I am in the U-46 school district. Yesterday, my daughter came home from middle school and informed me of the following cuts due to budget.
They are only going to have one basketball team for the 7th and 8th grade girls instead of two due to budget restrictions. This year, they will not have a soccer tournament for the middle schools and next year, all sports in the middle school will be eliminated.

It is sad that our government leaders are not more fiscally responsible. They need to manage money better. The funny thing is, in this hard economic times, the teachers and other union workers are getting raises.

Got to cut something. Oh, by the way, many U-46 schools are on the academic watch list. So what am I getting for the raises?

(10-30-2009 09:16 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I am in the U-46 school district. Yesterday, my daughter came home from middle school and informed me of the following cuts due to budget.
They are only going to have one basketball team for the 7th and 8th grade girls instead of two due to budget restrictions. This year, they will not have a soccer tournament for the middle schools and next year, all sports in the middle school will be eliminated.

It is sad that our government leaders are not more fiscally responsible. They need to manage money better. The funny thing is, in this hard economic times, the teachers and other union workers are getting raises.

Got to cut something. Oh, by the way, many U-46 schools are on the academic watch list. So what am I getting for the raises?

Wouldnt making cuts qualify as being "fiscally responsible"? I agree it sucks for the kids, but something has to give, and sports are probably the most extraneous thing. Its certainly better than having academic programs cut (which in itself has been going on for a long time. Arts and music have been absolutely dessimated, although I believe that has more to do with the emphasis on No Child Left Behind, and all these school districts dumbing down their curriculum so that they pass the precious standardized tests).

What the state really needs to do is restructure school funding, and stop funding them through property taxes.

(10-30-2009 10:57 AM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 09:16 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I am in the U-46 school district. Yesterday, my daughter came home from middle school and informed me of the following cuts due to budget.
They are only going to have one basketball team for the 7th and 8th grade girls instead of two due to budget restrictions. This year, they will not have a soccer tournament for the middle schools and next year, all sports in the middle school will be eliminated.

It is sad that our government leaders are not more fiscally responsible. They need to manage money better. The funny thing is, in this hard economic times, the teachers and other union workers are getting raises.

Got to cut something. Oh, by the way, many U-46 schools are on the academic watch list. So what am I getting for the raises?

Wouldnt making cuts qualify as being "fiscally responsible"? I agree it sucks for the kids, but something has to give, and sports are probably the most extraneous thing.

What the state really needs to do is restructure school funding, and stop funding them through property taxes.

the biggest line items in the budget, they can not cut. Teachers Salaries and Benefits. Bus Drivers Salaries and benefits. They can only cut what they can cut. The unions will not budge even when the Superintendant asked them for concessions.

Look at Mayor Daley. He is pleading with the unions to take furlough days. The scary thing is, we will have less police and firemen on the streets. Instead of adjusting salaries and benefits, tax payers will do without.

FYI, cutting of base salaries in the private sector is very common now. Why not the public sector

(10-30-2009 11:04 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 10:57 AM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 09:16 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I am in the U-46 school district. Yesterday, my daughter came home from middle school and informed me of the following cuts due to budget.
They are only going to have one basketball team for the 7th and 8th grade girls instead of two due to budget restrictions. This year, they will not have a soccer tournament for the middle schools and next year, all sports in the middle school will be eliminated.

It is sad that our government leaders are not more fiscally responsible. They need to manage money better. The funny thing is, in this hard economic times, the teachers and other union workers are getting raises.

Got to cut something. Oh, by the way, many U-46 schools are on the academic watch list. So what am I getting for the raises?

Wouldnt making cuts qualify as being "fiscally responsible"? I agree it sucks for the kids, but something has to give, and sports are probably the most extraneous thing.

What the state really needs to do is restructure school funding, and stop funding them through property taxes.

the biggest line items in the budget, they can not cut. Teachers Salaries and Benefits. Bus Drivers Salaries and benefits. They can only cut what they can cut. The unions will not budge even when the Superintendant asked them for concessions.

Look at Mayor Daley. He is pleading with the unions to take furlough days. The scary thing is, we will have less police and firemen on the streets. Instead of adjusting salaries and benefits, tax payers will do without.

FYI, cutting of base salaries in the private sector is very common now. Why not the public sector

Are you kidding? They are cutting that. My wife is a teacher and their new contact that just passed has SIGNIFICANT changes and cuts compared to the last contract, including a furlow day and higher out of pocket insurance costs. It's happening all over. The unions have made concessions.

(10-30-2009 12:15 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 11:04 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 10:57 AM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 09:16 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I am in the U-46 school district. Yesterday, my daughter came home from middle school and informed me of the following cuts due to budget.
They are only going to have one basketball team for the 7th and 8th grade girls instead of two due to budget restrictions. This year, they will not have a soccer tournament for the middle schools and next year, all sports in the middle school will be eliminated.

It is sad that our government leaders are not more fiscally responsible. They need to manage money better. The funny thing is, in this hard economic times, the teachers and other union workers are getting raises.

Got to cut something. Oh, by the way, many U-46 schools are on the academic watch list. So what am I getting for the raises?

Wouldnt making cuts qualify as being "fiscally responsible"? I agree it sucks for the kids, but something has to give, and sports are probably the most extraneous thing.

What the state really needs to do is restructure school funding, and stop funding them through property taxes.

the biggest line items in the budget, they can not cut. Teachers Salaries and Benefits. Bus Drivers Salaries and benefits. They can only cut what they can cut. The unions will not budge even when the Superintendant asked them for concessions.

Look at Mayor Daley. He is pleading with the unions to take furlough days. The scary thing is, we will have less police and firemen on the streets. Instead of adjusting salaries and benefits, tax payers will do without.

FYI, cutting of base salaries in the private sector is very common now. Why not the public sector

Are you kidding? They are cutting that. My wife is a teacher and their new contact that just passed has SIGNIFICANT changes and cuts compared to the last contract, including a furlow day and higher out of pocket insurance costs. It's happening all over. The unions have made concessions.

Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch. So they cut nurses, and administrative assistants and teacher's assistants. Our class sizes are very high compared to other school districts.

One change i'd like to see happen statewide which has already taken place in Oregon (definitely) and Washington(fairly certain) is using a different criteria for funding the schools than simply by total number of classroom days.

Actual classroom time is more important than the number of days attended.
Adding 5 minutes to each class period would allow districts to embark on a 4 day school week or cut 15 school days out of the school year without reducing actual class time. Reducing school days while not reducing class time would cut the energy portion and transportation portion of a district's budget big time. I also can't imagine too many teachers who wouldn't rather teach a day that's 35 minutes longer in exchange for getting 15 more paid off days a year.

Cutting school days by 15 ( our local district has several Wed half days which could be part of those 15 days) would enable districts to not cut from critical teaching element or extracurricular activities.

An idea that makes too much sense to take root in Illinois?

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

Quote:Affects of budget shortfalls

Don't you mean "effects"?

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

So what party is bailing out the corporations?

In our present transition to a Euro-bama economy, you will be lucky if you can find one job. I guess that will keep families intact.

(11-02-2009 09:53 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

Quote:Affects of budget shortfalls

Don't you mean "effects"?

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

So what party is bailing out the corporations?

In our present transition to a Euro-bama economy, you will be lucky if you can find one job. I guess that will keep families intact.

i was able to get 2 job offers last week

(11-02-2009 10:02 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(11-02-2009 09:53 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

Quote:Affects of budget shortfalls

Don't you mean "effects"?

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

So what party is bailing out the corporations?

In our present transition to a Euro-bama economy, you will be lucky if you can find one job. I guess that will keep families intact.

i was able to get 2 job offers last week

Congratulations. Are you making more money, same or less money? A lot of companies are lowering salary.

Alum, obviously you have a degree, hence the screen name, and just because you have a job doesn't mean others are able to find one. I've had no problem finding a job myself, mainly due to my degree choice, but I know I personally have plenty of friends out there who have been looking for a job for months. Everyone's situation is unique. If it was so easy that everyone could get two job offers in a week we wouldn't see unemployment reaching double digits.

Huskie_Jon.. Both parties are bailing out the corporations, Bush did it, Obama is doing it. The recession didn't start with Euro-Bama in office, nor did giving preference to large companies. It was already in place when he got here.

Once again someone on this board complaining about the wrong things just to push their agenda when they don't need to. There are so many legitimate beefs out there with Obama as some of more educated posters mentioned in the last thread. Yet you focus on the lack of jobs as if that's his fault. As if we weren't already in a recession when he took office. As if those jobs wouldn't have disappeared no matter who was in office. It's hard to listen to any valid arguments you may make Huskie_Jon when you make so many ridiculous ones.

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

Pay should be at market rate. Because so many jobs are going over seas, the pay structure in the U.S. needs to adjust or we have to stop importing goods and services from other countries. If you want your computer, I-Pod, TV, Stereo, Clothing cheaper, then overseas is the way. China would crush us if we tried to put tariffs on their goods.

(11-02-2009 10:18 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(11-02-2009 10:02 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(11-02-2009 09:53 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

Quote:Affects of budget shortfalls

Don't you mean "effects"?

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

So what party is bailing out the corporations?

In our present transition to a Euro-bama economy, you will be lucky if you can find one job. I guess that will keep families intact.

i was able to get 2 job offers last week

Congratulations. Are you making more money, same or less money? A lot of companies are lowering salary.

thanks...no i do realize that jobs are really hard to come by out there, as i know a ton of people...but on a case by case basis that while one may not have the skills to find one, another may have the skills to be competitive.

as for salary, it turns out i am getting a significant "raise" compared to what i'm used to, but thats because i am going from a small company where i took a 10% pay cut (and i was w/ since graduation) and generally got "underpaid", to a large company w/ resources and asking for a salary in the Median range.

(11-02-2009 09:53 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

Quote:Affects of budget shortfalls

Don't you mean "effects"?

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

So what party is bailing out the corporations?

In our present transition to a Euro-bama economy, you will be lucky if you can find one job. I guess that will keep families intact.

I believe that it started under Bush. Not to mention, it was the Republicans who bailed out the S&L's many years ago. But of course, it is all Obama's fault. You would have been lucky to find a job under Bush the final year or so too.

(11-02-2009 12:23 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(11-02-2009 09:53 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

Quote:Affects of budget shortfalls

Don't you mean "effects"?

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

So what party is bailing out the corporations?

In our present transition to a Euro-bama economy, you will be lucky if you can find one job. I guess that will keep families intact.

I believe that it started under Bush. Not to mention, it was the Republicans who bailed out the S&L's many years ago. But of course, it is all Obama's fault. You would have been lucky to find a job under Bush the final year or so too.

All politician's are responsible for this mess. They want to get re-elected and keep their cush job. Obama is just increasing faster than his predicessors. Democrats and Republicans are both guilty. We need real fiscal conservatives in congress to right this ship.

Also, within the next couple of months, Congress is going to increas our debt limit another $2 TRILLION dollars. It is easier to borrow money than to cut spending or increase taxes. Eventually, the debt will kill us.(See Californina).

(11-02-2009 12:23 PM)RobertN Wrote:  I believe that it started under Bush. Not to mention, it was the Republicans who bailed out the S&L's many years ago. But of course, it is all Obama's fault. You would have been lucky to find a job under Bush the final year or so too.

I believe that it started under Clinton, and Bush was such a great president that he held the inevitable housing crisis / recession off for 7 years in office

(11-02-2009 10:22 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

Pay should be at market rate. Because so many jobs are going over seas, the pay structure in the U.S. needs to adjust or we have to stop importing goods and services from other countries. If you want your computer, I-Pod, TV, Stereo, Clothing cheaper, then overseas is the way. China would crush us if we tried to put tariffs on their goods.

Labor supply and demand can set the market rate. If you don't like your current salary, there are two things to do

1) wait for a handout, whine about why you haven't recevied your handout, and blame politicians
2) seek better opportunities using your own initiative

congrats alum03, it sounds like you've been biding your time looking for a better opportunity and have found one - even at the back end of a bad recession.

(10-31-2009 10:21 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(10-31-2009 10:01 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(10-30-2009 12:43 PM)klake87 Wrote:  Not in U-46. The Superintendant Torres asked them to not take their raises this year and they told him to go scratch.

Anyone asking for a raise during declining tax revenues is out of their mind. That is the problem with unions - they don't want to do their fair share to help during these difficult economic times.

It's too bad they forced the airlines and the auto industry into bankruptcy before their contracts were made void. Can the school district file for bankruptcy to break the union's back? It seems that's the only way to get today's unions to get with the times. The reasons unions were put in place for 100 years ago have been totally abused.

Few things disgust me more than unions.

Nothing disgusts me more than Republicans who love to talk about "family values" but don't think that Americans deserve a decent pay wage. Forcing them to work 2-3 jobs. THus leaving families in shambles. Why do Republicans hate "family values" and love corporate greed?

Because they draw a large % of their support and contributions from the oil/gas, drug & insurance companies. They are billionaires for wealthcare. Yep they strongly believe in the right to birth but once your born, screw you.