I support choices that individuals can make based on their personal needs. I thought we did get a raise of 2.5%. Depending on what plan you choose will determine how much of the 2.5 you take home. Is this correct?

Go Trevor!

We filled out the surveys and we got what we asked for as our first priority.

I have to believe that our bargaining team did get the "best we can get" and therefore I agree with your statement, "so be it."

 I also, believe that this is nothing to jump for joy over. You correctly pointed out that this wage freeze or tiny raise depending on your benefit selection is not a happy situation.

You are absolutely correct in your directions for how to change this. We need to join together and become a political force that must be addressed by our elected officials. It is easy and foolish to turn on ourselves and even the AAPS as the source of our ugly situation.

True, the AAPS makes decisions about how to allocate the funds that they receive, but it is the scarcity of state funding that causes the district to have to make choices that impact us negatively. Until we attack the root cause, shrinking supply of state educational funding there is little to be gained in excessively beating up the district expecting to get major pay increases, which are needed and deserved, when the best we are likely to get is meager pay increases at great costs to the union membership and our school community.

It is also easy to turn our concerns upon ourselves and look for a place to level blame within our own ranks. As we exist in an ever tightening budget scenario each person is forced to examine the details of many financially related issues with greater scrutiny. When in the mode of closely scrutinizing our own situations it is easy to turn this lens of examination on our perceptions of other members and begin to harbor feelings of discontent and unfair treatment. It is easy to understand how this happens and difficult to make it stop. No good can come from turning on each other! In fact, as stated previously, we need to offer a strong, active and unified front in order to bring about political change.

I wish to highlight the need for action by all of our members and not just the usual suspects! This needs to be ongoing action that is likely to bring about the changes we support and not a reaction to whatever upsets us at the moment. (Hey, at least earn your right to complain after you've worked your butt off and still not been able to get the changes desired!) We need to be unified, pro-active, political, and get our issues acted upon!

Our real concern should be what will happen next year. Let's not pit members against each other, let's try to get the same type of deal we have this year with choices. Personally, I don't care if I have to pay 3 grand for insurance, it is worth it to me. So give the percentage rais to those who want it and let us subsidize our own coverage if we want Super Care 1. We lost our best MESSA insurance before, many years ago, when someone at Balas now was negotiating on our behalf, at least that is how the story goes. The district has savy negotiators whose goal it is to keep district money in district coffers. A few years ago we gave up terminal leave pay and the district told us it would make for increased raises for years to come. Years before that we gave up sabbaticals. We must stand firm and not give up things for the promise of more money in the future. There is never more money in the future. And by the way, No Child Left Behind includes sending students' names to the military who do not have college plans. It's true. Be informed.

I am glad that our team bargained for the choices that we said we wanted. However, I am not happy with the cost associated with the two MESSA plans. How can MESSA offer us a PPO that is priced so much higher that the district BCBS plan? My doctors do not participate in the MCare network, which means part of my raise must be chewed up in health care costs. I realize costs are rising, but why does MESSA refuse to come up with a price-matching plan?

People at the high end of the pay scale make between 300-4-- a day. It would be nice to be paid by the day for the work we must do before school starts to help offset the insurance costs. If anyone knows a way to make some extra money in the district without needing a different job, maybe you can post it here. There must be some things to do like supervise sports events or something.

Edited by author 08-25-2005 03:32 PM
The more I think of this the more questions I have than answers. Like, if we look at other comparable districts, how is it that Troy Schools (www.troy.k12.mi.us) pays for a masters plus 30 almost 12K higher per year than A2 at the maximum level. I was told by an employee of Grosse Pointe Schools that their scale is even higher than Troy's schedule. It seems in A2 we are always begging for crumbs in comparison to other comparable districts. I am thankful I am not in DPS but all the same, I just wonder why we are not compensated comparably. The other thought / question I have is, what are our top level administrators doing to make cuts to free up money? I haven't heard much of this and how they are doing this or that initiative to lessen the state financial crisis. I have to be honest and say the difference in pay between A2 and other comparable districts bothers me more than the pay. I like what I do but I feel a little bit like when I am shopping for a new car, and one salesman says sticker is the best he can do, and if I bite, I lose. He gains. I know when bargaining for big purchase items in life, the other person cares little about my self-interests and is more focused on how this will help them. I am sure the district would love to get teachers to work for the least amount possible, so they can build their "rainy day fund" for other more important issues. There is no denying that there are economic pressures out there with a weak economy, a legislature that does not seem pro-education, and surging health care costs. Maybe we should contact Troy or Grosse Pointe and find out how they are able to pay their teachers well and still remain in stable financial health? Just a thought.

Wow. you have brought up some interesting questions. Is there anyone who can look into these discrepancies?

Want to make extra money by coming in early? Becoma a counslor and get a 15% increase to come in early

Just who are the idiots who voted not to return to work at Sunday's meeting? What did they want us to do? Go out on a wildcat strike? It makes me wonder who it is that is that ignorant and how they were able to earn a degree with so little intelligence!

Edited by author 08-30-2005 10:07 PM
Hey, What's up indeed........You need to chill out. Where and when did you learn to call people names who have chosen to righfully express their opinion?

I agree with Richard. This is a democratic organization. Everyone should speak up for what they believe is right, no matter what the majority says. Every voice deserves to be heard.

My impression was that some of the people who voted not to return to work with students (because the wording included something like "to teach the students") were responding to the issue of having the kids on our first day back. I may be mistaken, but the thing is, I think I know who some of those people were, and they have been involved in a lot of conversation about that "first day" concern. I don't think they had any notion of a wildcat strike, but wanted to make a point about that first day....any of you no voters out there? Please correct me if I'm off-base about this.

Edited by author 09-01-2005 06:01 PM
I have been a secondary teacher in Ann Arbor since 1968, yes 1968, and this year's start up was perhaps the best. I know it is different for teachers at other levels but for myself I much preferred teaching students to listening to the superintendent or a BOE member.

I am curious how people with big medical costs will go when choosing insurance. If there is anyone out there who swore you wouldn't leave supercare, and now are considering the PPO, I would be interested in hearing your reasoning. I have two out of network doctors who are specialized and helping me and am thinking maybe I will just pay 20% instead of 10%. Any thoughts or reasons I should consider as to why I should keep supercare?