Call me cynical, but I think they are all too far gone..

Good for Him. My Question is why are Public Employees making so much more in Salaries and Retirement Benefits than the rest of us ?

I'm just curious to know how some people are gauging whether or not someone makes too much $$$$. People are willing to put their two cents in about salary, but usually have no clue as to actual responsibilities for those who receive that pay.

Joe

It simple, they are greedy and they have political influence over the people who make their salaries.

You do know he's a Republican right? Should have known.

A Tea Party Republican no less!

Joe Californian,

People always like to compare public sector jobs to private sector. This man manages 35 districts, 325 schools, and probably 6000+ teachers PLUS administrators and staff. That puts him in a league with a four star general or admiral, or the CEO of GE, Dupont, or Walmart. And ahead of the heads of Ford, the new GM, Microsoft or Apple. How much do the corporate CEO's receive?

So, he's a tea party republican. That explains his wanting less government for himself. If he had been a liberal democrat he would have demanded higher taxes from the rich to support his raises, a benefits package for him and 400 of his closest friends, plus his own unions to force everyone to be paid 200,000 a year under him, though he wouldn't have to pay any of those fees himself, and every person who voted democrat would get a 600 voucher from the state, whereas if you voted republican, you will receive a higher tax rating.

joe californian.....Public employees in fact dont make more than the rest of us. Look up the statistical info and stop listening to that drug addict rush limbaugh.

For goodness sakes, if you have a brain, use it.

Oh, by the way, he is a Baptist minister.

NOW, I may consider a tax increase for education... If only he was in our district...

At our school, the Superintendent is making $120,000/yr but only manages five schools. Two of which are online schools.

This is definitely a good guy.

Yeah, I think most of us read that, space guy. LOL!!

What a great guy, one who is willing to sacrifice for his beliefs. Maybe he's what this country needs...more selfless people. (military excepted, they already sacrifice for their country!) But still, it's nice to see someone stepping up and putting his money where his mouth is, so to speak.

If he had been a liberal democrat he would have demanded higher taxes from the rich to support his raises, a benefits package for him and 400 of his closest friends, plus his own unions to force everyone to be paid 200,000 a year under him, though he wouldn't have to pay any of those fees himself, and every person who voted democrat would get a 600 voucher from the state, whereas if you voted republican, you will receive a higher tax rating.

Go-ahead add proof of any Democrat/Liberal school district that has demanded higher taxes to support his or her raises, Plus a benefit package for him and 400 of his closest friend, PLUS he or she has forced everyone in their own unions to be paid 200,000 a year under him or her!

Please add proof that this has happened anywhere in the United States School Districts! As usual some people just can't handle even one small positive bit of news! They make it all about politics and US vs. THEM, and that is one reason this country is going into the crapper! Give it a break for one day!

It's funny because I was just talking about how America has lost it's values, and here I am confronted by the reality that maybe it does not apply to everyone, and that's something that I'm happy to be wrong about ..... A big thumbs UP ...

Go-ahead add proof of any Democrat/Liberal school district that has demanded higher taxes to support his or her raises, Plus a benefit package for him and 400 of his closest friend, PLUS he or she has forced everyone in their own unions to be paid 200,000 a year under him or her!

One Word

Wisconsin.........

This is something nice of him doing, but I am wondering how the hell this man got up into collecting close to 1 mil as a superintendent. Something smells like fraud here if you ask me.

He should have been making no more than 150k per year, but 800k a year. He was robbing the schools and the people imo.

This needs to be looked into and investigated.

One Word

Wisconsin.........

Lmao Wisconsin is a State, you mean where the GOP/Baggers are trying to kill all collective bargaining? You mean where the same GOP/Bags are trying to kill the middleclass? You mean Wisconsin where the GOP/Bagger Governor is owned by the Koch Brothers/Corporate America? Yes great example!

Again please, Go-ahead and add proof of any Democrat/Liberal school district that has demanded higher taxes to support his or her raises, Plus a benefit package for him and 400 of his closest friend, PLUS he or she has forced everyone in their own unions to be paid 200,000 a year under him or her!

He should have been making no more than 150k per year, but 800k a year. He was robbing the schools and the people imo.

This is over 3 years.

Powell's answer? Ask his board to allow him to return $288,241 in salary and benefits for the next three and a half years of his term. He technically retired, then agreed to be hired back to work for $31,000 a year — $10,000 less than a first-year teacher — and with no benefits.

Joe-He is a superintendant-the head guy. The head guy of shell oil, dupont, GE etc make millions per year. He does not make more than an equivalent person in the private sector. His benefits are not spectacular either-nothing, I repeat nothing like the CEO's in the private sector. I live next to a retired public school administrator from California; he moved to Florida (houses are cheaper) so he could live-he could not afford to live in California when he retired. He lives with his retired teacher wife and they just live comfortably in the smallest house in our neighborhood. Yes, he does make more than a 7-11 worker, but he also is responsible for taking care of our children and running several schools. It is a little more than "do you want jalapeno's on your nachos?"

joe californian

Good for Him. My Question is why are Public Employees making so much more in Salaries and Retirement Benefits than the rest of us ?

On the average (you can look it up), public employees do not make "so much more" in salaries and benefits than private employees - they make less, especially in salary. For example, someone graduating with a Bachelor's and deciding to become a teacher makes far lower in salary with a Bachelor's degree who goes into the private sector. Have teachers, in many areas, received good (and sometimes better) benefits as opposed to people with the same amount of education in the private sector? Yes, and the reason why is because, through collective bargaining, teachers have accepted far lower salaries in the trade-off of having better insurance and retirement.

Are administrators in the public sector over-paid and over-benefitted? Of course, just as they are in the private sector. It's based upon the fallacious business model of "brain drain" - if administrators/CEO's aren't over-paid and over-benefited (including golden parachutes), it's believed, falsely, that unqualified people will take those positions. Look at all the corporations and businesses, one after another, who hire what they think are "the best of the best" at pornographically high packages only to have them drive the corporation or business into the dirt, get fired (with the golden parachute), and the whole process starts over again. This is why we're now in the Great Depression II.

Powell's answer? Ask his board to allow him to return $288,241 in salary and benefits for the next three and a half years of his term. He technically retired, then agreed to be hired back to work for $31,000 a year — $10,000 less than a first-year teacher — and with no benefits.

Will the 288,241 go back to the kids and the school, or into someone else pockets.

It's a Noble thing he's doing, but it's the people running the system that has other intentions with funding for our kids and the schools.

They do after all feed them crap in our schools, sold their health out to the vending machines junk-food carriers, and then allow gangs and thugs to infiltrate the schools as well.

I hope this money is used wisely, but I double it will have any impact whatsoever as long as you have corrupt people running the school system.

Remember the CA lottery where every ticket sold a nickel was suppose to go to our schools. What happened to that. The schools are 10X worse now before the lottery system was in place.

It was a sham from the get-go. Ca governor saw a big payday in taxes off the CA Lottery, and to hell with the schools.

He should have been making no more than 150k per year, but 800k a year. He was robbing the schools and the people imo.

Read the article again. He doesn't make $800K a year - that was what he would have been paid in salary and benefits over THREE years. And as someone mentioned earlier in this thread - his job responsibilities are equivalent to the CEO of a major corporation - yet his salary probably wasn't one-tenth of what those CEOs make per year.

I respect and applaud the philosophy: "I have enough, what do I need more for?"

It's hard to put up with the more prevalent philosophy: "I have more than you and I can get even more!"

Greed, the love of money, is the downfall of our civilization.

Josephelk-better to bag than be a looney lib.

joe-

these people generally have a doctorate degree and 20 to 30 years experience.

In case you are not familiar, a masters will cost anywhere from 10 to 45 thousand by the time everything is said and done (fees, books tuition) and a doctorate is even more plus about 10 years of education.

I have a masters and am still paying for it. I won't do a doctorate because of the time and cost.

For those of you saying this Fresno Superintendent is a TEA PARTY Republican, back that up with substantiation, please.

Powell said he wanted to restore people's confidence in the government. Back at Sanger Unified he was the Department Chair in the Social Sciences. He has a degree in the Political Sciences from CSU (a public school) and a degree in Educational Admin. As a negotiator, he said he loves bringing two opposite sides together in politics. He disagrees with the budget cuts but is trying to his best to accommodate these mandated cuts, and wants to improve the quality of education in the schools he's responsible for. Unlike the radical right, nowhere does he advocate an increase in classroom sizes. Although they occasionally debate, he doesn't consider the labor union his enemy.

I may be wrong, but this doesn't sound like someone who's a member of the divisive TEA PARTY, to me... I know of highly religious yet secular people that vote for liberal causes, but you wouldn't know that, given a sizable number of religious fundamentalists that vote as a block, seemingly against their own interests in this country. But does it matter how Powell votes? His actions speaks for itself.

abc30.typepad.com/abc-30-blogs/2011/01/larry-powells-priorities-promises.html

www.redorbit.com/news/education/506123/editorial_powell_for_county_schools_longtime_educator_has_the_tools/index.html

Josephelk-better to bag than be a looney lib.

Ha Ha ha ha Ha Ha ha Ha Ha ha ha Ha Ha ha Ha Ha ha ha Ha Ha ha Ha Ha ha ha Ha Ha ha ha ! I think your statement saying better to bag tells us where you stand or should I say kneel!

I'm just curious to know how some people are gauging whether or not someone makes too much $$$$.

if someone else is willing and able to do your job for less pay then you`re making too much money.

His salary is not 800K per year, if YOU would have read the article correctly you would have seen it was about 800K over 3.5 years, guess you flunked reading comprehension....

To those of you arguing that wanting less, or accepting less, makes one better than the opposite I think it is your values that are the problem. If this man wanted to take his salary, which was known before he ran for, and won, the office, and give it to any charity he wanted then that is fine. Good for him. But if he wanted to take that money and fund his grandkids' education, or help them buy a home, or ANYTHING else he wanted to do with that money, well fine again.

The point is that is is his money to do with as he wants, not his money to do with as you want. It's such a shame that our national culture now favors the mentality that what someone else owns is mine if I want. No wonder we have been in an economic death spiral. No wonder we've been stealing from our heirs their money so we can live beyond our means today. No wonder we favor too many politicians who regale us with class warfare rhetoric.

Just thank this man for his generosity and treat others who make different choices just as admiringly. Why? The guy who keeps that money for himself helps the nation just as much--possibly even more--but less easily quantifiable.

Jerry-1903677 - You are the one who is wrong! In CA, it is a known unrefutable fact that on the average (you look it up), public teachers DO make "much more" in salaries and benefits than private teachers. Fact! Another fact, the pensions that basically don't exist for private employees in CA are being abused to the tune of $60K, $80L, and even commonly over $100K per year from retirement in late 50s to early 60s for a public school teacher. Ridiculous. This is a large reason why CA is beyond broke. Changes will have to come b/c the state is broke now let alone in 5 or 10 years time. I don't give a rats rumpus what potentially useless Bachelor's degree was earned by my kids teacher 20 or 30 years ago. I have an MBA and engineering degree and my employer only caress about paying me for the job they want me to do NOW. I don't get bronie points or more $$ b/c of my degree.

You are out to absolute lunch with this statement..."and the reason why is because, through collective bargaining, teachers have accepted far lower salaries in the trade-off of having better insurance and retirement."

Get it through you head - the CA public school teachers get higher salaries, WAY better benes, pensions that don't exist in the private sector because..they spent union dues electing Democrats who forced into law rich egregious benes and pensions to public union ilk who then funneled more $$ to their campigns. All of this is a lousy ponzi scheme that taxpayers have to pay for for mediocre public education. Changes are WAY overdue.

In Wisconsin the average cost per student is $10,791 dollars

children in wisconsin have to go to school for 175 days per year.That averages out to about $308.31 a week per student. since tax payers are spending that much money wouldn`t it be better to just close the schools and hire a private tutor for every kid? They would get a better education and it would create a lot of new jobs.

Perhaps if teachers weren't preoccupied with going to violent protests and yanking their students out with them our children could get a good education. Most of the children were just being used as propaganda to give the appearance they were concerned.

LMAO I just love it when people blame the teacher and for you to blame it on a Union, That is Crazy talk! What about the parents of the children? What about Bush's failed no children left behind!

"No Child Left Behind is firmly cemented as President Bush's failed education experiment," said Dennis Van Roekel, NEA president. "Such overemphasis on standardized testing, combined with a lack of funding, has forced schools to narrow the curriculum and divert resources from art, music, social studies and physical education to teach to the test.

http://www.nea.org/home/29458.htm

I hope you and your kids can read this definition and understand what it means. If not, my point is proven.

LOL again, my first child Graduate from College 3 years ago and my youngest graduated high school this year! My children are working and doing great! Maybe instead of parents like you blaming teachers and Unions, you should look in the mirror first! You should sit down with your child and read them a book or take the freaking XBOX or PLAYSTATION3 away and have them read a book!

Wisconsin appears to get some of the best returns on its education spending compared to other states (They say below) and your $10,791 dollarsis middle of the road for cost of educating kids!

New York - New York spent $17,173 per student for public education in 2007-08, more than any other state and 67 percent more than the U.S. average, according to Census Bureau statistics released Monday.

The $10,259 average nationally — $6,914 less than New York's — was a 6 percent increase over 2006-07, the Census Bureau said. New York's spending went up 7.4 percent over the period.

http://www.vosizneias.com/59045/2010/06/29/new-york-state-spending-17173-per-student-highest-in-u-s/

For example, Wisconsin appears to get some of the best returns on its education spending compared to other states – it has a relatively low per pupil expenditure ($10,791 – just over the national average) but the highest graduation rate in the country (89.6 percent). Iowa and Minnesota, with slightly lower graduation rates (84.6 percent for both), also buck the trend with lower than average per pupil expenditures ($9,520 in Iowa and $10,048 in Minnesota).

http://edmoney.newamerica.net/node/36914

As for proving your point you did prove @!$%#!

Tea Party/TeaBag/TeaBagger/Bagger/Bag all = GOP which has lost their freaking mind!!!!!!

Interested Parties,

I was thinking we, the well to do the "Country Club" set, I live in Palm Springs (the stereo-typical laid back life). I pay my taxes and so forth just as anyone, American Citizen, a natural right it seems to pay our taxes. But that those more able make such an effort I mean sacrifice money for "Our Country" should do so, but this is America, I feel negative and anti-rich (they should pay more). What all that entails is to lengthy to go into. They are to cheap here and in being short sighted they do not see the future of America is tied in with the quality of life they and their family will live in and we of course want to see a better nation and a more prosperous one too, that is for sure.

I still am trying to find the "Official" number for "children living below poverty guidelines". So far the number is between 43million and 56 million and I do not believe my numbers. This has proved at first blush a little more difficult to pin point and come up with a "general number" that which is not skewed. Let's look at the number and make our assessments at that time and let us see as close as we can a "pattern" of correlations (poverty and its attributes, markers).

To fix our country and fighting terrorism is a big factor yes but our nation can do better by the American worker and citizen. Re-write some laws of immigration if necessary while maintaining a factual day to day picture of what our Southern Border is doing and maintaining some focus there. I think to this "problem area" we are being some reactionary force more than visionary and moving forward with a clear mission, fix America first we can secure this border and live as one with the people living along this old border. I know much of the Southwest border as a Californian I have been all along most of our South Western border states.

We cannot fix the problems on the poor they will be as we do taken care of only with those of us with the means to help our government other wise the way we treat our elderly is a big C. I hope I am not being to harsh but compared to other modern western nations and the way they treat their elderly we are one mean hearted bunch of tight fist-ed self absorbed nation in neurosis. The Bonfire of The Vanities or was it "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" the HST book. We need to take a good look at our modern day Values.

I wanted to comment on the lapse of benevolence of the cheap money mongering of our American the sense of being countrymen and solidarity of our community. Talk of the right of feeling entitled????? ?? This would certainly be a candidate for "joke of the day". The tenets of this benevolence seem to have been lost on this generation of my fellow countrymen (the rich).

I think of our first President and his wisdom along with Ike. Lots of commonality and community has been left out of modern living" and now we have tasks we must face together as a nation and be truly educated and ready with the next generation of Americans to tackle the problems we know exist. The "Nexus" of all is self-aggrandizement and paying as little as possible for all the liberty we so enjoy without building a nation for the future. Nano and "Green" (source of new jobs) we can lead the world but only with a concerted effort and commonality of purpose.

You see there comes a time when the price of our security must be more dearly paid for by those that have so much at stake. These two along with others are clear winners and "no brainier". I don't understand the dis-connect as my families even if they have not served as I did and our entire family (a couple of exceptions) are Veterans. Even if they did not serve I served so that they could enjoy the basic rights of man as recognized by the United Nations and as other Democracies around the world. This is not a sum zero game where my gain is in direct proportion to your loss. That is a self-defeating notion that leads us back and not forward in benevolence to accomplish anything of greatness. What we do that is worthy to be called great will be for the commonality of Americans and mankind and not a select privileged few. This is almost childish to think other than this and still want to be Christian. I mean there can be some low level of mankind that can call itself Christian and have little if anything in common with Jesus but certainly marks the proponents as phony charlatans snake charmers really with one purpose to dupe you out of your money, you do see this for the money three card Monty it is?

We can trace back to Ancient Greece over two thousand years ago the birth of "Democracy" and the battle with the "rich" (Oligarchies) right from the start with the death of Socrates marking a tipping point in our Western Cultural Heritage. It now seems we are regressing (going back to the past) and not evolving which is never a good sign. Even equilibrium is preferable to a decline as that which I understand is the story of the one dollar bill and the "goods and services" it will get for you today versus ten years ago. Here is a sad tale as it seems we have lost ground and we have less in to spend after ten long years and counting and are in a baby buggy ready to go plunging off the cliff. Well we will pray with Perry no need to think rational objective self-interest - no - lets us pray for what I do not know but I will cast my vote this year and just watch the side show along with everyone else.

A Large Group of the
Most Wealthy French ask for Higher Taxes:......(read one and copy/paste if needed)

Yes it is true google it up you do not see it here but this is a fact and big news in many circles go ahead and google this and see what the French Rich are willing to do for their country what about our Rich? hint the answer is nothing, read Warren Buffet's open letter for the well to do to do something for "OUR"
country. But poor Warren he is not much listened too. Here a short excerpt:

"The move follows an open letter by 16 executives and wealthy French,
including Europe's richest woman, L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, who
offered to pay a "special contribution" in a spirit of "solidarity" because they had benefited from the French system"

Now just google and
research and see for yourself lol. Can this be True?????

Yes, Let Freedom Ring…..What do the Europeans know of giving and sacrifice which America - we don't get it?

Good Luck and Good Night

Post Script:

My admiration for the person making this sacrifice and just cannot say enough of how great of him and he is no big man of means no he has a rational reasonable secure as we can make it money to make ends meet ans then some and what more do we really need after a fixed point? After that he has a fantastic philosophy of life. A good example for others to follow.

juliop - The sane among us object to the Tea Party because it is a ruse and hoax. The Tea Party are extreme right-wing corporatists who are using populism as a means to enslave us all. It is all for increasing the federal budget deficit by slashing taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and securing corporate welfare in perpetuity. It is also intent on skimming trillions off the backs of middle class Americans by privatizing Social Security, and by taking us into perpetual wars so the likes of Halliburton and Xe can continue to blunder the treasury.

Optimistic you are right that Halliburton was awarded no bid contracts of $10 billion or more in Iraq and their not even paying their subcontractors! What an American model company! Greed and corruption and billions of dollars and they wont pay their bills?

Halliburton is also Fracture mining in the United States polluting our water supply for more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and Cheney got the Safe Drinking Water Act changed so Halliburton could make their Billions every year!

The latest lawsuit, filed October 26, charges that Halliburton subsidiary, Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), has refused to pay $20.4 million for food services and other work near the city of Tikrit provided in 2003 by the Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting (KCPC) and the Morris Corporation of Australia for several months after the invasion of Iraq.

The complaint follows swiftly on the heels of an October 15 lawsuit on behalf of the Kuwaiti construction company, La Nouvelle, which demands of more than $224 million for similar services the firm performed in Iraq and Kuwait as a subcontractor to KBR.

The legal challenges only add to the mounting problems of the besieged company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, which is performing work in Iraq at an estimated value of $10 billion or more.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11613

Hydraulic fracturing (fracing) is a drilling technique that was developed by Halliburton. Millions of gallons of fresh water, along with sand, and cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are injected under high pressure miles down the drilling hole to fracture the limestone shale and release the oil and gas trapped within.

In 2005, at the urging of Dick Cheney, former Halliburton CEO, Congress exempt fracing from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In 2001, Cheney's energy task force report "touted" benefits and ignored consequences. His office was "involved in discussions about how fracturing should be portrayed in the [EPA] report." Halliburton earns about $1.5 BILLION annually from hydraulic fracturing.

if someone else is willing and able to do your job for less pay then you`re making too much money.

Ok, that has got to be the dumbest statement I have ever seen. ANYONE who has been in a job for 20+ years will OBVIOUSLY be making more than someone just out of school. Can they DO they job? probably. Can they do it as well and as efficiently as someone who has been doing it for 20 years? Unlikely. This however is the mindset of a good many companies and it's why ppl who have been in their positions 20+ years are being fired for the newest graduate out of college who has no experience but is willing to do the job for half the pay. It's true, you do get what you pay for.

i agree with persever

you should pay more in taxes, you do make more money than you need and should pay more in taxes.

Al-1057927

joe californian.....Public employees in fact dont make more than the rest of us. Look up the statistical info and stop listening to that drug addict rush limbaugh.

For goodness sakes, if you have a brain, use it.

Al, do you think the average wage in Ca. is 65,500 a year?

Average Base Pay for State Employees
Year Annual Salary
2009 $65,484
2008 $64,656
2007 $63,048
2006 $59,388
2005 $56,568
2004 $55,056
2003 $54,012
2002 $50,616

http://www.dpa.ca.gov/job-info/workforce/average-base-pay.htm

juliop

This is the platform for the TEA PARTY. Who objects to it and why?

Your definition is accurate. The opposition to the TEA Party are the typical Liberal Progressives who want to advance a cradle to the grave government built on social and economic justice for the collective (code for socialism). These are the people who have become indoctrinated into believing that the criminals in our government have their best interest in mind.

The most compelling issue is that they criticize the private sector corporations as evil and "enslaving" yet they support the largest corporation, our government, who is teetering on collapse. We are ALL now enslaved to paying off the massive debt that our government has created and the convoluted thinking of Liberal Progressives is to make it bigger. If any private sector corporation were run as inefficiently and corruptly as our government it would be filing bankruptcy and criminal investigations would be demanded. Shareholders of private institutions demand success from their investments yet the Liberal Progressives reward the failure of our government with demands of more of our money being given to it. This is the brainwashing that has occurred in the Liberal mind. The submission of the Left to the government is embarrassing.

Remember, the Liberal mind is so consumed with self-pity and dependence it cannot, and will not, try to escape the chains of government. Amazingly our Founder's and Framer's foresaw this over 234 years ago, yet the Liberal's defy their logic and demand more corruption and lies under the guise of a compassionate government.

As you can see from some of the ridiculous posts after your question, the standard talking points are the usual Halliburton and of course the latest buzzword "fracking" or any other conventional energy policy solution. They regress to events 10 years ago yet they ignore the "no-bid" contracts that the current administration gives to its own personal interests. Names such as Black & Veatch ($266 million dollar no-bid contract), Checchi & Company Consulting, Inc., ($25 million dollar no-bid contract to prominent Democrat contributor Vincent V. Checchi) will never make it into the Lamestream media headlines. More hypocritically is the $586 million dollar no-bid contract given to Halliburton (GASP!) last year by the government. It seems Cheney is still pulling the purse strings of the Obama administration or the hypocrisy of the Left just seems to compound itself. I'll let you decide.

Our current administration is on course to create a near $17 TRILLION Dollar National Debt by 2013 and the Liberal Progressives look the other way. Their sacrosanct entitlements, social programs and pensions consume over 57% of our budget. Social Security is quickly becoming insolvent. Medicare and Medicaid continue to allow over $500 BILLION Dollars in waste, fraud and abuse. Welfare is no longer a safety net, it has become a lifestyle for millions. 47% of Americans don't pay any taxes and the Liberal's solution is to penalize the only entities that have any chance of supporting their helplessness.

As you can see, the common sense of the TEA Party movement or any other effort to reign in our out of control government is demonized and ridiculed. This is the absolute irrationality of Liberal Progressives. They have no ambition or self-determination to help themselves so they expect you and me to do it for them. This is the disease known as Liberalism. Our only hope for change is to eliminate this embarrassing existence and return to American exceptionalism, not mediocrity.

Chris-12345

Jerry-1903677 - You are the one who is wrong! In CA, it is a known unrefutable fact that on the average (you look it up), public teachers DO make "much more" in salaries and benefits than private teachers

Chris, you didn't read my post clearly. I didn't say that private school teachers make more than public school teachers, I said that teachers with a Bachelor's Degree make far less by working in the public sector than those with a Bachelor's degree in the private sector. Yes, private school teachers, on the average, make less than public school teachers but they are still teachers. Teaching is not a lucrative field. The only time it is for those in education is when people claw their way to the top of administration (and that includes those in private education). But administrators do absolutely nothing to educate a child (or a college student). They, like all administrators and CEO's whether in the public or private sphere, are grossly overpaid and over-benefitted for doing absolutely nothing. They don't deliver the product or service - the lowest paid workers on the rung do.

Got it now?

Since this guy retired and was hired back, is he still retired and is he getting his retirement pension ? If so, how much is that ? Did this guy just give up the double dip ?

Don't get me wrong, I think he did the right thing, but exactly how altrutistic is this gesture. I want the full story, is this a matter of someone not being a scumbag double dipper (retire, then be hired back for the same or more money) or is this really someone who is truly giving back. If the former, ok, he's not a BAD GUY, if the latter, he truly deserves to be commended.

Sorry for being a cynic, but too many government employees are just out for themselves while they are "serving the people."

F Walsh...if your parents had any sense of humanity, you would not be here.

Now stop playing on the computer and from this point forward, ask your mom and dad to supervise your computer time.

Al-1057927::: The same could be said about YOU. You not only should stop playing on the computer, you should go back to an Etch-a-sketch to write your comments.

Etch-A-Sketch! Do they still make those? Does that ever bring back memories. Anybody remember Spyrograph? Circle in a circle, ring within a ring, with Spyrograph and you can do your own thing. You just can't leave it alone, Spyrograph!

Leave it alone Jerry.. please

I applaud this school administrator for doing what he can. We should all applaud him. If you don't think so, then perhaps reading the article 2 or 3 times might help. If that doesn't do it then perhaps more should have been spent on your education.

Jerry,

I got a good chuckle out of that! I loved my Spirograph!

Thanks for the memories.

.... without morals or a conscience :(

Its funny how Americans have gotten such a bad reputation for being greedy and dishonest when nothing could be further from the truth. In reality Americans are about average when compared to the peoples of other countries in this respect. Obviously we cannot compete with places like Japan where you could leave your expensive camera on a park bench and come back the next day to find that it is still right where you left it. But neither are we anywhere close to the bottom of the list where honesty is concerned. In fact you often find the most greedy people in some of the poorest countries on earth. In these countries society is set up to keep the poor people poor and the rich people rich. That is actually not the case here despite all the irresponsible rumors to the contrary. Also people seem to have a skewed perception of the definition of greed these days. Greed is not wanting or having more money than you need. It is compromising your ethics to get more money than you need. Sure there are plenty of greedy people and corporations here but the actual percentage of greedy people is not remarkable by earth standards in any way.

Mark, there are many others that deserve blame, dont just single out the republicans.

I guess if you have no ethics then it's not considered greed just good business, plus there is a difference between greed and desperation.

Also I never mentioned republicans or democrats, I am personally disgusted with both parties.

Mark you are so right the US has become a melting pot of scum sucking, dishonest, greedy pigs who are only out for themselves and could care less if their neighbor even had food to eat or a roof over their heads.

As for you Al, Feeling the heat are you LOL.

And Ken nothing could be closer to the truth than Mark's comment. Whether you agree or not this country is full of dishonest lying cheats who would cheat their own mother if they could. I'm not even going to mention DC, Wall St etc.

It is so sad because I remember how proud I was of my country when I was a child and the American dream was a fair wage for a fair days work. We were the country that saved the world from evil, truth, liberty and justice was the American Way. Was that a lie, a dream or a childhood fantasy? I just don't know anymore.

Sorry Old Me but both yours and Marks comments are based totally on false perceptions brought about by the sensationalistic press. Like most people you are sick and tired of hearing about corporate greed and corruption. The fact of the matter is though the actually percentage of the population here who are "greedy" or "dishonest" is not particularly high in relation to other countries. Sorry but it’s a fact. And even if you look at mankind as a whole its not as bad as you think it is. Unfortunately people have this habit of reaching conclusions based on very little data. For example if someone were to move from say California to an east coast city and he ran across a couple of bad drivers he will be absolutely convinced that the drivers in this new state are all terrible drivers. Of course the truth is they are probably the same as in his home state. Or they might only be bad in this particular town and the rest of the state has great drivers. The point is that we make conclusion about a group of millions based on encounters with only a few people but somehow we convince ourselves that these few are a representation of the whole group. Also watching the news makes us think the world is worse off then it really is. The news as it is, is about 95 percent sensationalism and only about 5 percent useful data. So watching the news does not make one more informed it simply makes one more cynical, frustrated and fearful. Being constantly bombarded with bad news makes us think that a minority of bad people are actually a majority.

that is strange for me, Old me. My parents came to visit from another state and they wanted to bring a cake for neighbors. We did and they just act like........ WHETEVER, dude.

• It made wonder, we did the right thing to bother ? ?

______________________________________________________________

Now, I hope our lawmakers read the history, altogheter with most of the corporations and Wall-Street.

Time will tell truth from reality because if it is a house of cards it will come tumbling down.

To Ken F:

To quote you:

"In fact you often find the most greedy people in some of the poorest countries on earth. In these countries society is set up to keep the poor people poor and the rich people rich. That is actually not the case here despite all the irresponsible rumors to the contrary. Also people seem to have a skewed perception of the definition of greed these days. Greed is not wanting or having more money than you need. It is compromising your ethics to get more money than you need. Sure there are plenty of greedy people and corporations here but the actual percentage of greedy people is not remarkable by earth standards in any way."

Unfortunately there are some, who live in a fantasy world where they can't see reality beyond the end of their nose. So typical of Republicans twisted mantra to either blame the greed on the poor, or else the excuse that "it's just plain rumors". But never the truth, or to blame themselves for their errors, because of the,"THEY ARE NEVER WRONG motto". The very same motto the wealthy elite have picked up to take the heat off of themselves with their outrageous unworthy salaries, dishonest tactics that sent our economy into "The Great Recession", bonuses, raises in salaries while the lower echelons take salary cuts along with loss of benefits, etc.

To quote you again:

"Unfortunately people have this habit of reaching conclusions based on very little data. The news as it is, is about 95 percent sensationalism and only about 5 percent useful data. So watching the news does not make one more informed it simply makes one more cynical, frustrated and fearful. Being constantly bombarded with bad news makes us think that a minority of bad people are actually a majority."

So where does your factual data come from to support your comments and statistical facts? You provided none other than to spout your ideas without any backing. Therefore, your last comment (first sentence) applies to your exaggerated statistics, and throughout all your remarks as well. You must watch too much Fauxy News to get those percentages!!! Because that is definitely not so with most of the news reports in my area. Some do tend to sell sensationalism, which I choose to ignore as-much-as possible. News facts, too can be verified in other ways. If you can't trust but 5% of the news for actual useful data according to your words, then where do you you get your information from to form so many of your opinions without giving up the resources? Is it perhaps the Republican "Party Rhetoric Diatribe Philosophy" motto coming out again?? Do you also blame the poor, entitlement programs, or rumors for your problems at home or work as well?? If so to both of those questions (which is most likely), then you can always rely on blaming those groups for all your ills. There's an old saying here that might apply to your manipulative comments which insinuate blaming the poor, or else "it's rumors": "There are none so blind as those, who won't see !" ( And I might add "hear, or understand".) Not only D.C.; but also, in our States, and cities as well, the problem of lacking in good ethical standards is far more serious than you would like to indicate through your rose colored glasses.

I really hope you're wrong and that it's the greedy liars who are in the minority, and therefore make the news on a regular basis. Most of the people I know are honest, kind, generous, and neither greedy nor liars.

Ken your dead wrong. the back bone of your original argument was that this country doesn't separate rich from Poor, but it does. it does it demographically and socio economically. You need an education on what has taken place over the last twenty to thirty years after Reagan began his march too the sea. The gap between rich and Poor is now a chasm of epic proportion. not lying, take a look at the GAO's figures, they don't stretch the truth the way you say the media does...

one guy says he wants to give back to the community.... well good deal and all. thing is, this is just 1 guy. most people go to work earn their money, give a little here and there. thing is, we have never heard of Gates not wanting his paycheck, to include any politician, or other. we have, but the cases have been rare and far between.

Fact is, some people feel entitled to someone elses $$ even tho they have done nothing to earn it! they cry about the rich, and how the rich should give to them... give me one good reason WHY they should? because some person is poor, never worked a steady job, or even a job at all for that matter doesnt count as a reason by any means. if i worked at a job where my employer rakes in millions in profit (and i do) i might have a legit complaint. the fact is, i dont. i like haveing a job, and getting paid for doing a job. i know when raise time comes, i will get my raise if the company i work for can afford it at the time. i dont own a house, a new car or truck, and i just am able to make my ends meet, still living fron check to check... but i get what i earned each week, and like most who live a modest live, am happy with what i have. sure be nice to drive a Bugatti Veyron back and forth to work each day.... live in a 20 room mansion, and rippin it up with the rich folk.... but what satisfaction personally outside of being a snob would i get? the $$ i make now, why should i give it to someone who is unwilling to work for their $$?

there is a difference in this world when it comes to being satisfied, and i think some people need to get their priorities in order.

Ken you live in a fantasy world that is all I can say about your posts. But hey feel free if it makes you feel better nut facts are facts. We live in a it's all about me society with a not in my backyard mentality.

Megalodon-358694- The people you speak of are not the ones crying foul. Since when has Rich been associated with goodness and white robes and the poor indicative of untrustworthiness or disdain?. The people you are speaking of have lost there jobs, homes and self respect, be that job lowly by your standards or not. many are Vets that are now walking the streets with nothing but a mental game to stay sane and occupy their long days of living hell. Megash*thead you need a lesson in humility, your as guilty as the Rich, but not so I would be willing to bet my life on!!!!!!!. I hope the the devil of misfortune visits you soon and lays your guts open too the vultures that are circling!!!!

statistics mean whatever you want them to mean. it doesn`t matter if other countries are worse than we are,there is no pride or honor in being the best of the worst. from my own personal experiences I agree that america is much greedier,imoral and hypocritical than it was 40 years ago.

NBforest I totally disagree with your position on this topic. would I be out of line in drawing a conclusion that your a white male and a Christian? I can assure that people of a different sexual orientation, color, religion or that of being a female would disagree whole heartily with your conclusion about moral injustice, or greed. The new wave Rich began under the age of Ronnie Reagan and has culminated in the total disregard for intellect in our election of Yosemite Sam Bush II, Twice!! for the sake of the nation how did that happen? Do you really seek the days of old? really? You can justify Americas mindset during the era when enlightenment and the Internet didn't exist and you lived in a world created by Dan Rather on the 6 O'Clock news? Really???

I would agree that our society isn't as cohesive as it once was, but I don't think the solution to the problem is to seek another social program to fill the gap. I'd argue that it was the desire of progressives to find a governmental solution to every problem, large or small, that is the cause for the lesser societal cohesion. Why want more of the cause of the problem?

jeffery f

Megash*thead you need a lesson in humility, your as guilty as the Rich, but not so I would be willing to bet my life on!!!!!!!. I hope the the devil of misfortune visits you soon and lays your guts open too the vultures that are circling!!!!

boo hoo, cry me a river! 1st off, white robes and all? tell you something, show me where it makes a difference how much $$ you have that separates the 2. you think the poor are better than the rich when they too rob eachother blind, and shoot one another over piddly sh!t? an a**hole is an a**hole, and the amount of $$ they make or dont make, makes no difference.

tell you something too pal... i was laid off, and out of work for a bit over 3.5 years, and never took a day off from looking for a job! i sold everything i had and then some to keep a roof over my head, and even then, i still couldnt keep the power on at times. But i tell you one thing, not one time did i look down on someone for what they had, or didnt have. i was happy to make food to put on the table make my own bread, and anything i could make or grow. i lost a lot more sh!t than i think your childish unknowing little azz could possible imagine, or deal with loseing without bawling like a baby, and not one time did i shed a tear, but kept my head up. and dont think i dont feel for those who dont have a job who are out there looking either you stool..... i take what i can and i donate food, and yes some cash when i have it, even tho i still play catch up.

Then again i think that might be the point i was getting at, you seemed to over look, due to your own spiteful jealous self isnt it? you look back at ANY 1 of my posts, and see where i cast blame on someone, because they had more $$ than me... you cant. you show me where i downgrades the poor, and out of work... you cant. oh, and a**hole... btw, when i had no job other than shoveling snow... i still gave a little to those in need.

So you want to call names and so on? go for it... just shows how much bigger a pos you are than most. As far as humility goes, lol.... pal you dont know the meaning of the word, so till then, maybe keeping the pie hole closed and the eyes a little more open, before talking sh!t, is in order?

To Rich (Post #3.18):

To quote you:

"I'd argue that it was the desire of progressives to find a governmental solution to every problem, large or small, that is the cause for the lesser societal cohesion. Why want more of the cause of the problem?"

So the cause of all the societal problems is due to the poor. Whatever would you do if you didn't have the poor or progressives to blame all your woes on? You'd be at a real loss to lay the blame on. Your idea suggests cutting every program for the really needy, take away all the entitlements that people paid into, and to provide all the special Governmental entitlements only for the wealthy elite in the way of all those many tax breaks, bonuses, "death tax benefits, tax exemptions, etc., etc. To use the Republican words back at them, they did not earn them anymore than the Republicans claim that the poor, middle class, disabled, or elderly earned their entitlements for which they themselves did pay into. The wealthy elite ruined our economy, and now the Republicans want the middle class, poor, and elderly to pay for the elite Wall Street crimes committed to our nation (which created the biggest Recession in our history) without any elimination of tax cutting benefits or burdens placed on them. They expect the workers to work for such low wages that can't possibly sustain life in today's economy. The wages have not kept up with inflation. Now that is what I call 100% greedy. But then too many Republicans rely on manipulations to twist all the facts, to falsely use religion as stepping stone of self-righteousness above all others, and just haven't been smart enough to see that others see through the shallow, superficial facade.

Why is his pay ridiculous? He runs a district with 195,000 students...that is larger than most companies. He is basically getting paid $1.47 for each student who he is charged with directing their education.

I live in Hutchinson, Kansas where the school superintendent is paid a ridiculous $196,000 per year and only has 4300 total students she oversees. Sounds like this salary is a bargain by comparison!

The Hutchinson, Kansas situation sounds like the typical government fraud that is driving our nation into bankruptcy.

Don't even begin to talk about new taxed until each and every last one of these greedy individuals is purged from our government.

dmiller, if you want to justify his salary by dividing it by the number of students I suppose we'd have to do the same with the CEO of Heinz 57, right? I wonder how much he's being paid for each bottle of ketchup? $.01?

not to diminish his actions. its great that he is taking a short term pay cut to help the school. which in 3 years when he fully retires he will then go back to making his ... looking for the word they used in the story... but i cant find it, but his rather large retirement pay even for that area according to the story.

our schools in the area have the superintendents making average of about $120.000 per year. teachers average $60,000 per year. and to put it in perspective our median income for the area is about $30,000 per year or $45,000 per family.

Well put King! Well put! I love this part below!

which in 3 years when he fully retires he will then go back to making his ... looking for the word they used in the story... but i cant find it, but his rather large retirement pay even for that area according to the story.

Teachers don't average 60k a year

http://teacherportal.com/teacher-salaries-by-state

Most people in other fields (as well as his) would have pocketed every dime he could drain out of the system.

Average teacher salary varies with the district. Here in the Cleveland area, there are a handful of districts where the average is above 60K. A handful average around 45K. Most average somewhere between 50K-60K. The important thing to remember when comparing public employee salaries to their private sector counterparts, is that private employees actually generate money. Private employees can make as much money as they can where public employees can make only as much as the public can support. If the tax money runs out, and the taxpayers are bled dry, government has to shrink.

The CEO of Heinz earns something like 16 million dollars and oversees about 33,000 employees. Cali school district has over 200,000. Not really comparable, but I'd say both guys are earning whatever they make.

Why would he care? If he makes more in direct compensation than in pension (which he would) than your logic is incorrect. He may not draw pension for the years he makes more than the limit, but he doesn't loose the right to the pension when he doesn't make the limit. Ergo, take the direct compensation and then draw pension later. Except he didn't go that route - he generously chose less money. Your inability to see good in people is sad.

The only way he could give the money back was to retire and void his old contract. If his contract would have been active, he would have been given the money and paid taxes on it, then give it back to the district as a gift and I am sure the gift would have been too large and it would have been taxed again. It was the easiest way to keep the money in the district.

Popo - you are on to something. I said in my posting - "there has to be more to this story". I was not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about his "gift" of generosity.

There is WAY more to this story than meets the eye. I am sure that the MOTIVE behind this action was for #1 - himself - not the district or any program - which was eluded in the story.

Popo and Segdirb,

I thought I was cynical. I suggest that you read both the article and dmiller's comment and crawl back into your hate hole.

No - it is called using common sense Bill - you are way to gullible and I bet you also give money to every idiot you see standing on a street corner with a sign saying they are hungry and homeless - when most of them make more money than you! Lesson One - "Never take anything at face value!"

I always go into feel good stories like this one with skepticism - until I can punch no holes in it at all does it get a green light from me.

Segdirb,

For ABC News, he did remark that his retirement was maxed out. Big deal. He could have kept working at $280k a year, probably with some tax advantages. But he chose to let the district have this money back, to use in areas that probably would have been cut. I still feel that your cynicism is beyond healthy.

BTW, I am a church treasurer. We have an alms program, but we never give cash. Either direct pay of a bill, we fill a gas tank, or distribute food. Never cash. Is that cynical enough? How about the fact that we track recipients.

Po you didn't read the story or you didn't understand it. He will recieve his retirement when he fully reitres in 3 years not now. So all he will recieve for the next 3yrs is the $31k period. What he did is more then generous on his part, what do you do to help anyone other than yourself? the same goes for the rest of the Bozo's who thinks he is trying to get over on the taxpayers.

Segdirb, I gather in your eyes behind every good turn there is a selfish motive? Why is that? This guy is doing what he can to save his school district, and the tax payers some money. It's one thing to be distrustful, but sometimes people make it a way of life and what they think they are seeing in others, is really what is within themselves. Don't let it get to that point, you seem like a good person.

If I understand this article, the superintendent has retired and been rehired as a retired annuitant. Receives his full pension and benefits under his retirement plan. Then takes the job at $31,000 per year because most likely this is the amount that will be under the cap of working and taking a pension at the same time. The article doesn't say whether he is working full-time for the $31,000 or part-time. But it seems like a win win situation for all involved if the savings realized by not hiring another person in that position is actually funneled down to students and teachers in the classroom. He really hasn't personally suffered a pay cut as the article would lead you to believe. He is undoubtedly making more money than if he would have remained in his regular position. The district continues to have an experienced individual running the operation for a fraction of the cost. Not having to pay benefits alone would essentially fund one more teacher at a starting salary. The article is a little misleading stating he gave up $800,000 in pay. It should read more like, "long-time superintendent retires with a full pension and benefits and is rehired by the district at a lower salary that helps him to avoid paying higher taxes and allows him to keep that full pension." Not sure that this is what has happened but am familiar with these types of arrangements.

For those who believe that teachers are way over paid for the work they do; In our household, two public school teachers (one Special Education) work diligently to educate the students they serve. They spend tireless hours creating meaningful lessons above and beyond the contract time they are paid for. They spend their own money buying supplies and classroom items to bring more than just the basics to the students in their care. They act as counselors, coaches, psychologists, nutritionists, parents to many students that do not have these supports outside of school. They are not taking lavish vacations or driving fancy cars. They are dedicated to the profession of teaching and those who are fortunate to have them as a teacher, lives will be enriched because of it. Please walk in their shoes before you condemn all in the profession!

I was thinking the same thing.

I am somehow glad that all five of you are in the minority. There is a smell coming off of this and it is not the smell of apple pie.

Gee Segdirb, you seem really pissed off that there are decent people living in this country. I count myself fortunate that I see people helping their neighbors & community every day with no thought of personal gain. Go to your local hospital or library or whatever organization suits you and volunteer. It might just change your outlook.

This is a lesson ALL could learn from, greed is not limited to Wall Street, and there is nothing wrong with making allot of money, it's what you do with it, that determines what kind of person you are.

The sad part is the people from Katrina that moved to Houston created fighting in the schools and don't want jobs. They come to job fairs and want checks. They already have apartments fully air conditioned with bills paid. And this was going on even before the recession hit.

Maw -- What you just said is the definition of a stereotype. How about rather than making broad generalizations about people, you actually try to learn things about others. You, and many others who share similar ways of thinking, are what drives the hate and divisiveness in this country. Please, please educate yourself.

To imnotlost:

You are an idiot. It is TRUE democrats (and liberals) who have fought greed at every turn. He is so far from being a Republican. His deeds prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Let's see:

Kennedy- "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." Shame his life was cut short.

Carter-Spends every waking moment since he left office fighting for the rights of the underprivileged (in South Africa, Palestine, America with his work for Habitat for Humanity).

Reagan-Retired to his ranch in CA, never raising a PENNY for those in need (obviously as it went against everything he believed with his BS "pull yourself up by your bootstraps"). BTW, Reagan called Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress "terrorists".

Bush, Sr.-Plays golf every day and goes yachting.

Clinton-Has raised and given BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to help the poor and disadvantaged the world over (regardless of what you think of his actions while in office);

W: Hides out at his ranch in Texas.

You cannot honestly believe this superintendent is a Republican! You obviously are lost.

Take off your rose colored glasses--democrat maxine waters CA got contracts for her husband's bank, democrat barney frank got a job for his boyfriend, democrat pelosi has enriched her bank account last year by about $20 million dollars, democrats Goldman Sachs -- all the fed people come from goldman (google rolling stone and goldman sachs). Democrats say one thing, but do another.Democrats in Bell, CA gave their friends sweetheart deals and bankrupted the city. The stimulus went to Obama's union buddies. GM bailout - the unions were paid before the bondholders-illegal.

imnotlost and MAW,

I researched every article on this that I could find on Google. No where, including his Facebook page, is a political party mentioned. What was mentioned was that He had maxed his pension out out, but he still could have delayed retirement. Instead, he will draw his pension and work for about $2600/month.

Meanwhile, a California prison surgeon, who no longer sees patients, draws a $777000 salary from the state.

Robert Haigh: I was only poking fun at the likes of the people that MAW points out. I'm smart enough to know that there is corruption on both sides of the political fence. You're a "blind following the blind" type dempcrat so I'm glad I don't know you personally. For your information, JFK plagiarized that famous statement, and Jimmy Carter's concern for the poor and down trodden is nothing when you factor in that, like Helen Thomas he would like to see the total destruction of Israel, and the Jews once again scattered to all corners of the earth. He acts like a doddering old senile fool. Why can't he just retire to his front porch and nibble on peanuts?

P.S. You'll feel like a real ass if this school official turns out to be republican.

Learn about the real history of how Israel was created before you spout off at the mouth about how Carter "hates Israel". A good book is "One Palestine, Complete" by Tom Segev, an Israeli and reporter for Ha'Aretz. I guess every Israeli (including friends I have) who fight against Israel's oppression are "self-loathing Jews", right? And Archbishop Desmond Tutu is also an anti-Semite, right? (BTW Semites are "a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs." So how can one be an anti-Semite but hate only Jews?)

Pointing out one's faults, especially in a friend, is intended to help them change their ways. Additionally, I said TRUE democrats (not those who whore themselves out at every turn to climb the political ladder and raise money from the same people they claim to despise-i.e. lobbyists.)

I'm not even close to being a "blind following the blind" Democrat. Once again, spouting off at the mouth based upon one statement I made on a public post? You're soooo sad. Obviously too embarrassed by the right-wingers you support that you can't even respond to the majority of what I posted (because it contains those scary things called FACTS). I honestly feel so sorry for you and your simpleton thoughts.

Didn't W triple aid to Africa while in Office? Wasn't he also with Bill in Haiti after their big quake?

There is some charity info with Bush Sr. This is only after googling for 2 minutes.

Believe it or not, you don't have to be a democrat or a republican to be a humanitarian. All you need is being a good person.

Alright Haigh: I admit, I got harsh with you but you did call me an idiot. Good way to start a shouting match.

Actually, I know a bit about the history of Israel, but what's the point of arguing. I had classes on ancient history in school, and I know that the Phillistines (now called Palestinians) occupied a portion of Israel, in the south I think, and Isralites occupied the rest. After so many back and forth battles the Isralis simply left, and the Palestinians slowly spread through the land. I know it's vague, but am I at least a little accurate? In 1948 they took it back and the Palistinians had nowhere to go but to their neighbors. Helen Thomas took offense at this and her tongue could no longer be repressed by her failing brain when she spouted off those famous words that got her fired. If she were telling the truth, she'd still be there, right? And Carter has to go and write a book likening Israel's treatment of the Palistinians to apartheid. I lost all respect for him as soon as the critique of the book came out. It's at the local library, but I won't be reading it. I never once heard him say that we should give America back to the Indians and Mexicans.

I rather doubt it.

Bertfw,

Did you read his level of responsibility? 35 districts, 325 school buildings, 195000 students, probably over 6000 teachers PLUS administrators and staff. That is a HUGE responsibility that translates per $1.47 per student, or less than one minute per student. I suspect the kids get a lot more than that.

BTW, 35 administrators at $60k each would be $2.1million. Still seem excessive?

you are so sad that you blame everything that has happened to the workers in this country to "the evil unions"! unions are a group of people who negotiate for pay and benefits. these are normal people who are your neighbors, people at your church, etc. they work middle class jobs and are not the enemy. stop listening to fox and those crazy people who say lies so that workers will fight amongst themselves instead of looking at who really hurt our economy-wall street and the bankers. they profited from the collapse of our economy and none of them ever was held accountable. those are who you should be angry with!

jjdcc, thanks for reminding me why I am sad too, my property taxes are so high that I will never be able to retire, but my school district educators sure will and for a nice amount.

No Blue Star

He must be a human being who isn't playing politics either by word or deed.

The President and Congress should take a lesson from this man that public service should come before Party service and Self service.

Blue Star, I agree with what happened stated, he's human. People aren't born with a Democrat or Republican label on their forehead, and his political affiliation has nothing to do with this, so why even go that route. There are good and bad people in both parties. And labeling one party as good, and the other as bad is as foolish as it can get.

Larry is right what is the use of continued stockpliing of mpney once you have attained enough for a comfortable life in retirement.

I for one am spending and what is left goes to the kids but if we spend it all (which I doubt) oh well. They would still get the property and life insurance which is far more than I ever received and we did just fine and raised 3 boys in the process. Which are doing just fine on their own.

I agree! That is why I question his motive of generosity. If he was so GIVING - why did it take him so long to give? Why did he not cut his salary day one if he was so gungho about the program and the district - as well as its survival???

Why all of a sudden???? I am telling you - something smells here and it does not smell pretty!

Gotosleep and Segophant,

What exactly do you think someone who has worked their way up to a CEO position with about 25,000 employees and 195,000 consumers and billions of dollars in plant assets should be paid? I guess you don't whine about mortgage brokers, bond traders, insurance executives, doctors, electrical and plumbing contractors, importers, sales executives, IT executives stock brokers, hedge fund managers and 100s of others of the 6,000,000 Americans who make over $250,000 per annum. Why should the top public sector people make comparable salaries to a guy with a waste disposal business.

jkh

So, with your knowledge and expertise in the area of public sector compensation, what salary range would you suggest for this type of position?

Wakeup-you are and idiot! Parents do not run, organize, monitor or take care of any school system. Parents do not even supervise their children anymore! They are either fighting with each other, divorced, or high on prescription meds or alcohol to give a crap about their kids! My wife is a teacher-she recently sent out seven emails and left phone messages with seven sets of parents for them to come to a conference night (where she stayed for three hours with no pay while I took care of our child) guess how many parents came to discuss serious concerns with their child's school performance? 1-a grand total of one mother came!!!! Before you play race or economics as an excuse-the conference was at night, after work, and my wife teaches in what is considered to be one of the best areas of our county-she works at an "A" school. Parents do not parent-they push it off on someone else, or it just does not get done-kids are never first in adults priorities, always second or third.

Huge salaries-idiot! My wife is a "teacher of the year" a few years ago. No salary increase in 3 years-went to school for 4 yrs, certified to teache learning disabled students and second language students. She makes 41k/yr! I make almost twice that for 36hrs/wk. She cares about kids and loves her job.

Dave,

Inspite of your sarcastic tone I will give you an answer. Superintendents with far less responsibility from NJ to Nebraska make on average $250,000 per annum major districts like NYC and Los Angeles Uniited make slightly more. CEOs of major Charter School Corporations on the low end make $300-$500k and on the high end $750-$1,000 k dependent on value of stock options. University Chancellors at small institutions such as Swarthmore College make $500,000 and at larger institutions like The University of Pennsylvania make over $1,000,000.00 per year. Again private sector executives in education make far more than public sector employees with far fewer employees, realestate or students.

JKH

Oh My! I wonder when the REAL story will hit. I am all eagerness! Someone is going to eventually tell the truth behind this so called action of generosity.

Segdirb, I wonder, do you people to step up and tell you the truth about your attitude?