Monday, May 30, 2011

The lift

For the longest time, there has been a fairly serious water penetration problem with the second floor windows in the old high school.

The problem has existed since the remodeling of 2001.  It's bad enough that just about any significant rain, will prompt the need for towels and drip catch buckets.

However, according to the director of building and grounds we don't have a water penetration problem.  We all know, this guy knows better since he makes more money than those who have to deal with the problem regularly.  Secondly the annual safety training, reiterates the seriousness of potential mold  problems.

A $7 dollar tube of silicon was used to fix one of the windows by an employee that was getting sick of this stupidity.

Couple that with another reason to get a lift, and we finally have an attempt to fix the problem.

The other reason was window stickers.  These identify the room number from the outside of the building, probably prompted by all the school shootings.  So this is not a bad idea.  What is stupid is ordering window stickers that have to be applied from the outside, and from a vendor who installed all the first floor ones, but (like the head of building and grounds) is afraid of heights.

So regular employees were told to install the second floor ones.  So there were two reasons to get a lift, and that finally convinces them.

So they pick a day over spring break and tell us there will be a lift from Fred Rents.  It's a no show, the director blames the vendor, the vendor says the director never confirmed the order.

It was suggested to check across the street, with the De Pere municipal garage.  They have a boom truck, that probably only gets used to put up the Christmas decorations.  But apparently the director has a "buddy" (Dan Bins) at Fred Rents in Neenah.

Next non-school break comes, the lift arrives.  Day two, the jig-boom part dies.  After much arm twisting, a second lift arrives (this too has issues, like slipping gears), and it gets done.

This is an old building built in the 1940's, and the vines that used to be on the West side of the building did a number on the tuck-pointing.

The calking made the problem about 75% better, and buys time for a more permanent fix, such as further tuck-pointing.  It did cure the annual bats in the building though.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

All De Pere Admins got a raise

It light of all the cut backs and wages freezes, co-workers and the public has been wondering how the De Pere administrators wages have been impacted.

After a bit more digging. It seems not every admin in Green Bay and got the same percent increase. Which is interesting... some principals got 1.07%, others 1.96%.. a couple didn't get a raise at all from 2010 to 2011 for whatever reason.  I guess they give raises to their non-union admins based on merit.

Howard Suamico is the same, one principal got a 3.03% raise, another admin there got a 2.62% raise.

Ashwaubenon Superintendent 1.96%, Green Bay Superintendent 1.07%, Denmark Superintendent 2.84%, Howard Suamico 2.70%.

I have to say that actually makes sense as admin are not union members, and I don't see why every admin in De Pere got 3.1% for 2011.

In all fairness the School Board Minutes indicate admins raise was approved by the board June 12, 2010. (Before the Walker Act 10 announcement)
"A Motion was made by Paque and seconded by Growt to approve compensation for administrative and non-represented personnel for the 2010-2011 school year as presented and attached to these minutes. Motion carried on a voice vote; all ayes."
And for 2012 they received a 1.5% raise. This was approved by the school board June 20, 2011.
"A Motion was made by Paque and seconded by Growt to approve a salary increase of 1.5% for members of the administrative and non-represented staff, as presented. Motion carried; all ayes."
This is the problematic one. In March all other staff agreed to a two year wage freeze, and had to accept the stipulations of Act 10, involving increased deductions for health insurance and retirement.
For the 2012-13 school year DPI data shows no raise for administrators. Pressure from the unrest created by taking one last year undoubtedly has something to do with this. The real question and test of honesty will be if they take one next year. So far administration has only froze their wage for one year, while everyone else took two. From the Nov, 18 2013 Mins:
A motion was made by Meneau and seconded by Matzke to approve a 2.36% salary increase for administrators, supervisors and exempt staff for the 2013-2014 school year.

So everyone except the highest paid people (admin) had a two year wage freeze, while they skated away with one measly year.

That is kind of a slap in the face by administration and the board to just months later approve a modest raise for themselves to help offset the new deductions, and not extend that offer to everyone else. Some fine leadership!

To look at the raw WI DPI data, go here: http://lbstat.dpi.wi.gov/lbstat_newasr

 
Keep in mind, De Pere WI is the only city to have two school districts. Why that is not being brought up in this climate of taxpayer scrutiny is beyond me.

{Update}
The August 1, 2013 Green Bay Press Gazette, has an article titled, "School administrator raises outpace teachers."

Teacher salaries rose slightly across Wisconsin’s public schools last year, but they paled in comparison to pay bumps for several top administrators, a Gannett Wisconsin Media review of state Department of Public Instruction data shows.