MCPS trustees approve teacher pay raise, administrative restructuring - Missoulian article from the June 12, 2013 edition by Betsy Cohen

Click on the link below to read an article by Betsy Cohen reporting on the Tuesday night MCPS Board Meeting on June 11, 2013. 

MCPS trustees approve teacher pay raise, administrative restructuring

Missoula teachers get 3 percent raise in tentative contract - Missoulian article from May 29th, 2013 edition

This Missoulian article was written for the May 29th, 2013 edition by Betsy Cohen.  I'm not sure if I posted it so I'm including it today.

Click on the link below to read the article -



Missoula teachers get 3 percent raise in tentative contract

Quotes from the article are -

"Missoula's public school teachers will receive a 3 percent increase in their base salaries for the 2013-14 academic year, which starts July 1, under a tentative bargaining agreement reached Tuesday.
The increase is significant and the highest bump teachers have received in recent years."

and -

"In 2009-10, Missoula teachers received no raise, in 2010-11 they got a 0.5 percent raise, and then a 2 percent raise in 2011-12, said Steve McHugh, Missoula County Public Schools director of human resources and labor relations."

A comment from one of the 10 comments after the article is from walter12 and follows:

 

 

   walter12 - May 29, 2013 7:08 am

You people need to know the truth about the MCPS. First thing, no certified teacher with any kind of position in the MCPS ever quits. They retire at 65 or later or die at their desks. Secondly, by Missoula and Montana standards, this is one of the best jobs in the state, by far.
Everyone knows that the best jobs in this state are: 1. Working for the Forest Service, 2. working for the State, 3. Teacher in the four big cities, 4, working for the county or city. These jobs are protected, they have great benefits, the pay is good, and there is no pressure.

 

Another interesting comment from Leadfoot follows -

Leadfoot - May 29, 2013 10:57 am

THIS IS, AS USUAL FOR THE MISSOULIAN, ONLY A PARTIALLY CORRECT ARTICLE. WHAT WAS LEFT OUT WAS THE FACT THAT THIS 3% APPLIES ONLY TO THE BASE SALARY. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES FOR SEVERAL OTHER CATAGORIES NOT YET DISCLOSED THAT APPLIES TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED MAJORITY OF TEACHERS WITH MANY YEARS OF SENIORITY. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE TOTAL PATENCY IN ITS PAY INCREASES....AND THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT A RAISE TO APOSTLE THAT WAS BUILT INTO HIS CONTRACT, BASED UPON INCENTIVES, THAT WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE GIVEN TO HIM?!!!!

 missoula schools watchdog would have preferred a lower percentage wage due to MCPS salary and benefits part of the budget is now 90% of the budget when it needs to be in the 80% range.

Additionally, the most sensible thing to do is NOT give administrators such a large salary and to decrease the number of administrators.

PEAS, please: Engen to make formal proposal to purchase farm from MCPS for $1.2M - Missoulain article on June 11, 2013

Click the link below to read a report by Missoulian writer Betsy Cohen.

Another Rattlesnake school piece of property under the knife. Great.


PEAS, please: Engen to make formal proposal to purchase farm from MCPS for $1.2M

Hellgate student makes gun replica in shop, gets disciplined after school - MIssoulian article on June 7th, 2013.

Click the link below to read a Missoulian article on June 7th, 2013 reporting on a Hellgate High School student with a replica of a gun he made in his welding class.


Hellgate student makes gun replica in shop, gets disciplined after school

MISSOULIAN EDITORIAL: East Broadway site best fit for Missoula College

Click on the link below to read a Missoulian editorial regarding the future site for the Missoula College.

MISSOULIAN EDITORIAL: East  Broadway site best fit for Missoula College

Below are comments by missoula schools watchdog on this topic alluding to Missoula's traditions and changes to our city.

Let's start at the last sentence in the Missoulian editorial: "and save the inevitable battle over the future of the South Campus for another day."

 
Why does there have to be more battles over the golf course property?  What more do us Missoulians have to do to let the people who represent us know that we wish the golf course to be left alone, period?!  Do we have to continually fight for our Missoula traditions?  Is this what a representative government is all about?  I think not. 
 
It is difficult living in Missoula at this time for many of us long time Missoulians.  It seems that our very way of life with our many traditions is constantly being threatened from every corner.
 
Gone are many of our neighborhood schools, gone is McCormick Pool, gone is the Fox theater,  Our beautiful historic Carnegie library has been so altered that if you were a Missoulian that used this library as a child or an adult there is nothing left to bring back memories of the once beautiful library.
 
Many of our parks were radically changed at the hands of Donna Gaukler and company. Many of our roads have been so altered it brings on a headache just thinking about them.
 
The future of horse racing, a wonderful past time which we Missoulians have enjoyed for almost a century, is at risk. 
  

 Another Missoula landmark just literally bit the dust, the Trails End bar. This site is slated to become the new Poverello Center. What an injustice to our children that live in this area; Lowell School is just 3 to 4 blocks away.  This site would be better for a commercial enterprise. The site at the old Liberty Lanes bowling alley would have served the community better if it was also commercially used instead of using it for Agenda 21 type housing.
 
Shame on you politicians for not recognizing that these landmarks and traditions are part of the fabric of Missoula, a city which was once far more relaxed and easy to live in.
 
We need new leadership in this city, ASAP, before it goes further down the tubes.
 
In closing, I would like to thank the people who banned together to form Advocates for Missoula's Future.  It is my belief that his group speaks for the majority of Missoulians.  I hope in a future statement that this group will continue to support the Fort location for the Missoula College, the location that was recommended many years ago after a thorough study.

 

Poverello Center launches capital campaign for new homeless shelter

Click on the link below to read a June 6th, 2013 Missoulian article reporting on the tearing down of the Trails End Bar to make way for the building of the Poverello Center.

Poverello Center launches capital campaign for new homeless shelter

missoula schools watchdog is very concerned for the children in the area as this location is so close to Lowell School located just three or four blocks up the road.  msw is disappointed in city leaders on this issue and feels that a different location needed to be considered or to have the Poverello remain at the current site and address the problems in a more proactive manner.

Education: Students deserve, need STEM skills Missoulian letter to the editor on June 5, 2013

Click on link below to read a Missoulian letter to the editor in the June 5th, 2013 edition.


Education: Students deserve, need STEM skills

Missoula County Public Schools' Board of Trustees as of June 2013

Below is a picture of the new Board of Trustees of Missoula County Public Schools found on the MCPS website and Board Meeting schedule.

Regular Monthly Meetings

The Missoula County Public Schools’ Board of Trustees generally meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. The meeting is normally held at the Business Building, 915 South Avenue West, but periodically the location varies. Please confirm the location on the Public Meetings Calendar. Upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, June 11, 2013
• Tuesday, July 9, 2013
• Tuesday, August 13, 2013
• Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013
• Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013



 

Missoula County Public Schools'Board of Trustees - 5 new members elected in 2013 - now oust the rest!

Note to new Trustees from missoula schools watchdog

 

MCPS must go a different direction for the sake of Missoula's school children and the Missoula taxpayers.

A different direction would include the following -

• no more catering to private schools - let Missoula International School know that the Prescott School/MIS lease will NOT be extended beyond the current lease expiration of 2017

 

• disband the International Baccalaureate Program at Hellgate and end all discussions of expanding to other grades as our neighbors did in Coeur d'Alene just did in October of 2012 (see truthaboutib.com for more info)

 

• Make sure we do not close any more schools and that we do not sell any more of our schools

• Question the validity of the upcoming Facility Plan especially as it relates to the 21st Century Schools idea. To radically change our school infrastructure to comply with an educational philosophy is shortsighted and dangerous

 



From the MCPS website - notice of a Q & A session - Paxson School sponsors Q & A session on dual language

The following paragraphs have been copied and pasted from the MCPS website to this post and is followed up by a comment from missoula schools watchdog.

      

Paxson School sponsors Q & A session on dual language

Local parents and community members are invited to attend a question and answer session regarding the Missoula County Public Schools’ Dual Language Immersion program at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, at Paxson Elementary, 101 Evans St. in Missoula.

MCPS will launch a dual language (English and Spanish) program for Paxson students in kindergarten and first grade this fall. It will be the first dual language program in a public school in Montana. The dual language program will continue each year as students advance into grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Prior to implementation of the program, District officials researched and visited successful dual language models that are used in other states. At Paxson, instruction will be divided between two classrooms – one English and one Spanish. The English-speaking teacher will use half of the instructional day to teach English language arts and literacy skills (reading and writing). The Spanish-speaking teacher will use the other half of the instructional day to teach Spanish literacy and mathematics. Social studies and science will be taught in both classrooms by both teachers.

The Paxson program is designed to maximize students’ proficiency in a second language, develop students’ ability to work in multiple cultural settings, and provide a rich academic environment and culturally diverse experience both in the classroom and throughout the school community.

Interested Paxson families should complete the application for placement in the dual language program (the application is available at Paxson School). Paperwork must be submitted to the school by June 30. Student selection will occur by drawing later in the summer.

For additional information, please contact Principal Kelly Chumrau at 542-4055 or 728-2400, ext. 4550; or Executive Regional Director Heather Davis Schmidt at 728-2400, ext. 1074.

 

missoula schools watchdog take on this program -

 

"FOLLOW THE PEOPLE" - USUALLY THE SAYING GOES "FOLLOW THE MONEY" - (This could also apply, however, msw is not aware of the money trail.)

 

TONI REHBEIN - AN OFFICER FOR THREE YEARS - PAST PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

 

BRAD AND KELLY CHUMRAU - FORMER PARENTS OF A CHILD AT MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - BRAD A FORMER TEACHER AT MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NOW TEACHING AT RATTLESNAKE SCHOOL - KELLY NOW TEACHING AT PAXSON SCHOOL 

 

TONI REHBEIN HAS USED THE MISSOULA SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FULLFILL ALL HER DREAMS OF WHAT AN EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE - ALL AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE

 

Missoula County Public Schools does not have money for this program or any of the other programs which the "Rehbeins" (borrowing from Mr. Spurlock's quote) have instituted over their tenure.

 

 

Missoula public school to launch state's first Spanish immersion program

Click on link below to the Billings Gazette article regarding Montana's first public school to launch a Spanish immersion program.
The article is written by Missoulian reporter Betsy Cohen and was also published in the Sunday, June 2, 2013 edition of the Missoulian.

Missoula public school to launch state's first Spanish immersion program