicians find something else to hold captive (like healthcare, maybe?).  Educators need a break.

So there.[/QUOTE]



Laura is right...public ed is in deep doo-doo.  And, these outside politicians and such just seem to keep putting the blame on us teachers....when they haven't been in a classroom in over thirty years to see what we are up against!  They are focusing on the wrong people....they need to focus on the parents, the family units (or lack thereof).  

And No Child Left Behind?  I wish it could be true...but so unrealistic.  God made us all different, with different strengths...reading and school is not a one size fits all.  Even if I were to buy into it....it is only a few years old, and is already not fully funded (another underfunded program from the feds)!

But, I love my job.  I will just keep closing my door and doing the best I can with my young scholars!  And, all in all, I do think public education is doing a wonderful job...taking in account all we and the students are up against!  If I didn't think CUSD was a successful system, I wouldn't have my kids enrolled in public ed!  

Lisa

[zamboni]

Bantering on ---- Probably, because it was cheeper than trying the case.

Aha, but not really!  Sure, that case, probably.  However, they've now set the precedent:  all the parents know about the "lottery".  They get lots of frivolous, small suits

Maybe not lots, but more than "none" which is what they'd get if they defended them - and earned the reputation of not "giving in" to a small lawsuit.

[griffsdad]

Aha, but not really! Sure, that case, probably. However, they've now set the precedent: all the parents know about the "lottery". They get lots of frivolous, small suits
 
Maybe not lots, but more than "none" which is what they'd get if they defended them - and earned the reputation of not "giving in" to a small lawsuit.

I defend people/companies that are being sued in civil court and I have tried lots of cases and I've been very lucky and have won everyone that I was defending. Here's the reality of civil lawsuits - depending upon the case, you spend anywhere from $3,000 - minimum to $100,000 plus in defending your client. (Not including attorney fees) And when you win; if you have done things by the book; you get your costs back from the losing party - plaintiff. Guess what? They have no $$$$$ to pay your costs in defending the case. If you are lucky; they may own property and then you can attach the judgement to their home. But you're not going to see that $$ until they sell the house or re-finance the loan. Until then - 5 - 20 years - you're not going to see your money that you need to run your business.

[griffsdad]

The latest news from the OC Register regarding Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Fleming - The OC Register in their paper today report that the Sperintendent's son, who was hired by a CUSD contractor, was paid $101/per hour to dig ditches for the school district. And the schoold district paid Fleming's son $74,000 over 15 months. That's pretty good. Dad and son cost the school district $450,000/year in salary.
 
Conflict - yes. And I bet dollar to doughnuts that the kid never dug any ditches. Incredible.

[BootheBunch]

The latest news from the OC Register regarding Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Fleming - The OC Register in their paper today report that the Sperintendent's son, who was hired by a CUSD contractor, was paid $101/per hour to dig ditches for the school district. And the schoold district paid Fleming's son $74,000 over 15 months. That's pretty good. Dad and son cost the school district $450,000/year in salary.
 
Conflict - yes. And I bet dollar to doughnuts that the kid never dug any ditches. Incredible.

Oh...that is all junk!  I am so sick of the paper!  The boy was hired by an outside contracting company...that the district uses.  The district paid that money to the contracting company, not the kid!  And, the boy made between 34 to 101 dollars.  The day he made the $101, was a Saturday--overtime, doubletime.  He was digging ditches throughout the whole summer and so on.  If Fleming was doing nepotism...don't we think his kid would have sat in an air-conditioned building sorting mail and eating donuts all summer?  The paper needs to get a new subject---vilifying Fleming is old.  

And, now, one of the board members isn't seeking reelection in November. Those recall idiots are just celebrating.  Us teachers are actually getting worried now that the board is getting broken--without a strong leader like Fleming.  A new board could really rock our world.  Again, this was all started by parents upset that they didn't get the boundaries they wanted---because they don't want "their" kids going to school with certain "other" kids.  Some of those recall people are going for seats....and we teachers may have to stop them----because their agenda is not equality for all, just what is best for their kid.  

I commend Fleming and the board for standing up to those parents on the boundaries......in fact, when I heard they stood their ground this time, I mentioned my utmost respect for them.  Now, their throats are being cut because they did what was best for all, not just the ones with the money (as those ones are used to getting their way...but, not for this year, at least!).  

Those board members we have had no other agenda but to serve.  They have no higher aspirations...it only pays about $200/month.  And, now, we are going to have people going for those seats with the wrong agenda.  

Fleming stated he was stepping down, so to take away the seige towards the board.  Be mad at him, is his wish.  He understands the bigger picture regarding the board---they can really mess up the district.

However, if I was on the board....I would just give the teachers a 10 percent raise (Irvine just got 8 percent)....and walk out!  :-)

Lisa

[BootheBunch]

Got this off OC Register...them trying to cover their booties with their Fleming Filet:

About that $74,000 Fleming cost CUSD...
We've gotten a few calls and e-mails about the item reporting that Sean Fleming, son of CUSD Superintendent James Fleming, cost the district as much as $101 per hour for digging ditches for a contractor at the school district. We want to make it clear that the cost to the district, as reported, was not what he was paid. According to Sean Fleming and Montano Plumbing owner Gilbert Montano, the younger Fleming was paid the prevailing wage, which is more than $34 per hour for his job title. So while his work was billed at a range from $51 to $101 per hour -- totalling at least $74,000 over a 15-month period -- he received only a portion of that, with higher amounts for overtime. The rest would have gone to Montano Plumbing for benefits, overhead and, presumably, profit. The billing for his work was the same as for other low-level workers -- but still probably more than young Fleming had been getting at his previous job with Dairy Queen.

The boy is 23 years old!  Can't he make more than he did at Dairy Queen?!  If I had a subscription with the OC Register....I would cancel.  In fact, I would love to call them and tell them I was cancelling because of all this junk!

Lisa