Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > December > 13 > Entry
Teachers: How will you vote Thursday?
Teachers meet this afternoon to discuss the tentative contract offer from the school board. I have confirmed that the two-deal offers a 1.25 percent pay increase for this school year (retroactive to June 30) a teacher contribution of 15 percent on health care. In other words, comments on this blog here and here had it right.
Teachers will vote Thursday at their schools, a move some teachers suspect was designed to make voting easy and perhaps boost the number yes votes.
The second year of the deal provides a zero raise for teachers, but includes a “re-opener” that allows either side to request new talks on that topic only. So the two-year deal holds non-pay issues (including insurance) in place next year.
Teachers, let’s do an informal poll. How will you vote Thursday, yes or no?
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Caroline
December 14, 2006 5:24 PM | Link to this
I voted yes. I think it is awful that they are offering us so little. The citizens of Dayton should be outraged by the way that the board wastes money. However, I can’t afford to strike, and I feel that my students can’t afford to strike. It’s obvious where the board’s priority lies.By NO!
December 14, 2006 2:27 PM | Link to this
NO!By Honest
December 14, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this
I’m voting no because I don’t think this is a good deal. I’m voting no because I think honestly the Board can do better. I’m voting no because the Board has pushed teachers around, and our Union has allowed them to do so. If we strike, we strike, If kids leave to go to Charter School, they leave, I have faith, that like the trends we see, they will be back. I’m voting no because DPS has become so dishonest about money, buildings, job cuts. I’m voting no because the truth of the matter is there are tons of long term subs, there are a few people certified to teach in k-3 classrooms and teaching in 4-6. They have been given a job because of who they know, so they need to go. I work hard everyday, I do my best everyday, I am a Highly Qualified Teacher. I want fairness, I want what’s best for children, I want what is best for my fellow teachers, and I want to uphold the integrity of teachers. I think we need to concider chaning to the the American Federation of Teacher Union. Please don’t be bullied!!!By Oldprof
December 14, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Dear DPS for 29: I’m not disputing your position, but teachers in other districts go through this—and worse!—in negotiations. If you know of a school in the USA today where teachers are “treated with respect, honesty, and paid a fair salary”—AND that district doesn’t already have a surplus of applicants on the waiting list—then please tell me where it is because I’m considering my second career and I’ve got time to get certified for K-12 in that state.By DPS Teacher for 29 years
December 14, 2006 9:50 AM | Link to this
My dear Voting Yes, if I had been riffed early in my career and forced to find employment in another school district where teachers ARE treated with respect, honesty and paid a fair salary, I would now consider it a blessing! However, if yu believe for a moment any teacher who is under contract is in danger of losing theri job, you are dead wrong. There are over 100 long-term subs in the district who will have to be laid off before any teacher is let go. Keep in mind, you are voting Yes to save a sub’s job - a sub who is NOT a member of DEA, a sub who does not pay union dues. As long as we think of ourselves as second class teachers, we will be treated as such. YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS A PROFESSIONAL! Teachers in other districts do not go through this during contract negotiations.By voted yes
December 14, 2006 9:27 AM | Link to this
To dayton teacher: Maybe the DEA leadership actually learned that for all their rhetoric in October, that there wasn’t any money and realized that the best course of action was to get the best deal possible despite what they said in the rally. Despite whatever mismanagement there has been, there is no money and striking will not change that fact. The board could tell us that they are going to give us 4% raise but the state will not certify the agreement because such an agreement cannot meet the budgetary restrictions and projections without major cuts under state law. And who do they cut? They cut the little people, not the suits downtown. We cannot afford a long and drawn out strike, especially when no significant change will occur.By Terri
December 14, 2006 8:08 AM | Link to this
I’m not sure how I’ll vote still. I don’t trust the board, but I think the negotiations team for the union has given up and we won’t gain anything with a strike. I certainly don’t want to strike although I don’t think a strike is necessarily all bad for kids. It is a lesson for them in real world events, an example of compromise (or not) and an example of how workers can stand together(or not) “against” management.By voting yes
December 14, 2006 8:08 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately there are lot of teachers with the same mindset as DPS teacher for 29 years who want a significant pay increase because they are nearing the end of their careers and want to raise their average 3 year salary in order to get a higher pension, but in their single-mindedness fail to realize that we younger teachers are the ones who stand to lose the most, our jobs. I am thankful for a job and steady income, which is not the case for many who live in our community. Am I happy with the less than 10 dollar a pay increase, no, but it’s better than no pay and no insurance, a plight that many of us have to face, not the veteran teachers who don’t have to worry about being riffed. Please vote YES!By dayton teacher
December 14, 2006 7:54 AM | Link to this
Let’s start a poll of our own…If this offer is accepted, how much time will pass before Dr. Mack receives his 10% raise retroactive to July?By dayton teacher
December 14, 2006 7:50 AM | Link to this
I will be voting NO. My concern lies in the fact that, at our 1st meeting in October, our union got us “fired up” about the fact that the board wanted to give us nothing. They showed a lengthy power-point on the extras/bonuses/incentives that Dr. Mack receives, so that we would get angry about how little we had. They even stated at that meeting that THERE IS MONEY! What happened? When did our team switch sides? Why is there such a difference in their opinion/attitude now compared to then?By DPS Teacher for 29 yrs
December 14, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this
I will be voting NO, as will most of teachers in my building. Too many times we have been told in the past that there “was no more money” to find out after accepting a contract with a minimal pay increase that there had been hidden funds. DPS teachers rank among the lowest paid in the county, yet face some of the most frustrating working conditions. It is time to send a message to this administration that we are professionals who do care about our students, but we are also professionals who work hard and deserve to be treated with respect, integrity and paid accordingly. I am sorry it has come to this decision, but the Board and current administration have left us no other choice after their mismanagement of the budget, their blatent disrespect to the professional teaching staff and their past dishonesty in negotiating a fair contract. I am also disappointed in this attitude of just wanting to give up/give in. Obviously none of these teachers were around in 1993 during the last strike. Yes, teachers, we were on strike and got everything we asked for because the Board finally understood we were not going to roll over like a bunch of dead dogs any longer. If you do not stand up for yourself, who will?By Oldprof
December 13, 2006 9:44 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, those who denigrate the NEA and its members ignore teachers like these, who are essentially willing to settle for no increase (inflation and health care considered) out of a sense of duty to the students, and in hopes that someday the state legislature will get the blinders off.By dps teach
December 13, 2006 8:25 PM | Link to this
I will also be voting yes for the contract. DPS teachers have to look at the history of what is happening around the state. We have been lucky up to this point. As for people wondering “Where has the 4 million gone to?” Think about it If DPS has apx. 1500 teachers at base salary, the 1.25% increase would be a total of $616,000 for the year. At the top of the payscale it would be a over $1.2 million. So the total falls somewhere in the middle. Next, you have to consider the ripple effect on supplementals (ie coaches, band, cluster leaders, etc….)the money is being used. A strike will cause more harm than good.By teacher
December 13, 2006 7:46 PM | Link to this
I will be voting NO my children deserve not to be on reduced lunches because I am a Dayton Public School Teacher!!By DytnTeacher
December 13, 2006 7:07 PM | Link to this
I plan to vote yes. This might not be the best deal that we could have received, but it is better than losing money or our jobs.By 3rd year dps teacher
December 13, 2006 7:06 PM | Link to this
I’ll vote yes. No one I know wants to strike & I doubt we’ll get a better offer from the board. I’d rather put this whole thing behind us for the rest of the year.By another dps teacher
December 13, 2006 6:50 PM | Link to this
I will be voting for the contract. Our students deserve to have us in the classroom everyday.