My letter as I read it to the school board

[proud patriot]

Hi I'm a special education assistant and a parent of a district student . I'd like to tell you about me . My disabled son's 3 prescriptions cost $55 per month with insurance , $875 without . My son must see his specialist twice monthly @ $20 per visit with insurance w/o insurance it would be $400 per visit . Sept and Oct are really tough at our house every year . Currently behind on all household bills . Do any of you on the board know what it's like to get a 48 hr pg and e notice when you have a disabled child to care for ? I do . I know what it's like to plead with the water company "I work for the ____ school district , I haven't recieved a pay check in awhile I'll catch up as soon as I can", through tears wondering if the person at the other end has a heart . I don't have debt , I'm very responsible . Yet my chosen profession , that I went to college for doesn't pay a living wage . The only professionals that make less than we do are clergy . I have received no cost of living increase in years . I know my Value , it's a shame the board doesn't . I invite anyone of you to follow me in my daily duties to learn my value . I love my job , I love all the children who attend my school . I would jump in front a bullet for any one of them. My son with the help of all the dedicated professionals has gone from being 5150'd from a special education school (____) to Now being fully mainstreamed his freshman year in high school with a B average . Without every single person who has worked with him , he would be just another sad statistic . This board had nothing to do with his success , the people in this room living below the poverty line DID. We demand a living wage , No more cuts to our Health Insurance . Over half my meager pay check going to health insurance is not an Option . I already can't afford to live in this city that I love . Those Top Earners for the district should appreciate what the lowest Earning Professionals are facing . If this board Demands my paycheck be cut in half , then I would like to take this opportunity to Demand the Top Earners cut their pay in half first to be good role models .

THANK YOU !

[krispos42]

1. Damn

:-(

[Mnemosyne]

2. It is a moving letter, proud. You make it real.

I understand the med costs and fears, but having to worry over your child's medicine is abominable.

Great work! :hug:

[TexasObserver]

3. Good luck to you! Your needs are why we SHOULD be Democrats.

Thanks for having the courage to read that to the district, and to post it here.

[boppers]

4. $400 per visit? The school board isn't the problem, there.

$875 in meds? Again, the problem is not the school board.

[proud patriot]

6. They are asking us to pay around $700

out of our checks for our Health Ins in contract negotiations . I currently pay 70
in premiums out of each months check . I earn about 1200 a month 10 months of the
year . They want to pressure us to Drop our Health Ins altogether . I really wanted
to put a human face to our group for the board to think of.

I know the National health crisis plays a HUGE role . So Think I get what you mean :hi:
Child Psychiatrists are very few and far between and Outrageously expensive .

[boppers]

7. HMFS.... (rhymes with "bowl-y southern ducking spit")

That's just... breath-taking.

Wow.

[Winterblues]

30. Your letter should go to Obama and every Democrat that thinks we don't need a Public Option.

It is the Insurance Industry that is the problem, the school board is only trying to deal with it in some manner. And when we break it down even further it is actually the Health Providers that are charging such high prices for their services that Insurance companies constantly have to keep increasing their charges to keep up..The ONLY solution is the Government and the Democrats have said they will not put forth a real solution.. It is not the American way we are told.. America can not be like Canada or any of the other westernized nations that actually take care of their citizens..

[proud patriot]

50. My husband says the same thing

I'll be working on sending it out to as many Dems as possible .

[Stumbler]

57. Why stop at the Dems?

This should be sent to every sitting representative as well as every candidate.

Edited to apologize: My response comes off as a bit righteous, and a little unrealistic considering the amount of work that would entail. Just my immediate reaction...

[proud patriot]

60. hmmmm , but well worth the effort IMO

I will do my best to get it to as many politicians as possible .

[xxqqqzme]

10. You are kind of missing the point.

We all know about outrageous health care costs. The OP is a combination of that plus the horrible way the idiots here in California are choosing to deal w/ the budget crisis. They seem to think that if they cut all the costs for the most vulnerable in the state, then the budget crisis will be over! They are all jackasses. Asking the struggling to take furloughs, reduced hours or reduced benefits steals money from the community. There is less money circulating - the ripple effect is diminished, reduced revenues, larger deficits and more shirt rending in Sacramento. Then more cuts and even less money.

It will continue until we get rid of the 2/3 vote requirement for passing a budget - which was tucked into the infamous Prop 13.

[boppers]

12. Agreed.

I can't wrap my mind around it.

1. Who charges such a cruel fee for medicine?
2. Who pays so little for such a hard job?
3. Why are they doing this to the people there?

I really, really don't understand California. Every time I think I do, well, something strange happens.

[sandnsea]

5. School aides make terrible money

Lots of special needs kids are having their lives dramatically changed because of aides in the classroom. They make around $10-$12 hr here, not near enough to pay bills and health insurance premiums. I hope you were heard.

[demmiblue]

8. Most of them make a crappy wage and have no benefits whatsoever.

Even more of a reason to support public schools.

Fully funding public schools, teachers and their support staff is where we need to go as a country.

Unfortunately, it is the support staff that is being nixed due to budget restraints.

:-(

[proud patriot]

9. Very True my Cousin in AZ and my Aunt in Col

work as SEA's and they have no insurance . I don't think my cousin
in AZ is Union at all .

That's why we are holding on so tight to ours .

[demmiblue]

11. Hold tight, proud.

You are an integral part of the educational system. My thoughts are with you.

:hug:

[Catshrink]

16. SEAs in AZ aren't part of the union

Ours work their butts off to help our sped kids succeed. They are incredibly important and dedicated - I don't know how I could do my job without them.

Thank you for writing this, PP. :grouphug:

[emmadoggy]

69. I am a special ed. associate.

I get $9.32/hour, 5 1/2 hours per day and no benefits. In addition, whenever there is an early out for teacher in-service or weather-related late starts, early outs, or snow days, I lose those hours. Plus reduced hours for holiday breaks etc. I get paid 10 months out of 12.

I LOVE my hours and schedule - as a mom with two young children in school, it works perfectly for me to have the same schedule as them and not have to worry about what to do with them when there is an early out, snow day or holiday break (not to mention, summers).

But the pay definitely does not add up to a lot. Just under $10,000 per year for me. :(

[KT2000]

13. Very courageous

I bet you stirred some more people to speak the truth. I hope they really heard you.
Good going. :applause:

[B Calm]

14. K&R

[rasputin1952]

15. K&R'd for all those that do the work you do....

are underpaid, unappreciated and need to be give a living wage for teaching our children! :hug:

[Panaconda]

17. K&R n/t

[pinboy3niner]

18. Excellent letter, proud patriot

It makes your points very effectively and economically. Pretty hard to ignore for anyone there to hear it. :thumbsup:

K&R

[Klukie]

19. Did they give any response?

[proud patriot]

23. Not me personally

but after a couple more of us spoke . They stopped the open comment period . One
board member Mistating that our union had agreed to these conditions, when all
we agreed to was to vote on it .

[Klukie]

29. Figures....I guess they couldn't handle the truth.

Thanks for speaking it!!!

[Starry Messenger]

20. k & r

[liberalhistorian]

31. Starry, once again I have to tell you how much I love

your sig pic and caption! If you remember, I grew up with teachers and well know the shit that Duncan is attempting to pull, with full support, unfortunately, from Obama. What the OP is dealing with is the kind of shit that will become more common if Duncan's bullshit gains a real foothold, and teachers, especially special eds, will have an even harder job without the critical support of aides such as the OP. I wonder what your sig pic antithesis here would have to say about it! (OTOH, I don't think I wanna know, since nothing else seems to get through to him and I've pretty much given up).

[Starry Messenger]

42. I do remember liberalhistorian!

Thank you for your wonderful support. :hug: I am in total agreement that this shit is going to get more common. Putting even more stress on the most vulnerable sectors of this professional seems to be the MO for the Administration. It is incredibly heartbreaking.

[sweetapogee]

21. maybe I'm a little slow

I appologise in advance if I seem dense.

What exactly are you asking the BOE to do? Having read the OP letter 3 times it looks like perhaps the BOE is cutting pay for bottom rung employees of the district or proposing a major tax increase for districe tax payers or both? A little background would be handy. Do you work in the same district that your son is enrolled in? Also, it appears that the OP is asking that upper rung employees take a pay cut? How will this help the OPs situation? Would that free up funds for raises for TAs?

My wife tells me that her association will not under any circumstances take a pay cut, I assume yours is the same so how could the professional staff take any kind of action? Are you asking the BOE to cut instructors pay or Adm or both? What is the position of your association with respect to paying into the health care insurance, are they on your side? I assume also that the district you work in doesn't spread out paychecks over 12 months? My wife's district doesn't and it makes the end of the summer a cash flow nightmare. Have you thought about getting certified as a special Ed teacher in NJ? Again, my wife has no OOP medical expenses (this would help your situation) and the pay is quite good there (NJ) although we had to move to PA because of the taxes made it too difficult to own a home.

BTW, I'm glad your son is thriving in the school. That in itself is soo cool! My daughter has a chronic health issue but hasn't stopped her in the least. She is ranked 3rd in her class (no thanks to me) and tonight she get inducted into the NHS! This makes all of the sacrifices we endure for her worth it. Our kids are amazing are they not?

[proud patriot]

24. the board has proposed

that we SEA's base our Health insurance premiums based on a 8 hr work day . We all are at most 6 hr
employees . We also are being asked cover 20% of the of the premiums fees .

I simply wanted to put a more human face to what we are voting on so the board may reconsider in new negotiations . If we are being asked to take such a huge pay cut it seems fair that others(admin) be asked to do they same , then perhaps our part won't be so big .

Our kids are great , I'm happy your daughter is doing well.

[sweetapogee]

28. thank you

I see, your explanation now makes sense. Where my wife works, the Admin. (but not the teachers) already pay a percent of their insurance costs, not sure how much though. My company already takes 20%, has for several years now and it will go up to 26% next year. It is hard for us who have high maintence children. I'm sorry that you have this burden to carry.

[xchrom]

22. recommend

[Tatiana]

25. Outstanding letter! The Superintendent and administrative staff should take a pay cut.

I hope they listened to what you had to say and will make their decisions accordingly.

[blm]

26. well done, pp

.

[myrna minx]

27. K&R n/t

[pleah]

32. K&R

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[KamaAina]

33. Don't take this lying down!!!

As I may have mentioned over Labor Day weekend, I work with health care advocates as part of my community organizing. In particular, there's Health Access:

http://www.health-access.org

If you're interested, my contact there might be able to help you get your story out there.

[proud patriot]

52. Thank you I want as many people to it see as possible

:hi:

[SalviaBlue]

34. K&R

[H2O Man]

35. Beautiful.

Thank you for sharing this.

Recommended.

[Sherman A1]

36. K&R

[ProudDad]

37. Great Speech

Trillions for war, nothing for education...

Connect the dots...

These hypocrites mouth great platitudes about "the children" and refuse to tax themselves to provide living wages for teachers who do most of the work of raising them now days...

Shame on them...

----------------------------

And I think you're right about Arizona...this speech at a school board here would get one fired...no unions...

----------------------------

I guess you already saw this thread -- where the money really goes!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4573587

Rhee to Be Highest-Paid School Head in D.C. Area
Contract Provides $41,250 Signing Bonus

By Theola Labbé
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Acting D.C. schools chancellor Michelle A. Rhee will be paid $275,000 annually and will receive a $41,250 signing bonus if she is confirmed, making her the highest-paid school leader in the immediate metropolitan area.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

[proud patriot]

53. Thanks Dad , I love you !

:loveya:

[Kalyke]

38. Moving letter...

but local journalists make less than you do. The average pay for a starting journalist is between $17,000 and $25,000. Just as the corporations are trying to privatize your profession, they underpaid my old profession, driving all the best reporters out into other fields to earn ends meet. The only people who now make money in journalism are talking heads and ideologues - mostly on the right.

Edited to add: I consider both teaching and good journalism as necessities for a well-educated society. The powers that be ruined adult education by allowing a handful of corporations to own all the media. Now, they want to run off decent educators so they can replace them with the same ideologues that currently run the media.

[ProudDad]

39. "local journalists make less than you do"

Not really...

Do the math: $1100 per month times TEN months = $11,000 per year...in CALIFORNIA...

If journalists start between $17,000 and $25,000...that's more than $11,000

------------------

You are right about the sorry state of journalism. In fact, it's in no small part because journalism has been watered down into an entertainment and advertising medium for corporate interests that the sorry state of teachers has deteriorated so far.

It's all connected...

:hi:

[Kalyke]

72. True - but I was giving averages.

If, in a similar situation, a journalist was just earning part-time wages, as the poster, then it would be significantly less or about the same.

It's so sad that our educators - traditional teaching for our youth and journalists for our adults - are earning such chump change and expected to work wonders. Sigh.

[ProudDad]

73. We can definitely agree

that the most valuable members of society get the lowest pay...

Teachers, REAL journalists, artists, musicians, healers (not part of the sick care system), etc.

We need to reform our economy...get OUT of the capitalist model and go back to the way humans did it for the first 200,000 years of our existence...

Communities where it was acknowledged that the community does well if each member in the community does well...

The Community is fed, housed and clothed when all members of the community are fed, housed and clothed...

This recent (10,000) experiment in dominator hierarchies locking up the resources and causing the majority to become slaves to the "system" in order to be fed, clothed or housed is an obvious failure...

It's time to secede from it...to STOP it!

[yellerpup]

40. Excellent speech.

If that doesn't move hearts and minds, nothing will. What excellent news of your son's progress. You must be very proud! Good luck to you!

[proud patriot]

54. I'm so proud of him

:-)

[yellerpup]

58. You have a lot to be proud of...

Be proud of yourself, too. Your story shows how much can be accomplished when people really care enough and stick with it. My heart smiles when I think of his success. For your boy: :hug:

[Oceansaway]

41. K&R...n/t

[femrap]

43. Let the high paid staff take

the cuts! Unbelievable...what this nation has turned into. Please keep fighting. We're all behind you.

[laughingliberal]

44. K & R nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

45. another vote for publicizing this !!!!

Really. You speak for so many devalued people in this country.

[G_j]

46. K&R

:applause:

[mopinko]

47. great job pp

as the mom of a couple special needs kids, i salute you. it is so fucking hard. the pay for any position in the school systems is pathetic. how can you keep dedicated employees if you don't pay them?
you showed your worth. i hope it made a dent in their thick skulls.

[proud patriot]

55. It's the love of the job and the kids that keeps us there

and the Board knows it . One of the speakers last night begged the board not
to use our love for the children against us .

[Hannah Bell]

48. good letter, typo "meeger" = "meager"

[proud patriot]

51. Thanks Hannah Bell I'll fix it now

:hi:

[Guilded Lilly]

49. Damn straight...

"If this board Demands my paycheck be cut in half , then I would like to take this opportunity to Demand the Top Earners cut their pay in half first to be good role models . "

[proud patriot]

56. you should have heard the hoots of applause behind me

:-)

[Cal Carpenter]

59. Solidarity!

:applause:

[Bosso 63]

61. As the father of I child with a disability, I thank you!

There is power in your story and make sure the school board members remember it. Talk to your legislators at every opportunity. Band together with other parents and teachers, keep pressing your truth.

"Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything. We don't need little changes, we need gigantic, monumental changes. Schools should be palaces. Competition for the best teachers should be fierce; they should be making six figure salaries. Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge to it citizens, just like national defense."
Rob Lowe from the West Wing

[Count Olaf]

62. Thank you!! " Demand the Top Earners cut their pay in half first"

"Demand the Top Earners cut their pay in half first"

And while they are at at, they can attempt to justify their position and salary in the first place. I bet many of these positions could be cut entirely and no one would know the difference.




Thank you for the challenging and important work that you do.

[WillyT]

63. HUGE K & R !!!

:applause::applause::applause:

:pals:

:loveya:

:hi:

[maryf]

64. Thanks for the letter and all you do...

without the assistants and other support staff in the schools they'd be in even sorrier shape...our support staff was without a contract for over a year and lost a lot due to the economic climate...less than living wage is status quo, plus the total lack of respect made me sick. I heard letters read to the board that were so similar to yours...but you know all about this...Solidarity and big K&R

[KoKo]

65. Thanks for posting this "PP"...it's good that you stood up there & exposed it...

:applause:

[NYC_SKP]

66. Kick and Rec!

Great, great, presentation.

:applause:

[donheld]

67. .

:hug:

[Mimosa]

68. K&R from over 55 who must drop unaffordable health insurance

This will be my last month with health insurance. It was costing partner and I 900 a month + copays, deductible and Rxs out of pocket. Over $13,000 a year. We have been paying so much health insurance we fell behind paying quarterly taxes.We started going BROKE. We recently applied for cheaper plans and were denied. There is no option for us but to 'go without.' Who knows what 2014 will bring. Will we make it till then?

I know we're not the only ones.

[proud patriot]

71. ..

:hug:

[emmadoggy]

70. As a fellow special education associate,

I support you! What a horrible situation. I hope that somehow it works out for you. :hug: