Detroit Public School employees to see a wage bonus

[Wesley Mouch]

We were promised this money during the last contract negotiations. For every 5 million the district was in surplus, we'd get 1% back [[one lump sum, not added back to our salary each pay). Since the district has an 11.9 million surplus, we get 2% back. It's not a "bonus". It's money we gave the disctrict in negotiations. Not to mention, we were supposed to get this money by the end of August. Then, it was changed to September. Now, it's the end of December. I'll believe I'm getting it when I actually get it. I'm not expecting it...

I would prefer to think of it as taxpayer's money, if you please. You didn't give the district anything. You got less from the nearly broken entity with whom you have a collective bargaining contract. From your posts, you would seem to be a great teacher. I hope a future system allows you compensation that reflects your dedication. For now, you're stuck with a system where job performance isn't a major factor. That has been your collective decision.

My opinions on the system aside, thanks for your hard work.

[DetroitTeacher]

Job performance IS a factor now. Seniority is out the window. I am evaluated on my classroom teaching as well as student test scores, my attendance, and a host of other things. If I am not "highly effective or effective" in all areas, I am out of a job. It's only fair, though. Those who are doing their jobs are rewarded with keeping their job, those that aren't are let go, just like in the real world. I've never been an advocate of seniority for the sake of keeping a job.

It was MY money, as I worked for it and was promised a salary as compensation. It was in my paycheck and then it was deducted from my paycheck. The union had nothing to do with it since the EM could do as he pleased. Sort of like a normal person going to work and their boss giving them a paycheck with a deduction to help pay a deficit that person had no part in creating [[and finding out a former boss had embezzeled monies from the company to help create the debt). It's actually a deduction on my check! I would say that is pretty much MY money and not taxpayer money...as the taxpayers are paying money to the district and the district pays me. It's money I EARNED [[and believe me, I earn every cent I make).

I would prefer to think of it as taxpayer's money, if you please. You didn't give the district anything. You got less from the nearly broken entity with whom you have a collective bargaining contract. From your posts, you would seem to be a great teacher. I hope a future system allows you compensation that reflects your dedication. For now, you're stuck with a system where job performance isn't a major factor. That has been your collective decision.

My opinions on the system aside, thanks for your hard work.

[Wesley Mouch]

Job performance IS a factor now. Seniority is out the window. I am evaluated on my classroom teaching as well as student test scores, my attendance, and a host of other things. If I am not "highly effective or effective" in all areas, I am out of a job. It's only fair, though. Those who are doing their jobs are rewarded with keeping their job, those that aren't are let go, just like in the real world. I've never been an advocate of seniority for the sake of keeping a job.

It was MY money, as I worked for it and was promised a salary as compensation. It was in my paycheck and then it was deducted from my paycheck. The union had nothing to do with it since the EM could do as he pleased. Sort of like a normal person going to work and their boss giving them a paycheck with a deduction to help pay a deficit that person had no part in creating [[and finding out a former boss had embezzeled monies from the company to help create the debt). It's actually a deduction on my check! I would say that is pretty much MY money and not taxpayer money...as the taxpayers are paying money to the district and the district pays me. It's money I EARNED [[and believe me, I earn every cent I make).

DT -- Help me understand --
1) Does the DFT favor using job performance as a criteria in pay, or were they dragged kicking and screaming to the current status. I've heard Weinstein and Co. scream loudly against pay for performance -- and pay lip service to the idea that there's a problem. I do hope the Union is opening the door to some job performance measurement, with reasonable protections for teachers.

2) I'm certain that you earn your money -- but nonetheless, the money comes from taxes paid by citizens -- with a little bake sale funds tossed in here and there. But as a result, your salary is 100% paid by taxpayers. Every dollar you get paid comes out of the pockets of someone. Even if the feds print the money and give it to the school district, this is a dilution of taxpayer wealth.

Can you provide any background on the mechanics of how this is 'deducted' from gross pay on your check? I wonder why its being done that way. Perhaps this allows the world to recognize the 'fair value' of teachers, so when the crisis is over its easier to 'stop the deduction' than it would be to 'increase pay' back to 'fair' levels? In that case, the deduction method is a very smart way to get teachers pay back up when economics permit it.

Thanks again for your hard work. Education is a critical social contribution to our future. I do appreciate your posts -- even where I disagree. Well, that's the value of this forum. A chance to understand the opinions of others.

[DetroitTeacher]

1) No, the DFT is not in favor of the evaluation system. It is state wide, though. The DFT is in favor of AN evaluation system, just not the one that is in place now. It was thrown together rather haphazard and those that evaluate us are in and out in about 10 minutes...not a fair representation for the classroom part. I've always been in favor of an evaluation system and never did favor the seniority [[and I should, since I now have it).

2) I understand this. I also pay taxes, which pay part of my salary. It IS my money, any way you cut it. I'm also required to pay 3% of my pay to the Health Care Tax [[in addition to paying for my own medical and dental).

As for the mechanics of the deductions, I am not sure why they did it this way. I know that the 2010-11 school year was the TIP fund. It's all on a deduction line on my check [[supposedly, we get this back when we retire or die...but it's all taxed). The pay cut was just a pay cut...they just took it without warning. I don't think we are going to get a raise anytime soon. Haven't had one since the early 2000s. I can't even give you an exact year because I don't remember the last time we got one. They stopped all step increases [[you don't get anything extra for years of service). I don't get anything extra, like we used to, for advanced degrees [[even though we are required to get them and keep up with classes to keep our certification...which we have to pay for).

I also agree that it's great to be able to disagree while still seeing the other person's viewpoint. I guess it's neither here nor there where the money comes from, exactly...I just know that they keep taking it from the compensation that I was offered for doing my job. DPS has borrowed money from teachers for years with the promise to pay us back and I have yet to see anything that they borrowed returned. They even took more than a few of our sick days with the promise to return them...haven't gotten those back either. So yes, they are taking from us and calling it borrowing but they never follow through with returning what they borrow. Pretty soon, one gets tired of lending all of the time to folks who never return anything.

DT -- Help me understand --
1) Does the DFT favor using job performance as a criteria in pay, or were they dragged kicking and screaming to the current status. I've heard Weinstein and Co. scream loudly against pay for performance -- and pay lip service to the idea that there's a problem. I do hope the Union is opening the door to some job performance measurement, with reasonable protections for teachers.

2) I'm certain that you earn your money -- but nonetheless, the money comes from taxes paid by citizens -- with a little bake sale funds tossed in here and there. But as a result, your salary is 100% paid by taxpayers. Every dollar you get paid comes out of the pockets of someone. Even if the feds print the money and give it to the school district, this is a dilution of taxpayer wealth.

Can you provide any background on the mechanics of how this is 'deducted' from gross pay on your check? I wonder why its being done that way. Perhaps this allows the world to recognize the 'fair value' of teachers, so when the crisis is over its easier to 'stop the deduction' than it would be to 'increase pay' back to 'fair' levels? In that case, the deduction method is a very smart way to get teachers pay back up when economics permit it.

Thanks again for your hard work. Education is a critical social contribution to our future. I do appreciate your posts -- even where I disagree. Well, that's the value of this forum. A chance to understand the opinions of others.

[Wesley Mouch]

1) No, the DFT is not in favor of the evaluation system. It is state wide, though. The DFT is in favor of AN evaluation system, just not the one that is in place now. It was thrown together rather haphazard and those that evaluate us are in and out in about 10 minutes...not a fair representation for the classroom part. I've always been in favor of an evaluation system and never did favor the seniority [[and I should, since I now have it).

2) I understand this. I also pay taxes, which pay part of my salary. It IS my money, any way you cut it. I'm also required to pay 3% of my pay to the Health Care Tax [[in addition to paying for my own medical and dental).

As for the mechanics of the deductions, I am not sure why they did it this way. I know that the 2010-11 school year was the TIP fund. It's all on a deduction line on my check [[supposedly, we get this back when we retire or die...but it's all taxed). The pay cut was just a pay cut...they just took it without warning. I don't think we are going to get a raise anytime soon. Haven't had one since the early 2000s. I can't even give you an exact year because I don't remember the last time we got one. They stopped all step increases [[you don't get anything extra for years of service). I don't get anything extra, like we used to, for advanced degrees [[even though we are required to get them and keep up with classes to keep our certification...which we have to pay for).

I also agree that it's great to be able to disagree while still seeing the other person's viewpoint. I guess it's neither here nor there where the money comes from, exactly...I just know that they keep taking it from the compensation that I was offered for doing my job. DPS has borrowed money from teachers for years with the promise to pay us back and I have yet to see anything that they borrowed returned. They even took more than a few of our sick days with the promise to return them...haven't gotten those back either. So yes, they are taking from us and calling it borrowing but they never follow through with returning what they borrow. Pretty soon, one gets tired of lending all of the time to folks who never return anything.

DT -- thanks for the good info. Its very interesting to hear some of the details of how this is all happening -- and what is happening to the people involved.

I do hope DPS can remake itself. Hearing about the bonus gave me some hope that DPS can turn things around. Good luck on the adventure.

[DetroitTeacher]

Thanks! The last 17 years have been an adventure and I am sure the next 17 will be much the same. I just believe in the kids...or else I really wouldn't be where I am.

DT -- thanks for the good info. Its very interesting to hear some of the details of how this is all happening -- and what is happening to the people involved.

I do hope DPS can remake itself. Hearing about the bonus gave me some hope that DPS can turn things around. Good luck on the adventure.