http://www.kcchronicle.com/2012/10/17/geneva-teachers-vote-to-authorize-strike/ap76ipf/?page=2
According to Carol Young, the GEA has already taken a vote authorizing a strike. I recall one poster on this site relating that a few days ago and that poster getting severely criticized for stating what is now confirmed. Sorry GEA. Those of us out here who are concerned about District 304's looming debt and the rising taxes don't like being threatened. Make a decision. Do you really want to do this to our community?

It's a shame it's coming to this. I feel like GEA is now taking their marching orders from the big (IEA) union.

I think the Greenshirts may have vastly overestimated their support in the community.

GREED has no conscience......

"Dwight Swartwood argued in favor of holding the line on teacher salaries as "a matter of simple math." Considering the district's $300 million debt in principle and interest and a 2 percent compounded growth, Swartwood said Geneva taxes could double in the next 10 years."

Exactly. Thank you for standing up and speaking the truth Dwight. Whether the Greenshirts choose to hear it is another matter. But you fought the good fight, sir.

BoE, Mark Grosso et al, thank you for holding the line on sanity.

Our family lived in Winnetka and Glen Ellyn and our daughter attended public school in those communities. I can tell you that one of the strongest benefits of our Geneva school community is the relationship between the teachers and the parents. It is a relationship that is rich and supportive. I did not experience this on the North Shore and Glen Ellyn. To the teachers I say this, "do not underestimate the underlying anger of parents". Times are tough. You have jobs, benefits and a level of security that does not exist for the parents of your students. The taxes are going to crush the average citizen. I have only the highest respect for teachers. My husband is a teacher and I come from a family of teachers. I hope you can find a solution that doesn't tear at the fabric of our community. It is fragile.

The coordinated strikes throughout Chicago are clearly pre-meditated strategic threats to public governance and stability in our communities, and are being perpetrated by the IEA and suboridinated organizations.

I just wonder if the IEA and the subordinated organizations would be treated as something more serious by the DOJ if the organization's name sounded more like groups from the Middle East associated with trying to shut down governance and creating havoc in our communities. Threats are threats.

To Scott,
How many teachers in Geneva have lost their jobs in the past year? Now, how many people have lost their jobs or businesses in the past year? Saying big business is pocketing it all is as credible as what union leaders are feeding to our teachers. If teachers strike, they will feel the heat when the district starts to cut staff and programs. Oh, but I forgot to add, it is all for the kids.

"GREAT MEETING LAST NIGHT! It was nice to see so much support for the teachers in our great town! Thanks to the community for your support. I'm confident that the BOE and the GEA will get everything settled during their next negotiations. Nobody wants a strike to occur. There have been so many times that I have mentioned to people that I live in Geneva and the first comment they make is how great the schools are. We are known for having a great school system. Again...Thanks for all of the support that was shown for our fine teachers! Keep Geneva Great!! I wish the BOE & the GEA healthy & productive negotiations!"

Many of you have so much to say on the Patch, but when it comes to speaking in public- all that shows up is 3 people...2 of which you couln't understand a word they were saying. Where was G.Ryan? Where was Angela Kane? Where was Bob M?
Sombody?? Very interesting...

How about having ALL of the administrators pay the 9.4% into their own pensions? That's what ALL of the teachers do...EVERY paycheck. The BOE uses tax dollars to pay the 9.4% towards each administrator's retirement fund. That's a nice little perk that doesn't get reported...then again...any teacher has the choice to become an administrator to receive that perk.
It's interesting to see the Superintendent sitting on the side opposite the teachers (calling it “disheartening”) while he is receiving so may perks from the same taxpayers that are urging that the board to stand strong. Really?

Dwight wrote:
"My wife and I went to the "special" school board meeting tonight. 15:1 IN FAVOR OF THE TEACHERS. Me and two other OLD SODS asked the board to hold the line on teachers salaries. MANY spoke on behalf of the teachers. It's highly possible the board had already made up their minds prior to the meeting. But if tonight's showing is used to sway their position, score a major defeat for taxpayers. It was a PATHETIC showing for those in favor of holding the line on teacher's salaries. It was like Custer's last stand, except he did't show up. So let's just go on with our endless Geneva Patch prater, many not willing to use our real names, and see where that get's us."
That about sums it up...Thanks Dwight.

I attended the Board Meeting last night and have to say it made me sad to see what this is doing to our wonderful community. As a parent in the district since 1999 I saw many of the teachers that I consider friends at the meeting. The relationship between the teachers and the parents in our district is unique and IS a job benefit to our teachers. I hope the teachers union is putting a "value" on that relationship on their cost sheet. As a parent I cannot be sure as the process doesn't allow us to know what's on the table or not until the very end. Mrs. Lee indicated last night that she wanted to "clarify" that the union is still open to negotiation and that some how the school board was being misleading with their statement to the parents. The only thing I can say to that is that actions speak louder than words. If you say you are still negotiating but declare an impasse, it indicates to me that you are done negotiating. By the same token if you say you are still negotiating but don't wait for the "best and final" offer before voting to agree to strike, it indicates to me that you are done negotiating. The "surplus" that it appears the district has is not a surplus at all but funds designated to pay back our massive debt. The only solution to this problem is going to require compromise. Neither side is going to walk away with everything on their wish list. I for one would like to see the unions actions be more consistent with their words.

The majority of teachers in Geneva do a very good job and our children are very lucky to be in our school system. With that said, The GEA and IEA are not doing the teachers any favors. They promote a theme of entitlement without regard to external factors in the community. If the school district were operated as a business there would be layoffs and paycuts, not only for the teachers but the administrators as well. The teachers should be thankful they have a job. A one year pay freeze, in lieu of a pay cut, is a great deal. Sign the contract and get back to what you should be doing. As a side note 85% of teachers voted for the strike - that gives an indication of democrats vs. republicans in the system.

Union Employees Need to know
There are plenty of Qualified, Educated, Unemployed,
Willing to Work for the same $ or even less $

At the end of the day, it looks like a strike will happen!! Why wait until November 8th ..(no amount of meetings are going to change anything at this point) Let the teachers strike, give the kids a few days off and get the subs into the classrooms!!.

It will all come down to a compromise

Please read the announcement on the district website: https://www.geneva304.org/PDF/News%20Releases/2012_10.17_Board_of_Education_authorizes_final_offer_to_GEA.pdf

It is disheartening to the members of the Board of Education that the GEA has chosen this route, as the Board has remained steadfast in its commitment to negotiating in good faith and coming to a fair and reasonable agreement. “These are unprecedented economic times,” said Board President Mark Grosso. “Given the economic uncertainty that faces our School District and our community, the Board of Education has asked all employee groups to forego certain pay raises. Our administrators and all other nonteaching personnel have done so. The Board believes that it is only fair that teachers share the load and forego one pay raise.”

This is insight as to the impasse. BOE please stay strong. It is only fair. For all of you that agree with the fair approach please write the BOE.

The Union Greenshirts currently are being overpaid by about 50% in total compensation by Geneva’s taxpaying families and households.
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/10/public-schools-pay-teachers-50-percent-above-market-heritage-analysis-finds. Their salaries only constitute about 50-70% of the total value in compensation they receive for each partial year of work. A Union Greenshirt receiving a salary of $ 100,000 per partial year is actually receiving total compensation worth closer to $ 200,000 per partial year. A salary of $50,000 computes to total compensation worth closer to $ 100,000.

When the average “full-career” (i.e., 33 partial years, equivalent to 25 twelve-month years) Union Greenshirt retires, which for the last 6 years in Geneva has been at age 59, their average initial pension amount has been $ 83,866 per year, which by Illinois law increases by a compounded 3% per year. During the following 21 years of life expectancy, while the annual pension amount doubles, the retiree receives $ 2.3 million in pension, primarily paid by the Illinois income taxpayers.
This $ 2.3 million debt for each Union Greenshirt that works a “full career” is piled on the backs of Geneva’s children, and ripped out of their future hopes and dreams. The Illinois income taxes they will pay as adults will inevitably be increased substantially.

This child fiscal abuse is the civil rights issue of our time.

"The Patch" in its video posted here, left off a few important speaker comments. I have uploaded some additional public comments that will present a more complete perspective on the range of comments made at last nights school board meeting.

I dropped my son off today for a study session at the GMS. He had to walk around the "greedshirts" [sic] to get into the school. As he was approaching the group, he turned to me as I was pulling away with a most concerned look on his face. I was disappointed to see these teachers feeling it necessary to make this display, all the while doing this "for the children". I say go on strike, in fact, stay on strike for the rest of the school year. Those teachers who can't be replaced by qualified subs can be replaced by qualified and enthusiastic teachers who have applied and have already been screened by District 304 in the past and are ready, willing, and able to get to work. My guess is many would be more than thrilled to do so at an equal or lesser salary. A most disconcerting fact, as pointed out by Marsha and Lynda, is what has become perhaps irreparable damage to the long-standing excellent relationship between the School Board and the teachers and the parents and the teachers. I currently work in a position in the same sector that I have been in my entire life. My current pay check is $400 less a month than it was two years ago due to the downturn in the economy and downsizing at a prior job. I fear the voices of the Union may not be accurately portraying all of the details to the teachers and I do hope this becomes clear should they have to publish demands.

Tom--That's a pretty insensitive ignorant comment to Melissa about what she and her son observed this morning. If that was me and my kid I'd probably confront the green shirts and tell them it was inappropriate to bring this to the school and confront the kids with this. But that's me. I think Melissa was trying to be a supportive protective parent. Back off teachers. Your green shirts are ticking people off and drawing negative attention. You should be smart enough to figure that out by now.

Real classy, Tom. What a nice attitude you have. Why is it that most of the pro-increase posters on this site are the cruelest and quickest to be so ugly? That's really telling. Fortune doesn't fit you very well...how about MISFortune. You're so quick to judge that you probably just knocked a pretty intelligent kid who fears that his education is suffering because of all this nonsense. The teachers should be INSIDE preparing for the day @ 8:00 A.M., not wasting time in the parking lot pumping each other up..."for the children". Who else is this display for since it's before school? Further, if they are so busy grading papers and not able to watch the Bear's game that one teacher spoke of at the BOE meeting, then they should probably use their "work" time before school working. Okay, Misfotune...give it to me...I'm ready for the name calling to begin...or maybe I should just man up?

Tom, I certainly hope you are not a teacher as many of your comments imply. That's not the attitude I want instilled in my children! By the way, I noticed that you have been posting all day-on school time?

Tom:
Maybe that kid could use a little escort. Maybe somebody, say, twice your size. And maybe you and your green shirt move briskly out of the way? Or maybe YOU man up tough guy.

IF the child was apprehensive passing past a group of teachers, it may have been a result of being taught to fear them. Since Melissa also resorted to name-calling in her post, I’ll assume this is the case.

Okay - legitimate question here. If ou watch the video on this page, the second gentleman to speak talks about not wanting to eliminate sports, arts or programs for special needs students. I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment.

But isn't the current negotiation just about the compensation package for the teacher's union? Arts, sports and special needs programs aren't on the table right?

In fact, the more I thought about it, doesn't it stand to reason that if we increase the teacher salary/benefits package - that LESS money will be available for arts/sports/special needs?

IF the child was apprehensive passing a group of teachers, it may have been a result of intimidation, strident comment or the fear people who aren't what they pretend to be. Then again it could be the parents fault. Yeah, probably best you assume it's the parents fault Dave.

Stop the madness. There have been no new facts or comments made in a long time. People are repeating the same things over and over just saying them slower and louder. Delaying a decison further will only contribute to more ill will. I was elected to 2 terms as an alderman in Geneva and understand the Board gets only one vote and it comes in a whole number not a fraction. That is what makes the responsibility so difficult. If this was put to a referendum I know which way it would go. Stop the debate and call the question

Jim Radecki

My opinion, the voters would not support an increase with expenditures including salaries if it were put to a referndum. I have no opinion as to wether or not the Board would side with public sentiment or not. Maybe the Board and Union should seek binding arbitration with the voters acting as the mediator through referendum. That requires they both acknowledge the voters know what is best. Why not?

Tom Fortune wrote:
12:09 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
But now administrators don't have to pay 9.4% towards their retirement. The Board will pay it for them.

I will make you a deal, if Tom or anyone else can prove in writing that the district pays the 9.4% towards administrators retirement I will never post on the Patch again. Come on Tom, you have challenged me on the numbers I have presented and I always answer the challenge. It is your turn to prove what you said is true. There is no gray area on this one, what you said is either true or false. Time for you to "man up" Tom.

Yo Tom, come on we are waiting for you to show proof that the district (taxpayers) pay the 9.4% toward the administrators retirement.
Time to man up, is what you said right or wrong? Do you owe the district, administrators and taxpayers an apology? You said it on two different comments so surely you have proof, right?

The Geneva teachers have opened a can of worms with their demands. Until this year, I’ve pretty much remained in the dark about teachers’ salaries/benefits, as I’m sure a lot of residents are. Keeping the pubic dumb is a great strategy for the union and its supporters. FOR EXAMPLE: 100% employer paid healthcare?! Are you kidding? If they want to be on par with private industry, then sharing the cost of the healthcare premium is a great first step! Even 10-15 years ago, I was paying a healthy share of my premium, and I worked for Fortune 50 companies. Expecting the taxpayers of District 304 to foot the healthcare bill for teachers is absurd!! The whole system needs reform! Wake up Teachers!

Lisa,
The only teachers who have 100% of their premiums covered by the district are individuals who choose the "HMO single coverage". Teachers who want family coverage must pay a monthly premium that varies from between $300-$700 a month depending on whether they want an HMO or PPO that requires "out of pocket" expenses by the employee. Of course the district does not pay any health insurance costs for those teachers who are covered under a spouses insurance from another employer. The district does offer those teachers up to $450 for the year, if they choose to use it, for eye examinations and other health related expenses. It would be interesting to see how many teachers in the district are actually receiving Single HMO (100% premium coverage) vs. HMO/PPO family coverage and Those covered by their spouses insurance.