School Administrators

Did you know that most school administrators are given 5 weeks of vacation time at the time of hire.

They are salary non-exempt.

Typically when you think of someone on salary, you think the employee is generally expected to devote the number of hours necessary to complete their respective tasks, regardless of whether that requires 35 hours per week or 55 hours per week.

Their compensation doesn't change based on actual hours expended. Exempt employees aren't paid extra for putting in more than 40 hours per week; they're paid for getting the job done.

On the other hand, nonexempt employees must be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours per workweek, so it often behooves employers to keep nonexempt employees' hours down.

Of course districts typically encourage comp-time in lue of overtime pay.

If you are still not pissed off, then start paying attention. De Pere administrators have gotten 3% raises for the last two years while virtually everyone else agreed to a couple years of wage freezes.

Paying Rent on Minimum Wage

From: http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/paying-rent-on-minimum-wage/

May 30, 2012, 2:26 pm
Paying Rent on Minimum Wage
By ANDREW ROSENTHAL

As part of its 2012 report on rent affordability, the National Low Income Housing Coalition released a chart that’s been floating around the Internet. It shows that there isn’t a single state in the country where it’s possible to work 40 hours per week at minimum wage and afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. In West Virginia and Arkansas, you’d need to work at least a 63-hour week, and that’s as good as it gets. In California, Maryland, D.C., New Jersey and New York you’d need to work 130 hours or more. Hawaii comes in last place: 175 hours.

(With permission from the National Low Income Housing Coalition CLICK TO ENLARGE)


I can anticipate a few no-big-deal arguments, starting with the definition of affordability. By “affordable,” the Coalition means paying no more than 30 percent of income for housing costs (rent and utilities). And why a two-bedroom apartment, as opposed to a one-bedroom?

Both of these choices seem reasonable to me. Thirty percent is a generally accepted standard, and there are plenty of single-parent households as well as families where, for various reasons, only one member is able to work.

But even if you quibble with how exactly the Coalition put the chart together, it’s clear that there’s a mismatch between the minimum wage and the cost of living (or at least a decent cost of living). In New York, which is in the midst of a fight over raising the minimum wage, two individuals would need to work 68 hours a week each to manage the rent on a two-bedroom unit. If they have kids, the 70 percent of their paychecks left after rent won’t get them very far.

When he was campaigning for the presidency, Mr. Obama promised to raise the federal minimum wage annually. That hasn’t happened. It’s the same as it was in January of 2009: $7.25 an hour. According to Bloomberg View, that amount, adjusted for inflation, “is actually lower than what a minimum-wage worker earned in 1968.”

Somehow I doubt Mitt Romney will highlight this particular broken promise in an attack ad, but that’s no reason for anyone else to give the president a pass.

The Custodian

In the 1970's and 1980's (as well as before) the daytime school custodian would start the day by starting up the boiler.

Since that time, HVAC systems mostly run themselves. You no longer light pilot lights or that sort of thing. Now-a- days they are retrofitted with pressure relief valves, cut off switches and the like all tied to a computer that basically runs the thing.

After the boiler was running, the janitor would go around the school with a big ring of keys and unlock all the doors in anticipation of the incoming teachers and students about to start their day.

This too has changed. Most buildings have access control systems, with computer controlled timers that unlock outside doors.

The daytime custodian would fix chairs and student desks re-weld and braze them to stretch their lives. In the summer they would strip and re-wax floors.

Many of the other periodic up-keep duties like cleaning out the boiler, re-keying doors are now farmed out to various outside services. Some for obvious liability reasons.

Over the years the evening school activities has increased dramatically. Schools have added on, and increased their size. Prior a part time staff of a couple housekeepers was all that was needed.

Now virtually ever night of the week there is some sort of evening activity. Local colleges rent space for remote classes, YMCA and Scouting groups hold meetings, and with those additions was a multi-court gymnasium that sees constant use.

The evening custodians are setting up for these events, tearing down, and working around and with these groups.

HVAC system problem cancels classes at Heritage Elementary School

From:  http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2012/mar/15/hvac-system-problem-cancels-classes-at-heritage-elementary-school-thursday/

HVAC system problem cancels classes at Heritage Elementary School Thursday
Thursday, March 15, 2012 10:16 a.m. EDT by Jeff Flynt

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Students at Heritage Elementary School in De Pere are going home early Thursday due to a problem with the building's heating system.

School officials announced around 8:40 a.m. that classes would be canceled for the rest of the day. Officials say there's a maintenance issue with the HVAC system.

Parents can pick up their children at De Pere Middle School, 700 Swan Road. If parents are unable to pick up their kids until this afternoon, supervision will be provided at De Pere Middle School and normal pickup procedures will be followed at the regular dismissal time for the middle school.

Parents may call the middle school at 337-1024 to make arrangements.

Of course there is more to this than was reported.  Maintenance staff called the Director of Buildings and Ground Wednesday night reporting a high odor of gas smell.  He responded that he'd look into it Thursday morning.

Pulaski keeps support staff?

Pulaski School Board President, Trina Townsend addressed rumors by writing to the Pulaski Chamber of Commerce:

January 13, 2012

Dear Pulaski Area Chamber Members. In the past few days I have fielded approximately five inquires from local businesses. Apparently they had been told that the "School Board" was going to fire all of the cooks, custodians and bus drivers.

NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH

As you probably are aware, the State of Wisconsin has significantly reduced funding for public education. The state has given school district so-called "tools" to help them manage their budgets. Essentially, the state has stripped many of the powers that employee unions previously possessed.

While many districts last year refused to extend contracts with employee unions, the Pulaski Community School District entered into one-year contract extensions with all of our unions, (teacher, cooks/custodial, para-professionals and bus drivers). All their contracts will expire June 30, 2012. After that time the Board or Education will have more discretion to direct the operations of the district.

In past contracts the district had been prohibited from contracting out for services (i.e. food Services, transportation, custodial) due to language in the collective bargaining agreements (contracts). While many school districts have contracted with private companies to provide these services mainly to control costs, the Pulaski Community School District had been prohibited from doing so.

Knowing that the district would have the ability to contract for services in the future (after June 30, 2012) when the contracts expire, the Board of Education had directed the administration to conduct an analysis regarding this matter. The Board will receive this report on February 1, 2012 at the Board of Education meeting.

As with any business, (the Pulaski Community School District is an almost 50 million dollar business) we must be strategic in our decision making and we must collect data to nuke thoughtful decisions in order for us to serve our customers (children and the community).

When we receive the report on February 1, 2012. we will most likely decide whether or not to request proposals from private companies for the transportation, food service and custodial functions. Even if the board decides to request proposal it docs not mean the district will contract for services.

Original:

A logo

Created to reflect the awesome environment in which the organization conducts itself.

Its sad that officers nostrils flare, and go to instantly defensive responses when questions are asked by their own members.

Members just want assurance that the job they are funding is getting done. Leaving everyone in the dark as to what the elected officers are doing and learning only naturally leaves one to wonder if they are being taken for a ride at their expense.

The officers sure talk the "We, not me" talk, but sure don't act it or show it.

I guess they forgot the active members (that pissed off minority of members, as stated) are the ones that pay the officers dues, and elect them to represent the membership.

Democracy is about power to the people.

Personally, I get very disturbed about the influence of money on politics. I think campaign reform is desperately needed to level the playing field. All that special interest money from both sides tends to drown out the voice of the average person.

Money has infiltrated every nook & cranny of politics. It keeps good people from seeking office, and it drives the agenda of those who are there.

10/15 Meeting

Many members had hoped to see major improvements in the way officers conduct themselves and the meetings in light of the Walker situation.

Instead we learned that the meeting only happened due to members repeated request, instead of on it's own.

Early in the meeting president, Janice comments that the only members that show up to the meeting are pissed off. (Doesn't that tell you something?)

Former treasurer Smits, gives Rita, the new treasurer a hard time about not having conference spending summaries at hand. (That's calling the kettle black, Sue. You didn't save receipts.)

Basically the same old tricks. It seems, all these officers know how to do is get defensive at their own members. How does this help foster unity?

Once again lacking was a report of association business since the last meeting. Such as;
-Conference attended over the summer, by which officers and what were the topics at hand.
-Building issues brought forward.... number of times the executive committee met, etc.

So officers feel unappreciated for their hard work. Perhaps you guys need to tell use what you have done on our behalf since the last meeting. This is defined as a report on new business.

Let members know what you are doing so they feel like they are getting something for their money.

Based on what we see at meetings on the officers who we elected to represent us, we look like a bunch of buffoons. I wonder if these officers conduct themselves the same way in front of district at negotiations?