It probably has to do with the fact that teachers do not want to put the hours without pay.

It is amazing how teachers are the only group of professionals who demand that every minute of their time be compensated.

Most professionals in the private sector put in many many hours and no one counts overtime. We just want to get our work done, and it is expected of us, regardless of the time we have to put.

My guess is that teachers feel that since they are taking a "pay cut) (days off without pay) that their work load should be reduced.

I do know that teachers get stipends for things like outdoor ed, or if they stay at school for events like Science fairs.

Maybe they used to get stipends for Open House and won't anymore? Just a guess.

Teachers already have a part time job in the sense that they do not work 12 months, and are now refusing a few hours per year for open house and conferences? Well, hopefully the at risk conferences will take place from 3-5 instead of having the awful half days for a week

As my neighbor just pointed out, this has nothing to do with compensation. My neighbor says that it is because of the instructional time.

Since teachers agreed to 3 days off, they want to have as much instructional time as possible, and because open house takes so much time to prepare for, they are doing without in order to maximize instructional time on the days the students are in school.

That is what I was told by my neighbor who has kids in the PUSD schools.

I will address the first one. Perhaps it is because of this:

Since instructional time has been cut due to furlough days necessary to help the district with the budget crisis, teachers do not want to spend the remaining time prepping and decorating for a showcase classroom for Open House. Instead, our teachers would like to use the time they have for as many instructional minutes as they can for the remainder of the school year.

Regarding the 2nd issue, I don't see this as an issue see this as an issue, since the teachers I have encountered are always ready to meet for anything throughout the whole year. Designated conference times are not necessary since I can meet with my son's teacher whenever I need to, as many times in the year.

Thank you for your explanation, that makes sense. Re: open house, I see the point but would still love an opportunity for our kids to showcase their work, even w/o extra decorating or showcasing. As for the conferences, you are absolutely right, our teachers are always willing to meet.
Thanks again!

So should we assume we will not have conference week next year? The teachers had half days for about 3 days and then all day Friday off.

As quoted from "Teacher want to count..." poster: First, you seem so negative and upset. I want to guess that you haven't had very positive experiences with your own teachers/schools?


It probably has to do with the fact that teachers do not want to put the hours without pay.
-You have NO idea just HOW MANY hours many teachers put into their job beyond their paid hours! Funny how often some non-teachers want to make the same point you do...

It is amazing how teachers are the only group of professionals who demand that every minute of their time be compensated.
-Yeah right. I'm afraid to count all the "donated" hours I've given then dividing it by the amount per hour I get paid for fear that it might come out near minimum wage. EVERY job, not just teaching requires a certain amount of hours beyond what is required.

Most professionals in the private sector put in many many hours and no one counts overtime. We just want to get our work done, and it is expected of us, regardless of the time we have to put.
-EVERY job, not just private sector and not just teaching requires a certain amount of hours beyond what is required!

My guess is that teachers feel that since they are taking a "pay cut) (days off without pay) that their work load should be reduced.
-Makes sense to me...less pay, less work. Have you thought about how much time some of what has been cut takes? Bet you're not a teacher?

I do know that teachers get stipends for things like outdoor ed, or if they stay at school for events like Science fairs.
-Obviously NOT a teacher! No teacher in PUSD get an "extra" stipend for the above mentioned. They are an expected part of the job.

Maybe they used to get stipends for Open House and won't anymore? Just a guess.
-A very poor guess at that. You really ought to find out the FACTS before posting.

Teachers already have a part time job in the sense that they do not work 12 months, and are now refusing a few hours per year for open house and conferences? Well, hopefully the at risk conferences will take place from 3-5 instead of having the awful half days for a week
-Let me guess, you're one of those who think teachers get PAID for not working over the summer?! "Awful half days"?! Don't know about you, but it gives many parents more time to spend with their kids. The kids sure don't think it's "awful"...

I thought it might help to post the email the superintendent sent out today (below my comments). My comments are:

1. The furlough days--I still have not gotten a response from the district about Kids Club. Open? Closed? If closed, I think parents should not pay for those days. It was a service promised that won't be provided; working parents will incur a cost either in taking time off or paying an alternate sitter on those three days.

2. Open Houses--aren't these big fundraising nights for the sites? Seems silly to throw good money away. I think the instructional time argument is weak. Why weren't the minutes from the three furlough days added to the rest of the school year if instructional time was such a worry? I've asked this already.

3. Conference days--will these then be instructional days? That would seem to be the conclusion to draw. There can't be so many at risk children that the other students should miss instructional time here too.

The following is a message from PUSD Superintendent John Casey:

To all Pleasanton Unified families,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the staff of the Pleasanton Unified
School District, I would like to extend thanks for the support shown by
families during the current budget situation. PUSD has made reductions of
$11 million for the current year, and we are faced with a projected $8
million in cuts for next year (2010/11). To address the budget crisis,
employees have made concessions, and other cost-saving measures have been
implemented by the District, resulting in some changes for students and
families.

The first change is a reduction in instructional days for the current
year. Schools will be closed to students on three additional days this
year. These days are:

Thursday, April 1, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The second change is in regard to Open House events. The loss of three
instructional days will reduce the number of hours that students have to
learn. Because of the significant preparation and planning time required
for Open Houses, the decision has been made to preserve instructional time
and cancel these events at elementary and middle schools for this year and
next.

Finally, for next year (2010/11), there will also be three fewer
instructional days and a change to the elementary conference schedule.
Parents/guardians of at-risk students will be scheduled for conferences in
the fall. Other families will not receive an automatic invitation to a
conference but will be scheduled if requested. The calendar for 2010/11
has not yet been established, and we anticipate having that information
available within a few weeks.

Pleasanton Unified appreciates that these changes may present a challenge
to families. I want to thank you in advance for your support and assure
you that the excellence of our schools and high level of student
achievement will continue to be our priority.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office at 925-426-4304 if you have
any questions.

Kathleen, I was going to make the same point. Open House is a perfect opportunity for fundraising. I guess it shows that the district is not interested in fundraising; only higher taxes. What a shame.

Keeping the open house would be irrational and silly. The classroom time is what the children need. The right decision was made, as usual.

The children are already doing the work that is displayed at the Open Houses. So is the superintendent saying that the students will not be doing the assignments that are displayed at open houses? Or is this just a vindictive move to 'punish' the community for not supporting the parcel tax last year?

Or just that the teachers don't want to be present?

I say that the parents demand that the individual schools open the doors as planned, and perhaps the students themselves can show the parents what they have done during the year.

a reader, Open houses also create community, and I'm really not sure what all the prep is--it's mostly a social evening. Not like Back to School nights, but those are probably next on the cut list.

Some of you are so pathetic with your assumptions about teachers. In no other profession do we judge people as harsh as we do teachers. Everybody thinks they know what to do and how to do it, everyone has an opinion. Why don't you volunteer and walk through a classroom door and have the teacher show you the standards that need to be taught to these kids and how that takes place each day, then roll up your sleeves and jump in to teach some of these lessons to the kids. Then maybe you will see that it really isn't as easy as all of you make it seem. You wouldn't like it if people were on blogs criticizing your professon, so why don't you back off pretending like you guys know it all and put your energy into something new. Your complaining is getting old.

If you can honestly say you don't understand what all of the prep work is for, then you have no clue about teaching. It takes hours and hours to get our classrooms ready-especially now that custodial hours have been cut and we need to clean our rooms. And don't tell me that we are the only profession that wants to count every single extra hour we work. I put my kids down to bed at 7 tonight, went back to school from 7:30 - 10 to work, and I'm not getting paid a cent (this is after I worked from 7:45 - 4:30 and didn't take a lunch). It's fine, I don't expect it. But you need to understand that this is what I do almost every single day and I do expect that people in this community will appreciate my hard work instead of talking about topics they have little knowledge about.

Maybe fundraising takes place at the elementary levels, but the middle schools have been saying for years that they get little money at Open House. If you look at the amount the district spends on electricity, fundraising doesn't even come close to covering the costs.

Crazed, I work in K-12 education and have friends and family that are/were teachers. I don't underestimate what is expected of them. Couldn't do it myself. I actually will wonder out loud whether teachers even made these decisions.

I am actually glad that we no longer have Open House. It is a waste of time imo, and the work displayed is mostly the work parents already saw since these are projects kids completed at home.

As far as conferences only for at risk kids, that has been in place for a long time. There used to be a conference for everyone in the fall, but the springtime the conferences were reserved for at risk kids, yet we all had to put up with the half days. Will teachers take care of this at risk conferences from 3-5?

During conferences, when we had them, we did not learn anything new, and our conference only lasted 10-15 minutes because there was nothing to discuss, no problems, child doing fine.

If conferences and Open House are taking time away from instruction, by all means get rid of them.

That being said, if the district and Casey are so concerned with instructional time as stated in the email posted, then why don't they make the 3 furlough days be at thanksgiving time? The students already don't go to school the entire week of thanksgiving, yet most districts only give thursday and friday off so why not make those 3 extra days off the furlough days?

This makes me very sad. Open House and parent conferences are really important in building the school community. The parents who MOST need encouragement to get involved (working parents, single parents, immigrant families with English as a second language) need scheduled conferences and open houses as these are sometimes the ONLY time they interact with the school. It is well known that parent engagement in their child's education is one of the most important factors for success -- WAY more important than one or two more uninterrupted instructional days.

I get the sense the teachers are using the furlough days as a "we'll show them" moment to make sure the parents really feel the brunt of the cut.

The real losers will be the kids, who get SO excited showing their parents their classrooms and their work at open house.

Reasonable, well said.

Why can't there be a modified open house? Come in, let the child show parents around the class, a snapshot of whatever is going on in the class at that time - no special work would need to be displayed. Families would have a chance to visit the next grade level classrooms and school labs. If custodial issues are the real concern, I know parents would help clean the classroom prior to the event.
There is something about this cut that simply doesn't add up.

Confused:

I like the idea of an "easy" modified open house. Just any opportunity for kids to show their parents around the classroom in the evening when everyone has time.

"I get the sense the teachers are using the furlough days as a "we'll show them" moment to make sure the parents really feel the brunt of the cut."

While I am OK with no Open House, I do think that teachers are trying to make a point.

The 3 furlough days for instance are a slap in the face to parents. We already deal with 3 extra days off at thanksgiving, something most school districts don't do. Now we have 3 extra days off. If the teachers really wanted to call this a pay cut, they would have kept working as usual and just agree to make the 3 extra thanksgiving days off the furlough days.

My child also told me how in class they were told teachers took a pay cut. I explained that it is not a paycut, teachers are not working certain days and therefore not getting paid.

I fully agree that kids should be spared all the budget and pay cut discussion. We don't need our children feeling guilty over the cost of their education when they are far too young to understand or to do anything about it.

Too many teachers (at all grade levels) are using their position in the classroom to lecture the children about this. Every time they run out of paper they remind the kids "because of budget cuts we have no money to buy paper" I guess this is in hopes that they will go home and complain to the parents?

"Reasonable" and "Confused" - I agree. Well stated.

I feel if these types of cuts continue we'll see the gap between teachers and parents grow wider. I think that what "Crazed" and "If you don't understand" don't understand is you are talking about our children and their education. It's very personal to parents. I know my first thoughts when reading this were about my children and how these cuts would affect them. They were upset there wouldn't be an Open House - it is the part of the year they so look forward to. Open House, I believe, was all about the kids...

I have attempted to help teachers anyway I could. I pay A LOT more in property taxes than most (remember that thanks to prop 13 we all don't pay the same amount). I am a constant volunteer in my school - on field trips, helping teach in classrooms, and fundraising for the schools. I've attended board meetings. I've always given extra money to the PTA, to classrooms at the beginning of the year, participated in and attended any fundraisers, and brought in anything my teachers have ever said they needed. However, I am quickly becoming a disillusioned supporter.

I've seen firsthand how hard teachers work in these jobs - I appreciate how difficult the job can be. There are many parents, working full time jobs and working in the home, who are also working very hard and putting in LOADS of unpaid hours volunteering as well, most recently to raise funds for our schools. However, we can only continue to give so much without feeling like we're starting to be taken advantage of.

I don't see it as parents attempting to slam teachers as much as we are trying to protect our kids.

Exactly. The politics should not involve the kids in any way. As a parent, I will use my time, money, and energy support the schools, fundraise, assist teachers, contact the legislature, and lobby at the local level for stable funding. However, I absolutely draw the line at involving my kids. They spend a big part of their day at school and they need to be able to learn and develop friendships their without the politics of the budget situation adding a sense of unease. It is up to us adults to fix the situation.
That's why this open house thing in particular has me beginning to feel very concerned about the intent behind the message being sent to families. I additionally feel that schools should remain protest-free zones - this morning I saw how traffic was backed up and kids were admitted to class late because of the event at our school. It begins to impact the all important instructional time at that point.

You know, I find it so funny that so many parents are such whiners today. I make it a point of speaking to all of my sons teachers (after school, on their personal time or course) and I know that most of them buy hundreds of dollars in supplies each year for all of the high school students who show up without paper, pencils, etc. I find it funny that in other state-service type positions (like police and fire departments) those employees are paid overtime--and LOTS of it. I'm not against it because the work they do is important, but I do find it interesting that no one ever complains about them getting paid for every hour they work, yet we all expect teachers to plan, meet with parents, grades papers and prep for free!

As for parents who want an Open House to see their kids work--they have one everyday! It's called after-school. Take some time out of your schedule one day a quarter and you can see the beautiful displays of student work that teachers are constantly posting. AND--it won't cost the district thousands of dollars in clean-up, electricity, supplies, security, etc. I do this and it's great! Stop the Whining--please!

I think you are very rude to accuse people of whining. Open house is an opportunity for our kids to be with their classmates and show their families their rooms and their school in a specially designated timeframe. I am in my kids' classrooms on a regular basis, but it's not the same as open house night and if you've been to one, you know what I'm talking about.
Secondly, no one is expecting the teachers to do all that stuff for free. That is an old argument and is misleading.
Finally, people should be able to support their schools AND express their concerns without being called names. Let's behave with maturity here, please.

"I guess this is in hopes that they will go home and complain to the parents? "

I think so, and because of that I quit giving donations. I too plan to make a point. I will buy whatever my children need, but if the teacher wants paper or anything else, a note needs to be sent to me, rather than using my child as the messenger who feels guilty about the teachers' situation.

I agree with the sense of community regarding Open House, especially in Middle School as you walk to each class with your child - family time - passing by smiling saying hello to parents you haven't seen in awhile it is all part of the Pleasanton parent community. I am sure you all are aware of towns/communities that the teachers/school host Open House and there aren't any parents who show up. We are so fortunate that we live in this community. It's too bad, but PFA/PTA will continue to be creative to host events to bring the parent communities together.

Did the school board consider starting school after Labor Day (like several school districts) - that is 4 days. Yes, it is all good for more family time, good for the kids, parents can compensate with activities at home, etc. But it sure does put a crimp in the the schedule for working parents and rather short notice for those who have already made Spring Break plans.

Just curious, maybe they can consider for 2010/2011 school year.

"I know that most of them buy hundreds of dollars in supplies each year for all of the high school students who show up without paper, pencils, etc."

Teachers should contact parents whose kids are at school without supplies. If there is a financial hardship, a request to the PTA should be made. No need for teachers to spend their own money. I buy everything my children need, and everyone I know does the same. I wonder how many kids really go to school without supplies. I know many teens refuse to wear sweaters and that has nothing to do with not owning one. Perhaps if the parents whose kids are showing up at school without proper supplies should be contacted. My guess is that they are able to afford to buy the supplies. The low income population in our schools is very small according to statistics.

"Did the school board consider starting school after Labor Day (like several school districts) - that is 4 days"

That is a good idea, in fact most private schools have that schedule. For some reason, my friend's kids who are in a good private school, do not get as many days off and get to end the school year before public schools do. Eliminating so many days off throughout the year is another possibility. Kids are about to have a week off, april 2-9, except now they have added april 1 to that. Kids had so many mondays off beginning in january, they had days off at thanksgiving, the teachers can certainly agree to have some of these days be the furlough days or start the year in september or some combination.

While I am actually happy about no Open House because it overlaps with work and other activities, I can understand parents' frustration about it. It would be like some of us in the private sector deciding to stop doing part of our job, say attend weekly staff meetings because we did not get a pay raise or saw a pay cut or the equivalent of a furlough day, now that would get us in the layoff list pretty quickly, wouldn't it?

"As for parents who want an Open House to see their kids work--they have one everyday! It's called after-school."
Some teachers close and lock their doors after school.

Teachers don't want to have Open House - great. A loss for the school as a community, but fine.

Teacher's don't want conferences in fall - great. I'll make sure I request one for my child and I'm sure I'll be granted one.

When I moved here, Pleasanton schools were presented as being these great "communities" with teachers and parents working together.

Hmm...

Teachers are willing to work with parents that are willing to work with them. But giving in to demanding, snobby parents who feel like they are entitled to anything?? That is what is not happening anymore.

Entitled? Strange application of the word. Those "snobby parents" are taxpaying customers.

"taxpaying customers"? Hmmm.....less taxes actually paying for our schools, less services. Yet you want it all the same as it was. In my job, we took pay cuts the same as the administrators and teachers, we cut back on "extras" that took time away from our productivity, AND my company raised prices for the customers. Funny that this is the piece the community cant accept. You can call us customers, yet you sure dont act like one! I would call that entitled. Kathleen is a great example of that.

"Teachers should contact parents whose kids are at school without supplies."

Wouldn't coming to school with the proper school supplies be the student's responsibility? If the child is too young, then wouldn't that be the parent's responsibility to make sure they have all of their supplies? And not just the first day of school, but everyday?

Yet you want the teachers to contact you personally? I volunteer in the classroom, and kids without paper, pens, pencils, their library books, their homework, etc. happens all the time- and from kids whose parents can afford the supplies.

This is another great example of entitlement, and a waste of my child's teacher's time.

I really think that it was selfish of the teachers to drop the open house. It makes kids just think teachers are lazy. Sometimes the only way both parents get to meet the teachers is on that open house night.

I think of the day that each school was planning to have an open house, the kids should just "strike" and not to school.

It's time for the kids to be heard. And many of us reading this stuff have just about had it.

I’m not paying less in taxes, are you? I most certainly don’t want things the same. Where did you ever see me say that? I get dinged all the time for believing CSR costs too much for the return on that dollar.

Here’s what I posted on the Day of Action topic and in many other ways: There is no argument that state legislators and the economy have hurt education. As you know, I take exception when it comes to some of the decisions made in PUSD that put a good community at peril before outside forces made it worse. Imagine if Measure G had been run properly and earlier, if the district was transparent about . . . well, everything, if better choices had been made. Had the district been able to say, "we have conserved (reserves) and been good stewards (S&C, COLAs) of your tax dollars, but now need your help to keep those programs in place that the community is known to value: ___fill in the blank___ (CSR at X:X, seventh period day, Barton, counselors)"; where might we be now? I certainly would have been a supporter.

Side note: your customers can walk away from the higher prices if they wish and head for the competition. Can’t do that in education. Or are you ready to provide vouchers so parents can take their money to a school of their choice? I think everyone I know that has seen cutbacks took on more responsibility, not just because they valued having a job (and it is true they do), but because they take pride in what they are doing, in their abilities, and in the services they provide to others. I am happy to be “a great example of that.”

Lynn, I am puzzled by the open house thing too. It's a fundraising night for one thing; seems to be cutting off a nose. I'd like to think teachers did not make this decision. Can a teacher respond to that?

It is difficult to see any other goal than to spite the community. There is no instructional time gained. And I'll go back to, if the goal/concern was instructional minutes, why weren't the furlough day minutes added to the other school days of the year--even just enough to account for an open house. A mere blip IMHO.

The other wonder is the loss of good will with the community. Why would you say neener, neener--and then hope a parcel tax will pass? Maybe if services continue to be cut we'll get at a better system or a choice to go elsewhere . . . a current example is watching the USPS implode.