Dorchester has a dozen candidates vying for five open seats in its school and village governing bodies. The 12 candidates who have filed for the Dorchester Board of Education and the Dorchester Village Board will appear on the May 13 primary election ballot.The following seven individuals are running for the three open Dorchester School Board seats:
- Ron Kahle (Incumbent)
- Bill Boller (Incumbent)
- Jeff Jacobson
- Lindsey Zoubek
- Kelli Burkey
- Lisa Wells
- Mikki Hoffman
The following five individuals are running for the two open seats on the Village Board:
- Dean Pracheil (Incumbent)
- Brandon Koll
- Lyle Weber
- Todd Jensen
- Jeff Jacobson
It's good to see a young parent file for school board. I'm voting for Lindsey Zoubek.
ReplyDeleteare any of the organizations going to have a forum so we can question candidates. Just and idea
ReplyDeleteHey Village Dweller, you forgot one category on the Times Poll. What about city employees and city spending?
ReplyDeleteI want to see the town do more with less.
It is great to see so much interest in the school board. Maybe there's a movement for a change here -- Can't complain if you don't get involved.
ReplyDeleteI hope the candidates keep the following in mind:
ReplyDeleteState's teacher salary average falls to 45th
http://www.journalstar.com/news/nebraska/doc47d1ac51ceec6924065111.txt
I can't shed a lot of tears for teachers. We all deserve more pay, don't we? (Karl Marx would say YES!)
ReplyDeleteWe all love teachers, but take into account that most full-time public teachers work less than 40 hours a week during the school year (actual work time). With the average school year less than 200 working days, teaching wages start to look rather attractive.
In addition, these numbers don't take into account the benefits that most school districts offer their educators: comprehensive health and life insurance, as well as solid retirement and pension plans. I know that most teachers don't have to pay any deductable (or even co-pays) on their health coverage. Give me a piece of that action.
I know Dorchester also pays more based on the amount of post-secondary education as well as teaching experience. A master's degree, doctorate or other type of certification, such as special education or vocational certificates, can add thousands to a base teacher salary each year.
Also, teacher's income goes up with coaching after-school athletics, advising after-school clubs, etc.
Things aren't as bad as some would make it sound.
anonymous said...Who said anything about the deadline?
ReplyDeleterational gal
ReplyDeleteI want to shed a little light on your comments. I am married to a teacher and yes, our insurance is very good; but we still have a co-pay. There is no life insurance plan offered through the district. Coaching a varsity sport pays a whopping $1200 to $1500 extra per year.
For the fun of it, last year we kept track of the hours dedicated to the school. We then divided it by 50 weeks. 45 hours was the average for 50 weeks. Summers off is a great incentive for teachers, but don't tell me that teaching is less than a 2000 hour per year job.
Higher education is rewarded in teaching, as it should be. My spouse has 7 years of education beyond high school. They have been at this school for 8 years. They graduated summa cum laude from a tough private university. The only educational goal yet to obtain is a doctorate. The salary earned last year was less than $40k. 40 grand doesn't go very far in today's world, especially with school loans left to pay down.
Isn't it important to you to have your kids taught by a qualified individual? If NE doesn't start paying the teachers, I know my spouse will take those skills and credentials and find another line of work.
Wikipedia says in 2006, the country's median annual household income according to the US Census Bureau was $48,201.00. I'm betting you or your spouse could earn at least $8k over the summer months.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't scrape by on $48k, I say cut back your lifestyle. We can all do this on our monthly budget. I'm not trying to be mean, that's just a matter of fact. Sorry if I've offended anyone.
to rational gal
ReplyDeleteyou dont have a clue.
I dont know what school system you are talking about, but it isnt Dorchester.
First of all, the system does not provide life insurance, and yes there is a copay and a deductible.
You ought to look into what it takes to get extra pay for educational hours. College credit is at least 150 and hour and it takes 9 hours to move over on the pay scale. A move across is about 500 dollars. You do the math.
Extra duty pay is a joke.
There are days a coach spends 12-14 hours a day. Not getting home some nights until midnight, or leaving at 5 in the morning. Many coaches have kids in the summer with weights and camps and summer leagues.
Get a clue and dont cut teachers down until you have all the facts.
Heck a subsitute teacher makes over 100 a day and doesnt need any college.
and a bus driver makes around 20 and hour.
rational gal-
ReplyDeleteI am not trying to make a statement on lifestyles or the average salary in the U.S. What I am trying to say is my spouse is a teacher who has dedicated 7 years of life just to become a teacher. At some point the financial rewards need to equal or come close to equaling the sacrifices made to mold the next generation.
The same Wikipedia you quoted with the mean salary of $48201, has an average salary of $62300 for those with a masters degree. I am not picking a fight, but rather pointing out that teachers are making a financial sacrifice to ensure our next generation is educated. Most other professions pay for employees to advance their educations. Teachers pay to advance their educations with hopes of being rewarded on the pay scale.
Leadership. We need it.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't feel sorry for the teachers either. To be paid $48,000 a year and not work for 3 months is good in my book. I would love to put in a little more time during the 9 months of work and be able to take off 3 months and still earn money on the side and enjoy life a little during the summer. I know people who work full time 52 weeks a year with a college degree and I don't hear them crying all the time. Grow up teachers! You picked this profession.
ReplyDeleteI'm an advocate for the taxpayer and I support the comments of rational gal. Anonymous didn't mention that...
ReplyDeletea.) Teachers don't have to pay a dime for their health care premiums. I can't think of anyone else who gets that good of deal. Certainly not farmers, who pay the bulk of the teacher salaries through property taxes. Even state employees have to pay about 25% of their health insurance.
b.) A lot of occupations in Nebraska are probably 45th lowest on the pay scale, and they work more than 180 days, like teachers. Nebraska also has the 5th lowest cost of living in the U.S., so you gotta put it in perspective.
c.) Who cares how much anyone paid for their degree. I know music majors who paid $80,000 for a nearly worthless piece of paper from Doane College. That doesn't mean they should be rewarded with a high paying job. They should be taught about supply & demand in the labor market. Don't the schools teach supply & demand anymore?
Actually... just to point one thing out. I am not sure of the exact qualifications of a substitute teacher, but I know they DO have to have some college. I know a substitute teacher who has a bachelor's degree but didn't have a particular human relations class and so they had to make sure they spent the extra money after graduation to take that class. So you can't say they don't have to have ANY college.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for giving the teachers more pay .............. just cut a couple of positions .............. divide up the salaries from the fired teachers.............
ReplyDeleteto taxpayers assvocate.............
ReplyDeleteyou dont have a clue.......
call the school and see what it takes to sub.......i bet they would even let you do it...........
well maybe, the background check may get youj
have a good day
I make too much money to be in a classroom. That's the choice I made when I was 18.
ReplyDeleteDisplaced Husker, I wonder why you would point out such an observation. As if the local school board really has such an effect on the local teacher's pay as to make a mark on the Nebraska's overall ranking. It seems that all you have done is to stir up an argument that cannot be won, and only cause hard feelings. To those that have continued this argument you have created an unappreciative attitude to the profession in general. Do you think that is helpful? Do you think that this attitude will help recruit the best possible candidates for future positions? Do you think that this sends the best message to the students (no wonder there are discipline problems).
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, there are teachers that deserve more pay, there are some that deserve less. Get over it! Show some appreciation for the ones that do put in the extra time and effort, educating future decision makers.
I realize there is a strong urge towards conformity in Nebraska. The teacher pay ranking is not an observation, but a fact. Many are not aware of the ranking as indicated by this board. It is good to “stir the pot” and encourage debate. I am hoping this will nudge Nebraskans to diversify the economy which would broaden the tax base. This could lead to an increase in teacher salaries and possibly keep competent teachers in the state.
ReplyDeleteDisplaced Husker
It would be nice to "diversify the economy" with more private sector job growth, not by creating more government jobs. After all, it is the private sector and property taxes that pay teacher/gov't. salaries.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's my point.
ReplyDeletejust to clear up any missconceptions about the rumors going around town conserning Jeff Jacobsen running for both school board and village board- it IS leagal. I contacted the Secretary of State office and her reply is as follows:
ReplyDelete§32-604 A person may not serve in 2 high offices, (except a County Attorney serving in more than 1 county)
A person may serve in a High Office and a Low Office
A person may serve in a High Office and several Low Offices
A person may serve in several Low Offices
High Offices = Federal & Constitutional Offices, Legislature & Public Service Commissioners, State Board of Education
& Regents, County Officials (including elected Weed Boards), School Board Members, City Officers and
Learning Community Coordinating Council Members.
Low Offices = Community College Board members, Natural Resource District Board members, Township Officers,
SID Board members, Village Boards, Public Powers, and Airport Authorities, whether city or county.
The person in question is running for a high office and a low office so this is allowable.
Katie Clark
Nebraska Secretary of State
Elections Division
Ph: 402-471-2555