Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Just one more reason to send your kids to suburban and private schools. The Teachers federation (and Buffalo Teachers in general) are only in this for themselves. As Chris Jacobs points out, they will use our children's education and welfare as a bargaining chip to ensure that they get paid more for doing less every year.

GMAB, that is completely unfair to the teachers. My wife is a Buffalo Public School teacher, and her, among many other teachers, place the children first. I agree, that there are some that worry about themselves, but that is an unfair generalization. And I believe that the media has portrayed the teachers as the obstructionists. The district has patently refused to negotiate with the teachers, and have tried to pass measures by fiat.

It is unfortunate that such a shortsighted and simplistic view is advanced.

Phil Rumore represents all of the teachers. I have not heard any speak up regarding his positions. To me that indicates a lack of caring for the children and community.

It is a shame so many of the Catholic schools are closing; they are a model for how education should be conducted.

BPS needs a drastic change, to realize that with education the bottom line isn't marked with dollar signs but with well educated and prepared young adults.

My son attends a Buffalo Public School, and I could never say that the teachers are "doing less." That is ludicrous. Teachers in Buffalo spend their own money and countless hours on the children of this city. In many cases, they also act as counselors, nurses, and librarians in schools where these positions are being cut.

How many of us would choose to teach in troubled city schools? I know a lot of city teachers and not a single one of them accepted a job in the city for the salary or benefits. What a joke when compared to other professions where master's degrees are required, or even teachers in the suburbs. These men and women are heroes, and should be treated with the respect they deserve.

DeFino - I apologize if that hit home, my perception is based on conversations with a number of BPS teachers (aquaintances, friends, neighbors) and interviews with Phil Rumore (almost weekly on WBEN). I understand the position of both the Union and the District; but I still view them both with contempt and disdain for putting the children in the middle of this self-serving battle. I have heard from a number of teachers that (in general) "They (the district) already extended my work hours, and they expect me to grade papers at home and on weekends, if they (the district) expect anything else, I will stop teaching. See how the district looks when we fail the state tests". I hear this type of sentiment quite often. Maybe they are just bitter, and maybe I should talk to more teachers like your wife; but these teachers are representing the entire district. They are perpetuating the myopic and overly simplistic view.

Gretchen - Heroes? That is stretching it a little, don't you think? We found out last week that the Maintenance Engineers are the true heroes of the school district, and that is why they are paid a higher salary than many of the teachers.

I know a lot of inner-city teachers who only teach in the city because they couldn't get a job in the suburbs. Maybe if they were compensated based on their merits instead of time in the system, they would command a little more respect. Right now, they are an obstacle for change and are focused on perpetuating an antiquated education system by resisting progress or change that may be best for the students. Unfortunately, there are many good teachers caught up in that battle.

Teachers are professionals doing a job, not missionaries. They do what they do in exchange for a paycheck, and want that paycheck to be as large as possible, just like anyone else would. There's nothing wrong with resisting working longer hours for the same pay.

And Catholic schools are not a model of how things should be run, unless you're a fan of terrible pay and low benefits, or you have an essentially unpaid workforce on standby (ie priests and nuns).

I know of several of teachers who have had their facial or back hair removed by laser surgery for free. The teachers’ health care (city and suburban) provides a cosmetic surgery waiver. Meanwhile I pay $140/ month for significantly less coverage. Unions need to get with the program, everything is getting tighter, heath care is going up and up, businesses leaving the country. Someday we'll be outsourcing our childrens education.....Oh wait we already do, to the suburbs...

Yet another article about how the teachers and schools are failing. The comments I see on here are exactly what I would expect. It seems that everyone has an opinion on the shortcomings of public education but nobody wants to discuss how we can make schools a safe, inspiring, fun, and POSITIVE place for our children. Instead we attack the system, say it sucks, and move on. I have spent the last five years teaching in alternative settings and watching as students grow from new experiences and challenges. The truth is, Buffalo schools, much like the schools I taught at in Los Angeles, have become bloated with administration, unions, and unrealistic and unproductive demands placed on them by the No Child Left Behind Act, which our president seems to think is working just fine. That is a whole different can of worms though, so I return to my original point. Buffalo schools will not be better places by extending the school year, by giving teachers a better health plan, or by throwing money at them. The days of the traditional classroom are coming to an end. We need to update the very foundation of how we teach, what we teach, and what we expect from teachers, students, and the families of the students. Open dialogue needs to be encouraged, current issues need to be discussed, and students need to be able to communicate with the adults in their lives. More importantly, we need to teach the students through experience. There is no reason why every school in Buffalo can't achieve the same success that City Honors does, it just takes a little hard work.
If anyone wants to see the true potential of what lies in every teacher, and every student, go see the movie Freedom Writers. It is inspirational and a perfect example of what can be achieved when students, teachers, and their community all feel a sense of connection and hope.

Union Presidents in other urban areas (that have faced the same financial woes as Buffalo) have come to the table with their districts asking how they can cooperatively work together to better serve the children. Rumore is so far from this. He continues to perpetuate this culture of "them against us". With this attitude kids lose and really so do the teachers.

Well who exactly can something new about what a despicable person Rumore is....and to all those teachers who dont like catching the public rath for Rumore....I have this to say:
1) stop bitching unlike Delphi, Republic, Mobil, Bethlehem Steel, Delphi and now American Axle...you will still have your jobs tomorrow!
2) Williams isnt asking for anything that would be demanded of you in any other educational area: Charter, Private, Parochial or Corporate Training Centers. If you put up the bitching in these locals over such petty details you would understand how fortunate you are in the public school systems
3) Public School Teachers as therapists, mentors, counselors, etc. Stop your self agrandiosity because Rumore will be the first one to stand up publicly and say that your not paid to do that and if Williams are a parent wants it they need to buck up more money! Needless to say that Charter, Private and Parochial schools do and they manage to have safety, discipline and instill respect, dignity, morals and values with their course structure too!

The middle class will never return to Buffalo until we have schools comparable to the suburbs and we will never have schools comparable to the suburbs as long as teachers re-elect Rumore!

MR WILLIAMS IF YOU READ BUFFALORISING ID LIKE TO EVOKE MR REAGAN....WHO FIRED THE AIR CONTROLLERS AND BROKE THE UNION....

MR WILLIAMS CLOSE THESE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall) until they can be managed by the School Board and the Superintendent instead of dictated by the Teachers Union!

MR WILLIAMS HAVE THE COURAGE TO CLOSE ONE OR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

Chief - I agree with you. The system is antiquated and inefficient; however this was the case long before NCLB; that act just made us focus on metrics instead of education (further compounding the problems).

Treat teachers like other professionals, subject them to yearly performance reviews that actually mean something, hold them accountable for student performance and pay them based on said performance. Lose the assembly line mentality, and most importantly, the seniority / tenure rule that perpetuates the failures in this system.

"We have to use every available source to raise student achievement"

Man, this is why I quit my teaching job! We have far too many people running the show who remain clueless as to what is happening in our classrooms.

I started the year with 37 kids in my homeroom. I had several pregnant children and countless behavior "problems". I doubt any suburban district would expect miracles from these same factors.

There is NO WAY the children of our city will achieve anything while suffering from such conditions in the classroom.

I used to believe in urban public education. I WANTED to be in those classrooms. I knew the job would never be easy. I didn't, however, expect it to be so bureaucratic, top-heavy, and frustrating.

Chief, other schools in the city could not achieve the same success as City Honor. CHS is a gifted and talented school. Other schools have special education students. Students abilities are a part of school success rate. Maybe we should all just hold hands and pretend that IQ has nothing to do with it. I do believe tha many teachers do a superb job in the city given what they are dealing with.

I have had wonderful experiences with Buffalo Public Schools and with private schools in this area.

I do believe that this behavior on the part of the BPS teachers is horrible and each and every teacher should be held accountable for this vote. It is self serving and will do nothing to bring Williams and the CITIZENS of this city to the bargaining table. It is of the order of teamsters and not educated professional people. And lets not whine about how horrible they have it. We all work for a living and we are all being asked to do more with less. Whine whine whine.

What will bring the citizens of this city to the bargaining table is the removal of Rumore. When he is gone perhaps bargaining can begin.

Fire them all? NO. That would punish our children. Ignore all bargaining demands? Absolutely!

What I do not understand is how the city got themselves in a predicament that they have to get approval for start and end dates for school. Absurd!!! Why not just start school? Those who want to get paid show up. Those who don't are on strike?

Mercy, I absolutely agree that accountability needs to be in place just like with any job in America. What i don't understand though, is why not have principals spend time in the classroom, and evaluate teachers based on what they see and experience. Classrooms should be an open environment, where parents are invited in, administration is invited in, and everyone feels as though they are held responsible. I agree tenure is not healthy, and should be done away with, but having one test attempt to measure the effectivness of our teachers and students is a ridiculous concept. It perpetuates the problem of not seeing each student and teacher as an individual.

BS DeFeno - If many other teachers, place the children first, this would not have passed Council of Delegates in a unanimous vote! You can say that it is not your wife but the "other" teachers, but facts are she is under one voice and that voice in a UNANIMOUS vote said screw the kids!!!!! Why is there not ANY teachers who are protesting the unions actions? Why is EVERY teacher standing behind FR?

Until that is done, ANY teacher in the Buffalo Public schools is part of the problem NOT the solution!!!!

Chief writes.....Classrooms should be an open environment, where parents are invited in, administration is invited in, and everyone feels as though they are held responsible.

Maybe we should all just sing kumbaya too? As a parent, I do not want a free for all. This isn't a sit in. My kids are there to learn. Please do not interrupt the process. If you spend time in a working Buffalo Public School (Discovery in South Buffalo for example) you will see how off base you are with this.

And what are we raising? Our children evantually have to go to work.

Teamsters, I think holding hands would be a great idea. I do not think success is only achieved by a high test score, high IQ, or a place on your distinguished list of gifted and talented students. My comment about City Honors was based on my belief that success is different for each and every student.
I taught Outdoor Science for years in Los Angeles and considered it a success to get an inner-city kid to stop littering, to see the beauty and importance of respecting other people and other living things, or to pee in the woods. So i guess we just differ on what success really is.

Teamsters, Discovery, CH, and several other predominantly WHITE middle class schools in the district, serve as a major point of reference for those of us who detest the inequities in urban education.

At the end of the 2005-2006 school year... City Honors (from 5th grade to 12th grade) had 124 black females, 90 black males, 19 asian females, 11 asian males, 25 hispanic females, 16 hispanic males, 309 white females, and 281 white males. As you can OBVIOUSLY see... yes, whites are the majority but... black students make up 25% of the population. This is not a predominately white school as some people would like to believe. Race does not matter at City Honors, as ALL students excel.

I should hope we as responsible citizens understand that, while the Teachers Federation (or any group, really), represents the teacher's union, it does not represent the feelings of every teacher in the district (or probably even a majority). Teachers in the very essence of their jobs dedicate themselves to bettering the situation for their students, not themselves. It's the federation's job to look out for the interests of the union, yes, but it's the teacher's job to look out for the interests of the students.

Anna,

The members of the Teachers Union select the leadership to ask as the voice for said members. As long as FR is the leader, we are left to view his words as the collective voice of the teachers. No PR way to spin it.

1. Why is it that the default response to things like the teachers cosmetic surgery coverage is to resent the teachers? Why not be happy that working people won themselves a few generous benefits, and realize that we all can do the same?

2. Comparisons between city schools and suburban or private schools are pointless. City schools educate whomever walks through the door. Suburban and private schools work with a much narrower pool of kids, whittled down by entrance eams, tuition, and the disparities of the city/suburb divide. I can't be a surprise that a school full of achievers performs better than a school full of average kids.

Imagine if Rumore had refered to Williams as Idi Amin? How long before Sharpton, Jackson, et al would start their card game? Williams cares about the kids in Buffalol as much as he did about the kids in Dayton. He's all about lining his pockets. Give him more rope...

Colin, I can'r remember my kids taking an entrance exam for Amherst... I do however remember my oldest son taking an exam for the Science Magnet and City Honors schools. Take back and do over.

The default response to cosmetic surgery is because the teachers union is representing teachers as victims under the current contract. If they were given such a raw deal, then how come they have such a cherry benefits package?

The city schools are full of excuses as to why they cannot educate our children. Why our children are the problem, or the administration is the problem, or the parents are the problem. It is always someone else, except the teachers. At some point the teachers have to take responsibility and show professional accountability for their students learning. Things change, society changes, constraints and inputs change, and we have to adjust. Most other businesses and organizations have figured that out, yet teachers are still mired in the past. Stuck on archaic teaching models and just full of excuses about why it is everyone else's fault that they are under performing in their jobs.

Why not be happy that working people won themselves a few generous benefits, and realize that we all can do the same?

"won themselves"?????

The BTF has accomplished those perks because of their muscle at electing their endorsed Board of Ed members over the years.

The overtaxed citizen taxpayers around here are paying for those cosmetic surgery perks Colin!

The money isn't growing on trees or coming from a giant check that Ed McMahon bring us!

Did the BTF "win" those perks or did the taxpayers who are paying for it "lose" the money to pay for them?

Far left big government high tax attitudes are a huge reason the economy of the Buffalo area has fallen faster than the vast majority of areas in the U.S.

The taxpayers are paying for Williams to live in a luxury apartment, in City Center, drive a brand new high end car, and have an unlimited, with no oversight, expense account. Where is the outrage over that?
As for the cosmetic surgery rider, it cost pennies and is part of a package sold by Blue Cross.

"At some point the teachers have to take responsibility and show professional accountability for their students learning."

Welp, when we have things like SUPPLIES, BOOKS, SMALL class sizes, and proper services for special ed. students... I'm sure few would complain about accountability. The district breaks the law left and right in regards to IDEA. Who's screaming bloody murder about THAT?

I have to say, the paradigms that remain in WNY amaze and disgust me. Here's a clue: no one COMES to teach in this city to make MONEY.

Edy...you are wrong, the cosmetic surgery rider costs far more than pennies, and it is a RIDER, so therefore, it is not part of any package sold by BlueCross. It is sold as an add on to their existing traditional medical plan.

Additionally, the more that the cosmetic surgery benefits are used by the teachers, the higher their utilization will be and therefore, the higher their rates will be upon renewal.

As I said in my first post... This is just one more reason to send our children to suburban and private schools. Afrustratedteacher's comments do a great job of highlighting the problems with our system. This teacher sees problems with the system, with the care and education of students, yet s/he expects someone else to do something about it. It is ok for the teachers union to use our kids as bargaining chips because the district isn't providing an ideal work environment. If you see abuse and neglect by the system, then be a professional and bring it to the attention of the state and the public. I have yet to speak to a teacher who feels that it is his/her responsibility to speak out on the issues of care for our disabled or special needs children (Spec. Ed, ESL, etc). They expect someone else to do it for them, or for the parents to do it for them, basically for someone else, because they might be seen in an unfavorable light by the Union or the District. The comments made by Afrustratedteacher disgust me, unfortunately it is my experience that this is the pervasive attitude of many teachers these days.

"If you see abuse and neglect by the system, then be a professional and bring it to the attention of the state and the public."

Unless you're a tenured teacher, you're seen as a loose canon. Trust me on this, the state doesn't just accept anonymous "tips". We all know and understand that we're all small cogs in an Institution.

Unfortunately, many parents in the city are unaware of their childrens' rights. What flies in the city would NEVER fly in a suburb. I'm sure that you're aware how many schools in the city are under state review, so someone IS talking.

"I have yet to speak to a teacher who feels that it is his/her responsibility to speak out on the issues of care for our disabled or special needs children (Spec. Ed, ESL, etc)."

Are you kidding? Why do you think we go into education? Of those who I associate with, this career is a calling. We didn't come to the city because we "only teach in the city because they couldn't get a job in the suburbs." We came here as idealists, hoping against all odds to make a small part of our world a better place.

"The comments made by Afrustratedteacher disgust me, unfortunately it is my experience that this is the pervasive attitude of many teachers these days."

You have to understand, a few extra days on the job may not mean much to the average Joe. Hell, I can even understand why so many people assume that the union just sits back and complains about every tiny detail.

So send your kids to Catholic schools, where you can get away with paying teachers $16,000 and working them like a slave. Been there, done that. Better yet, send them to charters, where $50,000,000 of your tax dollars go, regardless. Gosh darn us for wanting decent pay and a SAFE environment to work in! How many times have YOU been called a Mother f*&$#@* b*&@$ while at work? How many times has YOUR car been egged at the office parking lot? How many times has YOUR physical safety been threatened at WORK? Most of us just suck it up and deal with the conditions. And it's all okay, until those in power still want MORE from us. The strong ones are those who have been with our district for decades. The weak, like me, choose to take their talents and passion elsewhere--somewhere with a lot less red tape and bureaucratic brick walls.

Teamsters wrote: Maybe we should all just sing kumbaya too? As a parent, I do not want a free for all. This isn't a sit in. My kids are there to learn. Please do not interrupt the process. If you spend time in a working Buffalo Public School (Discovery in South Buffalo for example) you will see how off base you are with this.

And see, this is the number one reason I am so *dissatisfied with Discovery. Parents there seem to be so enamored with their 'South Buffalo' school (read: predominately white) that no one cares that parents are unwelcome & seen as "interrupting the learning". It's especially sad because there are 3 prek &3 k classes there -- hello, parent partnerships are a cornerstone of high quality early ed programs!

taxpayers are paying for Williams to live in a luxury apartment, in City Center, drive a brand new high end car, and have an unlimited, with no oversight, expense account. Where is the outrage over that?

1.) First the obvious: the superintendent’s benefits/perks are a much lower cost than the total cost of benefits/perks that BTF members get.

Beyond this, there’s many reasons that this is much less of an issue.

2.) Any superintendent has much deeper set of responsibilities than any BTF member, so of course the wages/benefits/perks should be greater. That makes perfect sense. Firing any tenured BTF member for incompetence is so hard to do that it’s a big news story when it ever happens. This leads to a huge lack of accountability for performance and results. Ending Dr. Williams job will be very easy once his contract is up, so much more accountability is upon him.

3.) The contract of Dr. Williams has a fixed length and once it’s up, it’s over and done. The Bd of Ed is under no obligation to continue any particular amount of benefits/perks for the next superintendent contract they negotiate. It’s very different with costs in the BTF contract, which essentially stay in place indefinitely even after it expires. And with NY state’s system of binding arbitration that is totally biased in favor of unions, it’s next to impossible to get any significant cost savings. The BTF simply refuses to offer give-backs unless replaced by something equally costly (which defeats the purpose).

4.) I don’t mind paying Dr. Williams because he’s working so hard for long term improvements. On the other hand, the BTF members are stubbornly insisting on status quo cost levels (or worse).

"the BTF contract"

What contract? There hasn't been a contract in 2.5 YEARS!

I have friends who have been teaching in the district for FOUR YEARS and are still making a first year teacher salary...$32,100

I saw a bumper sticker today, which made me a tad irritated. It said, "Pay The POLICE." I find it so sad that our profession is mocked, while other city employees are rallied around.

You stated:
Unless you're a tenured teacher, you're seen as a loose canon. Trust me on this, the state doesn't just accept anonymous "tips". We all know and understand that we're all small cogs in an Institution.

This is a cop-out. You are too consumed with your career or the fact that by speaking out on the child's behalf that you may be denied tenure. Come on, if you have the conviction that you say you do, then you would do something about this situation instead of worrying about your own best interest. You have protection on so many levels, yet you choose to perpetuate the norm of the union system.

You stated:
Are you kidding? Why do you think we go into education? Of those who I associate with, this career is a calling. We didn't come to the city because we "only teach in the city because they couldn't get a job in the suburbs." We came here as idealists, hoping against all odds to make a small part of our world a better place.

This contradicts your earlier statement about being afraid to speak up on behalf of your students. You have validated the perceptions held by many here by stating your frustration and reasoning for giving up on our students. There are many ways that you could make a difference, but it is just too damn hard for you.

I do send my children to a private school, where teachers make far more than $16,000 a year. They are the cream-of-the-crop as far as educational experience and credentials. They truly care about my kids, which is obvious in my children's reaction to them. It is light years ahead of what they experienced in Buffalo.

What contract? There hasn't been a contract in 2.5 YEARS!

Nice try. You know perfectly well that the last year of the previous contract extends indefinitely, which is part of the point.

If it didn't, clauses such as cosmetic surgery would no longer exist - but it does so that proves there's a contract.

You need to make a better case than that around here.

The Buffalo district is "self insured" for the cosmetic rider, every procedure is completely the financial responsibility of the school district, not any insurance company.

I'm just one of many who are leaving WNY, GMAB. Look at the stats. We've driven the best and brightest OUT of Buffalo. Check out the teacher retention rates in the city! I came here in 2000 as an idealist and leave as afrustratedteacher.

YOU gave up on the public schools by sending your children to a private school. You can't really blame those of us who choose to cut and run.

I refuse to work at a school that I wouldn't send my own chidlren to. My student teaching placements were BOTH in the city. ALL of my experiences have been in the city. And until this year, I had worked in some fabulous city schools--schools where I WOULD send my children.

I'm curious. How many posting here are actually city residents?

"You know perfectly well that the last year of the previous contract extends indefinitely, which is part of the point. If it didn't, clauses such as cosmetic surgery would no longer exist - but it does so that proves there's a contract."

Um, NO PAY RAISES in FOUR YEARS! Do the math.

My daughter is a Buffalo school teacher almost 4 years. She lives in Buffalo and owns her home. She recently.. last year obtained her Masters Degree which is a requirement for NYS. She has received no raises since DAY1 of her employment!! STRUGGLING to pay her Student Loans. RECENTLY...the city RE-ASSESSED her home and her assessment was increased $37,000!
MORE THAN SHE MAKES IN 1 YEAR!!! HOW does the city intend to retain /employ talented young teachers if they CANNOT EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE IN BUFFALO !!
TEACHERS, POLICEMAN & FIREFIGHTERS ARE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY... YET THEY ARE TREATED LIKE 2ND CLASS CITIZENS WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A DECENT WAGE!!

At the very least, there is some open dialogue about the problems with Buffalo Public schools, which is a good thing. I believe that education is not what it was even a decade ago. The classroom my mother taught in 35 years ago is a far cry from what is out there today. So as for kumbaya and holding hands, I think there is a place in the classroom to make our students, regardless of color or socio-economic status, feel more like a family and create a place where they are not embarrased to learn and share a part of themselves with their teachers and classmates. I also believe strongly in hands-on education and learning through experience. This might be a bit progressive for an entire school system to adopt, but something needs to change, quick.
So my original point days ago, is that perhaps the length of the school year and the teachers health benefits are not what we need to focus on. I guarantee that a teacher who feels good every day and feels that they are making a difference will spend less time worrying about their contract. I can tell you that after student teaching at Da Vinci High School, in the city of Buffalo, i would have gladly worked an entire school year for free if i could have been hired there.

Pay raises can come if and when the BTF agrees to:

- a sufficient amount of benefit concessions to offset cost of rasies

- work rule changes to allow real reforms, real flexibility, and real accountability (i.e., more possible to get rid of underperforming workers)

The real long term answer would be more charters and a system of vouchers for private schools, such as several cities are doing now.

The firefighters made a whole bunch of concessions that ended up putting more money in their pockets while also saving the city come cash. Big kudos to them for that. The teachers union cost the city and school district an additional $10 million per year because they insisted that there be seperate insurance carriers. That's just crazy. Finally the City is NEGOTIATING, not just getting railroaded by the public unions. Until the BTF realizes that they can get more by giving up some of their perks, the wage freeze will remain in effect for them.

And the teacher who's assessment went up shouldn't cry too much. Her house was undervalued for tax purposes (which helped her as a homeowner but hurt the city as a taxpayer) and has be readjusted to something closer to what she would get if she sold her house. The city isn't left with a whole lot of consitutional tax rate left, so revaluing homes is the only way to increase the tax base.

Reading what people think of city schools and the teachers is quite an eye opener. As a city teacher that values children's success, I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that success - although we do face many barriers. However, I agree that teachers and schools need to become more creative and meet the demands of today's society. We are not currently preparing our kids to become productive citizens. Instead of bashing teachers - help us! Field trips are difficult to arrange because of lack of funding and chaperones, supplies are limited, and technology is minimal. Class sizes are large, with no aids. Try teaching a class of 30 students who have not met state standards in the eighth grade the ninth grade curriuculum , essentially with no outside help! It is not easy. Bottom line - we do need to be giving our kids more than we are. I must admit it is tough without ever having a pay raise since you started your career 4 years ago while other costs steadily increase.

As a city teacher that values children's success, I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that success

Great - here's my plan for "whatever it takes":

Please convince a majority of your fellow teachers to order Mr. Rumore to give up about a third to a half of the current contract's fringes/perks and, most importantly, eliminate pretty much all work rules in the next contract (eliminate tenure, seniority, etc.) so that there's lots of flexibility to make real changes. These changes could move most schools in directions of charters with serious reforms. Many people who've been refusing to live in the city due to school issues would view these as serious changes and become open minded.

In exchange for those concessions, the BTF would get pay raises equal to about half of whatever savings result from the givebacks on fringes/perks. And also the BFT would not have residency requirements forced on them. Those are next to impossible to fairly enforce anyhow.

Sounds like a win-win that would help the children by focusing a lot more of the spending their way to be able to gradually do things such as reduce class sizes, fund tutoring, add special classes, hire attendance/truant officers, etc., etc.

There's already a lot of volunteers for field trip supervision, and I don't think field trips are a high priority anyhow when the basics are not being accomplished.

Chief,

I wish the city would use DaVinci as a model of what our city schools SHOULD look like. It's my favoprite school in the district. THAT school has phenomenal leadership, an amazing support staff, and a faculty of caring teachers. If the district looked closely at that school, they'd SEE what smaller schools can do: create a positive learning community.

HELL NO
WHATS WRONG WITH YALL DING DONGS
IT AINT RIGHT To TALK SCHEISE LIKE DIS
DONT MESS WID DA MAFIA DING DONG DOES

madre fakre

neiaggiurialand is my place fo' yall to knoe ho ho ho