By Mary Drier
(Contact / Staff Bio)
October 24, 2009 - 08:57 a.m. EST
LANSING — School districts in Michigan were dealt a double financial blow this week.
On Monday and again on Thursday, the governor cut per pupil state aid funding for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Besides the $165 per student funding cut that was authorized Monday, an additional $127 cut was authorized Thursday, brining the total cut to $292 per student in funding.
“The budget is premised on $100 million in new revenue that has not been figured out where it will come from. Republicans say they won’t support increased taxes,” said Tuscola Intermediate School District (ISD) Superintendent Carol Socha, noting more more reductions could be coming.
School districts are about a quarter of a way through their fiscal year, so any change in anticipated funding will have a tremendous impact on budgets.
Because of the lower than anticipated state funding, some schools are scrambling to cover the funding loss by reducing services, increasing class size, cutting programs and layoffs.
“This is a clear case of bait and switch,” said Socha, quoting from a notice she got. “Legislatures are forcing significant cuts because of not being properly funded.”
In addition, the bill which included cutting per pupil state aid could end up being a lot more than that in some school districts from another financial change. Proposal A was passed 16 years ago eliminating property tax as a primary funding source for schools. But now there are changes being made.
Some school districts were getting over $11,000 per student in state funding while others, like the Thumb area, were getting about $7,000 per student. That gap is being addressed.
“Those on the high side are being cut,” said Socha.
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October 24, 2009
7:19 p.m.Report inappropriate content
All retires from the Delphi Corporation no longer will receive their retirement from Delphi.
They have been placed into the Federal Governments Pension Fund.
Delphi received government bail out money ,but this still did not save the retires pension.
All GM salary retires have lost their company paid health care .
Yes in the private sector wages have been reduced to 14.00 per hour.
The Michigan Education Association is living in a Dream Land, when they still demand wages that are 4 times higher then what the people that pay their wages are.
And that would be, every tax payer in the State of Mich.
The big push in the next 30 days will be to raise taxes and uncap your taxable property values by changing Proposal A.
This will be done all in the name of saving the Education for our Children .
When 85 % of a schools total budget is paid out in wages and benefits ,you would have to be brain dead to not see that it is not about the CHILDREN.
It is all about paying wages & benefits to School Administrators and Teachers.
And do not forget the MEA wages. Like the President of the MEA ,Iris Salters 1/4 million dollar salary.
When the famous bank robber ,Willy Sutton was asked ,"why do you rob banks" his reply was "Because that is where the money is".
Why does the MEA rob the tax payer? Because that is where the money is.
The wages of all school support workers are NOT the problem,their wages are around 14.00 per hour or less. The support workers have taken pay freezes . They have stepped up to the plate to help the tax payers.
The new contract between Delphi Corporation and the United Auto Workers (UAW) reduces wages for workers from $27 per hour to a maximum of $18 per hour?$14 per hour for new hires.
It eliminates fixed pensions and health care benefits for future Delphi retirees, replacing the pension plan with 401(k) plans and IRAs. It drastically reduces health benefits by imposing deductibles of $300 per individual and $600 per family with co-pays of $1,000 per individual and $2,000 per family. Previously these auto workers health costs were virtually 100 percent covered. The contract also eliminates the jobs bank which guaranteed workers? wages during lay-offs.
October 24, 2009
11:28 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Education is the only driving force that will move our country forward. The middle class population was built by unions. Warner55 is a retire Gm working that now wants to rip on unions, go figure. After 30yrs at working at GM he now sees what happens when unions support individuals that make $27 per hour for working only 5 to 6 hours of an eight hour shift. On top of that, after eight hours its time and half and then weekend its double time ($54 per hr). But, please lets not forget the triple time on holidays ($81 per hour). Who really wants to help the tax payers, Think again
October 25, 2009
1:16 a.m.Report inappropriate content
We the tax payer have all taken cuts in our wages.
Yes all unions in the private sector have been forced to ask their rank and file to take pay cuts and reductions in their health care benefits.
Who has joined the real world in this downturn in the economy?
When your pay check is totally derived from tax dollars, is it a responsible person that would ask for a pay raise, when the people that pay your wages have taken pay cuts?
The Driving Force is buying American made goods.
We have many collage graduates working for minimum wage.
Manufacturing tangible goods is and always will be the Driving Force to increase America's standard of living.
There will never be enough service jobs to keep America's work force employed.
If the work force all had PHD's, without manufactured American goods. there still would not be enough jobs to go around. Wages are set by supply and demand in a capitalistic economy. The net results would be, PHD'S working for minimum wage, without manufacturing.
What is a service job?
clerk,lawyer,judge,waiter,banker,teacher, etc.
For example if you work as a school teacher and buy a car made in Germany ,this causes American's to lose their jobs. Then we do not have money to pay that teacher a good rate of pay. This is what has happened now.
We all will take pay cuts, and our standard of living goes down, without manufacturing. Then we blame each other for our lot in life.
To save the American standard of living ,we must buy American made goods.
All of use will have to share in the pain, some will be forced to take pay cuts until the economy turns around. If we continue to buy foreign made goods, the economy will never turn around . We all will take more pay cuts.
Yes it is true, ten years ago we were all living the good life. Pay raises for all. That was before NAFTA caught up with us ,and we all ran down to Wal- Mart to buy goods made in China.
October 25, 2009
1:50 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The free money is all gone. People need to get used to the "new" reality. If you think times are hard now wait a few months. Michigan has spent a fortune on teaching children that want to do nothing but leave for another part of the country. Education should be difficult to get. It should be rare. Then it will be valued. When "networking" (aka nepotism/cronyism) is no longer the best way to get a job there will be money for schools. Until then... welcome to the ride down.
October 25, 2009
8:07 a.m.Report inappropriate content
It now takes GM 30 man hour per vehicle to manufacture that product.
GM cost per man hour was 72,00 per hour now it has been reduced to 46.00 per man hour.
The average car sells for around 25,000.00
30 man hour x 46.00 per hour labor cost = 1380.00 What % of that vehicles cost is labor ?
The answer is 5.552% round that off to 5 1/2 %
So GM has 5 1/2 percent of the cost of that vehicle in labor cost. And the American public still blame the workers for the demise of GM.
Now let's look at the labor cost for each school district.
That cost is 85 % of a schools total budget.
wethepeople or we the tax payer know that with this 85 % labor cost per schools budget , the only thing that can be cut is wages and benefits.
Can you imagine how long GM would have been in business if their labor cost had been 85 %.
Now also wethepeople or is it we the people know that if our car insurance was 1436.00 per month from State Farm insurance and we could buy car insurance from Auto Owners for 1136.00 per month for the same coverage we the people would change insurance companies in a New York second.
With this 300.00 per month saving, we could use it for food or gas or pay the house payment.
School districts all over the state are being forced to pay 300.00 more per month for each employee Health Insurance , because Unions demand that schools buy insurance from the unions "MEA" own company called MESSA.
All school districts could save 300.00 per month per teacher, for the same coverage, if the unions would negotiate a change in the health care company.
If you ran your household budget like schools do, you would not have food on the table or a roof over your head.
I say change Health insurance companies and save 12 mo x 300.00 $ per year, per teacher.
Also the Teachers and Administrators that are making over 50,000 $ per year are gong to have to take some kind of reduction in pay. When the economy turns around ,return the pay to the original amount.
October 26, 2009
9:40 a.m.Report inappropriate content
bunnyman (Anonymous) "Education should be difficult to get. It should be rare. Then it will be valued."
Well.. Lets see??? Make Education hard to get and rare?? Isnt that what it already is?? Well at least for College... Very hard to get if you dont have money...
SOUNDS Great!! Make Education Hard to get make it more expensive, so you have what has already been going on!!!...
Average people, unable to get a education because they have no money, no job because you need a education to get a good paying job.. So if you are not a lucky one and have good paying parents or a trustfund, or a einstein then you pritty much screwed... There is NO jobs out there, the people who had went to college are working at McDonalds and other min-wage jobs......
If only the rich can get education unless your a special and have a "einstein" brain and able to get scholarship.... then you just have the rich with educations!!
Education Local schools and colleges are "money making companys" they make money.. they have bordmembers and many investers.... They are a very prospecious money making company/organization.
October 26, 2009
10:09 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The unions used to be a good thing. They stopped abuse of workers and collective bargaining brought decent wages.
Where they went wrong was that the unions are no longer for the worker as they were founded to protect from abusive employers. They now are for the union itself and are being run as a company the likes of which they used to fight against in the name of the workers. The emphasis nowadays is the workers/members be damned and it's all about lining the union bosses pockets. At least that's the way it is in the union I was a member of.
As far as the teacher's union goes if they want to keep their monopoly on the public schools they control they need to start weeding out the ineffective teachers who turn out students that can't read well enough to get into college without supplimentary reading courses, etc. The worst thing we ever did was move away from the old fashioned schools that were completely controlled by the parents of the children attending them. As we have with most all of the things in our lives we have turned them over to be run by the government and virtually everything in government, with the exception of the military members are unionized. What this means is that we no longer have control and when the union tells congress or in the case of schools the local govt. that they demand more money someone in government raises our taxes to accomodate them. Seperate the unions from govt influence (donations) and we will be better off.
October 26, 2009
11:10 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Let's just run all the teachers out of town! No employees no wages and benefits. Just teach your children everything they need to know to prepare them for University yourself. Think of all the tax money you won't be wasting on something stupid like education. We can educate better than the Japanese at 1/10th the cost. Hey I don't have kids in school anymore why should I fund it? Give me one good reason. An educated society is doomed to failure.
How's that for a nonsensical rant?
October 26, 2009
11:17 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Oh and by the way when the economy picks up your children can work at Delphi for half the wages and benefits their fathers did. Now that's progress. Working people should just be glad they have a job. Executives making tens of millions a year know this better than anyone. They need the cost savings to increase their measly salaries too!
Rescind the minimum wage! $4.00 an hr without benefits if you have a high school education is more than enough.
Want to be competitive with foreign workers don't we?
October 27, 2009
2:29 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Wkoper
They say sometimes it is much cheaper to make rants, then going to see a shrink.
On a more serious note, we all would not be having this discussion if Michigan's economy was humming right along.
All the kings men all the kings horses will not be able to fix this economic melt down as long as we continue to purchase foreign made goods.
Just like the educational poster with Smoky The Bear that says, only you can prevent forest fires.
Only You can save the Economy by buying American Made Goods !
October 27, 2009
8:27 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Unless and until this most hallowed MEA union becomes a shareholder in Michigans financial crisis, then the cuts MUST be made. It has been stated that huge savings could be realized by eliminating the political meddling and insurance arm of the MEA - MESSA, and placing the teachers insurance in the same system as state employees. Why has this not been required before now? I expect to hear all about the collective bargaining garbage, well even the mighty UAW has had to accept reductions. This blatant scare campaign is solely for the purpose of insuring the MEA membership will not have to give an inch, when in fact many other non - MEA taxpayers have had to give a great deal due to this states economic problems. There are 2 choices - CUT or TAX & SPEND. How has the latter been working out?
October 28, 2009
9:42 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Just curious. What do all you anti-union activists think a teacher with a masters degree should be earning with benefits? Just a rough guestimate? What is your child's education and well being worth? Chime in anytime!
October 28, 2009
11:22 a.m.Report inappropriate content
My husband is a teacher with a masters degree and I am a stay at home mom to my two children. Yes I could easily go out and get a job but what I would make in wages would go directly to child care so what's the point. Cutting my husbands wages after he invested so much TIME and MONEY into improving his teaching skills is an INSULT. Teachers don't start out with great pay. After years of teaching they build up to that $50,000. Teachers don't work Monday through Friday. My husband works 7 days a week grading papers, getting lesson plans ready, etc. If you cut teachers wages, I believe you are cutting your child's education. There are teachers out there who really care about teaching..others may be in it for the money (which really isn't a lot). Those that are in it for the money, if you cut their money, you will also see a "cut" in your childs education..their quality of work will go down with their pay.
In today's society (unlike those before us)high school graduates cannot just walk into GM or Delphi and get a job. You have to have a college education to get any type of decent job today. All of it starts with our public schools. The foundation for that education begins at home and is continued with teachers. Teachers today just don't teach. They are role models, they listen to these kids, they volunteer as coaches, advisers to plays, musicals, head up fundraising, they keep our kids safe.
The answer is not cutting teachers pay. There are other ways to fix a budget than cutting wages of people who help mold our future.
October 28, 2009
11:08 p.m.Report inappropriate content
jenniwhit2,
Some of us are on your side! Sounds reasonable to me.
October 29, 2009
2:16 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Maybe all these teachers that get laid off because the state legislators can't figure out that education is important should be able to go into a jobs bank and make 95% of their salary.
I had an uncle that did that working for GM. He did absolutely nothing for months and was paid virtually his entire salary. What a joke!!
The UAW had an unbelievably sweet contract and now they cry foul when their companies are mismanaged and not proactive in building better quality automobiles and they have to take some cuts. Pretty sad when UAW employees with no education other then a HS disploma or GED made triple what teachers made with Bachelor and Master's Degrees.
October 29, 2009
4:05 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Thank you wkoper!
October 29, 2009
4:06 p.m.Report inappropriate content
WOW UAW members base salary without overtime is $150,000 a yr. That's over $72.00 an hr. No wonder their whining! I had no idea.
November 2, 2009
10:45 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I have a great idea! Why dont we pay the employees what mexico employees make, I think there making $2.50 a day?? and lets see how far that will go when the average apartment is over 400$ and Gas now at 2.75, and milk around 1.99 if your lucky, beleve me if they cut wages prices will still be high... Come on, you need to tell me GM has no money because its paying too high wages?? When they found ways to cut costs, sending jobs to mexico paying someone 2.50 a day then ship the part back?? You cant tell me that it cost more to make a plastic car then a steel car?? When they cars double in price, and the cost to make a car go's down?? Maybe you need to start at the top paying CEO's and see if there million dollar pay checks need a cut when thats the only pay that keeps getting fatter....
November 2, 2009
10:49 p.m.Report inappropriate content
"wkoper (Anonymous) says...
WOW UAW members base salary without overtime is $150,000 a yr. That's over $72.00 an hr. No wonder their whining! I had no idea." Who's making that?? Not the average UAW Member.. Maybe a CEO or a brother of one.......
November 3, 2009
8:59 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I was just commenting on Subwaysally's post. I understand this is silly. While reasonably payed in the past her numbers are ridiculous because with overtime they would have the potential of making $250,000 a yr or more. No UAW members I know ever made that. Teacher's wages aren't the problem. Governmental priorities are. Education is the key to any countries future and we are failing our children beyond reason. If we don't prioritize more seriously, along with addressing the amassing of wealth by 1% of the population, this country is going down the toilet. There's enough blame to go around. Freedom of speech is a wonderful idea, but is expensive here in the United States. I can't afford free speech that is as effective as that payed for by corporate lobbyists. So like you and the rest I'll just keep blowing hot air as therapy. So that government of the corporation, by the corporation, for the corporation shall not perish from this earth!
November 3, 2009
11:41 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Please forgive my past comments I do have a problem with Mayville Community schools and really would like them to close down, that being my ultimate agenda. I’m angry about the cuts that the UAW has enacted and the fall of the big three. I also would like to take this time to say that regardless of the numerous rumors, I do not have relationships with my cattle. I hate people who buy foreigner vehicles, even though many foreign vehicles are made in America, where many of the big three’s vehicles are made over seas. That does not matter, its just the principal of the thing. Again I am sorry for the comments that I have made, and that I seem to be the only person making negative comments about Mayville Community Schools. I just have to say my mind.
November 7, 2009
1:39 p.m.Report inappropriate content
The union mentality is the problem that we are facing today. The Big 3 moved jobs out of Michigan beacuse the UAW ran the cost of employing Michigan workers so high that it was much more cost effective to move those jobs elsewhere. In no other industry would you see a high school dropout making $50k+ per year. It was ridiculous and unsustainable.
Now we are seeing the same results with the teacher's union in Michigan. Teachers aren't performing to their level of expectation, quality of education is declining more each year, and these failing teachers still have an inflated view of their importance - and they expect the inflated paycheck and benefits to go along with it. The problem with a union is that people that excel at mediocrity are assured a job - no matter what. Now, that may be acceptible when you are manufacturing an automobile that can always be traded in if you aren't satisfied and then you have the choice of of picking a vehicle from another automaker, but educating a child is for life. It can't be traded in and it can't be undone. That child is forced to live with that quality of education for the rest of their lives, and if it is a poor quality education it limits their opportunities.
In my view, teaching is a profession that takes a certain kind of hero to choose. The dedication and work that is needed to be successful in this career is a demanding commitment, and never one to be taken lightly. Having said that, there are the "posers" that like to pretend they know what they are doing, when in reality their motivation is really about the paycheck and the summers off. A union protects these jokers and hampers the effectiveness of the good teachers out there. We need to ditch the union and reward teachers based on merit. That would definitely weed out the imbecilic dimwits that are incapable of performing the job they were hired to do.
November 7, 2009
1:55 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Warnner55,
You have defrauded the voters that elected you. If your ultimate goal is to see that Mayville Schools is shut down, you had no right to run for a position on the school board to effect a positive change. You are currently being recalled, and that is clearly in the best interests of the district and students. That is probably the first clear sign that people may realize that changes need to be made.
I don't for one second believe that the school board president threatened you, but man, I sure wish he had told you to shut your trap. If there were people there to witness it, he would have got a standing ovation, I'm sure.
November 9, 2009
10:41 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I want all the anti union people to listen very carefully. The erosion of unions has absolutely nothing to do with your inability to bargain better wages and benefits. Absolutely nothing to do with the rising cost of health care YOU are being burdened with.
When corporate America finishes off the unions they will turn to you and offer you the world. Steady raises of 5% or more each year, fully payed premiere health care, generous vacations and sick leave benefits if you need to spend time with or care for family members and yourself. Excellent work rules applied fairly to all. I could go on and on.
You know. Just like it was before the useless unions started all this crap in the early 20th century.
November 9, 2009
11:41 p.m.Report inappropriate content
JoeT, Do you even have children? If you do what is your idea of a fair price for a quality education for your children?
My daughter is currently attending New York University of Law.
Tuition $44,820
Health/Registration/Service Fees $1,376
Room and Board $20,914
Federal Loan Origination Fees $308
Books and Supplies $1,370
Health Insurance - Basic Plan $1,262
Total $70,050
She is living off campus in a 400 sq ft apt at $2000 a month. Along with the inflated cost of living that is New York City
She get's little in grants and scholarships and will graduate with well over $150,000 of debt that she must repay. She does this without any whining and a determination and drive to make her mark and create a new and better world.
How she deals with the outrageous cost and pending debt is beyond my financial comprehension.
I fear what will happen to the generations who follow if we don't prioritize and make educating our children job one.
Without the best educated, most experienced and motivated teachers we will never get there. Money motivates in a capitalistic society, if it isn't motivating you I'd fire you if you were my employee. Words are easy, try teaching, in a school setting, for a living. I wouldn't for $50,000 and benefits. Teaching may be a noble calling but it's not being a priest or minister.
Unions assure fairness. Incompetent managers force me to work with incompetent employees. I was Chief Steward of a union local representing over 300 employees. If management would do their jobs competently I could never protect an incompetent worker, and wouldn't want to. I get stuck working with them, in my line of work they could have cost me my life. But thanks to incompetent managers.....
Just curious. What school district do you reside in? What percentage of the teachers in that district would you label as not performing to their level of expectation, and have an inflated view of their importance - and they expect the inflated paycheck and benefits to go along with it?
What are you yourself doing in demanding that the superintendent and board address these issues?
My children are now finished with the community school system yet I still see the taxes I pay toward educating my area children as the most important priority and first to get consideration for my support of increased school millage's. I live in Almer Twsp and support Caro Community Schools. The board and superintendent have always done a fine job managing funding and I would wish them so much more to work with. I will always pay what I can afford and then a little if necessary to assure quality education. I will hope for the finest minds when it comes to teachers and pay accordingly without complaint. Something my daughter is teaching me. Who'd a thunk!
November 10, 2009
8:40 a.m.Report inappropriate content
wkoper,
I do have children and my children would be in the Mayville School District if we had not opted for schools of choice.
I agree, there are school districts in this county that manage their resources well and provide a quality education. There are school boards in this county that take the responsibility of managing the schools very seriously, and it shows in every aspect from the quality of their staff to the maintenance of their buildings. These are fine examples of fiscal responsibility and community involvement.
And then there are the school districts that elect board members that have ulterior motives and are obsessed with their own importance. There are school districts that buckle to the demands of less than mediocre teachers that believe they should be paid an exhorbitant salary and retirement pension benefits, in addition to a PAID health care package that is better than anything any GM employee or retiree could have ever imagined. All for below average MEAP scores, a laughable sports program, no extra-curricular activities, etc.
When it comes to dissecting an issue, all variables must be analyzed. When an individual is continuously rewarded for bad performance, what is the motivation to ever improve?? This is what is happening in Mayville, and it has been this way for years. I pulled my children out a long, long time ago and I have since had the great pleasure of watching them blossom in a different district that values the education of their children. It is only now, after years of fraud and deterioration that a few parents and grandparents in Mayville have started to take notice of their reputation as the laughingstock of Tuscola County and are searching for ways to improve their schools. Electing a new board and demanding better performance from an overpaid, unionized staff is the place to start.
As to your comment about not choosing to be a teacher for $50k a year, kudos to you for acknowledging that teaching isn't the job for you. That job is definitely not for everyone. BUT, when you do choose to do the job, do it well. Especially one as important as educating the next generation.