Posted by
Mark on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:04:40 AM
How would you feel if your organization gave over $16,000 during the 2006 Rocklin school board election and over $6,000 during the 2004 campaign? How would you feel if your organization put in hundreds of hours walking precincts and making telephone calls to get teacher friendly candidates elected to the school board? Your organization gave tens of thousands of dollars and spent all that time to get all 5 members of the Rocklin School Board elected, and then General Secretary Steve Paul and his 4 comrades tell all the Rocklin teachers to go pound sand regarding their salaries.
The Rocklin Teacher’s Union must feel they have been taken to the cleaners. This group worked so hard to get General Secretary Steve Paul, Comrade Todd Lowell, Comrade Greg Daley, Comrade Camille Maben, and Comrade Wendy Lang elected to the school board over the last 4 years.
While I have always been a supporter of teachers, I have never been a fan of the teacher’s union. However, I do feel sorry for this group. There is nothing worse than politicians taking your money and promising you things before they get into office. Once in office, they disregard the promises made during the campaign. The real sad part is, the teachers are going to be stuck with Comrade Maben and Comrade Daley when they are re-elected in November. Teachers, you only have 2 years until General Secretary Paul, Comrade Lowell, and Comrade Lang are up for re-election.
During the August 20th Rocklin School Board meeting, the school board voted on the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy’s (WSCA) charter request. The teachers wanted to address the board during the public comment to express their frustrations with their contract negotiations. The teachers want to be compensated like teachers in other school districts. General Secretary Paul decided to let the teachers sit while all the school choice parents made their comments to the board. These teachers worked all day in the classroom and then they come to a board meeting to address the school board during public comments. Public comments are always first on the agenda. General Secretary Paul decided to teach the teachers a lesson and made them sit for hours while the charter school was discussed. He then opened the meeting up to public comments. What a slap in the face to all the Rocklin teachers.
The Politburo, better known as the Rocklin School Board, voted down the WSCA charter request 5 – 0. General Secretary Paul and his comrades continue to believe they know what is best for your children. I come from the school that parents know what is best for their children.
I am a very strong supporter of school choice. I do have a message for all the school choice parents. Four years ago, you had an opportunity to help get a school choice candidate re-elected to the Rocklin School Board. Most of you sat on the sidelines. During the 2006 election, you had a chance to get 2-school choice candidates elected. Many of you sat on the sidelines again. Many of you thought the campaign was too nasty. General Secretary Paul did not care if the campaign was nasty. He just wanted to eliminate school choice. Now you are paying the price for not getting politically involved.