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The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 9

Publication:
The Journal Timesi
Location:
Racine, Wisconsin
Issue Date:
Page:
9
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

FROM PAGE 1A rw JlurrW Times Wwttiy Mdftft 4 OA RECALL from Pugg I A State Que 1993 IX on base 1994 1 on base Botri raises implemented unt under OLO HUSO after (Wtwt) 1995 0 on base.2 cash 2 on base 1997 2 on base 1998 2n on base (switch at semester 2) Joint committee tor insurance to meet until May 1 Changes in insurance and sharing ol savings must be agreed to. 34mtnute No retroactivity RU Oftw (tataa) 1995 2 on bast 1 2 on 1996 on Das (swrtcn at semester 2) Joint committee tor insurance to meet until May 1 Changes in insurance and sharing, ol savings must be agreed to. 34.mwi,$ 51 mm for flagrant abuses; more than once per pay period, mora than one period per day, etc Retroactive tor 1997-98 language reviewed by REA and HUSO on Sept 27 put in Board Policy stays effect Mi Salary Cover aije similar that to la? settlement Insurance Sub Pay Sub Language none Unilaterally implemented In service This letter was distributed Tuesday to all teachers by the Uaclne Unified School District. Summary of Racine Unified District's Uht salary offer which would give the teacliere a current contract through luyaw. Ut was rejected by the Racine Education Association on Feb.

27 at 4 pml The teacher salary schedule has six levels of pay, each based on the number of educational credits In addition, the salary schedule has 14 steps, one for each ear of service with the District L'nder the District's last contract proposal a teaclter would receive: School Year 96 2 salary increase for each teacher plus, if eligible, an approximate 3 step and 3 level change. No base salary schedule increase. 1J6 97 2 salary increase for each teacher plus, if eligible, an approximate 3 step and a 3 level change Base salary schedule increase. 1997-98 2 salary increase for each teacher plus, if eligible, an lproximate 3 step and 3 level chance. Base salary schedule increase.

1998 99 3 salary increase for each teacher starting 2nd semester plus, if eligible, an approximate 3 step and 3 level change Base salary schedule increase. This gives teachers an average salary increase of 3 8 for the first three years and a 3 boost on the salary schedule starting 2nd semester of the fourth year. During each of the first three years, the lowest increase a teacher would receive is 2 and the highest could be approximately 8. The District's offer is significantly higher than the salary component of the QEO which, if implemented, would amount to approximately a 1 across-the-board increase plus step and level. Under the QEO, the salary schedule will increase by about 4.4 over the four year period while the salary schedule will increase 7 over the same time with the District's offer.

The District's offer is Uo significantly higher than the rte of inflation iCI'l U) over the past four years. The rate of inflation since I9a3 has averaged 11 pr year Mure recently, the rate of Uiflalion has fallen to less than 2 per year The District's last offer has no change in benefits. For example, the teachers' present health care plan remains the same through the term of the contract (Jul This ofter, if it had been accepted, would have decreased the district's current fund balance reserves) from approximately 10 8 nullum dollars to aproximately 6 nullum dollars. The latter, after subtracting for Educational Assistants' back pay, is the approximate fund balance prior to the last voluntary agreement. Imposing the QKO alone would decrease the fund balance from 10 8 million dollars to approximately 7 8 million dollars.

Keducinfa the fund balance to 8 nullum dollars is 10 milium dollars lower than what is recommended for a district this size, acvurding to the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau A low fund balance significantly increases the cost of operating a school district because of the interest costs resulting from short term borrowing necessary during certain cash flow situations. In addition, a low fund balance jeopardizes the District's bond rating which could raise the cost of interest the District pays on bunds. Also part of District's economic offer: A. Increase pay for substituting during preparation time from 17 cents a minute to 34 cents a minute. a The District offered to allow the make up without loss of pay of Institute Day and the 2 days school was closed.

In lieu of adding a 5 hour Institute Day, the DiMrict suggested a 2 hour Spring House. If this was not acceptable, then the District would put all three days at the end of the year. Note: Section 121.23 of the WLs. Stats, does not require that these days be made up or that they be paid. In addition, language was on the table.

The District believes the language differences between the parties are all resolvable and should not prevent reaching a current agreement. WERC Ruling enforced by court requiring all teachers ol a student be noticed ot blue slip and that written explanation be povided when resolution ot blue slip does not support the teacher WERC ruling tor district to correct 1993 95 QEO Up to two days at the end ot the year. Blue Slip Language QEO Suit Make up Days Nurses WERC ruling that nurses must be assimilated into BEA Unit 02 Teachers in research dopt. currently split into separate bargaining unit through legal agreed Late start mservice counts at mandatory meeting under limits in meeting section below, teachers report time reduced from 15 mm. betore students to 10 mm.

Offer was WERC ruling as modified tomtly by Ennis McGotdnck. Reverted to baste WERC ruling whon board rejected this offer WERC mling to be enforced All make up days at the end ot the school year REA Compliance with WERC ruling Unit 2 recombinod with REA with no loss of rights to members. No recrimination against teachors tor non-attondance. 30 hours of mandatory moet-ings with hours beyond compensated at full rate of pay. not represent REA positions lot legal purposes.

tions noted by city building, plumbing and electrical inspectors would be nearly $1.8 million. That includes $277,200 for new heating equipment, $209,660 to repair damaged windows, $184,000 to repair exterior masonry, $183,400 in electrical repairs, $178,000 to repair all interior finishes, $130,000 to repair elevators, and $80,000 for plumbing repairs. Linsmeier said a request by the Imaginarium for $100,000 for elevator repairs is already pending with the Community Development Committee. He said the committee's next meeting isn't scheduled, but will likely be in two weeks. Alderman Robert Turner said he wanted to be careful Tuesday not to usurp the committee by voicing firm approval by the Executive Committee.

"I strongly support the project, but we can't circumvent the process," he said. Jameel Ghuari, executive director of the George Bray Neighborhood action by district Contract requires due process ana progressive dis- clpllne, doctors excuse tor first sick day banked sick day or use ot 5 sick days In a row from sick bank Non- 30 hours ot mandatory meetings, with hours beyond 30 compensated at Meetings This chart is lor informational purposes and does lottzuy rjur.iBEns GRANT Aldermen like Imaginarlum Idea Current policy stays in effect till Includes Sept 27 (to left) plus options tor eitenued Subbing by librarians, coun- selors. social workers, ULI, title teachers, specialists, etc Late start msnrvtce counts as mandatory meeting under limits meeting section below WERC ruling as modified by Ennis McGoMnck plus eiimi-; nale court ordorod requirement I tor written explanation whon blue slips are not supported QEO not to be recalculated. Institute Day replaced by Spring Opon House; remaining make up days at end ot school year RUSD offer does not address compliance with WERC ruling. Unit HI recombinod with REA.

No montion ot nghts (such as soniority) Letters of reprimand will not be placed in staff dies, but RUSO reserves the right to deduct salary. 38 hours of mandatory meetings with hours beyond compensated at IEP, 504, SST, M-teams also added as mandatory meetings. Center, said $750,000 is a lot of money to divert from the community development program. He said the Imaginarium, which would be built in the former Zahn's building, seems like a good idea. But it would take away a lot of money and leave a lot of other needy projects unfunded, he said.

Before committee members voted unanimously to approve conceptual approval, Alderman Mary Kaprelian asked about parking. Gazzana said there's plenty in the neighborhood. Asked if he had approached Racine County about funding, he said he hadn't. Gazzana said that to ensure financial stability, the top two floors of the building will be leased as office space, providing an estimated $60,000 a year in revenue. That would still leave three floors of exhibits, he said, estimating the total exhibit area at more than 10,000 square feet.

Asked why city officials should Irby said. "It ought to be up to the states to set these limits." Countered Lautenberg: "When you get drunk, it's your business. When you get drunk and drive, it's our business." With support from Rhode Island Sen. John Chafee, the Republican who will be managing debate on the highway bill, opponents nonetheless expected the amendment to pass the Senate. In the House, Rep.

Bud Shuster, chairman of the Transportation committee, called supporters of the Senate amendment "naive to believe that a one-size-fits-all solution will work for every state." Shuster instead wants federal incentives for states to adopt various deterrents, including the .08 percent limit. John Doyle, spokesman for the American Beverage Institute said the For Tuesday, March 3 WISCONSIN: Pick 3: 8-0-3 Pick 4: 0-4-0-8 SuperCash: 10-20-22-24-26-31 Daily Millions: Red: 16-20 White: 9-20 Blue: 14-21 ILLINOIS: Daily: 5-7-1, 4-8-3 Pick 4: Big Game: 21-31-33-37-42 Big Money Ball: 3 first laughed So the pulitical vulture has det ioVd not to Ltit this tune, tie said "l.u has her own personal political ageikta to revive her failed political career, Weiss added This is just a vehicle site can use to further position herself politically for future endeavors. I think she wants to get into some political If tie don't know what it is Hits is just her way ut getting notoriety and attention Weiss married to a Unified teacher and therefore dues not vote on or particulate in teactier contrail matters "A further ret ail effort would be terrible for our community," Flashmski said "It's hard enough to attract quality people to run lor (lie board of education, and It would be terrible to recall any of the current board members. "I am so proud of this board," she continued 'The Insults and denigrating comments thev've endured Weiss over the last couple of weeks, and their continued professionalism and dedication in the face of them, has been amazing to watch Tu recall any of them would be a tragedy and would just make it harder to attract anyone to run for the board of education." Krven said she also filed a letter with Racine County District Attorney Robert Flancher, asking his office to investigate the possibility of charging the board with misconduct. She claimed it granted raises to Unified administrators above the legal minimum, which "may constitute exceeding their legal authority and a disadvantage to certain groujs of employees," Krven staled she believes the recall effort succeeded in ending the district shutdown.

The shutdown ended two days after her group registered, as Unified was ready to seek a court injunction against the sick-outs. "It's a correlation," Krven said. "We filed as a recall committee, and the next day factually two days later the buildings were open." The recall committee would need 14,147 qualified voters' signatures per school board member in order to force a recall election. Erven and Joan Rohan are co-coordinators of the recall committee. approve the money, Gazzana said it would be great for the kids, would renovate a prominent downtown building that has been vacant for 18 years, and would be a great tourist attraction.

"It would generate a tremendous amount of activity in downtown Racine," he said. Using a conservative estimate of 95,000 Visitors in the first year children's museums in Appleton and Lexington, drew 140,000 and 120,000, respectively in the first year that would be more than 1,800 people a week, Gazzana said. "If that doesn't boost the downtown economy That's a tremendous boost," he said. Gazzana said if the city doesn't approve use of the money, it won't break the project. "We'll just go another direction.

Our goal is clear. Our route might change a little bit, but we will accomplish the task. We feel it's in the best interest of the city to help support the Imaginarium and get it up and running." .08 percent limit was not an effective measure of potential danger and would only serve to punish social drinkers. "That's not an impairment level, it's an arbitrary arrest level," said Doyle, who represents restaurants that serve alcohol. "We're going to have hundreds, perhaps thousands of innocent people going to jail with no improvement to highway safety." The beverage group advocates graduated penalties that increase drunken-driving punishments relative to blood-alcohol levels.

In 1996, more than 17,100 people died in alcohol-related vehicle crashes nationwide, about 41 percent of all traffic deaths, officials estimate. Of the total deaths, about 9 percent, or more than 3,700, involved drivers with blood-alcohol levels below the legal 0.10 percent limit. tions. It would require that a Board of Directors be formed and by-laws be set that would make it an individual organization, separate from the school district. The B.E.S.T committee, which raised money to support the $29.9 million district referendum, has about $600 left that could be used as seed money for the foundation.

Anyone interested in exploring the idea of a public school foundation should contact Superintendent Ron Jandura at 763-0210. 7 ms From Page I A The city receives about $2 million a year in Community Development Block Grant funds, but gets requests for more than twice that amount. Recommendations to the city council are made by the city's Community Development Committee. Interim Director of City Development Richard Linsmeier said the city currently has $391,000 in undesignated block grant funds, and there's another $300,000 that had been committed to a now-defunct DeKoven Center restoration project. Alderman Ray Mathews asked if the city might be asked to re-commit to a DeKoven project.

Mayor Jim Smith said that's a possibility. The Imaginarium's request is for $250,000 a year for three years. Linsmeier said community development funds could be used only to repair specific violations of state and local building codes. Bukacek Construction Inc. estimated the cost of repairing code viola LIMITS From Page 1A hoi level of .08 percent.

States that did not enforce the lower limit by Oct. 1, 2001, would lose a portion of their federal transportation funds. The proposed change would mean that a 170-pound man drinking on an empty stomach, would be likely to reach the .08 percent level after four drinks such as 12-ounce beers or 5-ounce glasses of wine in one hour. The average 137-pound woman would be considered legally drunk under the proposed limit after consuming three drinks in one hour. "Lowering the limit will make responsible Americans take even greater care when they drink alcohol in any amounts if they intend to drive," Clinton said.

Gesturing to the poster-sized photo 0.8 percent as limit for driving kiuuiiii jjurUBinttnu E-ijsniin Ui iiisr evasion ftptlkV LiMi! mir4 kui Monday al lu" HI MS' Ui, ailSTK 1tl of Ashley propped behind his seat on the East Room platform, he added: "To be reminded that these things do happen should be all the reminder any member of Congress or any American ever needs. If we win this battle and you want to come back for a lower limit, I'll be glad to stand here with you." Clinton also directed Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to develop a plan for enforcing the .08 percent limit on federal lands such as national parks and military bases. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, opposes the measure but would not block a vote in the Senate, which could come as early as Wednesday, said spokeswoman Susan Irby. "We agree with the mission to discourage drunk driving but we don't need another federal mandate," 20) Racine 5400 the Journal Times. It pays ad package Just for you.

BASD Foundation Te Appreciate Your Business" Ion h4th into i All wlon begin at with prMantatlon at I From Page 1A year at Case High School. The field will be built with private donations and some district money, that will also be paid back through donated funds. "The foundation would need to exist and grow from the outside," said Jandura. "But I could call the initial meeting and provide some materials." He said that a foundation is one vehicle the community can use to access untapped sources for dona (llwry. 086 Advertising doesn't cost In Call 634-3322 for a tailored a.

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Pages Available:
1,278,346
Years Available:
1881-2024