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101. JohnM
     Member

     A couple notes on MRT's post:

     1) Students do matter. You're absolutely correct. The school revolves around them and they should be the greatest concern. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that we must spend ourselves into the poorhouse for their benefit. There's lots of things that might be nice to have--instruction in Chinese or Urdu or Russian, a lacrosse team, free ponies for everyone--but we don't have them now and students are not really suffering. It would certainly be unfortuante to lose programs--and this is why I'm still undecided about my vote--but we can adapt, I think, without too much detriment.

     2) I don't consider this a marginal tax increase. I'm roughly in the same boat as the folks who posted on another thread where the actual tax was discussed, and anticipate that this will cost me anywhere between $600-$800 per year. That's a lot. ALso, don't forget that since the tax rate is based on your home's EAV, your taxes will likely increase every year. Of course, whether I consider this a reasonable amount is another issue, but it is certainly not a marginal increase.

     3) Finally, regarding your statement about people choosing to live in Riverside because of the schools, don't forget that students from Brookfield, North Riverside, LaGrange Park, Broadview and Lyons also attend RB. The impact that this tax increase will have on those communities needs to be taken into account as well.

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 12:49 #

102. CuriousResident
     Member

     Regarding TS's comments

     Do not think for a moment that what the RBEA stated is a "giveback", it is not. Teacher salaries are not being reduced, raises will still be given.

     But the proposal is not a complete salary freeze.

     Half empty are we, TS? "Don't think for a moment" is sensationalistic.

     The RBEA has absolutely offered a "giveback", to the tune of ~$850,000. This is salary currently contracted to them.

     Because it is not a "complete freeze" of steps and lanes is irrelevant to the point that "they have skin in this game" and are putting it out there.

     Their taxes, food, gasoline, and everything else are becoming more expensive just like the rest of us.

     If you had a legally binding contracted salary, how much would you freely give up to keep a couple of coworkers from being let go?

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 14:32 #

103. CuriousResident
     Member

     Speaking of sensationalistic

     "Now they want more than $100 million"

     The way Robling has presented the facts about the "tax hike" reminds me of how the movie industry hypes the summer block buster that broke all the records.

     Ticket prices in 1977 versus now? Have census numbers grown?

     Of course the proposed tax hike is the highest in recent memory!

     There hasn't been an operational tax increase in recent memory and net present value isn't going to make any sense of it when the expectations of the school have changed (both in performance and enrollment).

     RB finances of the Herbst/Baldermann period sadly reflect the governance ineptitude

     Ineptitude? GROSS OVERSTATEMENT. Were there errors? YES. Show me a government that is perfect...please. Was it time for Baldermann to go, YES. Did he/they do more good than harm, YES.

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 14:53 #

104. TS
     Member

     I'm not sure how to reply to your illogic. Sensationalistic? I don't think so. Using the term giveback to me is sensationalistic.

     So step increases don't count as raises? Changing lanes to receive a salary increase is irrelavant? Both of those are salary increases. I will continue to stress that they are not giving up any money out of their pocket. The RBEA proposal is not freezing salary. No teachers are reducing salary in their proposal, most are coming away with at least a 3.7% increase. How do you "giveback" money you haven't been given?

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 15:06 #

105. CuriousResident
     Member

     It is as simple as "it is contracted TO BE GIVEN".

     I never said step and lane "don't count". They ARE raises.

     Bottom line, they have offered to remove ~$850,000 from the contracted amount to be paid to them.

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 15:13 #

106. TS
     Member

     You said irrelevant.

     The term "giveback" connotes that they are reducing salary to gain sympathy for their cause, passing the referendum. The casual observer might think, gee, the teachers are giving up some of their current income. They are not. I'm trying to keep this discussion to facts. That is why I posted the proposal.

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 15:19 #

107. CuriousResident
     Member

     The context of the word matters...

     not a "complete freeze" of steps and lanes is irrelevant to the point that "they have skin in this game" and are putting it out there.

     Sympathy? Where does that come from?

     WE have a multi-million dollar budget gap and they have proposed an amount to "come from them" with the notion the rest would come from the tax increase.

     If we don't want to compromise to close the gap, then the form of the school will need to change.

     Posted Friday Mar 4, 2011 15:30 #

108. TonyM
     Member

     JohnM, You brought up an interesting point when you stated:

     2) I don't consider this a marginal tax increase. I'm roughly in the same boat as the folks who posted on another thread where the actual tax was discussed, and anticipate that this will cost me anywhere between $600-$800 per year. That's a lot. ALso, don't forget that since the tax rate is based on your home's EAV, your taxes will likely increase every year. Of course, whether I consider this a reasonable amount is another issue, but it is certainly not a marginal increase.

     These are permanent tax increases. In addition to the RB referendum, the Village of Riverside will have to ask residents for a tax increase within the next couple of years, District 96 will probably start posturing for another increase in the next 3 to 5 years,and look out if inflation starts kicking in. CPI has been a non-factor in our tax rates the last couple of years. Remember that taxing bodies can request a tax increase based off of the lesser of 5% or CPI. Can you imagine what your taxes would look like with a couple of additional referendums and CPI running at 5%?

     Posted Saturday Mar 5, 2011 16:49 #

109. chrisrobling
     Member

     Turnaround stalls at RB

     Friday afternoon's news that RB killed the pro-referendum RBTV ad it ran for at least a couple of weeks is clear evidence that this community's reform memo is disregarded by some inside the school.

     My faith is in Jim Marciniak and David Bonnette. I believe Jim has charted the course he believes best, serving as the fuselage between the new board members who want across-the-board reform now and the Herbst wing, which never admitted any problems.

     I appreciate Dr. Bonnette's immediate and decisive action after speaking with counsel. Obviously, once the grown-ups found out what was going on, they lowered the boom and shut down the ad.

     To echo the RB Landmark's web extra, "David Morrison, the deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and a resident of Riverside, said that running the ad on RBTV for free was illegal.

     "The ad that you're describing to me qualifies under state law as an electioneering communication, and the school cannot provide that kind of support," Morrison said.

     Full article at: http://www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=7201

     One sincerely hopes this incident will cause reform-minded district voters who have supported the referendum on the basis that all is well at RB to take a step back and look again.

     Instead, all is... getting better. All will get better much faster once we choose four reformers from our field of seven candidates.

     We deserve a definitive voice declaring a new and intense focus on RB becoming the finest Illinois public high school of its size.

     The way to do that, and to hold accountable the nit-wits who conceived, created, placed and ran an illegal ad, is to elect a reform Board in April.

     Learn your candidates. Make your choices. Vote.

     That's how the turnaround will continue.

     Posted Saturday Mar 5, 2011 18:14 #

110. PAR4
     Member

     Chris - Without truly knowing who was the 'brains' behind running the ad, I find it appalling that you jump to the conclusion they are nit-wits. The TV station is run (theoretically) by the students. The students have been given daily reminders of what the defeat of the referendum (supposedly) will do to their school and the programs many of them enjoy. Maybe it was their decision? Perhaps OK'd by a teacher without the insight of Mr Morrison (did YOU realize it was not exactly kosher as it ran for 2 weeks?). But throwing insults at potentially innocent (until you prove them guilty) supporters of this is low and unnecessary.

     Citing TonyM above, we will be faced with numerous requests for money in the coming years - above and beyond what will be automatically granted- from a myraid of sources. To think our schools can maintain their current levels of excellence in the face of escalating expenses BEYOND their control (energy, insurance, etc) let alone ones they can (again, theoretically - salaries) - without additional funding is wishful thinking. Sure, reform is needed, and the teachers have thrown out an opening bid in a show of good faith - do we really need to stuff it back in their faces because we can?

     My experience is people who move here for our exceptional schools expect to pay a price - higher taxes. Our taxes aren't going down, but if our schools do, where does that leave us?

     Posted Saturday Mar 5, 2011 22:00 #

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