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Letters, 1/1: LPS out of touch

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Thursday, Jan 01, 2009 - 12:07:02 am CST

The Dec. 17 article in the Lincoln Journal Star regarding pay raises for top executives of the Lincoln Public Schools (“Ed Board’s actions go beyond salary raises”) deserves another response. The pay raises approved by the Board of Education prove once again that Lincoln Public Schools continues to run amok and is out of touch with the Lincoln community, specifically, the homeowner and others who pay property taxes.

Just look at your tax statement. The tax money collected by Lincoln schools is about 63 cents of every tax dollar.

The school board spoke for all homeowners when it awarded outrageous sums of our money to these executives, which does nothing but enrich their already bloated compensation packages.

Story Photo

In addition to 4.5 percent increases for those who already make six-figure incomes, these folks get, among other perks, cell phone and laptop computer allowances and additional money deposited into their tax-deferred annuities.

The taxpaying public gets what it does not pay attention to, doesn’t it? There is nothing but empty seats at the school board meetings each month, and when we’re not listening, the board members give away our hard-earned money to people who don’t even have to ask.

Moreover, the board approved the package quickly this time on the first reading instead of waiting for the second reading early in the new year.

Does it make anybody wonder why they rushed a vote for this controversial issue? I applaud school board members Richard Meginnis and Kathy Danek for having the courage to represent the taxpayers with their “no” vote on the compensation package.

Stevan Worster, Lincoln

Teenage unemployment

Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr., “Immigration plan ignores reality” (LJS, Dec. 22), seems to think that the high wages unions demand prevent a humane and orderly system of guest workers entering our labor force.

Consider the news from labor economist Andrew Sum and his associates: “For the entire group of 16-20-year-olds, the presence of new immigrants in their state’s work force had a strong, statistically significant, negative impact on the likelihood that they will be employed. A 1 percentage-point increase in the share of new immigrants in the state’s work force will reduce the probability of employment of young adults by 2.1 percentage points. The effects of new immigrant workers are negative and statistically significant for each subgroup of young adults. … The size of the coefficient was highest for black men, implying they are the most adversely affected by new immigrant inflows.”

The next time we hear about teenagers out of work, think of that. The racial conflict implications are huge.

David McCreary, Lincoln

Thanks for native prairie

As we reflect on all sorts of governmental decisions during 2008, we need to thank County Commissioners Bernie Heier, Deb Schorr, Ray Stevens and Bob Workman for their votes to approve the resolution to vacate, with provisions, the dirt road on the east side of Spring Creek Prairie. This road split two beautiful tracts of tallgrass native prairie, a grassland almost gone from the landscape.

We are fortunate to have such a unique and attractive area in Lancaster County.

J. Douglas Campbell, Lincoln


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Nancy wrote on January 1, 2009 7:22 am:
" LPS Executives are obviously GREEDY people lacking moral character and ethical behavior. However, the board members who approved the raises should also be held accountable. I encourage the public to be more attentive to what's going on (attend meetings) and also to vote the board members who approved these raises off the board. Get rid of the good old boys who resemble career politicians (Prettyman) and get some real down to earth people on that board... "
Cole wrote on January 1, 2009 7:57 am:
" Our senator-elect already has a money scandal.
We're paying our school supt. a quarter-million per year.
Immigration policy contributes to racism.

Sounds dire, but take heart...

We're completely on top of the dirt road thing! Well, toss me a hanky and call Lee Greenwood. "
CS wrote on January 1, 2009 11:37 am:
" What scares me about you people is that if you don't have a job that requires that responsibility you are still trying to apply your economics to it. Unless you know what is required, how can you possibly decide what she SHOULD get paid? Soldiers get paid crap for the same reasons by the same people. "
Immigrants wrote on January 1, 2009 12:01 pm:
" After reading anti-immigrant posts on this blog over the past year, I now realize that (a) adult immigrants take all of our high paying jobs, (b) teen immigrants take all of our low paying jobs, and (c) all immigrants are a drain on our resources because none of them work or pay taxes. A remarkable accomplish for such a small minority of the population. "
Richard and Kathy wrote on January 1, 2009 12:25 pm:
" Your efforts may have been in vain THIS time, but we have your backs and we'll be looking for FAR more responsible board candidates in the future in the face of the coming depression. "
Tired wrote on January 1, 2009 1:11 pm:
" The LPS Superintendent makes more money than the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. And to think she was approved for this by way of deceiving the Board! I wish I had a cell phone account, a laptop account, a clothing allowance, and the continued use of a handicapped parking tag. Is this "The Good Life"? "
Josh wrote on January 1, 2009 1:21 pm:
" Gosh - I didn't get any raise this year, let alone 4.5%. I feel lucky to have a job. "
Cole wrote on January 1, 2009 2:53 pm:
" Really Nancy? Moral character? Ethical behavior? Lie, cheat, steal, kill? You should think a bit before making accusations like that. These people have families, sons, daughters, grandchildren... Have YOU ever asked for a raise? I'm disgusted by your rhetoric. "
KP wrote on January 1, 2009 4:07 pm:
" You elect people and have faith they have the sense to do what is right
for the paying taxpayers. However, the city of Lincoln has a reputation
of SNEEKING thru what the "click" wants. Even before things have a chance
to be voted on, so too many think, whats the point of wasting their time
going to meetings. Obviously what Lincoln has is highly educated school
board members that care less about the paying taxpayers and apparently
want to keep up with the Californians! The reports I've seen say, schools
spend between 40% to 50% of the property tax for schools in the nation, with an average of 45%. The city I lived in was 43%, and they have great
schools, not closing and rebuilding and remodeling constantly, plus all
kids were bussed. Also if your city and state officials refuse and/or
are very lax about building the city's industrial and business section,
as has been for 50 years, that leaves little opportunity to have a balanced tax levy thats not shoved onto the working, retired and stuggling citizens. Not even waiting for a second reading pretty much
tells the whole story of your "caring" GREEDY school board!!!!!! "
Pay scale wrote on January 1, 2009 6:07 pm:
" Hey Tired, if you think the LPS Super is overpaid, let's talk about football coaches. "
Phil wrote on January 1, 2009 6:26 pm:
" "Superintendent Susan Gourley’s salary... includes $13,393 in merit pay this year." Wow, I didn't realize she single-handedly improved the school system that much. She must be proud of herself... all the way to the bank! "
To payscale wrote on January 1, 2009 8:38 pm:
" First, comparing LPS executive salaries to "football coaches" (I assume you mean UNL?) is irrelevant. Second, if I were to play along, I would say that at least the money paid to the coaches isn't from taxpayers as the athletic dept. is self sufficient. In fact, the university has directed benefited from funds raised by the program. "
Re Teen unemployment wrote on January 1, 2009 9:42 pm:
" I don't believe teens lack jobs because of immigrants. I think teens can't get jobs or keep jobs because of their attitudes toward work in general and job behavior in particular.

Having hired MANY young people to work for me, I believe I can say that without a doubt my preference is for international young people, immigrants or older workers. Many young people raised in the United States lack good work ethics; they call in sick frequently or don't even bother to call in when THEY decide is it all right to take time off. They sit and wait for their supervisors to tell them what to do; they do not seek out new job projects or ask what to do next. (I blame this on the schools that do not teach people to think for themselves.) In contrast, the majority of immigrant or international workers that I have hired rarely miss work, ask permission to be gone when they do have to do something, and ask for jobs to be busy.

Perhaps teens can't find jobs because the employers want to weed out the "chaff" or useless workers. Why should I waste my time training a person who will cause me more work rather than help share the workload? Why should I hire someone who will leave at a moment's notice when that person gets bored, finds a "better" job or has to be fired? I will go with the better option as much as possible every time. "
Pay scale wrote on January 1, 2009 9:58 pm:
" First, the comparison is not irrelevant. The LPS Superintendent is responsible for the education of all public school students in Lincoln; coaches are responsible for providing entertainment. You may believe that your Saturday sports fix is more important than education - I simply disagree. Second, according to state records, all coaches are University of Nebraska personnel, which means they are state employees, which means that our taxes help pay their salaries. So if you feel justified in complaining about LPS salaries, I can lodge the same complaint against sports personnel. "
Nina wrote on January 2, 2009 10:45 am:
" Yes, you are fortunate to have such a beautiful prairie. Now I hope you don't have reason to battle a prairie fire because without that road, you will have no easy access for firefighters. "
Jayne wrote on January 2, 2009 5:31 pm:
" Yes, the teachers received a 4% raise BUT here's the DEAL! Their raise was 2% the first year and then 2% the next year. They DID NOT receive a full 4% raise like Gormley NOR do they receive any of the benefits that she receives. Many schools are lucky to have sufficient supplies for the classroom.
The classrooms and schools are NOT equitable BUT, have you ever visited Lincoln Public Schools on "O" Street? They have assistant secretaries and assistant secretaries to the assistants. Teachers can't even get adequate para professional time for students or for their paper production time... (i.e. copies and the like) and the CUTS to the classroom CONTINUE!
How dare the School Board pull ONE MORE sneaky "STUNT."
Our public REALLY is clueless and will remain that way until all stones are over turned beginning at the District Level. What is more disturbing is that so many know and continue to hide the results or slight the truth of what really goes on at LPSDO. (Lincoln Public Schools District Office) "
Aaron wrote on January 2, 2009 10:42 pm:
" As a former LPS employee I can attest to the fact that people in the district office think very little of the tax payers from the city of Lincoln. They detest hearing from the teachers and the tax payers. They make fun of them when they aren't around. They look at us as "second rate" I'm sure they knew full well that there would be an uproar over their pay raises, but they could care less. Unfortunately, they know the public all too well. They know that people will be upset for a short time and then as time passes the public will loose interest and once again start focusing no the day to day business of raising their families and going to work just to get by. I would challenge the citizens of Lincoln to start attending the school board meetings on a regular basis, and letting the board know how disappointed they are in their elected leaders. And then let your voices be heard on election day! It's the only way to change things. "

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