Volume 16, Issue 2
McAllen
EYES ON THE BOARD
The Devil’s In The Details
We attended approximately ten (10) board meetings this month. A list of approvals and information is as follows:
New Asst. Principal at Memorial-Olga Snelling
Director for Bilingual/ESL/NCA Program-Angel Torres
Payment #9 for Fossum Middle School $1,096,129
Mac & PC Computers-$611,798.90
Letter of Credit with Texas State Bank for $5 million--In case August, 2008 money from state is too late to make payroll
Tax collections are going well.
High school redesign consultants introduced—surprised to see who was in the group—people who were forced to leave the area because of poor performance
We have teacher friends in PSJA and
There are not enough teachers to cover all the communities. Many classes are too large. We heard of classes of 101 students, 56, 70, and 43. Students sat in the school auditorium for several weeks until they received a schedule. Such large classes create management issues that force teachers to deal with the management of their classrooms more than their actual teaching duties.
Teachers did not know what they were teaching when school was out--it was August before they knew.
Some teachers feel that the small communities are limiting some students. The students are not well rounded. Students may not be able to get classes they need--not enough sections.
Teachers have found that students from outside their communities are in their classes. It seems they have been placed there simply because there wasn't enough room within their chosen communities to accommodate a full class schedule.
Special information and decisions
In Pigskin competition McHi scored a 1, Memorial scored a 1, and Rowe a 2 (new band director). Mrs. Chapa reported mariachis are a new UIL event. Bowling is being considered as a UIL event—but a long shot to happen.
We drove in from 23rd and
Open forum presentation
OCTOBER 10, 2007 AND HEALTH CLINIC INFORMATION
Good evening. My name is Ruth Skow, and I represent the McAllen AFT (American Federation of Teachers).
In September, 2007 the Texas Teacher Retirement System board authorized big increases in potential bonuses for TRS investment staff. We ask that you write a letter in support of TRS members stating that you are concerned about the TRS board’s recent approval of potential incentive payments to investment staffers that could bring their total pay to more than $900,000 a year for one employee and some $500,000 apiece for several others.
None of the three TRS board members representing active employees voted to approve this plan. Those board members were correct to point out that this large increase in an already-generous compensation plan is ill timed and inappropriate.
For your information TRS retirees’ last benefit increase was in 2001. Whether they will receive even a temporary, one-time 13th check in this biennium is still an open question. TRS contributions by active employees saw the value of their benefits cut by over $1.5 billion.
In your letter to TRS Board Chair, Jarvis Hollingsworth, you need to say, “You have suggested that these huge incentives are necessary to attract and retain staff to manage new categories of investments authorized during the past legislative session. Whether that is so and whether large increases in non-traditional and more volatile investments will benefit TRS members remains to be seen. What is clear now, however, is that the board has approved huge potential bonuses for certain agency employees at a time when retirees” annuities have been eroded by rising costs of living and when active employees have made large sacrifices for the fund.
In addition, legislative leaders have fostered the misconception that the only way to fund future retiree benefit increases is to boost investment returns with more aggressive TRS investment strategies. However, the fund’s performance has met or exceeded actuarial targets for many years. The real reason the fund has not met the requirements for a benefit increase since 2001 is the failure of the state to make adequate contributions. The board’s approval of huge incentive bonuses for fund managers, in hot pursuit of higher returns through non-traditional and more volatile investments, is just one more reflection of ongoing legislative neglect.
“While responsibility for benefit improvements ultimately lies with the legislature, we urge the TRS Board to adopt a basic principle of fairness and proportion: There should be no new incentive payments for TRS fund managers before TRS provides pension benefits improvements for both retired and active TRS members.”
This evening we ask you to write a letter to the Legislative Budget Board and ask them to say “NO” to what is clear is that the TRS Board has approved potential bonuses for certain agency employees at a time when retirees annuities have been eroded by rising cost of living and when active employees have made large sacrifices for the fund.
HEALTH CLINIC
During the last few months,
In La Joya, their clinic for all employees opened on September 4, 2007. Good reports are coming from employees. The clinic will expand hours into the evening in the next few weeks.
We are continuing to collect signatures for a clinic for no co pay and generic drugs free from all employees. If you would like to participate, call or email us and we will get your signature. WE ALL HAVE TO PULL TOGETHER TO BRING THE CLINIC TO REALITY. 682-1143 or cell 607-0193