MPUSD teachers: here's a novel idea

After writing about the plight of Monterey Peninsula Unified School teachers -- a situation that's very likely being replicated across California-- an alert reader from Soledad called me with this idea:

Teachers should just quit working and go on Medicare. After all, a huge chunk of their paycheck is going into health care costs, why even bother?

The caller added that prison guards get a lot better benefits and all they education they need for the job is a high school diploma. Why should a person study so hard for so many years if s/he will be so poorly remunerated?

This reader also voted for Prop. 30-- the first time he's voted for a tax increase in a long time -- to boost spending for education, and when he sees this type of stories, it makes him reconsider his support.

I think my reader is onto something here. For sure, tapping into the deep reasons why people are so angry at MPUSD, and at the system in general.

And I also believe this is a good opportunity to reconsider not just pay for the next superintendent -- more on that in the days to come -- but also compensation for teachers. I think some serious action is needed.

Speaking of "CAVE" people and MPUSD

I knew my story about MPUSD hiring a communications firm would spark reaction. And Monterey resident and mother extraordinaire Joanna Greenshields didn't disappoint.

Here's an email she sent to MPUSD administrators and board members in response to my story:

I hope that these folks from Virginia are fluent in Spanish (CMS- Not that I could tell). 

The largest group of parents in MPUSD are Hispanic and very specific issues have to be addressed by people who are culturally and linguistically capable and sensitive. 

The other issue I see is that MPUSD personnel are some of the biggest naysayers. 
Many staff are unwilling to support district goals and many more won't put their own children in the very schools they teach in. How is that supposed to inspire confidence in the rest of us? 
My own experience with a few members in the top tier administration has been thoroughly entertaining at times! 
I have been lied to, I have been ignored, I have had administrators at board meetings roll their eyes, smirk and make sarcastic comments after I have raised an issue. 
Why would anybody but a bloody idiot get pulled in to that snake pit on a regular basis? 
It is embarrassing to see district staff try to argue a point on behalf of "the party line" when they are ill prepared and uncomfortable, but they have been sent out in to the firing line to sell the latest twaddle to the deaf public anyway. 
This has been my own personal experience and I know many other parents and community members that have experienced exactly the same. 

 I will say that the Board members have never acted inappropriately, nor have they made me feel like a " CAVE " person. Honesty, integrity, and total transparency are an absolute must for this administration. The superintendent sets the tone. Enough said!

Mrs. Greenshields raises an issue here that I've heard from many corners of MPUSD -- not just Monterey. Many don't like the top-down approach to decision making that appears to be the norm in the district. Thus, decisions that are arrived to this way keep building pressure in several corners until they finally bubble up, and explode one way or another.

If nothing else, maybe K-12 Insight will help take the community's pulse and see what kind of decisions would be more palatable.

Mea Culpa

Breaking news: reporters make mistakes. Ok, I'm sure that didn't surprise anybody. What may surprise some folks is that we feel horrible about them -- I do. But I want to hear about my mistakes, to avoid them next time.

Not too long ago, I identified a college president by the wrong last name. Twice. Horrors.

I don't seem to be on my best game these days. Who knows. Too much pressure to make videos?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about an MPUSD board meeting where teachers and community members were presenting their requests to the trustees. The district will end this budget year with about $24 million in reserves and Jill Lowe, former MTBA president and teacher extraordinaire wanted to know: "What’s a reasonable ending fund balance? Is 3 million a reasonable reserve? Now I’m looking at $24 million as an ending fund balance. That’s 8 times (as much). It seems exorbitantly high."

I write so many notes I'm getting a serious case of carpal tunnel. So Lowe's quote is there, in my electronic notes -- and I know it's correct because at this Monday's board meeting, she approached me to tell me I misquoted her -- and handed me a piece of paper with the message she delivered that night. To make sure I quoted her accurately.

In my haste to get the story done, not only did I write the meeting took place Monday -- it was actually a Tuesday, Monday was a holiday (thanks, Board President) -- but also I paraphrased Lowe's request incorrectly. And I shortened a long quote by a very passionate, very caring Justine Hochstaedter, making her sound whiny and defeated -- nothing further from the truth.

Yes, we're facing increasing pressures, and deadlines are always deadly. That's not an excuse, it's an explanation. But it shouldn't get in the way of accuracy, so I'll try harder.

And please, continue pointing out my inaccuracies. Hopefully you'll find fewer and fewer.