Please see below an essay that was written by Karen Peikert and published in the Leader Telegram that discusses the probable appointment of Gregg Butler to the Interim Superintendent position. I will follow up with many, many comments that were written to me about this issue. Maria
Our city is deeply divided over the contentious issues surrounding a school
closing, teacher and staff layoffs and possible extracurricular reductions.
At the recent School Board meeting, I observed parents yelling and booing at
decisions that angered them, and incivility and condescension amongst
certain school board members.
The current animosity between and towards school leadership will eventually
start to erode the quality of our schools and ruin any chance of passing a
future referendum unless we have a dramatic turnaround in the public trust.
The failed referendum indicates that this community needs to be persuaded
that our district leaders will be good stewards of our tax dollars.
In January, the current superintendent announced that he will be stepping
down from his post to become a middle school principal, but will receive a
retirement package as though he had completed his career at the more
demanding position. On April 17, we were notified that the deputy
superintendent will be retiring at age 56, and then applying for the interim
superintendent position. I have a sneaking suspicion that those two
decisions do not exemplify kind of financial stewardship the taxpayers are
looking for.
By most accounts, school district "double-dipping" (individuals retiring at
full pension who are then rehired in another capacity) is somewhat
commonplace, and not unique to Eau Claire. Obviously, it is not illegal,
but it certainly does not happen in industries that seek to effectively
manage their bottom line. At a time when every student and teacher in the
district will directly feel the effects of the budget cuts, we must ask
ourselves whether this is the kind of principled decision-making that is
required in difficult times.
I don't doubt that the deputy superintendent has been an outstanding
contributor to Eau Claire's educational system, but at a certain point, can
we say "enough" to financial gamesmanship? Can we, as taxpayers, do anything
to change a compensation system that actually rewards educators for retiring
at an age that, in the private sector, they are often considered to be at
the top of their game? In the interim, can our School Board begin to say no
to the practice of double-dipping, thus eliminating the option of
manipulating the existing retirement system towards personal gain?
In the face of enormous budget deficits, the money involved is literally a
drop in the bucket. And truthfully, we probably need the deputy
superintendent's expertise to guide us through the challenges of the coming
school year. However, the voters of this community 'spoke' at the polls,
expressing a lack of confidence in school leadership to responsibly handle
the additional tax dollars needed to solve the budget problem. The argument
over whether this mistrust is justified is irrelevant; it must be addressed.
In the long road toward gaining taxpayer confidence, this was one small
step in the wrong direction.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
Usually I read the Leader Telegram and put in on the recylicng stack right away. But I still have by my computer section B from Tues. April 17 because I was so bothered by the article about Butler's retirement plans. I too wrote at letter. One thing that made me very upset at the school board meeting was when then board voted to close debate on closing Little Red. The vote passed, and so they should have voted right away. Instead Carol Olson let Butler talk on and on, thereby giving the impression that all this was nothing more than furthering the administration's agenda.
The school board blew a whole lot of political capital at their last meeting. They alienated the base of people who would naturally vote for a referendum. Having Butler continue on with a double-dip will really give those who are naturally inclined to vote no real ammuntion.
-----------------
I could not agree more. G Butler could have stayed in his position and slid right into the interim superintendent's role. . . .by retiring and coming back he definitely will be double dipping . . .even though there will be savings as his insurance package will be paid by
his retirement. What to do with all this mess??? The new Board has to be jacked up to understand that they MUST be open to questions and concerns from their fellow board members AND from the public. Will they ever do that?
--------------------
I really do agree with the points she makes in this article. I think that if Klaus had retired and not gone on to be a principal, if people were happy with administrative decisions and if the private sector world was a bit different, this would not be such a bad decision. But, in a sense, it is as if many inappropriate decisions have been made and now one of the "deciders", possibly the main "decider" gets rewarded for the inappropriate decisions by being allowed to draw a superintendents retirement pension,
plus a superintendent's salary. And yes, I know, that the district saves because it doesn't have to pay benefits. I think this will really hurt the reputation of the school system and the ability to pass referendums in the future. I think it is probably time for a clean slate in administration. I expect there are other "retired" administrators in the state who could also be hired in an acting role here and the district could save on benefits. I also know some good principals in the system who could probably do a good
job working as acting superintendent.
There is a significant loss of trust in the administration of the school system at this time, though almost everyone I talk to is supportive of teachers and staff. I think this Butler deal would be a final blow to the administrative credibility.
Many people in the community are like me, age 60, still working and no opportunity to draw both retirement benefits, full insurance and a full salary besides. I understand the complexity of the issues, but many people don't.
Well, enough of my free-floating ideas. I expect there will be some letters in the paper in the next week or so.
--------------------
This was the sort of thing I was talking about last night regarding Butler. Yes. I think we must speak out, whether in letters to the editor or privately to school board members via telephone or mail. I do not agree with everything in this letter, however. For example, I do not think Butler has made any outstanding contributions and I do not think we need his experience. Rather, it is likely that acting on his experience he will just give us more of the same. By "same" I mean the same kind of school management that has brought us to our present condition, both in terms of finances and teacher morale.
------------------------
I was also surprised about Butler and td not think he should have the position. I'm sorry I'm so busy right now. I have a research paper at the u due and am writing a totally different piece for pub, working at times, and getting ready for the 3rd CD. By the end of May, I'll be more free. Please keep me posted.
-------------------------------
This is well written - we need to find more areas of common ground to help us raise the expectation level of the board and admin.
----------------------------
I have to wonder sometimes if there are not
similarities between past school boards and
the Bush administration with respect to their
willingness to accept realities that they do
not wish to see. When the 1997 referendum
came up I thought it was dead on arrival, and
was shocked to see quotes in the paper after
if failed expressing surprise that it had
failed.
The push for a building referendum had a
similar feel. It doesn't seem possible that
anyone would think that it would pass, yet it
took a huge effort to convince them not to try.
The district is doomed unless the board, all
of the board, gets a grip on the level of
anger and mistrust. Joanne and Carol Olson
seemed to be so far into the bubble that they
are no longer able to come out. It is a good
thing they are gone and I hope if nothing
else the new guys bring a view of what it
is like outside the bubble.
--------------------------------
Thanks for sharing the viewpoint. I don't know enough about the legality of the intended actions by the administrators, but I certainly agree that the actions leave a negative perception. It "feels" like the system is being manipulated, and the distrust of the system will continue to grow.
---------------------
I can also see Karen's concerns. A neighbor of mine is a substitute teacher and she has voiced the same concerns.
---------------------
Thanks for forwarding this person's perspective. She may not have as positive a perspective about the interim-superintendent candidate if she were a long-time teacher in this district.
Having been here only five years, and having had one very important and supportive interaction with Dr. Butler, my persepective is not as jaded as others. I do not wish, for obvious reasons, to have my name remaining on any portion of this message if you choose to share it. My self=preservation instincts are fully engaged because these are unpleasant times.
The sports analogy I have heard among teachers in several forms is this: We are professionals - a professional team. If we have several losing seasons in a row and the head coach is fired, leaves or is given a golden parachute, do you put in the assistant coach who helped generate the losing seasons to take over the team?!
At a staff & faculty meeting before the referendum, in response to an inquiry about creative problem solving, Dr. Butler said he was providing the board what it asked him to get and only what it asked him to get. At that same meeting Dan van de Water said he did not read the local paper. Perhaps that is how he missed the story about the administrative raises in excess of the QEO - including his - that were board approved, like Dr. Klaus' deal, also before the referendum.
I've heard a recall petition is started naming two board members who were not up for re-election. Perhaps that, and some serious investigative reporting by our local newspaper instead of sugar-coated meeting coverage, would reveal some of the poor leadership both downtown and on the board.
-------------------------
OK here's a scenario for you
Bastings leaves and is not replaced $90-$113k
Johnson leaves and is not replaced $90 plus K ??
Krause stays on as admin until they find a new one
Butler retires and is not replaced $120?? k
2-3 middle school principals retire and are not replaced $200-$280K??
teachers that are getting bumped are at the bottom of the pay scale at $25 -$30 or so
I'm Irish and prone to exaggeration, but isn't this about $500k? or 20 teachers?
Just a thought for those who do better math than I do.
----------------------------
Morale is so low among the teachers it is just awful. I subbed at one school and being in the teacher's lounge for lunch was so awful that I had to stay in my room the second day. At another school, in the 40 minutes that I was there volunteering, I saw two young teachers crying, one a man, and the "veterans" huddled in corners whispering. My friends say this has been such a horrible week and the kids are acting awful. I am sure it is because they feel the lack of control the teachers are feeling now.
No one but a teacher knows how difficult this time of year is. The teachers are worn out. And then they have to deal with the threat of their jobs being reduced or eliminated and not knowing what is going to happen. They feel helpless and all I can say for description is demoralized. I don't blame people, on the other hand for not voting for the referendum. I only voted for it in loyalty to my friends. I believe there is a lack of confidence in the way the deciders spend money. I talked to a rightwinger who told me as much. Some teachers feel that this is directed against them and the fact that they get benefits. I don't think so but if the teachers believe this, it only further weakens their morale.
The administrators have ruthlessly stroked themselves for years--giving themselves a 4% raise when teachers only got a 3.8 that included beneifts?? if I have it right?? I do know that 4% of 100 plus K is a heck of a lot more than the 1.3 we actually got of $35 to 50. Other rumors I have heard is that they get their advanced degrees paid for (while we pay big bucks for every credit) and that they have some kind of special retirement fund paid for?? Is that true?? Until they start chopping at the top no one is going to buy their proposals that's for sure--I heard another rumor that some teachers didn't even vote for the referendum.
What hurts teachers is to reduce clerical staff
reduce aids reduce custodians (all these people make our jobs easier to do -- to help teachers concentrate on the needs of the kids
load up the classes with kids
Nobody is going to miss an adminstrator --believe me--We could go weeks without seeing ours. I had minimal contact with all but one of mine--And I have nothing against them personally--but we all feel we have too many.
Now that some of the principals are retiring would be a good time NOT TO FILL those positions, rather than make a cushy little place for Krause to land. Not rehiring 3 retired principals at close to 100K each means 6 teaching jobs saved! Well, that's enough from me. I may still want to sub to supplement my meager retirement so if anyone knows where my opinions come from, that will be the end of my $80 per day. Believe me, vindictiveness exists in this area too.
-------------------------
If Greg Butler has the expertise to help the district through this crisis, why didn't he use it earlier to keep us from getting into this mess? I think a better way to handle is the interim would be to give Patty Iverson, Bill Klaus' secretary and secretary to the Board, a raise and tap into her expertise. I feel she has more knowledge of the whole situation than anyone.
I do not know her personally, but her position speaks for itself.
-----------------------------------
The current school administration has a very tarnished image in the community and this kind of action sure doesn't help. It seems the board either rubber stamps what they say or has no power to control them.
I planned to vote "no" on the referendum but when I got the pen in hand, my hand voted "yes" against my will. I just couldn't penalize the teachers and students for the bad judgment of the board and the administration. Any public funded organization who spends over a million $$ on a building and then shuts it down a short time later doesn't have a lot of respect from me and any public organization that suddenly discovers strategic planning after getting themselves in such a mess needs to be cleaned out and start fresh with new people. We don't need to be recycling the current ones with double money from WRS retirement and from the current school budget. Collecting at 2 places while laying off teachers and cutting programs and closing schools doesn't feel right.
----------------------------------
I become so upset when I read and talk about this stuff , that I need to be careful for my own self preservation. I want to be a part of positive change not negative nasty stuff which this may require, I don't know. Perhaps as a communicator or a liason between teachers and their needs and the rest of the world out here.
As a teacher I have know that this attitude of the board and certain administrators has gone on for years. They are disrespectful of the public and of public input and openly so, I have heard them myself. I also participated in the charade called the "Middle School Study" which was an attempt to cut programs like foreign language under the auspices of "this is what the teachers asked for" even though this was not what the teachers asked for. The teachers sent recommendations to the "executive committee" which was comprised of administrators, counselors, and a lone teacher who is on the principal track and had been vocal about his disdain for foreign language. So the "committee" heard hundreds of students, student petitions, parents and university language professionals tell them that it was unwise to cut our program by removing the sixth grade level. They did it anyway because "they had already decided" just like they always do. They see public hearings as a necessary evil for people to vent and then they go about their business. I am rehashing old stuff here, but that is the business as usual. And those of us who have been involved in it once, don't usually put our energies into fighting them again.
I believe that the threats against the community and the teachers are a double edged bullying tactic and Gregg is weilding the sword. This is his style. Bully the community thinking they will give in if he threatens them with loss of teachers and schools, hit them where it hurts, and at the same time the teachers are all cowed because they are afraid for their jobs. This keeps everyone in line and a few lackeys speak up for the administration's proposals in the hope of "unity" and not getting clobbered themselves. It is heartless and macho.
Again I think we need to do the math here. Put the numbers in front of the public. I might be willing to do that but an not very knowledgeable on how to get the info.Whbat will these guys be making in "retirement" and what could be saved by not replacing a few of them. My husband says we need a lawyer. Has it come to that? How does one file a complaint? Apparently our union is too weak to take on this kind of stuff. But since it is composed of teachers who are literally worn out and again demoralized , it is not surprising there is not something coming from them.
Thanks for keeping me informed even though I get burnt out just reading about it. I am in a different place now and want to go in a different direction. But I also want to see things done in a better way than what is happening to our schools. That is my conflict.
---------------------------
We found ourselves very much in agreement with this specific letter, as well as the recent and numerous letters to the editor in the paper regarding the lack of consideration of cuts in administration when looking at budget cuts for the school district. The whole issue is of much concern.
------------------
We have discussed this at length before your email. I do not know Karen, but I agree with what she has written (and states the facts very well). It is a crime what Butler is trying to pull off in our city! Please encourage her and/or Maria to send this to Voice of the People. The tax payers need to know these things!!! I believe my wife would testify that most the teachers are sick of thought of another slick move by the administration.
-------------------------------
While I disagree with Karen's statements related to the "all holy" private sector, I think she is right in that we expect our public servants to be different rather than the same as the greed based captains of the private sector. The message that is being communicated to the public by the administration and board is all wrong. Do we want to rehire the folks that got us in this mess? I think it is arrogant and below the standard we should expect.
------------------------------
Do you have any idea if the Wisconsin Employee Trust Association has been notified in an official compliant outlining all of the double dipping that is going on in the district? In light of all of our financial troubles and issues at the state level- I think these needs to be elevated somehow not only to get the EC public informed (which the Leader Telegram in my opinion will not do) but also our elected officials. Would a mass mailing through the post office be helpful - listing the facts (including that Mike O' Brien is an attorney with the same legal firm that the district uses or that he is slated to be the next President (of which he could be a deciding vote that could impact not only his wife who is an employee of the district, but himself who pulls district benefits ((Both of which are a conflict of
interest in my opinion)).
What about the annuities (part of their benefit package) that the central office administration gets - does the public know that information? There is rumor that Klaus's secretary (Iverson) just got an $8000 raise???
Can a petition get circulated before the next board meeting requesting that Butler NOT be given the interim position?? ((Estimated salary if he gets it.. over $260K) What about a recall election of at least 3 of the current sitting board??? These are all questions/comments that I am hearing that I am not sure what has happened or needs to happen.
We only have 2 board members in my opinion that are actually trying to get the board to a more ethical & moral status with the others being hand picked from central office to continue the chaos. I and so many others are frustrated of all of the under handed dealings (and the power that goes along with it) but am not sure what to do. We have now heard that Little Red property is on the market, that McKinley school site has been in negotiations with a commercial realtor for some time, that Lincoln school is being eyed by Luther Midelfort and that Northstar middle school may become vacated in the future so it can be an extension of the YMCA campus............When does this stop!
These may be all rumors but I have heard many positive comments of things you are trying to do that I thought I would respond to one of these emails.
I can only hope that thru email, blogs, chat rooms, or mass mailings will be the only way that the public gets the facts and hears the whole story – so that collectively and collaboratively the district can make significant changes. I am fearful that the list of 18 cuts is only the beginning of a long range plan that has been manipulated over the years behind closed doors
and of which they do not want to become public.
What I think frustrates me most - is that even though schools are closing, teachers laid off, etc... there are individuals that will be lining their pockets out of all of this and will have no problem walking away completely if things start to crumble. And because of the legal wordings....can do this without breaking any laws.
Just to clarify, the previous comment was a collection of comments sent to me by many people who read Karen's essay. I have tried to separate the individual comments with ----- so you can tell that it is a different response.
Sorry for any confusion.
Maria
In her article Karen speculates about the cause of the failure of the recent referendun, I have heard various speculations about that issue. For those who feel that a review of the vote by wards in the district would help in drawing conclusions about motivation of voters, I have prepared a chart showing the distribution of the vote. If anyone wishes a copy contact me at elderjimo@gmail.com and I will e-mail a copy to you.
I have heard so many people discussing the "anointing" of G. Butler to the Interim Superintendent position and the presumptuousness of the entire process. Here is a comment from someone who attended the Retirement Banquet. At this point, almost nothing from this Administration or Board surprises me but the following is pretty outlandish!
"Hey, did you hear what happened at the Teacher's Retirement Banquet? It was Greg's turn to walk across the stage but after Bill Klaus shook his hand, he (Bill) took off his sports coat and held it for Greg to put on! Can you imagine the audacity of these people? It was silent, no clapping or hooting, no laughter. I was totally shocked!"
Jim, I'm way ahead of you. I've been working on ward maps that displays this visually.
The executive summary is that I think differences between wards are explained by economic factors. There is a low baseline though, that's where the incompetent formulation and marketing comes in. It seems like everything this district touches turns to ****.
Maybe I'll get some of this up this weekend, maybe not. It's a work in progress.
I agree....only I think it was one large step in the wrong direction. It seems as thought the administration and the school board are in bed together, and their plans are not in the best interest of schools, students and the community. I found it interesting that it is apparently just fine for administrators to double dip, but a special education teacher at Sam Davey, was told that she could not return from retirement to a full time job. The principal said that it was against policy. What is against policy for teachers doesn't ever seem to be against policy for adminisrators. Including their large raises every year.
Bob,
I think you are right in speculating that economic status was a factor in determining
who voted for and against the last referendum.
Age was another factor. I attended the meeting at the Senior Center when the Superintendent presented the case for a yes vote and went away
with the impression that it was
not a hotbed of support in spite of his well presented case and the excellent rapport
he established.
On the other end of the age spectrum there is ample evidence that younger college students do not vote in local elections nor that one can assume their vote to be of a particular political leaning.
My speculation about who votes at all in local elections is that local election voters are
middle to upper middle class individuals
middle age and beyond. But then my perceptions are gained from looking backward down the age scale.
It is possible to get the names of people who voted in a particular election and candidates often do that as they narrow down the list of people to contact. One can get a hands on perspective
by being a poll worker ( lots of gray hair there)
and observing who votes.
One of my speculations on voter turnout for local school referendums is that the majority of yes votes comes from middle class parents
of children currently in school with average or above income with intact families.
Just as enrollment is declining so is that group.
Whenever people say, "The community or citizens did or believes this or that"
they should remember that it is only a minority of the community that involves itself in school matters one way or another and it is a minority of that minority that appears at school board meetings to speak to the issues.
To win a referendum requires listening to the actual voters in that main minority
and responding to their concerns. It takes
a lot of sifting and winnowing.
The complexities of the employment of a retired member of the Wisconsin
Teacher Retirement System by a retirement system employer are dealt with at the state Employee Trust Fund web site
http://etf.wi.gov
in several locations and in links there to the relevant ETF Adminstrative Rules and state statutes. For a quick review of them go to the faq
(frequently asked questions) for members of the ETF.
One particularly interesting document available there is under "publications" and is titled, "Transitional Retirement Study" which deals with the issues of phased retirement and possible solutions to them both in public and private employment.
As I read the various documents it seems to me that most complexities arise when the rehired retired employee chooses (there are many choices) to reenter the retirement system.
For a copy of the ECASD brochure advertizing the position of interim superintendent go to
http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/departments/personnel/jobpostings/descriptions/AST-89.pdf
The four candidates for the position are
public knowledge now, but their interviews
will be a closed session. Can we the
public put together something to
interview, either in person or on the
phone or by email, the candidates and
publish this? I'd like to have an
informed opinion when/if the board
has discussion on the candidate.
I will make a prediction... concentrating... the new Superintendent... replacing Superintendent Iverson will be... Gregg Butler. Heh!
I am sitting at the computer listening to the local news on the TV.
Much to my amazement, it was announced that the Interim Superintendent will be somebody who does not have two consecutive consonants in his first name.
This is a ray of sunshine.
Post a Comment