How many of the 89% of those who voted voted not for the raise but to end the strike? I know several teachers at my school whose vote of “yes” meant “stop the strike” not “I feel the COLA raise is fair”.

In Jan. of 2008, we’ll recoup what we lost.

Hopefully our sacrifice will bring in some new teacher blood, seeing has our first year teacher salary is now only behind Pleasanton and New Haven. But how long will they stay? By the time we realize this raise fully, in the 08-09 school year, other districts will have caught up and surpassed us on the pay scale.

I think the bigger issue is that a high level of pay will only hold a teacher in a dysfunctional district for a short period of time before they move on to a district where they’re more appreciated.

HUSD has a lot of work to do.

So does HEA.

Leslie,

Regarding your comment that “I feel so bad for you all your work and to have settled for less “:

We have settled for MORE. Until earlier this month, the district was still offering only 3%. The day before the strike, they offered 7% (don’t pay attention to all the contingent or one-time aspects of that offer). Now, Hayward teachers have affected an 11% raise over they next two years! What a victory.

The biggest travesty is that the district always knew how much money they had. They could have paid us more and settled without the grievous suffering brought on the community by the strike. Dr. Vigil himself said that the district was happy with this agreement, so it is patently clear that their claims of bankruptcy were utter nonsense. They saved money by striking, at the expense of the students (right before testing no less) and then made the teachers hold out to the point of losing money on the year, just so they could dictate the terms of the contract and do their best to hold money back form teachers. This should never have come this far, and I hold the district responsible.

Teachers will recoup their losses and start making more money in the 5th week of next year. Since I am leaving, that does not include me. I lose money, but I am happy. All the teachers that stay in Hayward and take care of Hayward are rewarded, and that is what I was always fighting for.

Parents:

Stay involved, spread the word, and don’t let it get to this point again (If you can help it. Hey, they didn’t listen to us either!). It is clear to me from working (and striking) in this community that there are strong, concerned, involved parents that will get behind causes that are righteous. Stay organized, informed, and active. You are awesome!! Si se puede!