What's The Big Deal? Part 2

I majored in acting at Illinois State University. We had a lovable acting professor named Patrick. Patrick's greatest tool as a teacher was his passion. Passion for the work. Passion for acting. Passion for the students.

He wasn't a bad drinking buddy either.

Well, Patrick has gotten himself into some trouble. Seems he's gone and kissed a student. A male student. You can read the article here.

When I attended, this would not have surprised me much. I never felt threatened, but it happened. There were some occasions when a complaint went to the head of the department, or the dean. Usually I thought this an overreaction.

College friends have written about it. You can read some here, here, here and here. Some feel that Patrick has been wronged. Some think if the student's feelings had been brought to Patrick's attention he would have stopped. Some argue, well, it is a theatre department. Behavior as a norm is a little more experimental. All, go on record as his friend.

I can't help but think that these are excuses that friends make for another friend. That if the victim had been a women and the Professor less lovable, we wouldn't hesitate to call it harassment. Even in this case, some who knew Patrick, feel he crossed the line years ago.

I made fun of Mark Foley, who I'm not sure did anything illegal, here myself and I'm embarrassed by another Congressional cover-up. I don't think we enabled a sexual predator in Patrick, but I think I should be consistent.

He's a friend.

I think his behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional.

I'd still go drinking with him anytime.

Elmhurst Teachers Council Vs. Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205: Pt. 3

Looks like the Teachers Union and the School Board have come to an agreement on a two-year contract.

This is good news; no strike. I hope they feel they got a fair deal.

I'm happy, if the teachers are happy.

First Day Of School

Today was Philip's first day of school. Preschool, actually. He attends Precious People classes at the local YMCA. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Nine a.m. till eleven a.m. He was enrolled in the same class, same teacher, last spring semester. So, it isn't a completely new experience for him. He was fairly excited to go back, see his friends and teachers.

Why the YMCA? One, the price is right. I don't like to put a price on my kids education, but let's be honest, the cost of a standard Montessori school is a bit much. There is probably something to be said for rampant consumerism invading our school choices too. I'm not the guy to make it other then to say, the costliest isn't always the best.

Two, we love the facilities. No it ain't much to look at, but they take the kids swimming ever week. In the winter they ice skate and swim. Very few preschool programs offer that. Philip's heroic level of energy require's it. Activity equals expended energy which equals naps. Sweet, sweet naps.

First days of school occur for millions all over the world. Normal. Ordinary. What is just as common, but much more difficult, is the feeling a parent has as they leave their child behind at that school. The child is partially on their own, partially in the school's care. Most important, they are not in my care.

Your child trusts you to keep them safe. We drop them off and trust that they will be. I trust the parents of his fellow students. All the parents trust the other members of the Y coming and going. You trust the community the school is in. Strangers in a web of trust, or TrustWeb, for our purposes. If you asked me if I trusted a stranger with my son, I'd say no. I'd be lying. I trust strangers everyday to keep them safe. I should be more honest. When that safety is menaced, history tells us it will be those strangers first to help.

Thought I would forget the most important reason we attend the Y? We like the teacher. Her name is Ms. Maryellen. After meeting her last semester we were impressed with her patience, openness and creativity. I try to get daily behavior reports on Philip plus any homework for me; ways I can re enforce what she is working on with the kids. She has been very good for Philip. We trust her.

Elmhurst Teachers Council Vs. Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205: Pt. 2

So we got some new info today courtesy of the Elmhurst Press. Seems that the proposal from the School board is still not satisfactory to the teachers. They want a larger salary increase and expect significant increases in the retirement proposal. That the salaries are lower then Naperville District 203 seems to be a sticking point. They are about $2600 lower.

Why is Naperville the yard stick? Is it the highest paying district in the state? Do their teachers walk through the streets like, Pimps On parade, sporting their Bling? Is there gonna be a throw down? It's the only other school district ever mentioned.

We also got some bad news that the Districts was over budget in regards to school construction and improvement, to the tune of $1 million. I never liked those fast-tracked smarty-pants anyways.

But then we got some good news, they are spending $500,000 to upgrade tech equipment at the district schools. I guess the microfiche machines are getting old.

There is another Elmhurst publication, The Elmhurst Independent, that has more info. Unfortunately they have no website to link to. We are efforting some kind of link.

This is a quote from comments Joan Davis, Chief Union Negotiator for the teachers, made in response to my earlier entry.

"You are right - teachers need a competitive salary but unlike big business, school districts don't have "big pockets". One correction-until we settle this, we are working under our old contract. As of now - all we want is for the Board to recognize that we are not replaceable, care about our students and deserve a little more. Keep you posted."

So the teachers do have a contract. Their old one.

I believe her when she says they care about the students.
I believe they are not replaceable, within reason of course.
I believe they probably deserve a little more. Elmhurst is pretty frickin' expensive.

But how much is to much and what can the School District afford? This is what I want to find out.

According to the Elmhurst Independent Aug. 23rd edition, in an article I can't link to, District 205 has approved a budget of over $90 million for 2006/2007. Their largest budget ever, with appropriations for $81,612,441 and reserves. That is a 8.75% increase from the 2005/2006 budget. The article goes on to say that the Educational Fund represents 76.6% of their total budget, with salaries being 74% of the Educational Fund.

This same article describe a surplus for the 2006/2007 year of $489,562. So that's good news. But there are projects going on that are coming in over budget. I'm not savvy enough about this stuff.

If anyone can help me decipher that info, please do. Is 74% going towards salaries to much?

I also linked to a rather angry letter in the Elmhurst Press in an earlier post. It's not a Pro-teacher letter. The Independent has a very well written response in their letters I wish I could link to. Here is a teacher defending herself and other teachers that I can link to, here. Her defense answers a couple of the accusations from the first letter. Not directly, since she is in Virginia I think, but generally if you are asking yourself these same questions.

There will be a School Board Meeting on Aug. 28th. I will try to attend and get some answers.

I also welcome anyone's help in getting to the bottom of this, correcting my mistakes or improving my blog.

Elmhurst Teachers Council Vs. Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205

We all went to school. We all had teachers. Some good. Some bad. Some competent. Some incompetent. But occasionally we have a great teacher. It doesn't happen often when you figure how many teachers you had in your life.

I consider myself lucky I had as many good ones as I did. Most were merely there to hand me tests, grade those tests and record that I had fulfilled the requirements of that class.

Some took the time to construct their class to maximize learning. Took the time to make sure I was learning. Took the time to make sure I understood the work. The ideas. Took the time to teach me how to teach myself for the rest of my life. The kind of teachers I hope The Boys have.

One of those great ones was Mrs. Joan Davis. My sophomore criminology and junior U.S. History teacher at York Community High School in Elmhurst. I learned more getting D's in her class than any A's I got. (I didn't get many.)

Joan, as she makes me call her now, has been in the news (here, here and here) a lot lately in Elmhurst. She is the Elmhurst Teachers Councils Chief Negotiator in the negotiations with the 205 School Board.

The teachers have no contract.

From what I understand the teachers want more money based on two reasons;

1. To create an attractive job for better teachers to come to District 205.
2. To properly compensate the teachers for rising living costs.

The School board claims the salary requests are at odds with the money they have.

Seems like a classic Labor Vs. Management debate. My sympathies lie with the teachers, but I also understand that there are limits to everything and a need to operate things with financial responsibility.

I'm going to try and find out more about this. I'm rather naive when it comes to these things. I've never been in a union. I've never been in Management. I've never been a teacher. I've never been on a school board.

But I have been a student. Not a good student but... A student of Mrs. Davis, and I'll tell you this. As a student, teachers like Joan Davis are worth it and don't come around often.