Marysville Teachers Strike Update

With the "somebody shoot me" refrain echoing non-stop through my mind (I tried to reprogram it to say "I wanna eat your brains", but it doesn't seem to respond to my attempts), a new contract offer was presented to the teachers union.

It is an improvement, but that's not saying much. It still requires a move to the state salary schedule, it just delays it a year. And it also requires teachers to work two extra days without extra pay, and requires that 28 hours of their TRI be under the direction of the Principal, which defeats the purpose of TRI pay in the first place. So, although I had some hope when I first heard there was a new offer, I don't have any expectations that the union will agree to it, as it isn't really much of an improvement.

Now, the good news is that the district and the union have been negotiating for several hours now, and we have yet to hear that they are done. This could mean that the terms of the new offer are negotiable, and changes will still be made. Cross your fingers and spin those prayer weasels, and hope that this stupid strike will be over by Monday night.

In the meantime, somebody found all the budget records for the school district, and made them available. The receipts and such actually put the lie to some of the district's claims, and are also having a massive effect on the parents who are reading what their school board is spending taxpayer money on. I was particularly apalled at the huge food expenses, and the fact that the school board and superintendent seemed to take a trip a month on the taxpayers' dime. As one person pointed out: The Superintendent’s Office spent $699,602 last year. Community Relations (Judy Parker) proposed budget for next year is $300,000. The entire budget last year for MPHS’s science department was $18,000.

$300,000 for PR, but only $18,000 for the science department of the biggest high school in the state? What ON EARTH does a school district need a $300,000 PR budget for?!??

So... keep hoping this thing will end. The sooner the better. I want hubby-Eric back in a classroom where he belongs.