Well done Dr. Mutchler. The Geneva Teachers Union seems to have been overreaching once again. A Pro Union Rally at Heartland Elementary School, right at the end of the school day, presumably -lots of children- involved seems to be bad form. Frankly I'm surprised at how the Union is handling these negotiations, particularly after the raises they have received over the last three years. TaxFACTS the Geneva watchdog group has published, just today an analysis of teacher pay increases since 2011. http://www.genevataxfacts.org I invite everyone to take a look for themselves to see if they agree or disagree that further pay increases are justified.

Maybe the Superintendent shouldn't have cancelled the meeting. Based on the 2012 salary and benefit information, I don't think it would have been a pro-teacher rally. One might argue that the base salary of $40,000 is on the low side but a teacher making $82,332 in 2010 and making $99,694 in 2012 (a 21.09% increase in 2 years) can't be defended.
The PTO, with all the volunteer time and financial support they provide to the schools and teachers, should not be happy with the recent comments of teachers at board meetings. Maybe the PTO is being "slapped in the face" not the teachers.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8th at 7:00 pm at the Coultrap facility. Maybe it is time for the taxpayers to wear red shirts and support the school board. Taxpayers should demand the union justify any teacher salary increase for this school year. Every other district employee has taken at least a 1 year salary freeze. Why can't the teachers? The school board has approved spending $4,000,000 more than they receive this year. We owe $309 million in debt service that MUST be paid back in 15 years. Where is it going to end for the taxpayers. We are told WE must compromise and provide an automatic yearly salary increase but where is the teachers compromise? The taxpayers ATM machine has run out of money. Now open your eyes and deal with it. Settle the contract in the best interests of our most precious resource, the children.

As we all know the contract negotiations are confidential so there is no need for a meeting, since contract specifics could not have been discussed.
Mr. McQuillan, your comments about the PTOs ARE a slap in the face to PTOs! Please stop bullying groups in the community into being on "your side" with comments about them. PTOs provide support to their students and school; they are not there to cast judgment on anyone.
I do wonder once this contract is settled what will be talked about on the Patch?! Gasp- I would hate to think it could actually be productive!

Some people can't handle the truth. The truth is not bullying anyone. Demanding yearly salary increases no matter what is bullying. PTOs certainly do make judgments every day when they provide the support that they do. My "slap in the face" comment comes from a teacher comment at the last board meeting but I'm sure you knew that.
Why would the union rep agree to attend a meeting which is a clear violation of the agreement in place. Who was teaching her students while she was at another school? Who called the meeting and why was it called? What was to be discussed? Is it possible that the PTO was not happy with the actions or non-actions of the teachers within Heartland Elementary? Don't assume this meeting was to support the teachers demand for a salary increase.
PTOs do support the students and the school and they also support the teachers. A review of the 2010-2012 salary comparison clearly shows that the teachers are supported by the taxpayers in the form of salary increases. The problem is that the vast majority of taxpayers didn't realize to what level increases were being given out. It appears from teacher comments, they don't respect the increases that the taxpayers have already provided.
I'll say it again, this is not a judgment of the ability or quality of the teachers in the Geneva School District. This is about fairness to the taxpayers who pay the teacher salary increases. That is the role the school board is sworn to uphold.

There is never anything wrong with supporting the tax payers... because without US they have NO jobs (period)! I don't see anything negative about the PTO's in Mr. McQuillan's comment, nor in his defense of the people who live here and their children. I appreciate his interest in speaking out for us. Thank you Mr. MiQuillan for spelling it out so well.

Well I'm a taxpayer and he is not standing up for me! I'm shocked he hasn't started using "those people" as a term for those who don't agree with him! More often then not his comments lend to a "bully" style, almost saying that he is smarter then others. I get what Mr McQuillan is saying since it's been shoved down my throat so much, I just wish he would conduct himself in a more polished fashion. And leave community groups out of his statement. Unless he's added spokesman to his resume the only group he talks for is his.

"More often then not his comments lend to a "bully" style, almost saying that he is smarter then others." A bully is defined as a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people. Providing people with the truth is not bullying.
When they have no defense, people tend to find a way to attack the messenger. If the only thing someone can find wrong about what I say is that they don't like the way I say it, then the problem lies with them. Speaking your mind and defending your position is not easy when the majority stays silent. The easy way out is to call someone a bully. If you don't like what I say, you don't need to read or listen to it. Or you can counter it with your own position, that's not bullying that is debating.
People are shocked when they find out what state and local officials have done with their tax dollars yet when someone tries to explain what is happening they resort to calling him a bully. Just because someone decides they aren't going to sit on the sidelines and take it anymore doesn't make them a bully. Our group has been speaking out about the school district financial issues for more than 4 years. We can't make people listen, we can only state our position and back them up with facts. A bully has no regard for facts. I'm sorry that people didn't listen to us four years ago but the facts haven't changed. It has only gotten worse and will continue to decline until good people force change.

Oh Bob, this is not a "debate", I likely will never be swayed by your side. But I will leave with you a couple of points to keep in mind as you continue to educate others. First, I think it would be best to not suggest you know how PTOs, or any other group for that matter, feel. They don't need you speaking for them. And second, you were offended by being called a bully, right? So think how the teachers feel when you say they are "bullying" the taxpayers into salary increases. I will make a guess that they're offended and what's worse is that some of those teachers are Geneva residents. And last, I'm going to take another guess that you are assuming that the teachers want a pay increase, right? Admit it, you're guessing! Sorry, had to throw some Cutler in there! Anyways, I'm guessing that remarks by teachers at the school board meetings lead you to believe money is the issue. Because since the negotiations are confidential you really don't know. If you did that means someone breached the confidentiality and I'm guessing that would be a big problem. So take my suggestions with as much salt as you want but your truth may not be the entire truth.

Ann, when you say, "I just wish he would conduct himself in a more polished fashion," it sounds a lot like, "I can't handle the truth."

I assume the debt of $309 million is factual. To me, that should be the bottom line...our primary concern as taxpayers. This fact alone makes it difficult for me to support a raise, but I try to keep an open mind & would love to hear from the teachers. We are making judgements based on one side of the story. It's a shame union negotiations must be confidential. we are unable to see the whole picture to form a truly educated opinion. Something to think about...

Calm down Patch Posters, no need to revolt! I'm not looking to hijack Geneva into a "dictatorship", I enjoy the democratic process, I just wished is was alive and well in Geneva. I am a taxpayer, a parent and a member of the "bureaucracy family", my number one goal is to ensure my children receive the best education possible. BUT that doesn't mean I can't handle "the truth"! I get it people, Geneva is facing the same challenges that other cities, counties, states and the federal government is facing. I care about how my money is spent but I also will admit I moved to a community that had property taxes (as compared to others) because I wanted my kids to go to Geneva schools. Now maybe I'm one of the few but my taxes have significantly (more then $1,000) increased in the 5 years I have lived here. Now I do realize that today is very different from 5 years ago (I worked in an industry largely affected by the down turn) but one thing for me is the same, my kids education. My kid (who is still in elementary school) even gets why his education is important, he knows without him and his generation we will live in a sad country. I want my kids to do more then what I have done, I want them to create a world changing device, cure diseases or whatever else their hearts desire. And one way they can do so is by providing (in conduction with their teachers) a great education. Cont.

My children have greatly benefited from Geneva teachers and that is why I am putting my faith in the proper people to do their jobs. I believe that the school board and teachers union will do their best to negotiate a contract that works. I also have no doubts that the contract will be THE platform for every person running for school board, so buckle up because we have many more months of this. My comments have been said before and they will be said again. I'm just so tired of Bob and his group hijacking everything school related to push his points. I mean I don't submit anything to the Patch for my group because I don't want Bob to attach his comments to it. And Bob, if you have the in at Heartland's PTO, go for it, to me that's questionable though. Maybe you should enlighten the entire community to what their concerns were. This could go on forever, and likely it will so relax folks and don't get your knickers twisted. I will say Becky has a good point, maybe contract talks should be more public but I think it's safe to say unions have passed their peak so that won't happen. Also for Sally, if a vote to strike happens the strike won't start immediately, there is a process. Both sides will have to make their last and final offers public knowledge and the process could take about a month. The offers are posted on a website for public views, Bob, do you know which website? Your research would be helpful here.

Apologies, my fingers couldn't keep up with my thoughts! A couple of clarifications so my comments aren't taken incorrectly. I moved to Geneva knowing my property taxes were higher compared to other communities. Although at this time I think that difference has shrunk, parts of North Aurora (who attend West Aurora schools) pay between $7,000-$8,000. My taxes HAVE NOT gone up significantly since I moved here.

Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which people have an inflated sense of self-importance and an extreme preoccupation with themselves.

The causes of this disorder are unknown. An overly sensitive personality and parenting problems may affect the development of this disorder.

Symptoms
A person with narcissistic personality disorder may:
React to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation
Take advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals
Have excessive feelings of self-importance
Exaggerate achievements and talents
Be preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or ideal love
Have unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
Need constant attention and admiration
Disregard the feelings of others, and have little ability to feel empathy
Have obsessive self-interest
Pursue mainly selfish goals

Ann, do not feel all alone out in this blog. I agree with you. There is a very vocal group that likes to attack people commenting on the patch. I do not think Bob M. is a bully, as per his definition. I do think the words arrogant, insolent, repetitive, and condescending might be more accurate. I took an interest in what the Tax Facts group was trying to do. Educating everyone on the finances of the school district was a positive development. However, as the posts continued to drive home the same points, and the tone became harsher, and the message started to take on a know it all, "why can't you people get it" flavor; I tuned them out. There is room for everyone to calmly debate the finances of the district. Facts are also welcome. There is no need to have one side claim to be right, and offer the "only" viable path to pay down the debt. This is my opinion as to why the Tax Facts group has alienated some of us. The message was too in your face, my way or else. I prefer discussion and compromise.

Good for Dr. Mutchler at canceling the meeting at Heartland. The process remains within the confines of the negotiating room and on the table. Anything outside of that is pure bluster and propoganda playing on the emotions of everyone. By the way, have the teachers union considered that if they do get raises, taxpayers will be competing for those "burger flippin' jobs" to augment their income to pay the ever increasing property tax bills? Will it be worth it to them to take parents away from the home helping to educate their children and their homework whilst at their second and maybe third job?

Ann
The website you reference is http://www2.illinois.gov/elrb/Pages/FinalOffers.aspx This will not happen until one side declares an impasse.

Mitotero & John R
Thanks for your kind words about what GenevaTaxFACTS is trying to accomplish. Do some people "attack" with their comments? They certainly do but it is done on both sides. I have tried my best to present correct information that will help others understand what is happening in this district. The nature of e-mail allows people to read into what they feel are the emotions of the writer and many times what they feel is not correct. No matter how many times it is repeated, there are many Geneva residents still do not realize what financial issues the district is facing. That is sad.
As to solutions, no one has all the answers or even the right ones. At least our group has offered, what we feel, are possible options. At this point, I'm willing to listen to any solution that makes sense. Unfortunately no one is providing any solutions that are viable for both the short & long term. Saying that you love Geneva teachers and they should be given the salary increases they are requesting is not a solution. The salary issue will continue to be a problem on every future contract. I have what I think would be a viable solution but sharing it will only bring the wrath of people that believe the more you spend the better the education received. A realistic, affordable plan must be implemented.

So, I guess what has been established here is that Bob M. and his group are villains? DEFLECTING from the truth will not change the fact that more money is not going to make for better teachers! I am glad to hear what is really going on with our tax dollars. Once again, thanks Mr. McQuillan for putting it out there. Even if it comes across to some as "in your face".

Bob, thank you (sincerely) for the website, this is very helpful information for all involved to utilize. I truly hope that a strike is not our future. I think there are assumptions made by all on this issue and most of those assumptions are not true. I don't despise TaxFacts for putting information out to the public, I just feel that it could be handled in a better way. Bob, just a suggestion but you may want to explain how you are obtaining your info, how you are looking at numbers and what qualifies you to do so. The reason I state this is because school finance can be tricky and taxpayers may be unsure of how it works. Also because I advocate for my child's education that doesn't mean I want to pay teachers an unreasonable rate. Also to Rick, I know he was joking when he said there would be less parents to volunteer because they working many jobs but there is some truth to his comment. Parents volunteers are at low. If you are a parent I encourage to spend some time in your child's school, it may give you broader insight into our students and schools.

Pat L
You are mistaken when you say the problem with base salary "for teacher salaries is a lump sum. Base, insurance, TRS, stipends" Insurance costs are not included in base salary and range from $0 to over $22,000 based on the individual employee. TRS does not affect base salary, they are deductions from base salary.
Per the state, base salary is defined as; "the dollar amount an administrator and/or teacher has been paid for all duties performed as a school district employee during the 2011/2012 school year. Base salary includes, for example, teaching salary, compensation for extracurricular responsibilities, payments for summer school teaching, and remuneration for supervising and/or working at athletic and non-athletic events."
Did you look to see if they picked up an extra stipend? Based on the method of reporting, stipends are not broken out.
As to my comments at the broad meeting, the increases are true. Unless they are embarrassed by the increases, how would my comments intimidate someone from speaking in the future?
Because no one knows the details, the option on the contract is to agree or disagree on salary increase. Our group has offered options on debt repayment & technology costs. I personally don't care if a teacher wears a green shirt or not, means nothing to me. If anyone wants to see the increases teachers have received over the last two years just go to http://geneva.patch.com/blog_posts/can-a-teachers-contract-be-a-matter-of-disrespect

Pat L
I can only report how the state reports to the public. Stipends are usually very small and don't add thousands and thousands of dollars to base salary. And that increase in base salary would only come in the first year of a stipend. The second and future year's stipends would not increase a base salary by 28%. Lets get real! Look at all the salary increases in just two years. If these are the result of increases in stipends then we are paying too much in stipends. The answer to this question is very simple. What was the increase in stipends from 2009 to 2010, from 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012. I would suggest you FOIA the school district for the answer. I would but then you would accuse me of spending district time and labor on silly questions. If you want to believe that the vast majority of salary increases over the past three years is due to stipends, go ahead and keep making excuses.
I'll continue to hammer my message, a salary freeze is not disrespecting or treating teachers unfairly. Every district employee, other than teachers, have taken at least a one year salary freeze in the last three years. Every other local teachers union has made concessions in their contract in the last three years. The step and lane compensation plan is out of date and needs to be revamped. That is the truth. The teachers would have you believe that if you pay them more, your child will receive a better education. Show me research that sates that statement is true.

Eunice
First, while the stipends for different functions are listed in the contract the question was asking to exclude stipend amounts from base pay. To my knowledge, there is no recap of stipend payments to individual teachers.

Second, the district requires that we file a FOIA for a copy of their videotape. We then code the video so that you don't have to sit and listen to the entire meeting. You can quickly go to the area that interests you. This takes a couple of hours to complete. Prior to GenevaTaxFACTS filming our own video and posting it to our website, taxpayers could only watch the school board meetings on a small screen on the City of Geneva website once or twice per day at odd hours. Copying a meeting onto a CD should not cost anything other the the cost of the CD, which we would be happy to supply. The district is probably spending much more time sending the video to the outside company hosting it. An employee doesn't need to sit and watch the video as it is being copied. It is the district's decision to include the labor cost of the employee when they recap FOIA's.

The question was "What does each teacher make on stipends?" Unless you can provide a list of a stipends by each teacher, the question can't be answered. As to the cost of providing the CD, you can decide for yourself if it should take two employees a total of 1 hour 55 minutes to provide a copy.
As to my background, I'll share something. In 1999 & 2000, I volunteered on a weekly basis to help the Consumer Education teacher explain how new products are introduced to the market. I did it because, at the parent open house, it was clear that the teacher had no real life business experience. He told the parents that he had sold life insurance for 6 months and then started teaching. When I told him background, he asked if I could come in and explain to the class how product research, advertising, sales planning and market introduction worked. I did it for all of 1999 and half of 2000. So, yes I have an idea of what a teacher does. I have never questioned the education that my three children received in the Geneva district.
But again, this issue is not over the quality of teachers we have or the hours that they put in. It doesn't matter what my background is. This issue is about finances and the burden that taxpayers have been carrying for more than 5 years. When someone demands that their employer give them a yearly salary increase, they have lost touch with reality. Who gets that today! I have not heard one good reason, other than they don't make enough, a raise is needed.

Pat L stated "you don't know if that teacher is now picking up 1,2, 6 different things to help out "their financial situation". So salary increases reflect just that. Thank you. So thank you for throwing out all the numbers and facts, but without knowing the WHOLE story stop making blanket statements about increases. I know one teacher in particular that has at least 5 stipends. Sure in your books that could mean a 28% increase in salary and that is how TaxFACTS will report it, without knowing the whole story." That statement basically says; what does each teacher make on stipends? I said I don't know the answer to that question. If you want to know, ask the district. I reported the information as the state & district report it.
Making plans, grading assignments/tests and sitting in meetings are part of being a teacher. Just like all jobs, there are tasks that need to be done. Teachers are already paid to do all the things you mentioned. If you are saying they don't make enough money, that's a whole other discussion. As for teaching - again, this isn't about what teachers do or don't do. This is about finances. The teachers have taken their position about wanting a salary increase.
I have spoken out about overall school district spending since 1998 - when I had three children in the district. We should all work to "fix the district" since the district is really the entire community. Doesn't matter if we are employees, administrators, taxpayers or we have a 75.

The bond repayment issue will be resolved by a re-fi as soon as the bonds are callable. The maturity date will be extended and the rates will come down.

Bob,
Could you clarify this issue of "reserve funds"?
Schools get paid twice a year, corresponding to the two tax collections. For better or worse, the vast majority of Geneva school funding comes from local property tax since Geneva has a relatively high assessed valuation per pupil (which in turn partly but inversely determines state funding). This twice a year payment system creates a yearly cash flow with a peak and a valley. Twenty five years ago the District quite regularly issued "tax anticipation" warrants to "fill in" the valley in the cash flow. This also lowered the peak balances. Of course selling these warrants cost money in transactions costs and (mostly) interest expense. If the "reserve" is just sufficient to make selling warrants unnecessary, the net effect could actually save a taxpayer a few dollars.
But if the reserve is simply a "rainy day" fund, then in my judgement it is improper. Current taxpayers should not be asked to provide a financial cushion for future cohorts of taxpayers. Each group of taxpayers has historically had to deal with its own problems, which seems equitable. Similarly, current taxpayers should not saddle future cohorts with current problems. Future cohorts also include kids.
Thanks,
Rod Nelson

Rod
Great question. You are correct about the two payments. The payment in July clears up any bills from the previous fiscal year. Districts run on a fiscal year of July 1 thru June 30 not on a calendar fiscal year. In the past, they issue the tax anticipation warrants near the end of the school year, effectively borrowing money based on future tax payments. They don't do that anymore. That is one of the reason they want to maintain a $15 million balance in the education fund, so that bills in April, May & June can be paid.
The state of Illinois suggests but does not require that every district maintain @27% of their operating costs in reserves for a rainy day. Operating costs are everything except deb service repayment. This year's approved budget is $93 million with $16 million in debt service repayment. Thus operating costs are $77 million (93-16). The state would suggest @$ 21 million in reserves. Geneva likes to keep 31-33% in reserves so that would be @$25 million. The budget presentation had $53 million in reserves expected as of June 30, 2013. That is 69% of operating costs. That number includes $15 million of what the district calls "working cash." The state doesn't include working cash in it's 27%.
Though they have not said it, I believe the district is planning to use reserves to offset the yearly debt service payments increases until 2019. Reserves are the result of over-payment of taxes and is the taxpayers money. It should be used to reduce taxes.