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Open Letter to
District 207 Board of Education
and
Maine Teachers Association
District 207 Board of Education
and
Maine Teachers Association
From: COLLEENHIRSCHBINE(at)*******.net
Subject: Questions Board and MTA
To: ssullivan@maine207board.org, dpellar@maine207board.org, emueller@maine207board.org, mmcgrath@maine207board.org, eleys@maine207board.org, eburk@maine207board.org, jbraam@maine207board.org, kwallace@maine207.org, gdietz@maine207.org, maineteachersassociation@gmail.com
Date: Thursday, April 8, 2010
As you are aware I spoke at both the March and April Board meetings. In March I brought up the impact on the students in losing guidence counselors, who are extremely important to students during the educational process. Directly stating that Ms. Adams (Maine East) is my daughter's second guidence counselor and by her being RIFFed it would impact my daughter. I learned at the Board meeting that she will be returning next year at least part time. I thank you for efforts you continue to make to keep the staff in our schools.
In further review of the Maine 207 Board and the teachers union, I have found something I wish to address.
1. It appears to me that the Board has attempted in a reasonable manner to ask the MTA to sit down in the interest of options other then RIF (reduction in force) 75 of the teachers they represent.
2. As I see it changing the calander to 5 less school days could have a significant impact on the current financial issues we are currently facing, in that it would save 5 days teachers salaries, 5 days administrative salaries, and would reduce expenses normally used to operate the building for those 5 days. I believe this will be savings if directed towards keeping our teaching staff in place and would be of great benefit to the students, teachers, and our schools as a whole.
With this said I would like to know more about the Article I section 8 clause in the contract which in part reads,
"In the event of a financial disaster, the duly authorized representatives of1. Due to the financial crisis that the district is currently experiencing, is the MTA in accordance with this clause obligated to sit down with the Board and discuss potential adjustments and modifications such as reducing the school calander by 5 days.
both parties shall meet to review action taken or to be taken by the Board
and/or Administration in response to the disaster and to recommend adjustments or modifications thereto."
2. In reading the contract, it states,
"So long as the minimum number of pupil attendance days required byWhat is the definition of duly declared emergencies? Could this be a way to reduce the calander by 5 days without reopening the entire contract? If both the Board and the MTA declare the 5 day reduction as a duly declared financial emergency requiring the closing of the school?
law is satisfied, the 185-day requirement will be reduced when schools have been closed for duly declared emergencies, up a maximum of five (5) days."
3. How much total would the district save closing all 5 schools for the 5 additional days?
4. Would the Board agree to use all these saved funds to keep the 75 teachers in place?
5. Would the Board provide funds from the reserve to assist in keeping all of the 75 teachers, should the school be allowed to close for an additional 5 days a year?
As stated by MTA Board President Emma Visee in her statement to the BOE on 02/01/2010, "Rhetoric and emotions aside, the members of the Maine Teacher Association have recognized and acknowledged the financial situation of District 207. Our research teams spent two months this past fall pouring over district financials and impact data."
1. You acknowledge the financial situation of District 207. Why not sit down with the Board and hear the available option?
2. By sitting down with the Board, wouldn't it appear you are attempting to work for the 75 teachers who are losing their jobs as a result of the RIF?
3. As your raises are considered "cost of living increases," do you think it is fair to refuse to communicate when the cost of living increase is ZERO? Try living on Social Security, no cost of living increase, and no one to fight about it!
4. Do you honestly believe your posturing is positve representation to ALL the people covered by the contract, the student's, and the schools?
Again I will repeat...The ones at risk of losing in this battle between the MTA and BOE is the students and people losing their jobs. This is not a time to think of ourselves. I do not believe anyone becomes a teacher for the great pay and benefits they receive. I believe a person becomes a teacher because they have a desire to make a difference in the life of the students they teach, and teach them something that they are passionate about.
There is no harm at sitting down at the table and hearing cost saving ideas from both sides of the table.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Colleen Hirschbine
Below is a video of Ms. Hirschbine's remarks to the District 207 Board of Education and Maine Teachers Association at the April 5, 2010 Board of Education meeting.
17 comments:
Tooooooo funny!!!!!! We have all these people keyed up about this issue and selfish teachers. Yesterday we have people being miffed about not being invited (even though they were) to last nights meet and greet.
But look at the screen before you hit play to hear Ms. Hirschbine's presentation. Look!!!! A man taking off his jacket, some gray hair and 7 empty seats, 5 of them in the front row!!!
Given the level of reserves the district has this is not a financial crisis. This is a case of some members of the MTA being selfish and unwilling to work with D207 to find a workable solution.
In addition, members of the administration at all three schools could also forgo raises or take a pay cut like folks in corporate America have been doing for several years. Both the MTA and the administrators could agree to modify the ridiculous pensions they think they are entitled to when they retire which further taxes the financial stability of the school districts.
But cut 5 days from the schedule? Is she kidding? If this concerned parent is not aware, our kids should be in school more days not fewer days so they are prepared to deal with the competition they will be facing from around the world when they enter the workforce. A few more students in each class is preferable to cutting days of out the school year. But perhaps the MTA will come to its senses and work with the district before the start of the next school year.
Anonymous 10:21
You absolutely hit it on the head!!
But don't count on the survivors to work with anyone. The system is working perfectly for them....just not for the kids and the taxpayers who are the other principals in this
Thank you
8:32, you just have one seriously crappy attitude.
10:21, I disagree with your absolutism about cutting days. I do think there is a financial crisis and this lady has come up with a possible option to consider. What have you come up with besides denying there's a financial crisis? I guess for you millions in deficits isn't a problem? Though I do agree with you very much about the selfishness going on and I do see it on both sides.
Ms. Hirshbine:
Thank you for writing your letter. I would love to hear answers to the questions you asked about the contract clause.
I hope you will come back and let us know if you get answers from the Board and the MTA.
Thank you.
Ms. Hirshbine:
I too thank you for writing your letter.
I reread your open letter several times to make sure I understood all of your points. Before January, I probably, would have found my own beliefs very much in line with your thinking. Events over the last three months however, have now led me to believe something else.
The School Board forewarned the teachers and the MTA of its intentions. MTA leadership has more than once boasted of having reviewed the District’s proposal and supporting financial data. Still, knowing all they knew of the situation, MTA members voted to eliminate those positions held by their fellow teachers. That’s a fact!
I believe that the point of “no return” has been passed. The District #207 School Board and Board of Education is in the midst of planning and budgeting for the 2010-2011 school year. I seriously doubt that a restarted MTA/School Board renegotiation process, beginning this late in the school year, can successfully be concluded in time to change the outcome. However, I certainly could be wrong.
Ms. Hirshbine, I salute your efforts. That said, and knowing that what I am about to say will probably not relive you of your anxiety over this situation, let me say this. A world-class competitive education is not directly related to classroom size or the total number of teachers employed within a school district. It is, however, directly related to the quality of the education practiced within the classroom. If I were you, I would now focus on improving that aspect of your child’s education.
Good luck,
Kenneth Butterly
Ken:
You say the following.
"A world-class competitive education is not directly related to classroom size or the total number of teachers employed within a school district."
You say it with such certainty. I realize that there are huge of data and studies on this subject but I am wondering what information you have that makes you so sure of your statement and causes you to discout all of the studies that would show that there is a relationship between class size and achievement.
8:01 AM:
There is a wealth of data, much of it conflicting, as to the exact quantifiable effect of class size on academic performance. Make no mistake about it: all things being equal (which rarely, if ever, they are - because of all the variables that exist in comparing one community to another), smaller classes are better than larger.
But when cost is compared to benefit, the results are even more inconclusive. You can surf the Net for weeks and can find an argument for any position you want to take.
So it becomes more of a common-sense argument: How much are we willing to pay, and how do we make sure we get our money's worth?
Hoover:
I agree with what you have said. I was simply questioning Ken, who has not authored multiple pieces on this blog. He made the statment that I copied as if it were fact. What I have seen indicates just what you said - there is a ton of data either way but all things being equal smaller class size would be better.
I have talked to many people within District 207. I have been assured that they would undoubtedly sit down with the MTA.
I also would like to point out that it is not only the number of students in the class. Although I do have fear if the class sizes go up now then in 2012 when we have an additional 30 plus teachers retire, class sizes will go up again. I would gladly give up 5 days of our school calander to keep the quality teauchers we will be losing. As has been said it is the quality of the education our children receive.
I also know that the administrators lost their raises for this year and next year. The teachers for the next two years will get 7% cost of living raises when the cost of living index is zero.
I would like to see more seats filled at the board meeting. You dont even need to speak if you do not wish to. If you agree with what I am saying, just stand up behind me. Strength is in numbers. Students, parents, taxpayers.
It would appear to me at this point that district 207 has done more to keep these teachers, then the MTA. Stand up with me and telll them to come to the table. Its the right thing to do.
Update, as of 10:45 pm on April 12, 2010, I have receive no response from the MTA and only 2 responses from District 207. The responses received were basically thank you for your comments and concern and the MTA has made their decision and is unwilling to come to the table. We wish they would, but unfortunately they have decided to let the chips fall as they may.
Mrs. Hirschbine,
I've apparently rec'd this email communication as a Bcc: as it was sent to the board members of MTHS 207 as well as to key administrators and the MTA. I'm also under assumption that this may have been sent to other media outlets; please note that I'm a "media facilitator" as well as having an interest in MTHS 207 in that I'm also living within the confines of the district, am a taxpayer and more importantly a Maine Alum. In that I'll be editing out your video from Monday night and forwarding you the video (through vimeo.com)and providing you the link for your own dissemination.
First of all, you may want to forward this to Emma Visee who is the current President of the MTA (visit www.mta-207.org) as well as scour through that website for information such as:
* 2007-2012 MTA - BOE Agreement
* MTA Constitution
etc.... to help clarify some of the points that were raised in your email. Also if you haven't already seen on the district's website (www.maine207.org) as of the end of the 2nd half of the meeting Monday night (only 2 people in the "public" realm were present) the board has elected a new President for the upcoming as we say "electoral" year as there will be 3 seats up for election in April 2011, one of which is the newly "elected by the board" President Sullivan who's now in his final year of his 1st term. The two other seats held by Vice President Braam and Board Member Pellar are also open thus a total of 3 spots. It is unknown at this time as to who will be vying for the 3 spots in 2011; if these 3 people will be running for re-election and if there will be any challengers, at all due to the financial challenges and dire straits the board has recently been faced with.
In all due respect, your opinions in retrospect seem to be making a positive effect on MTHS 207 as the counselor you had mentioned at a previous meeting HAS been brought back on a part-time basis, which is a start. I'm also hearing that others are being brought back but some are not accepting their chance to be re-hired as these top-notch teachers are jumping ship and taking positions at other districts. There is also word that a lot of teachers are being let go from Maine South specifically and that specific teachers from Maine East & Maine South will be transferred into Maine South. It foreshadowing these moves, it looks as though Maine South will become a hunting ground to "clean up the ranks" and in that bring new teachers into the system via all three schools all in an effort to cuts costs which comprise of almost 80% of the total fiscal budget. This also includes all of the expected retirees in the upcoming years as previously forecasted; a perfect storm.
As I may not know much about the internal politics of MTHS 207, I'm no dummy as to how schools are run financially as well as the internal politics between board members, if any, and the control they may or may not have over their administrations. Or vice versa. In some instances I've seen administrations control boards where they only provide information they deem fit. In conclusion, all of the 7 school districts I've been analyzing, following and studying over the last almost 4 years are all their own little monsters with the high school districts being the bigger monsters and the elementary districts being the little cookie monsters due to the proportionately smaller budgets their handle.
Bottom line, there are a lot of administrators in the districts I'm following who are in positions of power making business decisions that come from academia and honestly have no business sense; even on running the day-to-day business operations of multi-million dollar corporations. These school districts are just that; multi-million dollar corporations. With that idea in your mind would you like your landscaper to run your child's lemonade stand just because the stand is sitting on the lawn your landscaper grooms week-by-week? That example sums up a lot of the school districts NATIONWIDE.
It is time several area school districts try to open there eyes and take off their fogged glasses and look outside the box for ideas, even if from a mother of several children in a district or a top notch businessperson, past educators, energy/utility consultants, general contractors, etc... from the community. It may take more time away from running the day-to-day operations of a multi-million dollar corporation (our area schools in our district) but in retrospect the TAXPAYERS are the shareholders and have a vested interest of the corporation, in our case MTHS 207.
Regards,
Eric M. Poders
eric@northshorevoice.org
+001.847.530.2222
Anon 8:01AM
For years, American educators have repeated the mantra “smaller class size = better education.” Yet, after decades of smaller class sizing, US education continues to rank far below many of her industrialized counterparts. The average class sizes in many of those countries are much larger than those in the US, Illinois, Park Ridge, Niles or Des Plaines for that matter.
Theoretical studies on smaller class size do exist. However, deductions based on theoretical studies, that is, deductions that are not empirically based, are not scientifically provable. Therefore, the class size equation expressed above, can’t be proved or disproved.
The primary role of any teacher is the effective transfer of knowledge and skills from one generation to the next. How does one determine educational effectiveness?
To date, the best way to compare the educational effectiveness at least at an international level, is The Program for International Student Assessment – PISA. I urge you look at Butterly on Education under “Readum and Weep”, where I have linked to this report. To gain additional insight, I also urge you to read: Special Analysis 2009 International Assessments. I have also linked to this site also.
I know that the education community would rather we not apply common sense when evaluating their performance, but, what better tool do we have? My common sense, plus my professional experience, tells me, that if we are consistently beaten by some of our competitors, who are employing larger class sizes than ours, then a larger class size is no deterrent to the effective transfer of knowledge and skills from one generation to the next
Eric, I am confused with your two comments. Can you quickly and concisely restate your points?
"Anonymous said...
Eric, I am confused with your two comments. Can you quickly and concisely restate your points?"
Sorry ANONYMOUS but I've signed a name to my post. Google me and you'll see who you;re communicating with. Then contact me privately if you deem or ask your questions with a name attached.
BTW I've know about Mr. Butterly for years and actually has the opportunity to sit down with him once. He's a great guy and more importantly a sharp cookie and no dummy. People need to listen more to him as he's pulled more FOIA's on education in the area then I've done with the IRB!
Regards,
Eric M. Poders
eric@northshorevoice.org
+001.847.530.2222
Mr Poders,
I wasn't challenging your manhood. I was inviting you to restate your comments in a more lucid way, so that one could more easily read them and possibly comment on them if one should so choose.
As to my remaining anonymous. Doing so is my choice and in my interest.
Maybe you should see a doctor about that thin skin problem of yours.
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