Many people haven't followed this like most who comment on here, can we be updated on if any of this changes the strike for Monday? Is it looking more like things are going to work out to avoid a strike.

Why do we boost a teacher's salary by 6% when they give notice of retirement? The TRS is in BAD shape and this practice only makes it tougher to actually be solvent. So give 6% as thank you? What happened to a nice party and a gold watch?

Wow. Enough already. This is too much to give. It the teachers do not want this offer then bring on a strike. Do not bend another inch board. Stop the pension spikes.

Aside from the Salary Study Group which is a great move, this is disappointing to see how much the BOE has given up. Is the pension spiking definitely over as of 2015?

What does this cost?

This from today's Daily Herald. It seems the same union bosses here are working there.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121109/news/711099729/

Write the BOE and tell them not to move one more inch. The teachers are playing on fear and wearing the BOE down. We cannot let this happen.

Oh boy - not good. Have the last few weeks been just an exercise in futility? We had/HAVE the opportunity to be a community that would not be swayed or bullied by the unions. Now, in the 11th hour we are going to give in? Please tell me exactly where the money we are offering is going to come from? DO NOT LET THEM WEAR YOU DOWN PLEASE! They have shown their true colors - our kids our not their priority and they have done a bang up job proving that. Board of Ed - please remember who elected you and make us proud! They are playing you like a well tuned fiddle. Be the leaders in this state and make us proud!

Everyone PLEASE email the board and let them know the community wants the BOE to stop negotiating with bullies and stand strong!!!

board@geneva304.org

And why have we not given thought to our OWN negotiator? Now that would be money well spent!

I would prefer a 1 year contract. No one can predict whether or not we will drift back into recession over the next 18 months, and we shouldn't be placing bets and offering pay raises for 2014 and 2015 until the economy, and private sector incomes show some stability.

This is already too generous. I agree, no pension spiking! On the other hand, with teacher pensions only 43% funded and state pensions $82 billion underfunded its not like they'd ever get it anyway......

So if we are giving in (be it slowly) to their demands - why is ABC 7 still sitting at GMS S as I type this? Will there be a strike on Monday morning?

Wow! After all this the board caved in, it appears! Just as I was singing their praises. Time to vote Grosso and his crew out!! When's the next election?? Too bad no one in this town has a back bone!!!

First off, shame on the teachers for walking out. With that said, I think I can see why they did walk. It is the wording of the contract. The BOE is trying to do away with the step and lane, but still willing to give the teachers the money. If this is the only sticking point, the BOE needs to change the wording if they plan to review the compensation plan in the future. It isn't going to cost us any more money to do this. I think it is all egos at this point and to see who blinks first. In my opinion, I think they should cut the value of each square from 2.5% to 1.5% and move on.

Lets not be so quick to say the BOE is giving up too much. It appears that the major objective has been accomplished - salary freeze for next year except those who announced retirement or those taking graduate classes. There are 57 teachers, 15% of the total staff, who have announced retirement so once they retire, new teachers will be hired at a lower salary. For those that haven't announced intent to retire, they must do so sometime this year and will be compensated less than the previous contract and have only three years to retire. This will cause some to retire because all spiking ends 2014-15. Maybe we have as many as 80 teachers retire within 3 years. This opens opportunities for new teachers and lowers our overall salary expenses.
Multiple lane advancement has been eliminated except for 8 teachers in 2013-14. That is a huge savings over what is happening today.
It is easy to sit in our easy chairs and say the BOE has given up to much but keep in mind, this offer would not have been possible unless this BOE stood together and said "the times they are a changing." Previous boards would have dug us farther in debt and we would not have even known it. This board's actions have opened the eyes of taxpayers as to how a teachers contract is structured. Whoever is on the board in 2014-15 will benefit from the path this board has blazed.
The ball is now in the GEA's hands, if they don't accept what the BOE has offered, I think the BOE should stay home Sunday.

I just emailed the BOE. How about all of you? I'm really not sure that they follow the Patch comments and they need to know how we feel!

How can this offer still not be enough? I don't understand. What exactly do you want, GEA? The offer from Oct. 26 was generous. This one more so. You have an agreement for this year. Why do you insist on a strike? Can't you keep teaching while the remainder is worked out? Although I agree that a one-year contract makes more sense. You really do not care about the kids. That is crystal clear. Nor do you care about the parents who have generously given their time and money to help anytime the call went out. I for one will find other avenues to make a difference in the lives of Geneva kids. It won't be through anything that benefits the teachers though. All this talk of no respect? You had it and you trampled it. Strike if you must. It's your right. But know that Geneva is more than its teachers.

Bring in replacements. For way, way too long every time the teachers unions say they want a raise it is always "for the children". For the children - my _ _ _!!

It's about the money, period. Too many have been sucked into this false argument about "for the children".

When the Regional Board of Education has tons of resumes, that tells me that there are a lot of people that think Geneva would be a pretty darn good place to work. Let's give them the opportunity.

I'm also tired of hearing about "treating us as professionals". Really?? I'm a "professional" too. For my profession, I typically work about 50-60 hours a week, I get 2 weeks of vacation a year, I don't get a pension, I won't be able to retire until I'm 70 and I work all year round. When do I get to have three months off (oh, plus the teachers get vacation during the year on top of the 3 month vacation)? When do I get a pension? On top of all that - I promise you that it was harder to get through college and obtain my "profession" than any teacher.

I'm tired of these cry-babies and how everything is "for the children"

MattG...you had a choice to become a teacher. We're all sorry that you are so unhappy with your career choice. I hear there's a great program available at U of I. Until then.,,don't feel that every job needs to be comparable to yours. How do you know that your program was harder? Did you get a second degree in education? Is that the basis of your comparison?...or are you just making ASSumptions?
Are you also mad that cops get to carry a gun on the job and you don't? Are you upset that firefighters get to retire at an earlier age than you? According to you every job must match yours.....I'm sure elected BOE & the GEA will come to an agreement.

According to the Daily Herald...“We’re just encouraged that they did agree to meet with us on the weekend,” GEA President Carol Young said.they were willing to agree to a freeze in the first year in exchange for increases in the second and third year “that kind of made up for that.” So the bottom line is the GEA will take a pay freeze year one as long as they get it all back the following years? GET LOST!

Hey MattG! Last time I checked, Americans are free to choose their careers. Too bad yours must suck so! Was it that your grades were just mediocre or was it that you just don't come off that well in interviews or...?Whatever the problem is, it must be such a drag to hate your life so much that you have to take it out on others. One thing Geneva teachers will not accept is being bullied by people like you! That's one of the reasons Geneva teachers are so good at teaching our children respect and tolerance. Matt, you really do need to go back to school(preferably a Geneva school) maybe the Geneva teachers can begin an Adult education program entitled Basic Civility..

I'm more than a little disappointed that we are still offering a 6% raise for those retiring. That being said, I've spoken with the Lake Forest high school president of the BOE and other district's BOE. One thing that can limit the time and impact of the teacher's strike is to cut off the benefits the teachers receive first thing Monday morning. If they strike, they are no longer employees and we shouldn't continue to pay their benefits.

The union has probably told the teachers that for every day the teachers strike it doesn't matter, the union will negotiate that the teachers get paid for the days off. The BOE should be ready to tell the union there is no back pay.

In terms of replacement teachers, it's highly unlikely local substitutes/non-working certified teachers in the area would cross the picket line. If they do, they would never work in our district, which is really unfortunate. If replacements are used they would come from a good distance away, without a plan and won't know the kids.

In regards to getting student days to count, there needs to be the things mentioned previously in other articles: 50% of students attending school, certified teachers and teaching in math, science, history and language arts. However, even then the Illinois Education Association doesn't want to give credit saying its a political situation and if they do it for one school, they have to do it for all schools. Lake Forest is currently fighting this.

Geneva, it's time.

Lake Forest also took an idea from a neighboring school district and offered career dimension days during the strike. People in the community from police officers to investment bankers came in to talk about what they do for a living. These days counted as school days. BOE, please take notice.

I've also spoken to the BOE of the Douglas County schools in Colorado about their situation. Apparently one union wanted to negotiate for all the teachers but there was more than one union involved. The main union decided not to continue discussions which led the way to compensation change.

The Douglas County school system put in performance based pay for their teachers. While initially it was piloted by new hires and some seasoned teachers, the school district thinks it has the support from the remaining teachers. However, the Douglas County schools are taking the approach that they will pay for good, talented teachers. As such, they expect to compete with college type professors in terms of pay and expect that in some sense, the overall compensation could increase because they want the best teachers.

The school board needs to hear from the residents of the school district. Email, call or stop them on the streets.

Offering the 6% raise for those retiring will cost us more in the future as it increases pension payouts over the life of the teacher. I don't like this concession at all.

This is my twentieth year in education, and I would like to share that I believe that the Board of Education's offer is more than generous. I work with teachers throughout the Chicagoland area (city and suburbs) and have children in Geneva District 304 schools. Exceptional school facilities, attractive salaries, and solid families all make Geneva District 304 one of the most desirable districts for teacher applicants. Literally thousands of outstanding applicants would be ready for interviews if opportunities in District 304 arose. I speak from experience. Openings in districts with much less to offer than Geneva District 304 receive--on average--approximately 400 to 1,000 applications per opening. In all grade levels and content areas with the exception of physics and chemistry, there is a great suplus of applicants. Geneva District 304 would attract not only a large group of applicants but also applicants of very high quality. The GEA must be aware of this. Moreover, the GEA should be aware that many of the residents of the community have dealt with job losses and declining salaries and commissions. Many residents are forced to work harder and cut back. This is not the time to demand increased salaries. With the unfunded pension liabilities in Illinois, this is not the time to ask for a "retirement package bump." It might come as a surprise to many teachers, but the community will be able to distinguish between this negotiation and respecting and valuing education.

If the teachers strike they will lose my respect for years to come. The offer on the table is more than fair. I do not understand how anyone can justify the pension spike. It is as close to fraud as you can get. Strike or don't. Make a decision so the rest of us can go on with our lives.

Funny...I've been at several school events since the negotiations became such a hot topic. I have not seen one parent act in a way that would show that they no longer respect teachers...easy to say while sitting behind your computer screen.
I guess you can really show them around Christmas time when you refuse to chip in for a gift. Those darn teachers don't deserve a gift...I don't get a gift were I work in the private sector....Right?

And by the way Tom . Most of the rest of the real world " works without a contract" all the time. I don't care that teachers are still showing up without one, we do it every day. A contract is just another security blanket teachers seem to forget about. Job security the rest of us do not have. But why point out facts. This is the time we live in. I want mine and I don't care how I get it as long as someone else pays for it. What a great example our teachers are.

Tom I cannot say what I want to most of my children's teachers because you know as we'll as I do that my children would pay the price. It is my belief that many parents remain anonymous for that very reason. The GEA behavior to date gives me no reason to think otherwise

Let me share an incident that happened to me yesterday. At around 10:30 a.m., I received a mass email from my son's high school math teacher stating that there would be a quiz on Monday. I replied at around 11:45 a.m., questioning whether this would be really be so considering the GEA's press release notifying us of a strike on Monday. No response from the teacher as of yet. At around 12:30 p.m., my husband (who had also gotten the original email) received a second mass email from him that read "Due to the current news our section 6.1-6.4 Quiz that is scheduled for Monday will be postponed to the day after school resumes."

I did not ask to be removed from his email notification list, yet it appears that I was taken off following my question. For those of you who have said that teachers would never take this issue out on anyone, can you please spin this another way for me? That's the only explanation I have for this childish behavior.

It must be a conspiracy against you! Call Jeff Ward Immediately! He must investigate!
Really?

Tom...so glad you caught that misspelling; more proof to me that you are a teacher and a negotiator. I hope everyone can take that into account from now on when they read your comments...the voice of the union...Tom Fortune (aka: Pot).

Is anyone really surprised the BOE has caved?

The BOE is doing a good job. In any negotiation there has to be give and take, or there will never be a resolution.
The freeze in the first year is good. Sunsetting the pension spiking by the end of the contract is great news. Reductions in health care contribs and tuition payments is also a good step forward.
Unfortunately, until a solid-fair compensation plan can be fully fleshed out, there isn't a good answer to Step&Lane in the short term. When Geneva has a workable plan, that can then be implemented at the next contract in three years.
Whether we like it or not, everything needs to be done in phases. That is the only way to be fair to all parties involved.

The pension element is a throw-back to Happy Days. Pensions for life have contributed to the downfall of huge companies and done damage to previously desirable communities. It is generally true that we need less discretionary income in retirement. Why would we want to burden the young who need money to raise children by a union's desire to make Geneva a test case? The increase in pension -- will it offset the increase in property taxes for the retired educators and chase the common man out?

Holy generous offer!!! Not sure why the BOE feels compelled to show up on Sunday. Enough is enough. Spend the time lining up replacements.

As a tax payer I object strongly to the idea of a "retirement plan" that includes salary bumps for the sole purpose of increasing the retirement benefit. A salary increase should be for a reason - excellent teaching, more education (which should improve teaching skills), added duties like coaching. It is unconscionable to give a salary increase without some added value! Teachers, can you look other tax payers in the eye and say, "I gave notice of retirement plans, therefore I deserve 6% more."

The teachers were informed that all benefits will be terminated as soon as they strike. All equipment including computers must be surrendered. They will not be allowed on the school grounds so all personal items must be removed. I've got to believe that many of the teachers would cross the picket line soon after a strike, especially the ones making the higher salaries. I applaud the efforts of the Board. The offer put before the teachers is MORE than fair given the economy. If the teachers do not accept the offer, I encourage them to strike, and encourage the Board to find qualified replacements.....they are out there. The GEA has agreed to the year one offer and it would be political suicide for the teachers to strike given that fact nothing would change until next year anyway. I'm tired of the strong arm tactics of the Union. Teachers need to wake up and see that they are just pawns for the union henchmen.

BOE please take back any offer of salary increases just because of a retirement plan.

The current pension spiking is to encourage the extremely high paid teachers to retire and replacing them with a 50k teacher, saving money over time. Those are not increases to what other teachers get for that year, they are just a flat raise. While I do not agree with spiking at all, they had some and it seems to make sense in this case...especially with the limited period on it.

As Geneva continues to pay homage to the GreedEA, it's time to start researching other communities who might have enough backbone to control their teachers rather than letting their teachers control the community.

Home values are down now, but they are going to go lower as more potential buyers become aware of our suicidal descent into property tax hell. The BoE had a chance to stop the IEA in its tracks here in Geneva, and they have thrown that chance away.

But what should one expect from a Board still carrying members who were part of the "Big Lie" vote for building unnecessary schools?

Hoo needz teachars any weigh} Eye say wee shood fire them'al? No teachar ever tout me nothin'!

I love it! Last week, everyone was cheering on the BOE. Go board! Stick it to those teachers!

Now, people don't like the BOE's offer, so everyone wants to know what the heck the board is thinking, fire them all! I'm moving from Geneva!

I think it is becoming pretty obvious where the problem lies, and it isn't with the BOE or the teachers, it is with the stuck up Geneva citizens who think everyone should bend to their every whim.

Good bye Bill

So we have a first year contract and a joint Salary Study Group. Now is the time for the GEA negotiators to tell the IEA goons to stop messing with Geneva. Do none of those people have a clue to the damage they've done here? Do they stand for anything besides money?
Stop the bleeding now, GEA, and leave the teachers with a little dignity for parent/teacher conferences.

It was finally the BOE’s turn to take a beating in the Patch comments. All the GEA had to do was sit back and watch the tides turn. But that would be too logical. Instead, the GEA has decided to shoot itself in the foot again. I just received an email directly from the GEA – wait until that press release comes out. I think all hell may just break loose.

Teachers - I think you are victims too.
"Employees who no longer want a union to represent them — whether it's because the union is undemocratic, corrupt, violent, or just plain inept — are entitled to seek an election to determine if a majority of their coworkers want to drop the union. Such elections, which are conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), are known as “decertification elections.”

Employees who want to vote a union out must circulate a petition calling for a decertification election. A sample petition is available below. They should not seek help from their employer, because the union can then complain that an unfair labor practice has tainted the election. Employees may take advantage of outside assistance, though. Signatures should be collected on non-work time and in non-work areas. It is important that the names of the union and the company be filled in before any signatures are collected."

It doesn't matter why the employees are dissatisfied. But there are some timing issues that are important. The NLRB has a rule that a new union is given one year to represent the workers before a decertification election can be held. Unions that have already negotiated a contract for employees can usually be subjected to a decertification election near the expiration of the contract. Therefore, workers with an old union should start their decertification drive a few months prior to the expiration of their contract to be sure they don't miss their window of opportunity.

If at least 30 percent of the workers in the bargaining unit sign the petition, then it must be sent to the NLRB's closest regional office, along with a cover sheet, NLRB Form 502. Once the petitions have been received and validated, the NLRB will set a date for the decertification election, usually about 60 days in the future. Individuals on both sides may campaign to sway the employees. When the vote is held, if a majority of the workers who participate favor decertifying the union, or if the vote results in a tie, then the NLRB will officially remove the union's recognition as the bargaining representative of the workers.

The teachers are NOT going to throw away their union. Not going to happen. Despite what we think about our favorite teachers -they are the union. At any point in time the the members felt that Carol Young was not acting in their best interests, they would have stopped their current course of action. There is no separation between teacher and GEA. If there was we have heard it by now.
That being said, the BOE is doing the best that they can in a really unballanced situation. A one year pay freeze, phasing out pension spiking, trying to get teachers to pay some of their fair share- and I don't mean making non-union staff pay union dues!
While many of you here suddenly feel that the BOE is selling out- THEY ARE NOT. They are working in a flawed system - a system that has been flawed in Illinois for years- to bring our debt under control. It won't be painless, to anyone.

i agree with you Rob T. Wishful thinking, I know.

Anyone see this?

http://www.kcchronicle.com/2012/11/10/d304-teachers-file-unfair-labor-practice-bargaining-continues-sunday/am587r3/

As Jeff Ward pointed out, this is a negotiation. Even if the GEA refuses to negotiate in good faith- say one thing - do another. Even if the BOE isn't playing the game the way the GEA wants- Roll over and play dead- they are working for Geneva Taxpayers best interests. That is why the spiking will stop at the end of the next contract, if the GEA has brains enough to sign it.
As Tom Fortune keeps pointing out, teachers only know Step and Lane. Getting them to change overnite will be virtually impossible.
As Bob M has pointed out. There are a hell of a lot bigger issues facing our school district than this teacher contract. We ALL- parents/residents/teachers/school administration- better get are acts in gear and work together to solve our collective financial problems.

Regarding the GEA's new tactic....suing the BOE,

If you are in a union and you go on strike...
Do you really think your employer is going to pay you while you are striking against them?
Do you think your employer is going to continue covering your insurance while you are striking against them?
Do you think your employer has to abide by any agreement with YOU, when you are breaking your agreement with them?
Does the employer even have the responsibility to advise the employees of what they will lose if they strike? Or is that just common courtesy to let them know?

Sue J. I just emailed the Board ...again. I applaud their effort but enough is enough. Stop negotiating with an insincere, radical, and out of control union.

If you have never emailed the board, now is the time!
board@geneva304.org

I too am emailing the board now. I have had it with the GEAs tactics. Please BOE pull your contract and stop negotiating with Carol Young and her get rich quick retirement plan.

From what I've read, sending your child to school will support the Board, correct? If the school maintains at least 50% attendance and offers some amount of core curriculum the school day should count and the teachers will not have the ability to make up the pay. Having our children attend class will show our support of the Board and prevent the tax payers from having to pay substitutes for the strike days, then re-paying the teachers as well as additional pay for the ancillary staff if the days have to be made up at the end of the school year.

Can anyone tell me where and what time the meeting will take place tomorrow? I want to be there to show the board my support.

Tom nothing is promised beyond the length of the contract. Please board pull the last offer and let the teachers stand in the rain and snow. They allowed their union leaders to put them in their current predicament. The GEA is motivated fully by greed. Unless they get theirs they do not care about the students.

The BOE can't simply stop negotiating or remove offers...it's unfair labor practice. The Goliath of a union has a team of lawyers that will jump at the chance to file a suit - as we now see.
My guess is that the union is hoping the public will turn on BOE because they have to, by law, show good faith and make moves towards a compromise. They've underestimated an informed public.
Ann is dead on...if you send your kids and make it an attendance day, then the teachers lose that day of pay. THAT is the way to show your support. Let the school know you're attending and send your children to school. What a tale they
will have to tell. It would make a fabulous college application essay!!!

Read some of these comments; you will see it's not just the union, but a group of teachers out of touch with reality. A different planet, actually...
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/468998143152839/?fref=ts

As many have stated - time to get informed about the tax levy & the unions.
http://www.facebook.com/TeachersUnionExposed?ref=ts

Did I hear correctly? They met all day and settled? I heard someone saying this. Anyone can confirm?

Nevermind. I heard wrong. They are meeting tomorrow? Ugh. JUST COMPROMISE!!!

Board...Your offer is more than fair. GEA take it of leave it...or better yet...Dear Board, Please pull your offer and let's get some teachers that want to teach.

I live in this community, pay my taxes, am not a teacher, but still wish to see my neighbors act with empathy and civility. Am I just dreaming?

Mark Twain had something to say about this whole matter over 100 years ago... just Google, "What did Mark Twain have to say about School Boards." your first result should do it! Hmmm maybe that's what some of his works were banned...

Dear Readers,

In the event that tonight's talks don't bear non-strike fruit, I will endeavor to let you know on www.thefirstward.net as soon as I know.

You can see my latest post on this ongoing story here:

http://thefirstward.net/2012/11/11/i-still-say-theyre-striking-but-ill-do-my-best-to-keep-you-informed/

Jeff

Thank you Jeff.

Homeostasis is perhaps the best tendency I see coming from certain know-all's comments that I fear the only problem I have is which ward they came out of?

Geneva Vikings, Lisa P. and others in their union, band or group please run for the Bored... but never ever teach especially your own children.

What? If you're a GHS graduate, I'd consider asking for a refund on those English classes.

Thanks for the humor Jeff! @McFly...of course you don't want me to teach my children...you probably already do! And heaven forbid that I teach them about hard work, dedication and responsibility when there are much better options like you showing them greed and selfishness.

Dear Geneva,

I'm not going one way or the other with McFly, I just don't know what the hell they're trying to say!

Jeff

@Jeff...understood. But your comment made me smirk! Any word on the latest negotiations?

Dear Geneva,

First, let me be clear that there is no direct word. They're playing this one pretty close to the vest.

But if I had to apply a word to the proceedings thus far it would be "pessimistic."

What that means is, for now, I'll stick by my blog (www.thefirstward.net) 90 percent strike odds. Of course, one minor breakthrough and that could all change.

I'll keep you posted.

Jeff

Kathy... that quote you presented certainly pertains to you.. Life owes you more than others I see... why must you miss-quote a quote... as to make it so Nebulous as to suit your hatred? BTW Mark Twain had nothing but praise for teachers...

Geneva Vikings the one that meant no disrespect... please go stang in front of a mirror and read your previous posts and ask yourself why your heart is full of such hatred...signed, I thought we lived in the same town?

Jeff, I'm afraid your wishy washy comments have lost you a great majority of readers as has the Batch or Scratch, Patch, whatever, A good cub reporter finds ways to obtain false; headlines, pictures, information, lies, miss-quotes, hear say, ignorance and on and on... why do you persist in your obvious antics and need to be on exhibit? Lawsuits only come to be when the two sides can no longer understand each other and yes there seems to be a difference of opinion and your peanut gallery needs to hush up and simply sit back and LEARN something from this very unfortunate, ridiculous, feudal, waste of all our students love for learning. What does anyone gain from being so hateful?

Not that I really care, but what the heck are you talking about? And might I suggest easing up on the wine.

McFly you are doing a great job proving the point that the GEA has lost all touch with reality. And your spin is giving me a chuckle, please continue. Waiting for the crash is fun to watch.

Wise up Jeffery... take your own advice...

And McFly, one more thing, I think Jeff will have many more new readers following all this than the 400 teachers who will all say they will not read his work( but we all know they still will).

In my own defense I must admit to a faulty keyboard... typing skills and type o's butt as others have pointed out... I truly got no learn'n

"Illinois’ U6 rate also exposes the state’s dire situation. Illinois’ 582,000 unemployment figure doesn’t include an estimated 400,000 who are underemployed and the nearly 100,000 who have stopped looking for work. At 16.3 percent, Illinois’ U6 rate means that nearly 1.1 million people are unemployed or underemployed." http://illinoispolicy.org/blog/blog.asp?ArticleSource=5205
This is the real situation in our state. Maybe our teachers need to take a step back and gain some perspective on what our economy is REALLY like.

According to CBS 2 they're still over at the middle school talking. Give it up. They want to strike. BOE--do not give one more inch.

Angela, I believe you quote those statistics correctly... in fact I am among those numbers as I think someone you know may be... for three dollars a month I would like to think that even in our hard financial times our children may still get the type of education you may never give them again... teachers have stepped back... have you? Find it in your anger to support your children's education and not take away from it... the facts are there for all that care to see the truth harness your hatred as it is directed toward the wrong side of the force. Go ahead Angela work with the teacher that is trying to help your child... learn the facts!!!!