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Parent Comments
The following are excerpts taken from emails
that we have received. Some have been edited for
grammar and most do not appear in their entirety. This is only a
sampling of what we have received. Out of respect for the privacy of
the individuals who have emailed us, no names will be included.
What do you think?
October 2006
(after contract ratification)
The public needs to know what a complete raise is. To
mention only the base raise is very misleading to say the least.
Based on the new contract figures, the majority of the teachers
will still be receiving at least a 5% pay raise. While this is
better than 8% or more from previous years - it is still out of sync
with the community that supports them.
It is important for all parents and taxpayers to know the real
terms of the contract. Thank you for providing this information.
You encourage all of us to stay informed but it would be
difficult to do without your help. Thank you.
ATT announced its new employee/retiree premium charges for next
year. Many will see a 19% cost increase for health care benefits.
Surprise, all major corporations continue to shift health care costs to
the employees.
The D15 Leadership can not continue to ignore the will of those
who elected them and then come to us for help cleaning up their messes.
I commend the 3 board members who stood firm - I will now be watching
the actions of the other 4 closely. Maybe we need to finish what we
started 2 years ago.
I would like to know how paying someone for less work
increases quality.
September and
October 2006 (prior to contract ratification)
I truly hope that a
tentative agreement can be reached (on all points) very soon. I
believe in what you are doing.
I completely agree with the priority of fiscal responsibility and not
endorsing a plan that requires a deficit. I hope teachers realize
that this is not personal; when the well is only so deep, you can't dip
in it anymore. Anyway, thanks for organizing this group.
As concerned parents of two kids in District 15
schools, we do have your same beliefs. We stand behind the Board on what
they are currently offering the teachers for salaries and benefits. I
hope the Board stays strong and realizes that the district parents are
concerned with their children's education and that their education does
not stop in the classroom. It is at home after school and every
evening with their parents helping with homework and supplementing their
learning. We also know as parents that there are sacrifices that
come with making ends meet. We do it every month.
Thank you for heading this important group. I applaud your efforts
and would like to be a part of the group. I emailed all the board
members as you requested. I look forward to your updates. Please let me
know if there is anything I can do to help.
I'm so glad that you
have created this group! I support everything you stated in your email
and would like to be put on your emailing list. I will be at Wed.'s BOE
meeting.
I do think that having good teachers is very important for both our
children and our school district as a whole but we all need to feel the
pain that today's economy has brought to us all. We all need to be
willing to give a little to make things work. For the teachers
union to be as demanding and uncompromising as they appear to be in this
time of difficulty seems unrealistic and inappropriate.
Having lived in SD 15 for over 40 years, and with
grandchildren now in SD 15, I too feel very strongly about what is
taking place with the current negotiations. The kids are first.
The offer is extremely fair and is ahead of the inflation rate. A
strike or walk out by the teachers would be a wrong move on their part.
I have been a tax payer in Palatine SD 15 for over 40 years. While
I am retired, my grandchildren are now attending SD 15 schools. And I
want them to get the same or improved education that my kids received
while attending SD 15 schools. I personally sent emails to each SD
15 Board member, using data (www.kaiserfamilyfoundation.org)
that clearly shows that the union demands are unrealistic. I urged
the Board to reject the unrealistic demands and instead continue to work
to provide a fair package.
(a
letter to the board that was sent to us as well) I am a local business owner,
and I have two children in District 15. I wanted to take a moment out of
my day to say thank you to each of you for trying to keep the district
fiscally responsible. Being a business owner, I understand how
difficult it can be to keep the budget balanced.. .You have a lot of
support behind you from concerned parents like me. Please stand firm in
your negotiations, each of you are doing great work in a very tough
position. With the depletion of industrial jobs in Illinois, it is
amazing to me that the teachers are still asking for guaranteed pay
raises in the coming years. Nobody in the private sector receives
that, or free health care anymore; it is the new reality of the world we
live in.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for forming such a
united group, for expressing our deep concerns, for advocating that we
parents have a voice. You have our full support. Thanks for
your time and courage from the bottom of our hearts.
I want our teachers to feel they are respected and
valued, but I agree that their demands at this time see excessive.
And since the last mediation meeting, they seem to be going backwards in
terms of constructive negotiation related
to healthcare and salaries. (based on what I have read)
Any proposals by the CTC that force the district into deficit spending
are wrong. Deficit spending forces layoffs, program cuts, and huge
class sizes. This is not right. We must live within our
means and so should the CTC.
It is so necessary for parents to make a stand
considering the fact that 72.5% of the districts funds come from our
real estate taxes. I will gladly help with anything you need.
I don't want to sit back and let this just happen to our kids.
Please know that we support our teachers. We do not support the
CTC and their egregious proposals.
Please add me to your list of Concerned Parents.
I have a child at VL and have always appreciated District 15 and the
teachers that have taught my daughters. I grew up in Palatine and
was always proud to be a product of their schools and hoped my kids
would be able to benefit as much as I have from the education received
from District 15. I have also worked various private industries
over the past 20 years and I would love to make as much as these
teachers do and have guaranteed raises each year. Heck most people
who work a full year at 50+ weeks would be grateful knowing they will
have a 9.5% raise over the next few years! . . . Count me in as support
for your cause.
I am a teacher in the district and have read the email being circulated
by your group. While many parents and teachers definitely have
different opinions or perspectives of the current negotiation process
than your group does, I do respect your desire to advocate for your
agenda. Feel free to include me on you mailing list.
If the CTC is unwilling to put out their numbers,
then I have to believe what is being communicated by the BOE.
I personally think the CTC needs to hear loud and clear that the
community, including parents, is not sympathetic and does not support
their positions.
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Kids Must Count!
