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Third Eye wrote on Nov 17, 2009 5:48 PM:

" River runner; so you are saying, correct me if I am wrong, that you are supporting the status quo. In my line of work that could get someone killed. If there is a problem we solve it. Supporting the override, IMHO, is just supporting the way things have always been.

I think we can both agree that funding is broken, teachers do a fantastic job and our student's deserve the very best in education.

I believe we need to make a stand at the district level to show the public that we are serious about budget cuts. We can gain public support by reducing an administrator or two and save two to four teaching positions. Teaching is where the public sees the rubber meet the road. We have an "Assistant Superintendent", necessary? Three assisistant pricipals at the High School, necessary?

Have a plan for the public. Right now we don't see it. We can't support it. You have to remember some people are struggling to make ends meet and any extra income right now comes in handy to buy groceries or gasoline. Have some compassion for the tax payer and in the end they will support you. "




riverruner wrote on Nov 15, 2009 1:34 PM:

" Ok Third Eye, to my knowledge ALL district administrators are on a pay freeze. As are all the other district staff. Of course the public has the right to know what public employees make. I also fully understand the difference between the corporate world and public education. I would love to see public education funded differently and I communicate that to our legislators every chance I get. However, the funding for education we have right now is all there is and it is not likely to change anytime soon so I will continue to support the override. Oh, and as for bottom line…educators have a bottom line which is a good, well rounded education for our children…they have to meet THAT bottom line regardless of funding.
Let me ask you Third Eye, do you see any value to K-12 education in particular? How about police and firefighters? Do any of these institutions or the people who build careers as educators, police officers, etc provide any value to their communities? I guess the question is: do you see any value in public goods such as education or police, or do you think ALL services should be private? "




Third Eye wrote on Nov 13, 2009 11:05 AM:

" riverrunner; In the corporate world businesses are expected to meet the bottom-line. (Bail-outs not withstanding). The corporate (free-market)world also does not rely on tax money to fund business ventures but on the strength of performance, supply and demand and money management.

The tax payer has a right to know and to control the adminstration pay levels. Whether they want to or not is another question.

The current funding model for public education is broken. I suggest you focus your efforts into fixing it rather than electing officials and attempting to have another election on a dead issue.

By the way you said that the "vast-majority" of adminstrators are on a pay freeze...care to elaborate on who is NOT frozen? "




riverruner wrote on Nov 13, 2009 6:42 AM:

" Hang in there "can't take it". There is a committed group in this community who value what you do and who will give voters another opportunity to support the people who educate Havasu's children and grandchildren. You are valued by the vast majority of us. "




Can't take it wrote on Nov 12, 2009 7:46 PM:

" No Bobo, I am not going to quit my job. I am going to continue educating the community's kids... it is my profession. My job is no more secure than yours. AZ legislature got rid of tenure last year. The district cut many teachers last year and do the same this year. I don't know why you have the hostility you do for schools? We work very hard and a part of the community just like you. "




riverruner wrote on Nov 12, 2009 6:31 PM:

" Well in case anyone cares-the vast majority of the administrators in the district have been on a salary freeze for the last two years and probably will be for the next two to three years. So many people like to say education should adopt a “Business Model”. Really? In the corporate world management can make up to 24 times labor. While it may feel good to single out administrators, the real answer is to elect legislators who value education enough to provide adequate and stable funding so the district can pay teachers and support staff what they deserve. "




riverruner wrote on Nov 12, 2009 6:19 PM:

" Well bobo now I understand the value you must place on education. Real job indeed; I suppose you think the same of firefighters and police. The value of education and educators is the central issue in these overrides. I wonder when you last visited a classroom and saw for yourself what happens in today’s classroom. I would offer the observation that just because you once went to school you don’t necessarily understand the demands of the job today.
As for secure jobs; just wait until the district has to absorb the massive budget cuts coming from the state. Teachers will lose their jobs, and a tremendous amount of purchasing power will be lost to the community. And before you start in on administration I also would lay you odds you could fire every administrator in the district and still not come close to making up what the loss of the override and state funding will require. But then who would keep an eye on all those pampered teachers? "




riverruner wrote on Nov 12, 2009 3:08 PM:

" Well, when you only have the money for a very limited number of security staff making them mobile allows them to cover a very large campus.
As to the living within their means issue: That is exactly what I see the district trying to do every year. The problem is the state continues to reduce those means every year. Teaching sometimes seems to be the only profession where professionals are expected to maintain a very high level of performance with ever decreasing means.
It schools even had consistent funding it would be a huge help; instead they get LESS each year from our legislature, are required to do more with ever less, then attacked for daring to ask for decent resources. "




Third Eye wrote on Nov 12, 2009 2:10 PM:

" Can Administrators take a pay cut?

1. Assistant Principal 1st year, MA:
$56,399
2. Elementary Principal, 1st year, MA:
$58,399
3. High School Principal, 1st year, MA: $64,399
4. Middle School Principal, 1st year, MA: $61,399
5. District Level Director, 1st year, MA: $67,158
6. Teacher, 1st year, BA/BS,
$30,500, MA 1st year, $32,750

These numbers came from the district website and are viewable by the public. You decide if someone is overpaid. "




bobo wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:49 PM:

" To: "Can't take it", does this mean you are going to help us with the District's finances by quitting your secure teacher's job and going out in the business world and applying for a real job?
Oh, that's right, THERE ARE NO JOBS! "




bobo wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:39 PM:

" Well, if the majority of the board think you are not taxed enough, like this story states, vote the bums out. Let's get a board that will demand more for less from District Administrators, kind of like in the real world. "




schoolgrades wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:12 AM:

" No one has disagreed that the school needs money; it is the wasteful spending. I noticed no one mention the lack of books for students or the luxury bus at the High School. How about the jucuzzi at Thunderbolt when they first built it from the override to build more schools. Wouldn't the guards see and hear better on foot. Fantastic if the kids raised the money to pay for the spectacular graduation. Seems to me if they can raise that much money maybe they can leave the school in better condition than they left it if they want to be so passionate about their wants. I suggest they try to raise the money to replace the track and then put "Class of 2010" on it to show how proud they are and what a great class they were. At our school in the '70's we raised enough money to pay for a new gym!!! "




r2sweet99 wrote on Nov 12, 2009 3:20 AM:

" Tax payers Money better spent at the Bluewater.... "




Can't take it wrote on Nov 11, 2009 12:04 PM:

" It is enough of the nonsense. FYI, the school district paid nothing for graduation. Student government students fund raised money to pay for it all. Don't you want security guards to ensure that students are safe at the high school and not smoking or doing drugs like they do at other schools. That money does not come from the override either, it comes from student parking permits, which are $10 per year...compared to $50 in the Valley, 15 years ago when I graduated. Really..assistants for assistants??? Not sure what school you're looking at, but that isn't happening anywhere my kids go.

There can be no administrator pay cuts. Administrators barely make more than teachers do. I don't know when you went to school, but principals do not do nothing. In fact, it is the opposite. They are the busiest people at school. Other schools LHHS's size have two more principals that LHHS does. Maybe Walmart should fire its managers, or constructions jobs should have no foreman.

Unfortunately for schools, we don't charge children to attend, we depend on the legislature and tax payers to support us. I dislike taxes as much as the next person, but I'd much rather be paying taxes for something in my community, than shipping them off to Phoenix or DC with no return.

Unfortunately, every item at school doesn't have a label of who paid for it or how much it cost, but maybe those of you who doubt should start asking, you might be surprised.

And yes, as a teacher I do love kids, but I like to be able to pay my mortgage and not live in poverty either. I never expected to be rich, but I didn't expect to qualify for food stamps either. "




schoolgrades wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:07 AM:

" Finally after living 21yrs in Havasu I see people are starting to wake up and question the district on what they are spending money on. Remember they threaten that if the last over-ride did not pass they were going to cut out sports. Well parents still had to pay $250 for each student to participate. Which I think would of been OK if the over-ride did not pass, but you didn't keep your promise not to charge if you got the money. Instead the High School purchased a luxury bus for the football team. And here my daughter who was at the Middle School at the time did not have a book for one of her classes and we were told the school couldn't afford enough books for all the students.

When the over-ride passed I saw things like security guards getting golf carts, wrought iron fences going up, new cross walk signs, and paint on bricks which technically you don't even have to paint. Hiring assistants to the assistants. Why are we paying for electricity for an employee to keep her reptiles at the High School. Tell me how did any of this stuff improved the quality of our students education. And yes I think parents should be responsible for some of the costs of education outside of what is required.
What is the school doing with the profits it makes from selling the T-shirts. (Those of us who have worked retail know they only cost any where from 50 cents to a dollar wholesale.)Also I would like to know how much last years graduation cost with the huge TV screen that was about 30 feet tall and strobe lights. I have been to a lot of events and have never seen anything as spectacular as that. To bad we all can't buy our wish lists, but have to live within our means. "




n2havasu09 wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:25 AM:

" I don't have children going to school, but my husband is a teacher (not for LHUSD though), so I know what kind of politics go on at levels higher than what teachers (and voters) get a say in.

How about the school administrator's take a pay cut? They all claim it's for the love of the children and education they do their jobs, so why not prove it! Congress demanded the CEO's of Ford, GM, and Chrysler do the same. You wouldn't give your child their allowance for failing to clean their room would you? Why does this type of common sense logic go right out the window when we're talking about six-figure salaries?

Cutting teachers is not the answer to budget problems. Many of the posters on here have made valid points about too many "assistants to assistants" and the fact that enrollment is down. Taking away teachers is just going to force some parents to look at the situation, and take their kid somewhere else like a charter school or home school! Then, there goes even MORE money out of their budget! It will be a never-ending cycle if that's the way these types of problems will be handled. Be proactive, not reactive. Isn't that a cornerstone we teach our children to prepare them for the real world? Heed your own advice! "




Arliss wrote on Nov 7, 2009 11:16 AM:

" Enrollment is down since 2005, so why is it that they still need more money if there are less students?

Don't these people plan at all?
It did not occur to them at all that this vote might not go the way they wanted?

If the State is shortchanging the schools here, then what good are our local State Reps and Senators?
Don't you think that we should be electing people who care about this situation?
What good did Trish Groe do for our schools all those years she was elected and re-elected?

Are you getting my point? "




Dusan wrote on Nov 7, 2009 1:12 AM:

" I am sure glad it failed,,I see the way money is spent/wasted some simple management and a little more work,,,You dont always get what you want,,,But you already GOT WHAT YOU NEED,,, Just charge a recovery fee That way the people that had the child has to pay at least part of the cost,,,They should have to pay it all,,Its not my kid "




anniegirl wrote on Nov 6, 2009 2:21 PM:

" I must agree with Havasures and bring up this point. Everyone is saying that taxpayers did vote against the students and teachers. I still say this is false. The proof that our public opinion is tired of the rhetoric brought to us by the district (and yes I have attended board meetings and asked questions about funding) can be proven by the simple statement: If the Administration had been doing their job - then why must they "scramble" to make ends meet with the current funding?" Didn't they even make a contigent plan in case the overrides did not make it? Isn't that their job? Once again, for those that think this override was against the teachers and students - no it was not. Unfortunately to get the Administration's attention - they were caught in the middle. I don't see public opinion being the cause of that. Oh and by the way - I am a teacher also and am suffering like the rest. "




tekkie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:25 PM:

" It was a vote AGAINST teachers and students. Who do you think will be affected by this?

Voting no doesn't tell the school district anything - going to board meetings and demanding to know what is being spent where would be more help than voting no.

PLUS the majority of voters do not know that certain amounts of money can only be spent on certain items. You can't take money from one account to pay for something in another account. People see this going on and think they've got plenty of money, but you don't know the facts. Go to the board meetings and ask for the facts.

ASK! "




anniegirl wrote on Nov 5, 2009 5:46 PM:

" HOW DARE THE ADMINISTRATION to place the failure of their performance in the lap of the public. Did it every occur to you (the Administration) that maybe the public is "scoring" your peformance and quite frankly you received a "F?" Did it occur to you that this override is not about the lack of concern for our educational system or our children but I lack of confidence in your administering ability? The original override had nothing to do with our kids except in Kindergarten and High School involved extra-curricular activities. This was scheduled for a short 4 year duration only. You are claiming you have made tremendous improvement on the quality of education and are taking the "glory" in the marked improvement of our student's scores. Then how can you justify your comment that the lack of funds will reflect directly on the quality of education when you already short-changed our teachers? You not only forced them to accept a pay cut and lock the support staff's salary but now are saying these professionals will not be able to do their job? You already made it impossible and with increased test scores - they are doing their jobs despite the odds and PERFORMING WELL without your aid!Why not try taking a realistic view and cut Administration's salaries? Have you helped our teachers and support staff directly? Do you call parents each week to find out your performance scores? Maybe send out questionnaires to see what the public thinks of you rather than putting everything on the teachers? Or are you only trained to "oversee" and "judge" without being subjected to the same scrutiny and treatment you have given our teachers and support staff? Shame on you for making it seem the people of Lake Havasu don't care about our childredn. We do. "




lifer wrote on Nov 5, 2009 3:44 PM:

" It amazes me that people seem to ignore the fact, or just don't care, that the state views our kids as worth less than those in other areas. The funding we receive from the state is less than that of most other districts in the state, because of the state's unfair funding formula. It's not the district not living within it's means, it's the state giving us smaller means than most other places. The other communities that receive the same minimum amount we do, have overrides in place. "




LHCMOM3 wrote on Nov 5, 2009 10:25 AM:

" Here is my suggestion: Get rid of all the Assistant Principals at the High School. When I was in school we had a Principal & a Vice Principal that was it, and most of the time the Principal walked around and did nothing while the Assistant Principal did all the work. Now we have Assistant Principal to the Principal and Assistant Principal to the Vice Principal. Gezz!! The High School has what 4 principals (that I know of- there could be more)- and by the way you never can get a hold of any of them. So get rid of all of them but 2. Also why does everyone at the High School have a secretary- or better yet how about at the district office. There are just way to many secretaries & assistants (to someone)- it is time to clean them out. LEAVE OUR TEACHERS ALONE. Start higher up get rid of the people that are not needed. My kids need their teachers- they don't need secreteries or assistants. "




ridiculous wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:13 AM:

" The school district DOES live within it's budget - sadly, that budget is inadequately small to provide the best education possible for our youth... The state of Arizona doesn't care about the small communities, it cares about Phoenix. The Federal Government doesn't care about small communities, it only cares about densely populated areas too... So, once upon a time, our school district got this silly notion that perhaps the people who live and work in Lake Havasu City would care about Lake Havasu City; and they answered with an astounding, "nope. I don't care." It's sad how little significance our society places on education... Very sad. "




kayakliz wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:37 AM:

" Basically the reason why I feel the vote was no is because the district has plenty of money. They just do not know now to spend it properly. There is so much waste and beaurocracy in the school system as well as the government in general. Our country spends more per student than any industrialized nation, yet our education is the lowest. Something is wrong and adding more money to the school system isn't giving better results. Use the money wisely and there will be plenty of money for everyone. "




havasures wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:45 AM:

" Gee...Jo Navaretta you haven't really thought about it too much about it at this point?! You should have been preparing for the possibility of the override failing all along. Instead it is the staff and students who now get to stress about what happens next; do I have a job, is my favorite teacher going to be let go, what happens to my class? You really haven't thought about it too much at this point, that seems to be the case with the school board...just not thinking! As for Malay's comment that is deeply shocking. You are not even willing to keep fighting for the thing you say the district so desperately needs?! It sounds to me now that you are on the PERO program you could really care less about what happens to the district. You can walk at any time and leave everyone else to clean up the mess. Yes, elections do cost money to have items on the ballot, but if that is less costly than the one MILLION dollars you have to cut it seems to me that it would be the logical choice. "




A Havasu Resident wrote on Nov 4, 2009 11:24 PM:

" Teachers should not hang thier heads. The vote was not a vote for or against teachers. It was about the community sending a message to the district staff telling them they are tired of the district not living within the means provided by the state! I am sure that the teachers have to find a way to live with the meager pay provided for the job they have chosen. It is just time the district learns to do the same thing.

As for continuing to put the issue on the ballot until the community finally votes for it. Shame on the governing board. It costs money to put an item on the ballot. Taxpayer money! The taxpayers have spoken. Time for the district to live within it's means like all the rest of us have to! "

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