Comments on: Will the Mt. Diablo school district really save $1.5 million?

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:29:14 +0000

@Mdusdmom, you are blasting the teachers — the teachers elected Mike Langley as MDEA Presdient and Josephine Carson as MDEA Vice-President last May. Its a democracy. Each school has at least one MDEA representative and sometimes up to four. If you support the teachers, since they support their union, you are supporting MDEA. If there was a teacher dissatisfied with Mike as a candidate, he/she could have run against him. MDEA = TEACHERS. If parents are dissatisfied with the MDEA positions, talk to the teachers and school representatives.

By: mdusd mom

mdusd mom — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:17:45 +0000

Oh, no blast to the teachers at all, just a blast to MDEA Leadership, they are a huge problem. I support our teachers and that is why I am posting this.

By: mdusd mom

mdusd mom — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:16:05 +0000

Doctor J, you should know this as you are a MDUSD employee and I heard a Principal at a middle school. Most teachers do not have much to do with their MDEA Union, especially their Union Reps. I can count on one hand the number of teachers I have had contact with that cared about MDEA. Most are equally as frustrated as many of us community members and parents are. I have listened to MDEA’s Leadership excuses on why things take way over 4 months just to survey their membership, excuse after excuse. Also I have listened to the negotiation reports at BOE meetings and the MDUSD went in there with what was needed, no more, no less. The Unions did not like this, they wanted to negotiate. In todays world and budget climate, there is no room for negotiation. I look forward to fact finding and then the Unions will further regret their not taking (under Noce) that offer years ago, they blew it big time. They also blew it when the MDEA Union voted away their medical benefits. Now they will see more layoff notices, more good young teachers gone, more hours cut back, this will hurt the other Employees too. I say cut from the top down in MDEA, cut montly Union Dues and stop paying for Union Leadership.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:41:57 +0000

@mdusdmom, Someone knew how to upload the message on Feb 4. They seem to get the board agendas uploaded right at 5pm every Friday before the meeting. I am not one to “blame the unions” — the union members elect their represenatives and vote to approve or disapprove of the contracts. The “union members” are the teachers, and the staff. If the teachers don’t like their union representatives, they can vote them out. So if you want to blast MDEA — just blast the “teachers” directly — its their union.

By: mdusd mom

mdusd mom — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:32:27 +0000

Doctor J, As you know, the person who handled the MDUSD web site was laid off and her position eliminated. Perhaps you would volunteer now so that the web site can be more user friendly? More cuts are looming and what about the possibility of eliminating the Teachers Union in the MDUSD? Maybe eliminate all Unions. Someone mentioned to me that San Ramon district did this years ago. Anyone know about this? What would it take?

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:55:46 +0000

Theresa
Why would they come back? K12 is free through the California Virtual Academy (CAVA). It is a virtual charter school open to all students in the state. What would be the draw for students to come back to MDUSD? The only benefit would be if they provided a classroom for the kids whose parents work but then we would be back to requiring a teacher in the classroom. I don’t see it saving a dime or generating more revenue.
I am all for this type of learning option but this district needs to work out issues with MDEA to really make it work and even then their interpretation of ed code is an issue.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:06:37 +0000

Looking under the title “Superintendent’s Messages” was way too logical — probably says more about the disaray the district is in that someone can’t even copy the message to the correct link. I stand by my opinion that they are not properly posted “on the web” — no one should have to go to the extent to look for past messages in obscure places.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:39:47 +0000

Linda, I asked Lawrence about the online savings. Here’s what he said in an e-mail:
“Our hope is to provide on-line learning opportunities that will bring back K-12 families that are home schooling their children.”
I assume the “savings” would really be additional revenues from lost ADA. Perhaps, this could also persuade some families whose schools are closing from opting to home school.
However, Lawrence didn’t provide an estimate for increased revenues.
Eric, union negotiations aren’t going well and more budget cuts are looming. The board will discuss next year’s budget at its special meeting Tuesday: http://www.contracostatimes.com/education/ci_17486536

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:45:03 +0000

As for the Superintendent’s idea to use online learning…
Yeah right.
I have been down that road with MDUSD. I spent 8 months trying to bring one online AP French course to Northgate. The entire process was a nightmare. In fairness many of those administrator’s are gone however the issues remain. There will not be a penny of savings. They will need to purchase the curriculum and they will still require a teacher. Where is the savings? I would like to see that plan. Plan???

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:23:58 +0000

Here’s the link to all the notices posted in the past couple of years (including general messages other than the superintendent’s report): http://www.mdusd.org/NewsRoom/Pages/default.aspx.
I noticed a paid public notice from the district in today’s CC Times alerting seniors they can apply for Measure A exemptions, but no message about that appears to be posted on the district’s website.
Karen, the district wasn’t counting teachers’ salaries in the savings. It includes administrators, office staff and custodians. Last Tuesday, the board agreed to lay off two principals and one student services coordinator (presumably based on the school closures), along with 30 elementary teachers and nine “core” middle school teachers. Layoffs for classified staff related to the school closures haven’t yet been announced. No vice principals have been laid-off and at least one more may need to be hired, which is why I reduced the salary and benefits savings in my estimate.