Monday, May 3, 2010

The Custodians’ Last Days

Tonight’s school board vote on whether to outsource custodial services marks a sad turning point for Matawan-Aberdeen. Our custodians have been long-serving, dedicated, and hard-working employees. They’re being unceremoniously dumped because we can no longer afford to retain them. It didn’t have to be this way. The teachers union had the ability and the opportunity to save the custodians but, given a choice between saving the custodians and taking their raises, the union leadership preferred to take their raises.

Three companies submitted bids to provide custodial services and Pritchard was the lowest bidder at $3.1 million. That’s nearly half of what we’d pay to retain the custodians. For guidance, we can look to Marlboro. In 2006, Marlboro had a projected cost of $2.77 million for 35 custodians. Pritchard, the lowest bidder, was awarded a custodial contract for $800,000. We’ve been in touch with Marlboro and they’ve been pleased with their services and continue to use Pritchard.

For Matawan-Aberdeen, next year’s projected costs are $2.9 million for 36 custodians. On a per employee cost basis, that’s only a 1.8% increase over Marlboro’s estimates despite four years having elapsed. Like Marlboro, that cost includes “salaries, health benefits, pension contributions, Social Security and workers' compensation”.

In March, the teachers union membership argued vociferously to retain the custodians but not one speaker suggested he was prepared to offer any concessions aside from voting to raise property taxes.

The union leadership has had multiple opportunities to save the custodial positions. They could have negotiated healthcare contributions before it became state mandated. They could have offered concessions as a sign of good faith to help the budget pass. They could have given the membership an up or down vote on a pay freeze to save the custodians and other positions.

Today, however, we have a failed budget and a vendor’s bid substantially below expectations. Nothing short of a one-year pay freeze would suffice to offset those savings.

Never again will the union membership be able to proudly wear buttons proclaiming “I CARE about our kids”. When given an opportunity to join in our community’s shared sacrifice and to save their colleague’s and fellow union members’ jobs, the union said no. Next time the union leadership organizes a show of force, maybe they should distribute buttons saying “Show Me the Money”.
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71 comments:

Anonymous said...

This just shows what they are about, GREED. Keep that in mind when negotiating with this bunch of selfish, uncaring, greedy, arrogant, bastards. Will they show up tonight and make believe they care? They don't care about anything but what is in it for them. Now lets hear someone defend this union now. Take the money from them anyway in the next contract negotiation or let em walk. They only care about themselves and everyone knows it.

Anonymous said...

Do you know how many of the current custodians will be hired back? If any?

Aberdeener said...

I don't know. I believe they will be offered positions but the pay/benefits disparity is so great I don't know if anybody would take the job.

don't believe joey's bullshit said...

While it is true that the union screwed the janitors, do not fall into Joey's bullshit here.

Just a few months ago Joey was calling for the privatization of the janitors on this blog, now all of the sudden, he is acting like he is some champion to the janitors who was attempting to save the jobs of the janitord

Like a true politician, joey talks out of both sides of his face. He doesn't give a shit about the janitors. Man up Joey, stop trying to save face now that your plan all along has come true.

You are a lying politician just like the rest of them in this town.

Anonymous said...

Not only has the union screwed the janitors they make these decisions to not help maintain the financial and acedemic integrity of our schools. They don't realize how costs at our schools affect taxpayers in our community and don't care. We are counting on you, Joey, and the rest of our weak elected officials to make them realize the hardships we all are facing.

Anonymous said...

You're counting on joey? Good luck with that.

Anonymous said...

Joey was the only one who said what needed to be said to all the union sheep who are being led down the wrong path. Joey is the only one who keeps what they do in the public limelight and they don't like it. Yeah, Joey is our only hope as the others will prove hopeless once again. Go get um, Joey. The private sector can do it better and cheaper. Teachers should be next if they can't be reasonable.

Anonymous said...

What would the Board have been willing to guarantee had concessions been made? Or were the teachers supposed to take the word of a man who has a Napoleonic complex?

Just to state the facts. The teacher's union had tried to set up dates to meet with the Board prior to April 20th. Joey will never tell you this because he wants you to think that the teachers are all sitting in a corner hoarding a pile of money that they won't share with the custodians, secretaties, and the support staff.

Plain and simple, Joey, just like our governor, is a liar.

Please, Joey, tell me what I have stated that is not a fact.

anon said...

Where in the world was the notification to the public about this meeting?? I have heard about this through hearsay and then got onto this website. I jsut went onto marsd's site and it is not on the running ticker of the district homepage nor is it listed in the meeting schedule. I am on the district's email list and receive emails about tricky trays, but not this? The communication needs to be better!

Also, like the previous blogger, I have heard that concessions were offered by the union but they wanted guarantees in writing - I frankly don't blame them. I understand that they would want to agree to a pay freeze but only if jobs are saved. I can understand that they would be wary of offering concessions without guarantees in fears that the board might use the money they'd be saving with a paycut in other ways other than saving the custodians/librarians, etc.

Please elaborate more on that. Really elaborate.

anon said...

oops - I meant pay freeze, not paycut.

Aberdeener said...

Anon,

At the regular action meeting in March, the union president publicly stated the union would only make serious concessions if they were guaranteed no employee cuts. Given a $7 million hole, that was impossible and they knew it. Hence the offer.

Regarding the special action meeting, it was my expectations an email notification would be issued and I don't know why it wasn't.

As for the nonbeliever who thinks I'd want to fire the custodians whether or not we had concessions, obviously he doesn't understand the budget process or negotiations. All negotiation agreements are in writing.

Anonymous said...

Stop with the union propaganda. Other districts took a pay freeze and jobs were saved just like they would have been in this district. Kosymina is used to pushing this district around in negotiations and he tried his slight of hand tricks once again. If he wanted it to happen it would have happened. Shame on anyone who tries to defend this despicable display of greed.

Anonymous said...

With this stance by the union the custodians will be privatized forever. With that kind of savings the district will never look back. Find some more areas we can save many and get rid of these union thugs.

Anonymous said...

All of you who are speaking about the teachers, who are entrusted with the children of this community for 7 hours a day, like they are worthless, UNCARING, arrogant creatures are the sheep.

So they did not want to make any concessions without a guarantee it would truly make a difference, who can blame them? Everyone looks out for themselves, it's part of human nature. I'm sure that there is not one person on this blog who would agree to lose a fraction of their expected salary without a guarantee the money would save others and not disappear. I know teachers who are taking a paycut in other towns and it's not helping that district much.

You cannot call all these teachers uncaring. That label should be applied to those who complain about the taxes levied on the community that are used for education. Teachers pay taxes just like everyone else, whether they live in Aberdeen, as may do, or another town, their taxes support the schools. Everything costs money. You cannot preserve academic integrity without supporting programs and educators.

I am deeply sorry that the janitors who have been working in the halls for years are losing their jobs, and I wish them luck finding new ones, but the teachers are not the ones who somehow allowed the district to be out $7 million.

Joe Public said...

NEGOTIATION
ne·go·ti·a·tion  –noun
1.mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.

"...the union would only make serious concessions if they were guaranteed no employee cuts. Given a $7 million hole, that was impossible and they knew it."

It looks like the union was right. It seems you were determined to make cuts without a contract settlement because there have NOT been any negiotiations. Mr. Warren, you are on the negotiating team. How many times have you sat down face to face with the union? How many times were meetings planned then canceled? When was the feasibility study done on how much would be saved by janitorial privitization? When did you first ask janitorial companies to come and bid? Was this during your negotiations with the union that lasted late into the night? And are you even advoting a change in how schools are funded with Trenton? I have been making my calls, have you?

If you think the general public, of which I am, can't see through the smoke you're trying to blow to "union bust" then you aren't as smart as you think you are. It's just a shame that the custodians are the scapegoats. If it wasn't the custodians which group would you pick? Bus drives? Kindergarten teachers?

Shame on you and anyone that pretends to be your follower. This not about cutting costs it's about union busting. After all that WOULD be the bigger prize for you wouldn't it?

Anonymous said...

I find it hard to believe that a pay freeze for one year will solve the ills in Trenton. What happens next year? Trenton politicians have not stopped spending so how is a pay freeze for one year by one group going to do anything?

Aren't we mad at the wrong people?

Aberdeener said...

Joe Public,

To my understanding, no meetings have been canceled and Mr. Ruprecht has been in constant contact with the union leadership.

All negotiation agreements are in writing. Had I seen any substantial concessions that would have saved the custodial jobs, I'd have jumped at the opportunity.

Anonymous said...

It is amazing to me Joe that you have the nerve to actually type the crap that you do!
The union offered to meet numerous times with the board and they were either ignored or the meetings were cancelled.
Of course the union wanted a guarantee, you are telling us that if they agreed to a freeze it would have saved the jobs, BUT no one would put that in writing. You may complain all you want about them, but they sure aren't stupid enough to believe all you BS'rs on the board.
So, what you are saying is that you wanted them to agree to a freeze because that would have saved jobs....BUT you wouldn't gaurantee it! LOL
Who is the idiot Joe?
Thank god most people can see through the lies and BS.

UNION ONLY CARES ABOUT $$$$ said...

SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT NOW. WE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT JOEY W SAYS BUT WE SHOULD BELIEVE THAT THE UNION THUGS, THUGS WHO HAVE HELD US HOSTAGE FOR YEARS ARE TELLING US THE TRUTH NOW?

HOW ABOUT THE LOW AND GETTING LOWER TEST SCORES ALL OF THOSE YEARS WHILE THE UNION NEGOITIATED WITH QUINN AND BARZA AND GOT MAXIMUM RAISES. WAS THAT WELL DESERVEDMONEY WELL SPENT?


COME ON KOSMYNA IS A LIAR AND IS A GREAT NJEA UNION SOLDIER? HE IS PROBABLY LOOKING TO RETIRE AND GET A NEW GIG AT THE NJEA OFFICES IN TRENTON.

MIDDLETOWNS MAYOR ASKED FOR ONE YEAR SAVINGS TO SAVE ALL TEACHERS, PROGRAMS AND AIDES. YOU KNOW WHAT THE UNION DID? THEY DID NOT EVEN RESPOND IN THE POSITIVE OR THE NEGATIVE TO THE MAYOR. TYPICAL UNIONS. AFTER ALL IT IS ALL FOR THE UNION AND F EVERYONE ELSE.

SO GLAD THE TEACHERS $130M IS SPENT FOR SUCH QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND REPRESENTATION.

DON'T FORGET THOUGHT THAT IT IS ALL

???????FOR THE CHILDREN????????

Anonymous said...

To "Union..." (who obviously needs to take an elementary typing program) it is your fault our taxes are high because YOU didn't vote in anyone who would refuse the union negiotiated raises and benefits. EVERY board member who EVER settled a contract is at fault. What person doesn't ask for a raise? What person doesn't ask high and accept what the boss says is his bottom line? To say the Union members are thugs is a joke. Unions always accept the bottom line. The Board drew that line every time.

Anonymous said...

I hope the custodians get a better deal than the substitute teachers did.

We lost longetivity in position bonus, extra period bonus (i.e. teaching all day with or without bathroom or lunch breaks), and got Mr Potter from Pottersville for a task master.

One word of remonstrance or objection, and you get put on the sidelines. The "office" has so few workers, whatever your issue is may belong to different individuals, and there is no backup. If they are on vacation, you might wait days or weeks (without pay) for them to tell you what the problem is.

There is no accountability and few explanations offered for delays in communications. Phone calls are routinely not returned. E-mails are returned at whimsey. Calls to the district fall on deaf ears, as we are not their "problem" any more.

Best of luck to the custodians.

Anonymous needs to be tested said...

The union strongarmed negotiations.

If you don't think so then you need to take a test to see if you are a blithering idiot.

You passed you are a blithering idiot.

Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

For an employee to find out they don't have a job because they have read the list of rehires is unbelievable. MARSD has sunk to a new low. You can cry about budgets etc. Too treat an employee in such a disgusting manner is an embarrassment to our community. Joey,Joel,and DICK- may you rot in hell.

Anonymous said...

Negotiations between the union and the board of education have never been fair. The rules are all in the favor of the union and they have spent a lot of money on politicians to ensure that. No matter who is on the board of education once the union professionals get involved their job to "negotiate" becomes impossible. The system is broken and the union and their bought and paid for politicians have made it that way. The union does act like thugs because in the past that has usually gotten them their way. Maybe, just maybe times are changing for the better. The status quo cannot be sustained.

Anonymous said...

Joey, you remind me so much of the typical, sleazy, snake in the grass used car salesman. Oh, wait a minute, isn't your board buddy a used car salesman too? Figures.

Anonymous said...

Dont blame anyone but O Malley for job cuts , he set that tone last year with a zero increase knowing that he would have to pay later , then took his raise and his buddys to the bank and then cried pay freeze after he got his , outsorcing of custodians has been a issue for ten years. Lets face it nobody values the little guy shit rolls down hill

Union is all about me me me said...

People who do their jobs deserve more money?

That is America.

The decisions Dr. O has made on behalf of education, financial prudence and more, is why he gets
40k more then the guy who coached one or two winning teams to a championship.

How is it nobody says anything about that 145K salary? But make 185k to run and operate a whole school district with a 65M budget, improve test scores, streamilne a budget during tough and historically unsure economic times, and look out.

You janitors, teachers and admin people are as easy to read as a paperback. That paperback is titled Me Me Me it is all about me!

Anonymous said...

To the people saying its union thugs strong arm our district just look in the private sector how un union places are treated only 12% of the country is union so now who to blame for the private sector GREED, Look at china the condition of non union employment and many other countries , child labor work for 20 a week yea lets get rid of labors and the laws so we all can get screw by the cooperate greed ( look at Goldman )

Anonymous said...

Whomever said, "Good things come in small packages?"

joey the janitor slayer is my hero! said...

Thank God for Joey! If it weren't for him we would still be shackled down by the evil thug janitors! Joey is my hero! I can't wait for him to put those overpaid hall monitors in check! Hell, I bet we could save a few hundred dollars a year by privatizing them. Way to go Joey! Can't wait to see what non college educated blue collar worker you get fired next!

Anonymous said...

Question- how much will the property that is listed as owned by Joseph Warren save in property taxes by firing the janitors?

Anonymous said...

The answer is zero dollars are saved, becuase Mr. Warren owns zero property. However, the woman Mr. Warren is currently married to is located in the Township of Aberdeen on Ithaca Court. We all still hope and pray everyday that the divorce will be finalized quickly and he will be forced to leave town.

Anonymous said...

Once again, at last nights meeting, the board presidents elitist attitude reared its ugly head. How dare anyone from the public question what he is doing. When is he going to show the public some respect and hear them out without the sarcasm.
The superintendent needs to do a better job of communicating with the public. That is part of his job that he is paid so well for.

Joey W. aka Aberdeener said...

I care about the janitors..........................NOT! Ha Ha Ha!!!

anonymous idiots ie: lawns, property said...

Attacks and suggestions of a mans personal life, wife, children and more is off base and shows the true ignorance of those who would attack someone who stands up, discloses publicly and puts all of the community before a union or those who prey on society and profit off of the taxpayers like Kauff with pay to play.

So attack away it really shows how inmature you are.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the poster " Union is all about Me, Me, Me"

If the union wants to be of value to the education of the children, let them give up protecting all the tenured deadwood teachers and administrators that are useless to the education system. And harmful to the children that are sadly in their classes. Every useless teacher steals a year from a child's education. Every useless administrator, steals a year from the school system and doesn't allow it to operate in the best way to move the district forward.

If the union won't bend and deal with the tenure problem, I say bust them!

Marlboro teacher said...

This is a bunch of lies, the company they hired is one worst companies and always win on the bids because they are so low. Marlboro saved 1.4 million,but had to pay another $79,000 right after the signing of the contact to get people with Boiler licenses. They failed to tell you how many Laptop, Iibaray books were missing and cost more. Don't believe everything you hear unless you are there working with this kind of service. Good luck to Matawan and don't worry about installing more cameras in the school because when the workers steals the computers, you won't be able to find him again. Oh and they hire mostly illegal immigrants,but won't tell you about that. They don't speak English or barely do. Good luck Matawan/Aberdeen.

Aberdeener said...

Marlboro Teacher,

You're suggesting we should have fired more teachers instead?

Anonymous said...

You shouldn't have fired anybody you pompous ass!

When is your term up?

Anonymous said...

I's like to know WHY the boars still refuses to show us the $$$ they are going to supposedly save. Where are the figures Joe? Why is it that Mr. Kenny could not answer 1 question last night? He works for US, and the pompus a$$ refuses to give anyone a straight answer.

Anonymous said...

Shame on the board that says it all

Aberdeener said...

I've discussed the savings above. Our projected costs for the custodians next year is $2.9 million. Our contractual costs with Pritchard is almost half of that. Throw in a few hundred thousand for unexpected expenses and you're still talking about a million a year.

As for the person who says we shouldn't have fired anybody, where does he think we're going to get the money to pay everybody?

Anonymous said...

If you think only one person says you shouldn't have fired anybody, you are in for one hell of a shock the next time one of you assholes is up for re election.

Todd Brenner said...

Mr. warren-when you did your homework about Privatizing the custodians did you call Middletown? They tried to do it and it cost thems millions to get out of there contract with ServiceMaster or how about Holmdel when they tried and had many computers stolen from the HS. They all thought they would save money but in the long run they lost Big. They lost the confidence of the public. My question is why didn't you call these districts to find out about privatization. You called Marlboro. I know but Mr. Warren they don't have a High School. Marlboro is a K-8 District. Marlboro's high school is part of Freehold Regional High School District.

Anonymous said...

Question #1:
If every teacher, custodian, administrator, etc. agreed to a pay freeze for one year then how much money/jobs would that save?

Question #2:
Who gets laid off in the second year when everyone's salaries/raises are reintroduced?

Anonymous said...

As in corporate America... restructuring is definitly needed.......BUT, at the upper levels. Why does the district need a Superintendent, plus a Deputy Superintendent, plus Principals for each building, plus a number of Vice Principals, plus 3 Directors of Accountability (these are the folks we should be questioning),an array of other administrators with unknown titles, etc.
We should be asking to see all the job descriptions for these folks, salaries, their performance evaluation tools, and actual time spent actually doing duties of the district .
And I do believe this is supposedly the purpose of the 3 Accountability Folks!! So, show us all the stats today that validate the need for such a top-heavy organization.
Hospitals are restructuring --- less management, but not taking away the folks that matter at the 'customer level' (nurses, techs, housekeeping, etc). They are streamlining and utilizing technological resources and other methods to cutback on the upper and middle management........so, I ask.... Why can the school district not do this?? Districts via way of taxes are draining residents dry-- and it is all getting sucked up into school districts. This is unphantomable in the real world.... oh, but I forgot we are talking about school systems.
As mentioned, I challenge you provide us with the indicators that justify the need for such an unbalanced heirarchy when the mission statement that has been in place has been disputed..... children and an education that will make them productive citizens ........I wonder!

Shut up Todd said...

Todd you need to get back under mommies housecoat. Be glad she used her influence to get you a job that you were not even close to qualified for. Back to habidashery?

Aberdeener said...

Mr. Brenner,

You're correct. Marlboro is only K-8. We contacted them because they're next door and they're using the same company. Other districts have had terrible experiences using other companies and we took that risk by initiating the bid process.

Still, even with all the problems of outsourcing custodians, you can't ignore the savings. It comes down to a choice between teachers and custodians and we chose to retain teachers.

Aberdeener said...

Anon 7:49,

I don't have the numbers because we're dealing with both attrition that's not being replaced and a budget still in flux but it's probably over a million dollars.

That would be a permanent annual savings since, moving forward, the staff would always be missing that one year increment. That means the union could have signed a long-term agreement with the board to preserve the custodial jobs.

To be clear, a pay-freeze is more severe than extending the salary guide.

Anonymous said...

I understand that in 2006 Old Bridge, Montclair, Somerset, Roselle, Englewood, and Patterson used the same company you approved last night. Do they still have contracts with them?

THE SAD TRUTH said...

Hey Joey,

I bet you thought I'd gone away, but I've just been doing some more research…

Now, last time I posted Joey called me delusional. He denied that he and his Aberdeen Republican friends’ unwavering support for Dr. Dick O’Malley's massive pay increase had anything to do with politics. That it was merely coincidence that Joey’s champion, Dr. Dick, is a Republican committee member in the Republican stronghold of Raritan Township, Hunterdon County. Joey said it was ridiculous to suggest that Dr. Dick would use his North Jersey political connections to influence elections here in Aberdeen…

Well, former BOE member O’Connell didn’t think it was so outlandish when he suggested Dr. Dick should disclose his political contributors to the MARSD. O’Connell’s suggestion was vehemently opposed by Joey. That’s because Joey wanted to rush Dr. Dick’s contract extension through before May 21, 2010, because otherwise Dr. Dick would have to contribute to his health benefits by law. Just another favor to Dr. Dick from Joey and his Aberdeen Republican pals…

THE SAD TRUTH said...

But, back to the issue at hand… Is it ridiculous to suggest that Dr. Dick would use his Hunterdon County political connections to influence elections here in Aberdeen?

Shockingly (although not to me), Dr. Dick has already used his North Jersey friends to help at least one Republican get elected in Aberdeen. Take the case of Joey’s friend, Dr. Jeff Delaney. Dr. Delaney is a registered Republican, and on April 20, 2010, he was re-elected to the MARSD Board of Education. Just like Aberdeen Republicans Ken Aitken, John Gartley, and Tom Aljian, Joey wholeheartedly endorsed Dr. Delaney during the election, calling him a “friend” and extolling his “amazing personal story.”

Along with Joey, Dr. Delaney fell in line and helped rush through rush Dr. Dick’s contract extension. In fact, he was essentially the deciding vote in a 5-3 split. So, how did Dr. Dick reward Dr. Delaney?

Aberdeen residents may remember getting only two pieces of literature during the school board election season. One was a “Budget Newsletter” from Dr. Dick and the other was a campaign postcard from Dr. Delaney. Well, I’ve done some homework and found that both of these pieces of literature were mailed by the same printing company, Alphagraphics in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Not surprisingly, this Alphagraphics franchise is owned by a Flemington resident, Tom Hopkins. Where is Flemington? For those of you not familiar with North Jersey geography, Flemington is the county seat of Hunterdon County, and is bordered on all sides by Dr. Dick’s hometown of Raritan Township. So fellow Aberdeen residents, I ask you… Why is Aberdeen school board election literature being mailed from Hunterdon County? And, even more importantly, where did Dr. Delaney get the money to undertake a Township-wide mailing?

THE SAD TRUTH said...

Now, this is where I took a page out of your playbook, Joey. According to New Jersey law, a candidate must file campaign contribution reports if he spends more than $4,000 total or receives more than $300 from any one source. Notably, it makes no difference if a candidate spends his own money because, by law, such funds must go through the candidate’s campaign account and be reported just the same. Moreover, if a candidate spends more than $1,200 at one time between April 7, 2010 and April 20, 2010, then he must also file a report within 48 hours under New Jersey law.

Now, I received two of Dr. Delaney’s postcards at my house on April 16, 2010. If he mailed his postcards to every registered voter in Aberdeen, then it must have cost more than $1,200. In fact, it likely cost more than $4,000. So then, where are Dr. Delaney’s election reports?

I checked. The answer is that after registering and opening his campaign account, Dr. Delaney failed to file a single report explaining how he paid for a Township-wide election mailing. A mailing that was sent to Aberdeen voters from Hunterdon County by Dr. Dick’s neighbor, Tom Hopkins.

Now, Joey has called me a “medicated conspiracy theorist”, but I invite anyone to check the above facts. You’d think political-skeptic Joey would be all over such electoral shenanigans. He always is when it comes to the Aberdeen Democrats. But here, Joey and his Aberdeen Republican friends are neck-deep in Dr. Dick and Dr. Delaney’s corrupt bargain. That’s why Joey is keeping his mouth shut and trying to deny THE SAD TRUTH…

So, Joey I ask you again. Can YOU hear ME now? Because the farther down the rabbit hole we go, the deeper you and your friends will end up buried…

Tick Tock Tick Tock…

Jay said...

So are the administrators taking a pay freeze like a lot of other school districts are? I mean all the Administrators? Several Schools, Like Toms River and Jackson, and many more are taking a freeze. They are not outsourcing jobs,but only laying off people. They are not taking raises at all this year. Are they doing that in Matawan Aberdeen?

Anonymous said...

"It comes down to a choice between teachers and custodians and we chose to retain teachers." NOT! You have cut librarians, basic skills teachers, elementary teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers and ALL the computer teachers!

Aberdeener said...

I realize I'm dealing with math illiterates but even you should understand that had we not outsourced the custodians, we would have had to terminate even more teachers.

Anonymous said...

So if your problem is with the Teachers union why not demand cuts or cut teachers not custodians , because you dont have balls , maybe Jan will loan you some

Aberdeener said...

We should cut teachers, not custodians? Maybe you forgot it's a school district.

Anonymous said...

I have not forgotten its a school district , but why hurt inocent people like a terrorist would , you still didnt fix the problem only masked it for a nother year but you wont be around next time

The Fair Dinkum said...

A nerve has been touched.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Warren,
When you posted, "Never again will the union membership be able to proudly wear buttons proclaiming “I CARE about our kids”, I think you meant 'MRTA leadership'. When you say, "the union membership" you are speaking about every teacher in Matawan-Aberdeen. I know you would not dare to imply that there are no teachers in our school district care about our children? Words are all we have, please be precise. I look forward to your clarification of this statement.

Aberdeener said...

Anon,

You're essentially correct and I apologize if people mistook my statement to suggest our teachers don't care about our kids.

I have to shut down for the Sabbath but I'll give you a full clarification tomorrow night.

Anonymous said...

Why do they always cut at the bottom and not the top. The first cut should be the administration. People that don't teach in the class room. The BOE will save their jobs before the teachers jobs. Also, cut programs for children. The party is coming to an end. In the next 3 years, Christie will elect 4 Supreme Court Judges so the changes will begin. Soon the NJEA will have no choice when they pass the merit pay.

Anonymous said...

You get what you pay for.. Van will drop off employee's at the schools and pick them up. Similar to the local muster stations only the company will provide transportation..how nice of them. Revolving door of employee's, so how they are background checked is beyond me. The BOED knows the tricks around that, Marlboro found a way so Matawan can follow their lead. Your going from a staff that cared about their job, the school, and the children, some who have worked there for 10, 20, 35+ years to a person that just shows up to work for a paycheck. Your schools will never be as well kept as they are now, and secure. Current custodians go above and beyond, now you have your janitors that will show up and just clean exactly what was in Pritchards contract. If they want more,the BOED has to pay more. English is not fluent with this company so communication should be interesting to the supervisor telling them whats expected of them. The only thing in our schools that needs privatization is the BOED. Somebody needs to take control of their spending and stop blaming it on the government, all jobs would of been saved that way. As for negotiations they were basically non existent in this agenda, the board had their mind made up as soon as the public notice for bids was put in the paper. Following Marlboro's tactics to the tee. If the custodians had to give back more I am sure they would of, but the decision was already made. Goodbye to your honest hard workers and hello to your new crew, don't bother getting to know them you'll never know who'll show up!

Anonymous said...

Is it unnecessary to have 3 VP's in the high school? Plus the director of SPS gets a VP title and the Athletic Director. Why couldn't we lay off a Phillips, Liotti or Scensey?

Anonymous said...

Why can't one of them become the principal at the middle school and we could have saved $150,000 or three teachers? You're paying these people six figure salaries and they should be performing.

Aberdeener said...

Anon 6:53,

Sorry I didn't fully respond sooner.

When discussing public school teachers, I think we need to start by considering a teacher's perspective.

First, like everybody else, they have competing loyalties. They're dedicated to their students, their colleagues, and themselves and their families.

Second, teachers do have the most important job because they establish the foundation for everything else in society. Therefore, there's also a sense of entitlement and under-appreciation. Shouldn't they be entitled to the respect and compensation befitting their contribution to society?

Third, it is very difficult to objectively measure a teacher's impact on a student because, just as each student is unique, so is each teacher unique and it's impossible to capture the entire learning experience in a standardized written exam.

Unfortunately, this perspective leads to ridiculous outcomes. For example, teachers support tenure rights for bad teachers out of loyalty for their colleagues and their opposition to being measured by objective standards.

Still, don't they know that retaining bad teachers will be bad for students? Yes, but they believe it would be worse to allow administrators to fire teachers willy nilly.

Looking at the custodial situation, the teachers feel they're already sacrificing enough to teach our children. Furthermore, it is the public's responsibility, not the teachers', to provide sufficient funds to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for the children.

Yet, from an outsider's point of view, you have to say "so what?" Your coworkers of 20, 30 years are going to lose their jobs during the worst labor market in a generation and be replaced by low-paid strangers if you don't make the necessary wage concessions.

And that's exactly what happened.

Do our teachers care about our kids? Absolutely. Do they care about the custodians? Definitely. But when they had to choose between saving the custodians or taking their raises, they chose their raises.

When there are competing interests, you have to set priorities and, by holding on to their raises, the teachers declared theirs.

I recognize not everybody agrees with the union leadership but the union is the sole representative and I have to assume it at least represents a majority of opinion.

Anonymous said...

Five vice principals at the high school? Is that necessary?

THE SAD TRUTH said...

Today is the last day for Dr. Delaney to properly file his campaign contribution reports with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, under New Jersey law.

Still nothing filed beyond his two registration reports, despite the fact that he clearly exceeded reporting requirements with a Township-wide mailing...

Joey can tell me that I don't know how to work the site all he wants, but I invite any reader to conduct your own search.

Better have Delaney cook up something, Joey. Time's almost up and there's an ethics complaint already drafted, just waiting to be filed tomorrow morning...

Tick Tock Tick Tock...

The Fair Dinkum said...

A nerve has been touched.

Anonymous said...

Is it necessary to have 3 VP's in the high school? Plus the director of SPS gets a VP title and the Athletic Director. Why couldn't we lay off a Phillips, Liotti or Scensey?