School Board Issues

John St.John’s message is self serving and filled with incorrect as he calls them “facts” and omissions. He fails to mention the Superintendent’s contract signed in July, 2006 that extends his contract to 2010 with a guaranteed yearly increase of 3% plus whatever else is negotiated by other administrators; the addition of steps that increases his salary above the 3% plus additional negotiated (no other superintendent of Rim of the World has ever had this) an 18 month buy out with ongoing benefits should the Board decide they want a change, and another year added to his contract if just three board members say he is doing a satisfactory job. This was the reward given by the School Board after one of the worst years for morale on record resulting in a large number of our teachers (20) leaving the district, some leaving the profession, not retiring.

Teachers waited an entire year to get the 3% they settled for which was worth less than 3% after inflation and another .75% was added on July 1, 2006. Column raises are not automatic. Teachers must take University courses at their own expense and on their own time in order to move over columns. Step increases stop after16 and 21 years of service and end after 31 years of service, the number of years it takes to get to the top of the teacher’s salary schedule. Over a life time career teachers at Rim are 100’s of thousands of dollars behind their colleagues in other districts. As for benefits many districts provide the same benefits Rim does and Jane St. John has been given and accepted these same benefits for the 13 years she’s been on the board.

The figures presented were based on School Services of California information, a private for- profit corporation not a state agency. Further many of these figures come from the District itself and they are frequently erroneous and out of date. St. John must have gotten these figures from his wife.

Rim School District is a declining enrollment district and as such is overstaffed administratively.

Should a school board member have a lifetime position, or should other citizens be given the opportunity to serve. After all the demonstrations and ill will of last year,
It is time for a new viewpoint. VOTE ERLANGER AND MARKOVICH

I have been reading this discussion and finally had to get involved. Like many of you, I have lived here forever, my kids went through school here forever, have been very involved in the school district forever, as a parent, a volunteer, an employee. I am supporting Jane St.John. She has worked tirelessly for our kids for years. She too was a volunteer before becoming a member of the board. I think the people who are speaking against her forget some things. She was the only Board member actively fighting against former Administration that was manipulating, fabricating information to the detriment of employees. As for change, look around. The District has new Administration, both local people and the best from outside. With more changes to come. You remember the District Office being behind Borderline? Seems much more prudent to be in a building owned by the District which is paid off than to be paying rent to Blue Jay Corp. The Superintendent's contract, finally he is on a salary schedule just like every other employee of the District. No more surprises. Classified employees get an increase in pay, automatically, on each anniversary of hire date, for 5 years. Certificated employees receive an increaase, likewise, for 8 years and can increase their salary through further education. Plus, all employees receive longevity increases according to their negotiated contracts. Rim Teachers Association is angry...and rightfully so. We should all be angry, but not at Jane. Direct it where it belongs, the State of California. Education is sorely underfunded. We are at the very bottom of the country in funding per pupil for education. School Districts must do more and more with less and less. COLA (cost of living adjustment) are just that...it would be wonderful if it could automatically be passed on to employees. This is something to strive for. But usually this money is eaten up by other increasing costs, such as: fuel/tires etc. for buses and other vehicles, utilities, supplies and their shipping charges, benefits, etc. Speaking of benefits, as the District has to pay increasing benefit costs, I always looked at that as a raise. Benefits increased over $5,000.00 per employee over the last few years. If one works 10 months, that equates to $500.00 per month per employee. A heck of a raise in my book. There is only one pot of money for salary and benefits. Other Districts have given larger raises, but have cut back on their benefit package to pay for it. Our union negotiation teams also had this choice, but decided health care was more important than salary increases. I could go on and on...Jane has been instrumental at the Board level in maintaining fair and equitable treatment for Rim School District employees. Her tireless efforts on behalf of the children of the District is an also endless list of problem solving and proactive decision making. But you must be tired of reading by now, I know I'm tired of typing. Make the best decision for our schools and our children, vote for Jane St.John.

It is time for a change! As the local paper said, this board is stagnant, unable to get anything done. Status quo means 4 more years of getting nothing done. Last year some great teachers left - teachers that I wanted my children to have. I spoke with one of them at the high school. He took leave with no intent to return because he is disgusted with the way this district is handled. (he gave a very solid argument)
The school board is a democracy - voted in, voted out. At each meeting they represent the area they were elected. They have the ability to come well prepared and to ask questions. Most importantly they have the ability to vote as an individual on the board. Why don't they? At this point they are much too comfortable with eachother and the supt. We all love our little mountain! However, it is time to stop voting for family friends, and be brave enough to make a change! Please support parents who care and teachers and vote for Markovich and Erlanger!

I strongly agree with you mtnperson. It is time for change. Please go out and vote. vote for change. Erlanger and Markovich.

The voters have spoken. It IS time for a change, and this is just the beginning...