Comments on: Join teachers in seeking fair settlement

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:24:27 +0000

The classified employees will get whatever the teachers(certified staff) because it is written into their contract. I believe it is called a ""me too" clause.

The Ramona Teachers Union's leader is trying to convey the tremdous damage and hardship that will be done to the teachersif the district makes their proposed cuts. She is a brave woman who is willing to sacrifice her personal life/freetime to defend her fellow Ramona teachers. If you have problems with her numbers thats ok, but don't attach her personally. She is just standing up for her co-workers.

By: Involved Parent

Involved Parent — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:30:18 +0000

Part Two:
The DO administrators need to take a reduction in pay but the various departments at the DO need to downsize. Do we really need 4-5 employees working in the HR department? Do we really need so many Asst. Superintendents? Couldn't we just go with directors who are on a lower pay scale? With a district our size one Superintendent and one Assistant Superintendent should be enough. All the departments at the DO could be trimmed.
School Board members: Keep the cuts out of the classroom!

By: Involved Parent

Involved Parent — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:29:45 +0000

Part One:
Here is some info the general public probably doesn't know about. The district had a study done on future developers fees. The study was done by an outside firm (Dolinka Group, LLC) and presented to the RUSD School Board March 1, 2012. Here is the finding:
Future residential units are anticipated to be built resulting in 337 new elementary school students, 10 new middle school students, and 561 new high school students. That means there will be developers fees coming in even though the district has been telling everyone developer fees are dried up. It also means more ADA (money per students from the state). The study also said the facilities cost of the DO (not the personnel) is $726,400 per year. Why not make a cut at the DO facility instead of making cuts in the classroom. (i.e. low paid teachers, large class sizes and furlough days)? I say close the DO and cut the number of people working there. Move the DO personnel into an existing school and share the cost.

By: Parent

Parent — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:39:31 +0000

Ugh….Graeff is a really bad MANAGER as well as a lousy/uninspiring leader. There I said it! If he were at the vp or managing director level in a corporation he would have been fired not given a raise by our equally inept school board. He is far more politician than manager and RUSD is in desperate need of leadership, management and effective decision making.

The point made about spending $ on postage is an excellent one and further illustrates why he just needs to go and take several with him. If it means a state run district to clean up this MESS then bring it on.

By: big bird

big bird — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:22:22 +0000

this article is the teachers' union taking their case to the public…why shouldn't graeff do the same? let him speak.

By: Guest

Guest — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:44:18 +0000

Funny how Mr. Graeff is allowed to plead his case in public! That's called "Bad Faith Bargaining". Time for someone to take this over paid clown to task!

By: J.D.

J.D. — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:11:48 +0000

Read paragraph 5. Administration (management) and classified workers both agreed to the equvilent of approx. 10% . Classified took some from benefits and some in unpaid furlough days. Admin chose to protect their pensions by paying toward their healthcare benefits. The same choices have been been refused by teachers because they claim its "unfair" to ask them to take the same.

By: Fed Up

Fed Up — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:13:46 +0000

I got a letter in the mail too…. if it went to every student in all of Ramona, that's a tidy sum. This wasn't the first mailing that was from Dr. Graeff or his office. If the entire population of Ramona needed to read it, certainly publishing it in the Ramona Sentinel would have done the trick…. and saved some money.

I am not a teacher but do have students in the Ramona school district. Quality of education is definitely a concern and a priority. Why not let the teachers focus on education and the community focus on how we can trim the fat…. starting at the district office. We are constantly hearing threats of either strikes or teacher pay cuts. We are hearing from the head office how we can't make the budget, meet expenses etc and are asking for help. I have yet to hear from the chief loud speaker how HE is going to help make sacrifices…. take a significant pay cut, reduce the excess staff, eliminate perks and bonuses etc.

The problem of the budget and the outstanding bill ($55mil) is a problem the community is going to have to address and resolve. Pointing the finger at who created the mess is not going to resolve the issue…. HOWEVER…. I for one would be much more supportive if I felt EVERYONE was making an effort/sacrifice starting with the head office. Lead by example Dr. Graeff…. have us do as you do rather than as you say.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:30:18 +0000

Just got a letter from Dr. Graeff in the mail today. In paragraph 3 he lists the specific programs and positions that have been cut. Pretty much everything and everyone is in there except – district administration. How many of those positions have been eliminated? How many superintendants have taken pay cuts? I think teachers make a good annual salary for what is essentially 8 months of work. Should they take cuts? Maybe, but unless the district leaders are willing to slash their own salaries at the same rate, the teacher's union shouldn't budge. Fair's fair.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:18:26 +0000

Question: How big of a cut is the administration taking? I'm asking because the non-classifed staff has had their pay, hours, and benefits slashed in the past 5 years, the teachers have taken no cuts, and It's been published in the UT that during this time, the school board awarded, and Superintendant Graeff accepted an approximately 10% pay increase.

I have read all the articles in this publication from Dr. Graeff of shared sacrifice. Now that we know he's been misleading the public, I don't trust what he says. Unfortunately, Ms. Braye representing the teachers' union has twisted the numbers so far in the teacher's favor so I don't find her credible, either.

If the teachers want the community to support them, they should rein in their union mouthpiece before she can do more damage than she has in this recent piece. on the flip side, if the administration gives themselves raises during times of crisis, they shouldn't expect the teachers to take cuts, or the public to back their bond measures.

Just sayin'.