Comments on: Underwhelmed and… shocked and awed

By: Teach

Teach — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:51:44 +0000

BTW…Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia still mandate half-day kindergarten, at half the expense of West Virginia’s full day service.

By: Teach

Teach — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:20:35 +0000

Senator Sprouse….Education employees could be paid a decent salary if we eliminated wasteful spending in the local boards of education and the state department of education.

Let’s take a look at one county board of education. You may be surprised to know how state dollars are being budgeted…

First, in my county, we have MANY central office positions (supervisors/specialists- math, reading, other curriculum, LD, BD, MI, speech, student services, technology, nurses) that appear on the state audits as teachers. Plus, we employ at least sixteen directors, several assistant superintendents, and several positions funded through grants. In the midst of all these positions, this county is cutting nearly 30 teaching and service personnel positions. Wow, so much for middle management being the first to go!!!

Moving on to the state level…

Does anyone wonder how much money is spent on paying for national and global conferences that every Director/Supervisor of the State Department of Education attends? (Actually, I would just like to be the beneficiary of their frequent flyer miles!!! I would take that as my pay raise!!!)

We just MIGHT have money for pay raises IF the folks mentioned above stayed home for a change. Besides being expensive for taxpayers, attendees at these conferences drag home every “stray dog” initiative they can “pack into their state suitcases” (job security). Then, the real quest begins….to find a “sucker” county(ies), willing to “pilot” their newest “conference goodies”. Trust me, often the same counties tend to step up to the plate for those pilot programs, and many of them don’t make it through the first year!

Senator Sprouse…Don’t continue to buy into this way of thinking!!! We do NOT have to be the first to implement every new strategy and initiative! Examples: *First to implement all day kindergarten. *First to implement all day pre-school. *First to jump on Birth-to-Three. (This list also goes on and on with curriculum strategies…) Honestly, we could stand to save a few dollars by being second, third, or maybe even 47th!!!

As for other state workers who choose to tell education employees that they don’t deserve pay raises, look for wasted $$$ in your departments. Be productive and offer solutions (Robin) or suggestions. You never know, someone just might be reading or listening. But, it’s tacky to accuse another group of not deserving something, such as a payraise.

By: C Randolph

C Randolph — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:45:30 +0000

I enjoyed your notes of the Governor Manchin’s speech. I was quite disturbed and am quite upset of what he thinks about his very own staff, meaning the state employees. I have never had a Governor that thought less of his state employees. I have served West Virginia for 32 years and have never felt so down on my job in all those 32 years. Even though I think our teachers are not paid enough too, I don’t think they deserve any more of a pay raise than I do. I put in more hours than they do and I have a very stressful job. Also, I am being led to believe that our agency has tried to get raises for its employees and the Governor has said “NO” to that too. Well I think he is sending a clear message to me and other state employees and I’m afraid to say that you get what you pay for. He isn’t only hurting state employees, he is hurting the whole state with his views and attitude. He clearly is the worst Governor this state has ever had. I will continue to check your website and share comments and views with other people. You have helped me in the past with problems and I appreciate the support. I think a person in your position should lend a helping hand and that you have done. Thank you.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:38:10 +0000

I have a book you all should read.. it’s by Peter Marshall and David Manuel called ”
Sounding Forth the Trumpet”. This book talks about the days in America between 1837-1860 and how it was before the Civil War. John Adams stood his ground..because the government didn’t care about what the people wanted..they did their own thing. Good reading..(thoughtful for educated people).. but do it with an open mind and look at what’s going today. Maybe we need a NEW civil War! But there aren’t enough Good Americans to march on Washington or Charleston any more..they all want hand-outs!! Let’s go WV…keep those Dems coming! AFter all they haven’t done anything yet..think they just might???

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:32:42 +0000

I agree with #6..keep doing the same thing and expecting different results…that’s the FOOLS motto. Get real WV!! the DEmocraps have been in charge for over 50 years in this state and it is still considered one of the poorest states in the union. Hmmmm…keep voting them dems in! This states has some of lowest paid teachers..Hmmm.keep it up wV..keep those dems coming! Just because “By GOlly, Mom and DAd were DEms and so am I” seems to be the motto..the truth is: THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS NOT MOM AND DAD’S PARTY ANY MORE!!

By: Senator Vic Sprouse

Senator Vic Sprouse — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:01:50 +0000

Mr. Sprouse,

Could you please tell me why the Legislature/Governor is giving our teachers
pay raises, while service personnel get puny, one-time bonuses? Service
personnel continue to fall further and further behind in salaries, thus, giving
us less money for retirement. It is grossly UNFAIR to forget about service
personnel when raises are given. We deserve THE SAME PERCENTAGE RAISE as
teachers! You folks in Charleston need to realize that if the SERVICE
PERSONNEL weren’t here to do our jobs, there wouldn’t be jobs for the teachers,
administrators, etc., to do.

Please seriously consider a cost of living raise for school service personnel.
And when you give raises, please give them at the BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR,
so that all the county offices don’t have problems with their payrolls!!!

Thanks for your consideration and help.

By: Lesley meadows

Lesley meadows — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:37:06 +0000

I hope the powers that be give the teachers a bigger raise then 2.5%. I just finished working in my room today a Sunday for 2 hours. I also finished lesson plans that took about 2 hours 3 day week, it usually takes 3 hours. This of course does not include the prep time I still need to do. I do not get overtime. I love my job but get really frustrated over the pay. I have taught 25 years and make what a entry level person makes in the business world. There is something not right. Education is the way out, we not only teach but we are expected to be the chilren’s parents in some cases. When are parents going to be held accountable for their children……I would also like repect. Help us!

By: Lori Jarvis

Lori Jarvis — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:05:03 +0000

As a state employee of over 20 years, who has had one $900 raise in five in a half years, I feel like the one time raise was a slap dead in the face. Since insurance and the cost of living goes up every year, we have went backwards not forward. Every year we have to figure what can be cut so we can make ends meet.

As for the minium teacher salary, the Department of Highways has kids with 4 year college degrees in Civil Engineer Technology and they only wish they made $30,000 a year.

Thanks Vic, if you decide to run for Governor you have a vote here and a campaign worker. After King Joe’s reign I am ready to change from a demo to a rep!!!

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 05:29:46 +0000

I’m not shocked and awed by Gov. Manchin’s speech. I’m not even mildly surprised. It is much like I expected. I am a State Employee with 24 years service in the Division of Corrections, two Bachelor degrees, and I still don’t make $30,000 per year. That is sad. The DOC is losing people every day to federal prison jobs that pay much more than what they can get in WV. Institutions are running well below full staff. The situation has become critical. We keep getting promises from the Governor’s Office that he is looking at it to see what he can do. We continue to hear from our Legislators that they understand it is a significant and serious problem and we need to increase the income of Correctional employees. Not many people will work in a prison setting, especially a maximum security one, for the salary that is paid in WV. It is even more difficult to get quality individuals.

It is a slap in the face to be given a 2.5% bonus…a one time incentive to remain employed for the State of WV. I will be lucky to get a check for $350 after the deductions are made. What a bonus!!

By: B. Kessinger

B. Kessinger — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:51:46 +0000

First of all, WVians absolutely MUST stop voting based on “who will GIVE me what” and start voting based on which policies will create real jobs and bring real, meaningful economic reform to WV. Government, contrary to the belief of the majority of WVians, is not responsible for subsidizing citizens’ income; nor is it responsible for “giving” away money to one group or the other. We will never see meaningful economic reform and improvement until we eliminate the gas, food, and sales taxes…and that’s just a START. After that, we need to eliminate the income tax, the inheritance tax, all property taxes, and the B&O tax. (Are you keeping track of all these taxes?) Once that’s done, we establish a flat tax of around 15% and make any necessary spending cuts to balance the budget. Watch our economy grow and the resulting expansion of the tax base. Expanding tax bases result in what??? MORE REVENUE. It’s very simple: basic economics.

Second, we spend WAY too much money on education in WV; particularly given the trivial results we’ve seen since Gov. Caperton started pouring money into the system. The issue is not how much we spend, it’s HOW WE SPEND IT. I mean, sure…there are computers in the schools now, but can our children read the instruction manuals?? When WV spends the amount of $$ it does on education, then local school boards tell us they’ll be without paper and books if we don’t pass county-wide levies, something is seriously wrong, folks. The priorities are totally out of line.

But…”Daddy was a Democrat and so am I” is the standard of WV and as far as I can tell, will continue to be. Does anyone else hear a giant flushing sound??