Posted by localmom, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jan 2, 2011 at 8:27 am

Can someone please explain to me how a 4.5% raise/bonus during a recession, with massive state budget deficit/cuts, was a GOOD MOVE by Craig Goldman in the MVW elementary school district?? Seems like it is draining money from programs and class size reduction; GATE would be completely gone if parents didn't step up, etc. How is this helping?? And did the staff, admin, and teachers NEED a raise when the inflation rate is 1.2% per year? I didn't get one! Haven't in 5 years! Anyone else??

Posted by concerned parent, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Jan 2, 2011 at 9:36 am

It makes me a bit sad that California is not making education more of a priority. California now ranks number 48 in the US in terms of how many dollars are given to schools. I believe Mississippi is even above California. I do not usually comment on these posts, but think it is important to note that although the teachers are getting a "raise" in Mountain View their benefits are also being adjusted. Not sure that is in actuality going to help teachers or ultimately our kids. Schools are not businesses and should not be equated as such. During better times educational employees did not get the bonuses etc.. that those of us who work in the tech. industry did. For the first time in years the number of teacher applicants to state schools is down, which should be a huge red flag. The future of our children is in education and as a community it should be the utmost of a priority. Not sure how much more the school budgets can be cut?

Posted by Teacher, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Jan 2, 2011 at 5:40 pm

The school board squandered the last five years on that clown Ghysels. Moral is at an all time low and the budget is only going to get worse in the next few years. A raise for teachers was long overdue, otherwise we wouldn't be able to keep the high-quality teachers we have. What I don't understand is the arbitrary bonuses given out to the administrators. Shame on the district office.

Posted by greycat, a resident of another community, on Jan 3, 2011 at 3:57 pm

localmom: perhaps during a recession, when budget cuts are incurred, while education is undervalued is *precisely* when those working in the schools need a raise because the expectations upon them are so much greater. Is this so difficult to comprehend??

Posted by greycat, a resident of another community, on Jan 3, 2011 at 3:59 pm

Teacher:

morale. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved January 03, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: Web Link

Posted by curious, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jan 3, 2011 at 4:48 pm

The posts on here by the teachers' union members and their supporters show why California is in the toilet and will likely stay that way. What part of "We do not have the money" do you not understand.

This state has 12.5% unemployment, 20+% underemployment and "Teacher" thinks we have to give huge raises to keep the teachers we have. I say if they can do better somewhere else, God bless them and I hope they enjoy it at their new place of employment. I guarantee there will be at least 10 qualified applicants for every position left vacant.

The teachers' union controls the school board so they rubber stamp anything they want. Well, as a taxpayer, not one red cent more. I will be voting at every special election where they try to milk some more parcel tax from us. Luckily I am grandfathered in by Prop 13 so I do not pay the exorbitant taxes that my neighbors do. Otherwise I would have cleared out of this state long ago.

Posted by UJ, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Jan 7, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Let's take a hard look at teachers pensions. While they might not earn too much on a year to year basis, they have incredible benefits, furthermore, most stand to earn more in retirement in real dollars (adjusted to inflation) than they do during their term of employment.