www.gea4students.org!
You should be ashamed. 4students? Really? Should be 4teachers.
Highest scores? DEMOGRAPHICS.
A challenge. Show one school district with our demographics that have bad schools.

Another challenge. Go someplace else if you don’t get a raise here. Never gonna happen. Who would leave this district? Why? DEMOGRAPHICS.

I am all for paying our teachers well! They are the ones who help prepare our children for the future! Why does anyone think they shouldn't be compensated the same as the teachers in the neighboring communities?

This makes me so mad! The average FAMILY income in Geneva is $77,299, yet the average single teacher income for 9 months of work is $72,305...Teachers...stop being so greedy...I'm already paying your salary, paying for degrees that you are NOT using, paying for your benefits and your retirement...yet you want MORE! Check out teacher salaries here: https://geneva304.org/district_information/PDF/2011-12_ISBE.pdf . Meanwhile the rest of us that live in the real world working year round are struggling with companies that are cutting back on jobs, raises, benefits and bonuses. I really can't believe how greedy teachers have gotten and are threatening to hurt our children by walking out on them and holding us all hostage to their demands. Why can't we just get a fresh group of teachers to come in and use the same lesson plans that these teachers have been using over and over for years.

Kim, sounds like you are the Greedy one! Do you have children that attend Geneva schools?

In the interest of information, Geneva High School is on Academic Early Warning Status meaning they did not meet AYP for two years and are eligible for state sanctions according to the Illinois Interactive Report Card at http://iirc.niu.edu/SearchResult.aspx?SearchText=304&type=DISTRICT. I realize that AYP requirements and measurements are open to debate, but we should look at all of the information if we want to evaluate our schools' performance.

At least with these leaks from the GEA, we're getting some idea of what's going on in the "confidential" negoiations.

We now know a moderator is involved per Ms. Youngs foray into YouTube, and from previous leaks, we can reasonably assume a salary freeze was in the contract offer from the school board.

If the GEA members are willing to picket school board meetings, it can only be a matter of time before an impasse is declared and a strike vote taken.

Based on that postcard, does anyone else get the feeling the "informational picket" may be just a little slanted to one sides information?

Let teachers quit. Then we can bring in young people who actually care about our kids future and not about how much money they can suck out of the system for themselves. It's gotta stop, we can't afford it.

Wow. What an ungrateful lot these union representatives and members (teachers) are. Either that or they are a bunch of ostriches with their heads so deeply in the sand they have missed the last three years (and more) of economic turmoil.

Let's pick a color and wear it in support of the (apparent) conservative tact (finally) being taken by the school board in these negotiations.

Don't let this public service union bully you into a another bad teeacher contract.

Jim J

I am all for paying good teachers more money. However, not at the expense of keeping mediocre teachers. A good teacher should want a merit raise because they are better than the one in the next room that hasn't changed the lesson plan in 5 years. Just because you show up for another year does not necessarily make you a better teacher or a better anything!

I am sure if there was a fair way to evaluate the teachers and let them get paid for "performance" they would support that vs. Tenure. That way we could keep good teachers and get rid of the ones that rely on Tenure rather than results.

Hold strong, Board - don't let the Union intimidate you. You have the overwhelming support of the community behind you who appreciates the fact that you're trying to keep the contract based in reality.

Angela, you are so misinformed. If teaching is as easy as you say, go ahead and give it a try, nobody is stopping you or anyone else from being a teacher.

Does anyone know if the teachers are taking their discontent into the classrooms with shirts, buttons, etc?

If you notice, I have used my actual name--unlike you. I am not misinformed my friend. On this I have (as they say) "streed cred."

Jim, I am not saying they should get paid the same as other communities, what I am saying is we need to compensate our teachers for what they do! They have a huge responsibility to educate our children, and we should never skimp when it comes to providing the best for the children of Geneva. The teachers that don't perform should be fired we must demand that we get the best, and like any thing you get what you pay for! If anyone thinks a teachers job is easy they should try it!

Paul Bryant: The fact that a mediator is involved is public information. Perhaps you were not availed of that information, but it is public.

I am not going to pretend that I agree to the letter with the teachers' union's official position. However, I am inclined to lean toward their side. Many of the anti-union commenters on here really seem to have a true feeling of derision toward teachers in this district and teachers in general. It would seem that many of you expect them to shut up -- act professionally, as some of you have basically said -- yet you refuse to hear in favor of them being compensated as if they are professionals. Although there are some worms in the organization, as there are in most, Geneva teachers tend to be top-rate, in my opinion. I graduated from the high school with the class of 2009 and am currently a first-year graduate student at a leading institution in my field. Occasionally these days, I look back to my undergraduate preparation, but, more often, I look back to the excellent education that I received at Geneva Community High School.

There is little doubt that the school district has some serious fiscal problems facing it down. These problems are not the fault of the teachers but, rather, the leadership of the school district -- the school board and the administration. Most members of the latter, incidentally, have received generous raises most years lately, with scant complaints from the dais, as it were.

Does this mean no school till a deal is finalized?

It may be better to be seen working at McDonalds than seen picketing a school board meeting.

The accepted "bell curve" on employee performance is approximately: 20% are above average, 20% are below average and 60% are average. All really good non-union companies get rid of the bottom performers and try to find a way to financially recognize top performers. The 60% in-between are usually safe, but may only receive minimum increases until they improve. Even McDonalds uses a similar system.

But a union puts everyone on the same level. Once you have tenure, you only have to put in more time. The more time the bigger the pay, and the bigger the pension. Geneva does have some really great teachers. Although they may be pressured to go along, I doubt really good teachers are happy with the union system.

The only way to be an excellent company is to reward excellence.

Not yet. But it would mean "no pay", if the GEA walks -- unless theBoard is as completely spineless as some fear, and winds up paying teachers for the days they are on the street. That's possible -- it has happened in other negotiations.

However, the D-304 board does seem finally to have realized that they have an obligation to protect the tax-payers. At least that is the impression they seem to want to leave. We'll see whether or not it is just posturing.

Can they wait until FOOTBALL season is over with! OMG!

Having two kids of my own in the 304 school system I know that the teachers are top notch and should be compensated well. Having said that I also believe that ultimately in any responsible organization the expenses must be driven by revenues. I've worked in several startups, a government lab and a large private firm. In all cases, in non-taxing bodies, the salaries were driven purely by how much money is brought in. In good times everyone benefits and when times are tough there are layoffs, salary freezes and salary cuts. The teachers union often brings up the argument that their members should be compensated on performance just as their non-unionized counterparts in the private sector are. However in many cases even top performers in the private sector have to make sacrifices for the good of the company. This is the dilemma that we find ourselves in. We can cast blame wherever we want, but the reality is that the Geneva budget is stretched due to shrinking property tax revenues, lower commercial tax receipts and a swollen debt load acquired in collaboration and with full support of the teachers union. Asking for a raise now is both unfair and disingenuous. Incidentally the argument that Geneva educators should be compensated in line with the neighboring communities fails the reality check. I too was surprised that St. Charles schools outrank Geneva by a large margin in the Illinois HS rankings. Check out US News rankings for too see where we rank.

A lot of the rankings and test scores the union is using to promote their cause reflect on the demographics of the students and the involvement of their highly educated parents. Our teachers are wonderful, but they teach in Camelot. If these teachers were working in a district such as Elgin or Aurora, they wouldn't be able to claim the great rankings because highly educated parents and higher socio-economic demographics always influence test scores and the student's ability to succeed.

As a former teacher I really understand how hard the teachers work. However, we live in a different economy with an unemployment rate of over 8%. There are literally thousands of unemployed teachers who would love to work. The union should recognize how fortunate their members have a job with great pay and benefits in this economy. How many of the families in this district have lost jobs, lost homes, taking huge paycuts in salaries and benefits in the past few years? Far too many. Families everywhere are suffering dramatically in this economy yet the teachers demand "respect" via a pay increase. It is insulting to all of us who live in the real world and have made dramatic sacrifices in this economy.

My spouse who has her doctorate in education state that it is illegal for teachers to wear any kind of political propaganda in the classroom and that employees of 304 are to remain totally neutral.

Prior to tonight's regular board of education meeting, the finance committee met. There were 5 people in the audience, including two board members not on the finance committee.
The agenda included a first look at the tax levy for 2012. The levy can increase as much as 3%, not including debt service repayment. The final presentation will be made to the entire board of education on November 9th with a vote taken in early December. This levy is what determines your property taxes payable in June & September 2013.
As per the Asst. Superintendent of Finance, listed below are the school tax increases on a Geneva home valued at $288,000:
3% tax levy results in a $543 increase
1.5% tax levy results in a $474 increase
0% tax levy results in a $405 increase
While these are preliminary numbers, because of the decline in total District Equalized Assessed Value, school taxes will increase in 2013.
The Geneva School District is not in a good financial position as this year's budget has a deficit of $4 million. The District is on record calling this a planned deficit because of some capital projects included in the budget. The fact of the matter remains that we are spending $4 million then we receive and that does not include a salary increase for teachers. If the teachers receive a salary increase in the first year of the new contract, those funds must be taken from the reserves. Reserves are not supposed to be used on day-to-day expenses.
When do the taxpayers get a break?

The Union Greenshirts are already 50% overpaid in total compensation, primarily because of their P-E-N-S-I-O-N-S, which are mostly paid by Illinois income tax payers under Illinois law. The facts:

1. From 2007-2012, Geneva union teachers retired at an average age of 59. Of the retirees that had taught for 25 or more partial years, the average initial annual pension was $ 83,866.

2. Because Illinois law (bought by unions from corrupt government bosses) provides for an automatic 3% increase in the pension each year, during the average 21 years of receiving pension payments the retiree will receive between $ 2 million and $ 3 million in pension.

3. By year 21 of retirement (at 80 years of age), the retiree’s annual pension payment will have almost doubled, to approximately $160,000.

Who will be victimized by this 50% overpayment 11 to 21 years from now? Today’s students. Children, can you say, “child fiscal abuse”?

Double whammy child fiscal abuse: (1) crushing property taxes and (2) a coming avalanche of much higher Illinois income taxes.

In the 20+ years I have been in the private sector workforce, I have had to make a financial contribution to my healthcare costs, fund my own retirement via a 401K (pensions are a rarity these days) and undergo annual performance evaluations to EARN a pay increase.

The teachers by comparison, want free healthcare, get a government backed pension, and get a guaranteed job for life after tenure with summers off. And don't let the propaganda fool you, the majority are not doing the summer work on their own time.

Bottom line is the teachers are asking for more of what the rest of us do not have in terms of compensation. If the teachers want more then they need to earn it via individual merit.

With the exception of 2 or 3 math/science teachers at GHS - NONE of the Greenshirts would be able to earn anything close to their salaries in the private sector, IMO.

Don't believe me? Give it a try!

I do believe the teachers in our community are great (most of them) but we can not hold them soley responsible for the successes in our childrens academic life!! They teach in a community where the children come to school every day bellies full, nice clothes, IPhone in hand...Not much stress in these youngsters life..After school they go home to at least one parent on their butts to get homework done, helping with projects, quizzing for test...most parents I know spend just as much time on homework as the kids!! Kinda makes it easy to be a Geneva Teacher!!

My daughter is a senior at GHS. We have had some teachers throughout the years that were outstanding. I would double their salaries. They should be paid like brain surgeons. At the same time, we have had some teachers that were terrible. They should be fired. It is no secret who the "greats" are and who the "bad" ones are. Tenure protects teachers that should not be in this profession.

In mid-August the GEA was very concerned about the students of CUSD 304. So much so, that they registered the following domain
Domain ID:D166369378-LROR
Domain Name:GEA4STUDENTS.ORG
Created On:17-Aug-2012 15:20:17 UTC
Last Updated On:17-Aug-2012 15:20:19 UTC
Expiration Date:17-Aug-2013 15:20:17 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:Tucows Inc. (R11-LROR)

I wonder when the green shirts and buttons were ordered, and if they have settled with the trademark owner of United We Teach?
Isn’t it gratifying to know that 70% of your real estate payment funds CUSD 304, and the GEA dues paid by the teacher? Those same union dues are then reshaped into propaganda as evidenced by the shirts, buttons, mass mailing direct mail, PR communications, web development and social media designed to further extort taxpayer dollars.
If the GEA thinks that it has political capital in Geneva, they should spend it now. It would be in poor taste to have the giant scab rat on 4th street as counter programming to the Kris Kringle house on Third Street come early December.

http://instagram.com/p/PdeJ6thrbS/

Our 7th grader came home from school yesterday and said she wished that they too could wear tee shirts that said "we see you and your green shirts and buttons everywhere and it makes us feel like all you care about is more money". While that may seem like too much to fit on a tee shirt, it shows that the kids are keenly aware of the teacher's ongoing need to sport their union flare, despite how in might make the kids feel. We have 2 kids who have already graduated from Geneva and let's tell it like it is: There are some excellent teachers. They are the minority. It's too bad there is a no-fire rule in the contract. It would be a great way to "clean the slate". Let the teachers go and find another job in this economy. I think there would be a lot of teachers with a lot of time to watch their "beloved Bears". Geneva School Board, please stay strong and do what you know is the right thing for the citizens of Geneva!

It has come to my attention that there are comments being made by someone who has the exact same name as me. I am the Andy Drendel who teaches in the Kaneland School District and I am not the one who has left any comments on here about it. I've never even visited this site before today and I've never left any comments regarding anything that has to do with the Geneva School District or the School Board. I do not appreciate the comments that have been made regarding my career in teaching or my salary (which I know isn't a whole lot). Please respect my privacy and understand that anyone posting under the moniker "AndyDrendel" is not me. Thank you

As a senior at GHS, it is really embarrassing to see all you parents bicker at each other. And to those who are saying our teachers have an easy job, that is completely wrong. They put up with so much trying to educate and lead students into the right direction. The teachers at GHS care so much about students like me and shame on all of you who said otherwise.

Matt, as a senior you should be old enough to listen to and understand that there are at least two sides to every story. "You're embarrassing me," is not a very informed understanding of the situation. You are old enough to understand that sometimes when people have said "no" to you, it has been for your own good. You are old enough to understand that in real life, people must budget. They must choose between wants and needs. Right now, you idolize your teachers. For good or bad, they seem to hold your future in their hands, but like your parents, they are not perfect. After high school, they will matter less and less. Your success or failure will depend on you. Teachers can be and should be told "no" this time. We can't afford to give them a raise right now just because they demand it. What good is a beautiful town like Geneva if the taxes are so high that you will never be able to afford to live here after college, unless you live in your parents' basement?

If you read my comment carefully, I made no stance on the subject. I have not read up enough or researched enough to make a stand on the topic. However, I have read many hateful comments regarding this whole situation. I was only trying to make a point to those who are saying that the teachers do not work hard and are selfish. Those comments are simply not true. I was in no way saying that their care and hard work were the primary issues. I am merely saying that hateful comments are truly a shame.