en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1351881 Comments by 123jmc http://www.katu.com/politics/Creative-Advocacy-Network-proposed-portland-income-tax-sam-adams-jessica-jarratt-miller-157637225.html?clmob=y#IDComment375689108 If it is such a small amount of money...why can't they cut the salary of all PPS employee by $35? And if you make more than $50K a year, then you get a $70 cut. Why is that not an option? Thu, 7 Jun 2012 05:26:13 +0000 http://www.katu.com/politics/Creative-Advocacy-Network-proposed-portland-income-tax-sam-adams-jessica-jarratt-miller-157637225.html?clmob=y#IDComment375689108 http://www.katu.com/politics/Creative-Advocacy-Network-proposed-portland-income-tax-sam-adams-jessica-jarratt-miller-157637225.html?clmob=y#IDComment375687858 Yet, it seems like the public employees salaries and benefits have not eroded at the same rate as this "funding" and my middle class income. Wonder why that is? THAT is the reason that $35 is a real burden, it might as well be $3500. I think most of us are sick of the schools and other government agencies having their hands in my wallet just to take whatever they think they need! Thu, 7 Jun 2012 05:23:49 +0000 http://www.katu.com/politics/Creative-Advocacy-Network-proposed-portland-income-tax-sam-adams-jessica-jarratt-miller-157637225.html?clmob=y#IDComment375687858 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Beaverton-schools-face-cuts-344-job-cuts-as-budget-passes-157291545.html#IDComment374881320 ***Newsflash*** the public schools are in such sad state that my property value is already low. Good thing I live within walking distance of a couple of private schools (one of which I send my kids to). Wed, 6 Jun 2012 01:58:35 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Beaverton-schools-face-cuts-344-job-cuts-as-budget-passes-157291545.html#IDComment374881320 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Beaverton-schools-face-cuts-344-job-cuts-as-budget-passes-157291545.html#IDComment374879891 Could this be because Oregon sends its kids to school 10-15 days (now closer to 20 days) LESS per year than many other states. That is almost an entire month! I would hope with that stat, Oregon's spending would be dead last. Wed, 6 Jun 2012 01:55:04 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Beaverton-schools-face-cuts-344-job-cuts-as-budget-passes-157291545.html#IDComment374879891 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Reynolds-teachers-packing-up-for-strike-151791265.html#IDComment361902972 Wait! Breaking News! A teacher...in Oregon...at a PUBLIC school paying hundred's of dollars out of pocket each month for health insurance? Really? Where? Who? Are you sure that you are not talking about "Car" Insurance? The OEA would never allow that. Oh and I am pretty sure that union will pay insurance premiums and a per day stipend for striking. Now - can someone PLEASE answer me these 2 questions: 1)Why isn't illegal in this state for the teachers to strike? And when do we get to vote on that?? and 2) If teachers insist that they work 50+ hours 48 weeks per year, then why don't they stirke when the kids are NOT in school? In most Districts the kids are only actually at school 165 days per year? Thu, 17 May 2012 05:37:09 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Reynolds-teachers-packing-up-for-strike-151791265.html#IDComment361902972 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Gresham-Barlow-outlines-plan-if-teachers-strike-147862375.html?clmob=y#IDComment342263813 Interesting! So you get $100 a day? Get your insurance premiums paid for by the OEA? Have access to low interest loans? Wow there must be some strong and financially stable organization (OEA) behind this! If only we could get that kind of interest looking after our kids education and not teachers $70,000 a year salaries and administrators $150,000 a year salaries! Just sayin... Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:50:00 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Gresham-Barlow-outlines-plan-if-teachers-strike-147862375.html?clmob=y#IDComment342263813 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Parkrose-teachers-give-a-heads-up-to-school-district-officials-147245875.html#IDComment337845966 What you just described of your cuts and bigger workload is what just about what every other employee of any other company in any industry has faced. But the difference is that "teachers are there for the kids", so automatically it is assumed that your profession and your industry should be immune to what the rest of the country is going through. Prep time? I'd love prep time at my job. Teacher work days, the entire day off? I'd like at least one of those please! The other states that I have lived in, have funded their schools for way less per student AND the kids go to school 180 day per year AND they make up snow days. Why is it so different in Oregon? Something is not adding up and I'd like it for all the teachers to strike and maybe we can start over. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:03:54 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Parkrose-teachers-give-a-heads-up-to-school-district-officials-147245875.html#IDComment337845966 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/schools/468546-theres-no-fat-left-cut#IDComment337278164 I'm in the same boat...sending my kids to private school and amazed at how well they can educate my kid for 1/2 the cost...yeah yeah yeah, I know that they don't "have to" accept all the kids and the parents at private schools are soooo involved. But it is more than that. The teachers have jobs and yes, they love their jobs, but they also know they need to be really good at their jobs because if they are not, they will get fired! Just like in any profession ('cept public school teacher) The only way to get fired in a public school is to have sex with a student and I don't even think THAT gets you fired anymore! Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:35:03 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/schools/468546-theres-no-fat-left-cut#IDComment337278164 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/schools/468546-theres-no-fat-left-cut#IDComment337276005 "fat" chance....if they did that, then the public would realize the amazing benefits the staff gets for essentially being a part time employee! My husband works for a multi-billion dollar company and and our medical insurance has gone from $25 a month (for the whole family) to $400 a month for the whole family in the past 12 years. Wonder if the PPS benefits (or any public school benefits) have increased member cost that much in the same time frame. Doubt it! Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:29:37 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/schools/468546-theres-no-fat-left-cut#IDComment337276005 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/schools/468546-theres-no-fat-left-cut#IDComment337273198 By Golly! I think there is a slight chance that the Portland Tax Payers might get it right this time!! At least based on these comments, I think that people *might actually* realize that PPS is crying wolf, again, as they do EVERY YEAR. Then they put a tax measure on the ballot, the OEA (the most powerful teachers union in the nation) and the PAT (because why have only one union when you can have two?) throw a ton of money (from where?) to scare the public into voting yes for the poor sweet kids. Oh pluuusee! I'm willing to bet that there are more than just the 2 options to cutting the budget...you can't cut any more school days and you can't cut teacher staff. I'm not an accountant, but I am almost 100% positive that their budget has more than 2 line items. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:22:32 +0000 http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/schools/468546-theres-no-fat-left-cut#IDComment337273198 http://www.katu.com/news/local/More-snow-Schools-close-power-goes-out-for-thousands-143805386.html?clmob=y#IDComment322167808 If the buses can't drive in the snow (?), then why are schools w/o bus service cancelled? Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:07:28 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/More-snow-Schools-close-power-goes-out-for-thousands-143805386.html?clmob=y#IDComment322167808 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138991516 I really really hope that people will finally see through all this BS and vote NO on any new tax measures for the schools. I've only lived in this state 5 years. I was talking to a friend of mine about this today and she has only lived in Oregon all her life. She said that every year it is like this, for as long as she can remember. She is 40 years old!! I asked her if she typically votes in favor of these increased tax measures and she said that she does because she doesn't know what else to do and she doesn't want to see the schools/kids suffer. Our elected people have the public completely DUPED and it has to STOP! Fri, 1 Apr 2011 02:25:55 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138991516 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138990878 Me? I went to both. I actually felt like I got an education at the private school and "passed along" at the public school. Believe it or not the public school that I went to was one of the wealthiest districts in the state of CT. When I was transferred to public school is when I stopped learning English and reading skills. True story! I did not have a single English teacher that taught actual English from 5th grade to Junior year in High school. I had to only apply at colleges that did not require an essay because I could not write one. Luckily I also got into one of the better rated colleges in MA but only because of my athletic background. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 02:21:50 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138990878 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138785809 Apples and Oranges are both fruits and they taste good, so there is some comparison, just like private school and public schools are both open during the day and educate kids. Agreed that private schools do not have the constraints that public schools have, but they also don't have the federal dollars that public schools get. How can a private school charge only $5,000 a year for tuition and still offer financial aid for families? The have a system that works, it is a very lean, community based system. Parents help a lot to make it work, but also staff works there because it is a good environment without excess politics and union stress. There is a lot to be said about an environment where people may make less money, but can function in a more autonomous and stress-free workplace. We can thank the public school administration and OEA for creating that for our teachers and staff at public school and passing it down to us taxpayers to sort out. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:44:30 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138785809 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138781169 They have more than enough money, they just need to learn how to spend it. I know this is not popular but staff need to contribute more to their medical care and retirement. I work for a large multibillion dollar corporation and I have to contribute thousands of dollars a year for my family's healthcare costs. Why does a part time employee contribute only a couple of hundred dollars a year? It makes no sense. They really need to get with the times. I get that education can be a hard job, but so is mine! Geesh! Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:14:33 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138781169 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138780049 Again, so happy that I have made the sacrifice to send my kids to private school. Next year is the third year that my son will have been enrolled and the school has not raised tuition 1 single cent. And yes, due to lower than expected enrollments they have made some very minor cuts, but still they are keeping the costs in line. TAKE A CLUE OEA!!! Oh and yes, Beaverton School district, is already putting a tax measure on the ballot for November and it is BIG. Let's finally VOTE NO on this one. Maybe more families will be able to send their kids to my son's private school so my son's school can restore some of their positions! Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:05:35 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/118965014.html#IDComment138780049 http://www.katu.com/news/local/116703564.html#IDComment130030522 Maybe before Sam "compares" Portland to Chicago...he should know that Chicago schools have closed 2 times in the last 12 years due to snow! Now that is a school district that is not messing around. I'm pretty sure that Portland cancelled school this winter because it was freezing one day. hmmmmm...... Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:47:35 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/116703564.html#IDComment130030522 http://www.katu.com/news/local/116703564.html#IDComment130030197 He's been soooo busy making "storm of the year" preparations. You know...4 inches is like EPIC here in Portland, the world is going to end for 24 whole hours!! ARGHAHARHHAHGH! Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:44:45 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/116703564.html#IDComment130030197 http://northeastportland.katu.com/content/how-safe-are-your-kids-gyms-daycare#IDComment122679886 good thing I can't afford a gym membership or the daycare at the gym....hahaha! Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:43:28 +0000 http://northeastportland.katu.com/content/how-safe-are-your-kids-gyms-daycare#IDComment122679886 http://hillsboro.katu.com/content/homeowner-shoots-wounds-home-invasion-suspect#IDComment102418160 I wonder what they mean by "Upper part" of his legs. Hopefully the criminal won't have use of something every important to him....might make prison VERY interesting. Seems like he deserved it. Good shot homeowner. Tue, 5 Oct 2010 05:21:37 +0000 http://hillsboro.katu.com/content/homeowner-shoots-wounds-home-invasion-suspect#IDComment102418160