Budget still a burden for schools Schools & Kids, posted by Editor, Pleasanton Weekly Online, on Nov 21, 2008 at 4:27 pm
The state of the school district's budget appears to have gone from bad to worse. As California's deficit climbs to an estimated $11.2 billion, educational funding will likely take a hit as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a $9.2-billion plan to cut state spending and increase revenue.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, November 20, 2008, 2:52 PM
Posted by Voter and taxpayer, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 21, 2008 at 4:27 pm
No COLA, big deal! Many people are losing their jobs, and I am sure they would be happy to remain employed even if it meant not getting a raise.
PUSD employees (everyone, from admin to teachers) need to go without a raise, rather than trying to tap into other sources (such as cutting valuable programs) just so they can get a raise.
Tough times call for sacrifices from everyone, and PUSD staff should be no different. At the same time, unnecessary positions and expenses must be eliminated.
Posted by What the real world does, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 25, 2008 at 11:54 am
From CNN today, see article. Yes AIG is not the best example of fiscal responsibility, but the article does show that CEOs forgo pay, people go without bonuses, without pay increase during tough times.
Why can't PUSD employees do the same? Since no COLA is given in the budget, then by all means: NO RAISES for anyone in PUSD - that includes teachers, administrators, and yes, Casey. No car allowances, no "gasoline allowance", no goodies, period.
Do the right thing, PUSD staff!
Here is the article:
"November 25th, 2008
AIG chief slashes salary to $1
Posted: 02:25 PM ET
By Kenneth Musante
CNNMoney.com
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — AIG Chief Executive Edward Liddy agreed to slash his annual salary to $1 as part of a series of voluntary pay restrictions by top executives tied to a massive $150 billion government bailout, the company said Tuesday.
AIG will also forgo bonuses this year and eliminate pay increases through 2009 for the firm’s top executives, the AIG statement said.
Liddy, who just joined the company in September, will get paid $1 per year for 2008 and 2009, with his compensation consisting entirely of equity grants — which could include stocks or stock options. While he will not receive bonuses during those years, he will be eligible in 2010 for an “extraordinary performance” bonus. He will also be ineligible for severance payments."
Posted by To Eureka, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 27, 2008 at 11:39 pm
All we are asking is for PUSD staff to do the right thing, and for teachers, administrators, etc, to do what the rest of the nation is doing: adjust according to the budget. There is no need to make our kids' programs be compromised, just so that you guys in PUSD can get a raise that most of the nation is going without.
Posted by Kathy, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 29, 2008 at 11:47 am
It is amazing that all you got out of reading the article was that teachers wanted raises. I did not see anything that said teachers were looking for raises. The reference about AIG is completely out of line, but you would like to take a pay cut down to $1 per year I am sure your employer would love you. I believe teachers are concerned about cutting programs and services that benefit the students. I believe earlier in the year teachers were fighting to save positions (like those of reading specialists), not get raises. Most educators don't go into the profession for the money!
Posted by Qwerty, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2008 at 7:42 am
There are plenty of examples in industry where people take pay cuts of 10% in order to avoid layoffs or to reduce the number of layoffs required. Why can't the school districts do the same? Keep the salaries where they are or ask people to take paycuts so that they don't have to cut programs or lay people off? Asking for raises or expecting them in tough economic times is ridiculous.
Posted by Tom, a resident of the Val Vista neighborhood, on Dec 12, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I have lived in pleasanton for over 30 years and loved raising my family here. I'm grateful for the wonderful safe schools we have.
I believe uur pleasanton schools and our teachers are why pleasanton housing prices have not taken as big of hit as other communities. I appreciate what our schools have done for our community and if a tax increase is needed to make sure we do not lose these valuable resources we should do it. This too will pass let protect our valuable resources.
Our Administrators and teacher pay treatment is not out of line with other job in the Tri Valley area and most teacher cannot affor to purchase property in the town they teach in.
We need to do what ever is possible to hold our teachers and cut as much administration and classified positions as possible.
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