By Jeff Salisbury jeffsalisbury@charter.net
More than 20 years ago and after sitting through and asking questions of the late-State Senator William VanRegenmorter’s “pitch” at Wayland City Hall, I voted against Proposal A.
Reasons?
• It was revenue neutral which meant no NEW money for schools
• It picked winners and losers among voters, since only select demographics benefited by an actual reduction in taxes, while others saw increases.
• It also picked winners and losers among school districts.
• It removed local control of school tax revenue acquisition, leaving schools forever (seemingly) unable to respond to local needs and wants.
I certainly do not see this legislation (Proposal 1) being any more wise nor fair and so for those reasons and more, as they say on Shark Tank, “I’m out.”
Are you an engaged or disengaged employee?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers in Montana, followed closely by those in Mississippi and Louisiana, had the highest levels of employee engagement in 2013 and 2014. With 22% of workers engaged, the District of Columbia had the lowest employee engagement, followed by New York, Minnesota and Connecticut. The 2013-2014 employee engagement estimates across states are based on Gallup Daily Tracking interviews conducted Jan. 2013-Dec. 2014, including 166,409 interviews with adults employed full or part time for an employer. Nationally, 31% of workers were engaged during this time period. http://www.gallup.com/poll/182033/montana-ranks-highest-employee-engagement-2013-2014.aspx
Connecticut, New York, Kentucky AND MICHIGAN rank “Highest in Active Disengagement”
According to the article:
1. Engaged employees are involved in and enthusiastic about their work and workplace. Day after day, they are passionate about their jobs and feel a profound connection to their company. They are more productive, drive innovation and promote organizational growth.
- Disengaged employees are essentially “checked out.” They demonstrate less concern about customers, productivity and profitability. They do not own or feel passionately about their work.
- Actively disengaged employees are not just unhappy at work; these employees undermine the accomplishments of their engaged co-workers. They monopolize managers’ time, account for more quality defects and quit at a higher rate than engaged employees.
Moan: After reading the preceding article, I wonder if the same or similar proportions are also reflected in the classrooms and school buildings in those states.
How many of our school employees are being made to feel truly “engaged” in their work by their administrator-leaders? And how many superintendents and building principals and department supervisors feeling engaged in their work?
“The Giant Sucking Sound”
Remember Ross Perot (1992 Independent candidate for President) and his cautionary warning about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? If not, or if you’d simply like a two-minute reminder – check out this short YouTube clip from the debate between Perot, a wealthy Texas businessman, George H.W. Bush and eventual winner Bill Clinton – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkgx1C_S6ls
Trans-Pacific Partnership Fears Hover Over Detroit Three
The Detroit Three are among those expressing concern over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement, specifically what it would do to the industry.
Last week, both houses of Congress approved President Barack Obama’s request for an up-or-down vote to fast-track the free-trade agreement involving 12 nations and affecting 40 percent of the global economy, the Detroit News reports. The urgency comes amid warnings that if the TPP isn’t put into effect as soon as possible, China, not the United States, would be the one creating similar trade deals.
Though the TPP has few fans among unions, activists, and most Democrats in Congress, the Detroit Three have their own concerns about the fast-tracking proposal: once enacted, the 2.5-percent tariff on cars and parts, as well as the infamous 25 percent “Chicken Tax” on imported light-duty trucks, would disappear over a period of time. The latter has been used to protect the domestic truck market by keeping competitors out unless the latter were willing to build trucks in the U.S.
According to the trio, were the tariffs – which they want to keep around for 25 more years at minimum – to disappear, and if Japan weakens its currency to better compete against them, domestic automakers would eventually be undercut by Japanese automakers. In turn, the Detroit Three would face considerable pressure to return fire, with those on the factory floor likely to be the hardest hit.
Moan: After I read this, I could hear that sucking sound echoing over 20 years later. Consider treating yourself to the discussion in the comments, especially “tresmonos,” an apparently progressive 30-ish American who works for a Tier 1 auto supplier, was based in Mexico for a long time but is currently based in the US. One of few sites where comments are almost always (as a whole) informative and entertaining.
As Monday Moan readers and Facebook followers know, I write quite profusely (some might say, spout off) to my elected officials – be they state or federal – and so I am just as often the recipient of constituent letters. These either come in the form of replies or just updates. This week I received one from U.S .Senator Debbie Stabenow:
“Dear Jeffrey, I wanted to let you know that I just introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to make sure that students who work hard to get into college can enroll regardless of their financial circumstances. Too many young people in Michigan aren’t aware of the resources available to help them find the right college, let alone how to make it a reality. My bill, the Early Pell Promise Act, will dedicate two years of Pell grants to qualifying middle school students, and make that funding available upon graduation to help pay for tuition at a college or university.
I’m proud that my legislation has been endorsed by the National Education Association, ED Trust, American Association of Community Colleges, Michigan College Access Network, and Michigan Community College Association. Every child in America, no matter their financial situation, should know that if they work hard, study hard, and get good grades, the opportunity to attend college will be available after high school. My Early Pell Promise Act will give students and their families the opportunity and information they need to earn a college degree.”
Moan: I must say I am all for the best and the brightest being able to access their nearby CC and money should not get in the way of motivation. However, I am not for sending more customers into the college-degree-granting machines — for what jobs. Colleges don’t create jobs — except instructors and adjunct professor and administrators and clerical department jobs. And as for being endorsed by the “Education Trust”… of course, they endorse the legislation. After all, the Education Trust is funded by Student Loan Marketing Association and a few other special friends who also have financial interests in churning out more degreed job candidates than are needed in the marketplace which only serves to drive wages down.
My reply to Senator Stabenow included these suggestions instead:
- Give each US citizen a GI Bill style voucher, and the deal is the community colleges have to take that as full payment.
- No more game playing with greedy tuition and fee increases used mainly to bloat administration and build monuments.
- Even better, let Congress require two years civilian or military service and then you get your two-year voucher. Serve four years and get a four-year voucher.
- Everyone–everyone–serves, everyone gets a voucher. Youth, including the wealthy, will learn the role of being stakeholders instead of bystanders.
- More young will have more money in their pockets, empowered to form married families, buy first homes, new cars
And finally… my constant reminder about school board “decision-making” …
Please attend the next Wayland Board of Education meeting – SPEAK OUT!
During the PUBLIC COMMENTS, tell Board to:
- Question Every Aspect of the District’s Essential and Non-Essential Educational Programming and Personnel Expenditures (Needs versus Wants)
- Set General Fund & Casino Revenue Spending Guidelines
- Track and Trim All Expenditures & Make Targeted Programs & Personnel Cuts As Needed
REMIND THE BOARD TO:
- “Build ONE Budget” – combine general fund revenue (local, state and federal dollars) and Gun Lake Casino “in lieu of taxes” revenue.
- “Pay Yourselves First” – restore the fund equity – which dipped from 15% to 7% in four years – by committing to saving 1% to 1.5% per year for AT LEAST the next 5 years.
- “No More Loans” – resist the temptation to borrow more money on top of the $291,000 annual loan payments to United Bank for the science wing from 2015 to 2025… no loans for iPads, no loans for school buses – no more loans PERIOD.
Wayland Union Schools – Board of Education Meetings & Workshops
• May 18, 2015 Wayland Union Middle School, 701 Wildcat Drive, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
• June 8, 2015 Wayland Union Middle School, 701 Wildcat Drive, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
• June 22, 2015 Administration Building, 850 E. Superior, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
• July 13, 2015 Administration Building, 850 E. Superior, Wayland – 7:00 p.m
BOARD MEMBERS CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Nancy Thelen, President, Email: nancyboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-877-3098
• Tom Salingue, Vice President, Email: tomboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-792-2061
• Toni Ordway, Treasurer, Email: ordwayt@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-910-3297
• Theresa Dobry, Secretary, Email: theresaboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-681-2119
• Pete Zondervan, Trustee, Email: zondervanp@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-450-1468
• Janel Hott, Trustee, Email: hottj@waylandunion.net Phone: (h) 269-792-0297 (c) 269-250-0286
• Gary Wood, Trustee, Email: glw_boe@yahoo.com Phone: 616-681-2120.
