Look at those salaries

Once again I am sure the city  and school employees are upset that their( taxpayer's money) salaries are once again  put out in the streets so everyone can see. I  nearly fell out of my chair this morning seeing 3rd grade teachers making 70-80 grand,especially with the scores that come out every year,super money for a 9 month gig.

Can you now understand why some of us taxpayers are upset at your school system Ms. Andrew? The two posts by tomahawk and Mike are prime examples that infuriate some of us and one of many reasons why some of us will never vote yes on any of your levies.

Hermes- c'mon, you don't see the value on how Ms. Gilleland is doing her job to give her a $2000 pay raise? We must retain quality, value-added people for our city government. I won't go into her list of accomplishments, but I think they "speak for themselves". I think we could also include Leslie, Marty, Russy and old Robbee- net if he was still with us. All, deserving of a hefty raise for a "job well done". (and yes, I'm off my meds again ) Matter of fact, let's take that council salary from $5000/year to $10,000 while we're throwin' out the money and recognize true talent when we see it.

Vet - I'm off my meds too that's why I haven't been posting to much on here.  The Docs at the VA claim I'm getting better but I keep asking them then why do I see so many "gooks" in city hall.

 

Tony - Your statement is a contradiction.The schools are government and you still get what you pay for and in the case of schools we are paying way to much to have the score's we are getting.How many people become teachers just because they feel the need to teach ? My guess is very few.This is not 1950.Today people become educated and train for the high paying jobs so they don't have to work at McDonalds.It's pretty naive of anyone to think they do it because they love kids,they do it because of the pay,the union benefits and security of the job.Just because one teacher makes $70,000 and another makes $40,000 doesn't mean that the one making $40,000 is any better or worse than the other.You can not pay the highest rate and then expect your getting quality,that is being very naive too.

 

One of the major problems we have in this town is the inability to have a qualified person to negotiate with unions.Apparently city hall has no one capable of handling negotiations,unlike unions who have highly paid lawyers who do their talking.Les Landen is about as qualified as Daffy Duck to be sitting at the table with union lawyers not one person on city council is qualified to negotiate either.That's why you have cops in this town making $70 grand and same with teachers and school administrators.City hall just gives in to union demands and their attitude is "Oh well,it's just tax dollars" or "We'll just put a levy on the ballot that way we don't even have to face the union lawyers".And you see how well all that works.

Hermes wrote: Les Landen is about as qualified as Daffy Duck.

Hermes,

I have to agree with most of the posts on this one. Having negotiated w/ the city the whole idea of give and take is lost at city hall.

Also the numbers that are in the Journal are not accuate at all. I don't know where they got them or who gave them to the MJ but IMO demonizing public employees is exactally what they are trying to do.

Quite frankly, there is a difference between public employees and elected officials. You want to point at the employee and say they are the problem when in reality it is the leadership at fault. What's worse, you fall right in line with them when you blame the employee for the lack of leadership. Are you so envious that a public employee makes a living wage that you think this is all their fault!!!? School test scores should be the least of concern in terms of education. Let's make sure they can read, write and comprehend basic math!!! How about a more sensible approach  instead of let's just throw blame around like that alone will solve the problem. WAKE UP!!! I'm sick and tired of all this moaning and griping with no solution offered except let's just pull everyone into the gutter. LEADERSHIP IS THE LPROBLEM!!!

TonyB quotes-"School test scores should be the least of concern in terms of education. Let's make sure they can read, write and comprehend basic math!!!"

And that's the problem Tony- too many can't do as you suggest. Test scores are certainly a barometer to see if the kids are absorbing the information taught. And, right or wrong, it has been established as the only game in town in which to judge how well the schools are delivering their message and effectiveness.

Go to a fast food place with young kids working there. See the cash register tell them how to make change. Alot of them can't do it on their own.

"How about a more sensible approach instead of let's just throw blame around like that alone will solve the problem".

How about the age old adage of "doing the same failed things over and over again and expecting a different result"- If the schools realize they need to improve, why are they still locked into some of the mistakes of the past and why does it take them so long to react to poor results? Look at the test scores from 10 years ago and you will see the same scores from last year. Why no quicker response than what we have gotten toward improvement? Can't wait that long to change for the better in business or it'll go down the tubes. In the meantime, class after class is passing through Middletown High School being taught using the same failed methods. No urgency to change? Pulling everyone into the gutter????? It's the school people who are doing that by their lack of urgency to correct an obvious problem. All we taxpaying citizens are doing is reacting to what they are producing with our money.

Years ago while in college I remember one class that the prof. gave us the same test 3 times during a quarter and we were able to have the higest score for our grade.His thought process was anyone could cram overnight and remember the material to pass his test but  by taking the same test over and over a student would absolve the material.

Saying this,  It is now more a money thing where students are herded thru schools like cattle so schools can collect state money to to add to their coffer without regards to the dumbdown education that they are putting out in the streets.

Vet - might be all the Section 8 housing children keeping those scores so low. I don't care how many improvements they make, at the end of the school day, these kids have to go home. If education is not valued at home, all the improvements in the world won't solve the problem.Lower income families need to understand the value of a public education and need to do a better job of encouraging their children to succeed at school. I wonder how many Section 8 homes have a computer? Then again, I wonder how many have a gaming system and cable TV. It is first and foremost, a matter of priorities within the home. Until that changes, no amount of money will solve the problem

Vet - I graduated from Monroe in 76 even though I lived in Middletown. I can't speak to the quality of education at Middletown High School at the time, but I am reasonably satisfied with the education I was provided with by the Middletown City School District. I wonder if there are others on this forum who went to school in the 80's who could speak to whether they feel they got a good education. Honestly, I can't speak to the quality of the education at MHS because I don't know.

Tony, to be fair...we aren't allowed to hold them back...that's from ADMIN

TonyB wrote: Vet - you sound as if you think I disagree with you. I do not. I know a specific individual that has the benefit of a Middletown Schools education who cannot read. They just passed him along rather than fix this or admit responsibility. It is this kind of thing I'm talking about. I've said it before, I don't mind spending the money, but I want what I pay for!!! There is no justification of any kind for someone to get through school without being able to read!!! Do you think those tests showed that? Our section 8 housing situation is exacerbating the problem. We've had these tests now for how long? No improvement. Well, let's just test some more. Tell the teachers that their jobs and salary increases depend on kids passing those tests and that is all teachers will do; teach to pass those tests and that's it. There is more to life than passing a test.   I also agree, you cannot do the same thing and expect a different result. Yet, we continue to elect the same 2 parties to office always with the promise of change. What has changed is the US is being bled to death by 1000 little cuts while our elected officials help to speed the process. Let's vote these people and these two parties out of office. Then, perhaps we can have a sensible, non-partisan debate about how to slove our problems.