To "Seeing Double",

Teachers are on a 186 day contract that is divided into 12 equal monthly payments. In the past Teachers would receive their last payment on the last banking day of August, and then the first payment on the new conract would be received on the last banking day of September. Due to a change in IRS regulations this year and this year only the teachers did receive the last payment from last years contract, and the first payment of this years contract in the same month. That is why the school district had to make those payments.

The levy will be voted in..so why fight it. If it isn't, it will be in the next election, or the next election, or some special election..or they will just add it. I have seen it since the 80's..vote for the lottery for the children, vote in this tax, and this levy, we are in dire staits..we need this tax and that tax...and the superintendent got a raise and a big car allownce, but thats beside the point, we need money or your kids will get horrible schools. Every time it is the same thing..we just need this one tax and your kids will have a great future.

And I can tell you just what the future holds from what I have seen over the last 30 years. Why is downtown dead?? Need a new hospital, industrial park, new mall, movie theatre, new anything....for god sakes build it out north and east.Move the Casino as far away up the river as you can to a new place, heck..move the license bureau out to the mall. The downtown can have some bars..or some Brazilian Steak joint. What..you think any of these new schools we need desperately will be built near where the 2 that were closed? Think the south end or midtown will get a nice shiny new school? Nah...you can just cram your kids in the old schools that are left..anything new will go east.I know..I am crazy. But wait about 5 years and tell me how crazy I am. Now get out there and vote for that levy.

I sure wish people in this community would get the facts straight before they open it to insert the foot....I am employed by the school district and let me assure you we DID NOT, I repeat DID NOT get a double paycheck in August and would be more than happy to post proof to what I am saying on the front page of this paper...Yes, we got 2 checks in that month, but those 2 checks were exactly what Old Mac above me says..They were salaries earned already that were broken down into 2 checks and we were getting paid...We DID NOT get any more money that last year ( we are in a salry freeze thanks to the levy) and we only got what we had worked for and earned...It was the way the checks were divided over the 12 months as to why we got an extra one earlier than later...We earned it from last year and was going to get it sometime...So, before people call in and say things that are not true, please get your facts straight...One thing I can assure you is that if you saw my checks rather it be 1, 2 or 3, you would be ashamed at my salary and how this city and many citizens does not value what I do daily in our education system..Thank goodness I do it for the love of the children...

rk92559,
I agree with you you will not be seeing the new school biult any where near where the ones that closedare and you will not see Hyde,Humbolt,Neely getting replaced you will see a new shiny school in the northeast before the rest get even though there is not school in the midtown area and they have overcrowded Hyde and Parkway school.Not to mention the schools overcrowded by the webster and NCLB sanction transfers.Wy to go St Joseph School board and admin.You made this damn mess now clean it up the correct way

It gets me how unappreciated people feel because they think for whatever reason they deserve a bigger paycheck. And if something is not done right its someone's fault besides the person who is underpaid or it is because of being underpaid.
I apply for a job. I'm told upfront what it pay's. I take the job or look for a different one. I don't complain that it doesn't pay enough. Teachers police officer's firefighter's and everyone else the job pays what it pays if it was enough when you took the job its enough now. Quit complaining and either go somewhere else or do your job there are many people unemployed right now and I bet those jobs look really good to them.

Blaming teachers for their paychecks is comparable to people on here against the levy being accused of not caring about thier kids education, and being idiots for not voting for it. The people promoting it are all good folks, and any group opposing it are all bad, outsiders, idiots, child haters. Kind of reminds you of Obama supporters.

Yes, you do know what you are getting paid when you get a job, but have you ever heard of pay increases due to rise of cost of living, or increases due to job performances????...employees are also promised those at HIRE DATE its called salary steps, then for budget reasons there are salary freezes and that promise is gone...once again each employer and the way they run is different so get the facts before inserting foot...and by the way the unemployed would rather get unemployment or welfare than work the work I do daily and the stuff I put up with from an un-appreciative community of parents...believe me they would love to keep their welfare and unemplyment checks...if you read my post i never once complained about my pay, as I am not in it for the money and if you want to research my previously posts i have said that for years...i was saying others would be ashamed if they saw what some of us were paid...just like i am ashamed and sad as to how little we pay our police and fire depts...as far as blame goes, all i am saying is we were told as a district that there would be no raises or salary step increases due to the levy fail..i am saying what i was told, not placing false blame

Three of these calls are against the levy/administation. Doesn't look to good for the task force/GOF from what I can tell.

noneya,
Really I feel you pain and I realize what you all that work for the district is going threough.But all of the blame is not on the public your employer has their fair share of the blame as well in their actions toward the public.Maybe all employees of the district should tell their employer that they neeed to be more open,onest and communicate wit hthe public and it may get them a little further in getting what they need.In return this will also provide for the employees of the district.But on the other hand this levy does nothing to give you all back raises and any job security it is not the right amount for the long term of the schools. You r employer has said with this levy they will still in a few years be a distressed district.We will vote no not because of the district employees we think the local sachool staffs do a great job but the people downtown areclueless to what is happening around them and they do not have their employees,childre, family;s and the teachers best interest at heart.They need to fight for what is needed for the school and involve the community in this plan and do it themselves without outside interest groups such as the TF OR OCOF group.

Yes everyone deserves cost of living raises. Not sure that it would be an accurate evaluation of performance but the map scores kind of did not make it in the majority of our schools. Maybe if the school board would be honest and stop the double talk the tax might have passed .

thank you mm, you are exactly right in everything you said and helter i agree with you on the map scores, also let me tell you that the work i do daily with kids has nothing to do with test scores...i am not a teacher...and in that defense i have seen the best teachers have classes with low test scores and mainly that is due to the fact that once that child leaves school and goes home there is no teaching going on and you cannot perform miracles in some children between 8-3...test scores on a national average coinceide with social economical class and parent involvement and if you look at where scores were low you will see exactly what i mean in this town also..

Keep it up. Saying that it is your opinion does NOT excuse your behavior since you have been told by Sarah that ACE is not a contributor or a supporter of the forever tax group. By the way, keep in mind you have publicly said on this site that you know Sarah is part of ACE.

The damage comes from you knowingly posting lies.

Apple, I told you why ACE doesn't back the citizens against forever tax. Our group has always argued for the necessity of appropriate and PERMANENT funding for the schools.

I voted NO!!! against the school tax Levey and I will tell you why, All though I have 3 granddaughters in the SJPSD, " I CAN NOT AFFORD MORE TAXES" And I cant understand "WHAT PART OF NO!"Do these people NOT understand, We as a voting block said NO once.
Not ever in my or my granddaughters life time will they see the changes that the SJPSD promises, Be cause that's all they are "EMPTY PROMISES" Unless you try and scare us and make threats, it didn't work last time and it wont this time. When I started high school here in 1976, it was unheard of in Kansas City Mo to pay the School District to enroll your child in a "PUBLIC SCHOOL" doesn't any one believe that being taxed once is enough?
We as a public are taxed to death, The SJPSD Wants to save some money "STOP MAILING ME YOUR PLEAS AND CALLING ME 4-5 TIME A WEEK," Stop these things and you will save money,
I voted "NO last year and I voted "NO" by absentee in late September, Get the picture " NO MEANS MO!!!!!!!"

Maybe they should just do away with school taxes altogether, quit funding schools at the state level, do away with the gasoline taxes and other road funding and let people start paying as they go. If you use it you pay, if you don't use it you don't pay. Of course your shipping costs will go up. The roads will be far worse, and yes it is possible. And many of your kids won't get to go to school, since you will not be able to afford your share.

Please vote "YES" on the Levy for the children and the teachers.

If you are mad at the board members, then don't re-elect them. If you are mad at the administration, then make sure you support a board member next time who will be more agressive with the administration.

I loved my job with the school district for 32 years. But I must admit I am not happy with the school board or the administrators. BECAUSE OF MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR LAST MARCH, I have been taken off the substitute list by the superintendent, I have had a principl tell her staff that I can't come into her building, some teachers, who really don't know me, were upset with me for asking to freeze their salaries and I have had to make board members speak to me when I see them in local stores. Giving your heartful opinion does not work in St. Joseph so let this be a warning to other people. This is very sad to me BUT, again! please VOTE YES for our children and the teachers, who work so hard to make a difference. I want the best for my grandchildren and I pray that this will happen.

MorganHawman,
This is just crazy that the district would do this to you after 32 years. Just goes to show me how much they care about their staff.And it almost seam as if whatever you said in your letter made Mrs Smith mad and she is retaliating toward you.These are the exact reason Mrs Smith must be removed from her position and we do not support her.We cannot support this levy MorganHawman because of the admin and board and the fact this levy is not the right levy to address the financial needs of our schools.The district will be fine for the next 2 years and I am sure we will have a couple of new board members and some personal changes and they will work with the community for a levy that is right.I do not know what your letter to the editor said and why it made them mad but I am sorry that after all of those years this was done to you.

MorganHawman,
I understand how you feel about the children and teachers BUT.....do we really trust the administrators? Have they made good dicisions for kids? I think that too many changes in the administration happened at the same time. Too many new people making decisions. I really don't believe that they are going to let any community make plans for the school district.

I also believe what you said about voting for board members who will be agressive. I believe that if this levy doesn't pass this time, the superintendent needs to start cleaning out her desk. She is hiding from the public this time, but we all still remember how she acted when the levy didn't pass last time. Not professional! Sorry to hear about your letter causing you grief. I do remember reading it and I thought it was very good. Remember what goes around, comes around!

MorganHawman,
I just went back and found your letter and read it.I found it to right on the mark and the district should have listened to some of your opions for the betterment of the district.But they have their own agendas and the public is not on their agenda.I find it very apoling that they would do this to you for writting this letter.Just goes to prove to me more why I do not respect Mrs Smith in her position and think she should be removed fom her position.I also believe you should be if you want reinstated for subsitute teacher in all of the schools.This is just not right what Smith has done to you after 32 years.It is about time someone puts a lock on her office and sends her packing.These are the type of things that hurt our school and make people have no trust in these people.I cannot believe she retaliated toward you in this manner.

apple do you buy things at the store without knowing what it costs you? I don't . Might be that someone should tell us how much a .63 cent levy will cost us.

mm1967
My blog on here was not to show my resentment to the school district administrators but to ask people to VOTE YES for the children. Then everyone should be a watch dog for the administration and the board. Don't vote "no" because of them. Just change what you don't like. That is what I am going to do!
I don't want to work for the school district again. I am sad because I loved the kids in the libraries and SJSD got their money's worth from me.....unlike some of the subs I have run into in the schools. This too shall pass just like the levy......I hope!

My main job now is to work with girls who can't afford a formal dress for the prom, ROTC Ball or any event that they need a formal. "Cinderell's Closet!" I really appreciate the donations for slightly worn dresses and new ones from our community. Our community is a great place to live and raise your family.

Oh, and to the person who said, at the SJSD Retired Teachers Meeting, the people that blog on here must not have a life. Well, sorry to let you know...........I do and it is good!

morganhawman,,,,i know who you are and you know who i am very well...if you read my posts you will figure it out...you were a GREAT sub( i know first hand), you do great for this community and the girls in it and I will do my part to make sure that your grandkids get the best education as well as all others in this district...i just hope things go good at the vote next month and thanks for your support...dont forget me at cinderellas closet time, i want to do my part...

I will vote a resounding NO as long as Melody Smith is in charge. That woman is running our school district into the ground, and I refuse to volunteer any more of my money to that arrogant, snooty woman.

where is cinderells closet and how can a person donate.