Wentzville Federation of School Related Employees Local 4894
2013 School Board Candidates Questionnaire
Candidates, please type in your answers. When finished, please attach to an e-mail & return to Beth Finder, President of WFSRE Local 4894 – president_local4894@charter.net. Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.
Name: Ted Boehm
1 Do you support the results of negotiations becoming a binding agreement with the District
Yes. A binding agreement between the parties keeps things clear and concise.
2 Would you support mediation or binding arbitration for the final stage of grievances and for bargaining impasses? Why or why not?
Over recent years, it appears that this has not been a necessity. As an elected board member, I would hope to prosper good relations between the board and WFSRE Local 4894 to keep from getting to a point of arbitration. I want to understand the issues and how to resolve those issues so we can move forward as a district and keep the kids as our focus.
3 In addition to the principals, would you be willing to sit down and talk with support staff about issues that concern them?
Yes. As a board member, it would be my responsibility to understand those issues and concerns from all parties in the district.
4 Would you be willing to go to each building to speak to support staff as mentioned in the previous question.
Absolutely, as much as my time would allow.
5 Describe your philosophy on the role of the school board in the negotiation process, and do you feel that a board member should be present at negotiation meetings in an informational capacity?
I believe the entire board should be involved in the negotiations process or not at all.
6 In matters regarding employee termination, do you feel that all parties involved should be heard by the board before making a final decision?
That would need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis but overall, I would think the board should be given the necessary information by the involved parties and make informed decisions based on that data. If a decision could not be made, then the board would need to get all parties involved.
7 Currently the District gives % raises. What are your feelings on this?
(Example: 8% of $120,000 is much more than 8% of $25,000.)
I believe percentage raises are a good way to increase someones income based on what they already earn. In regards to income and raises across all staff in the district, I want to see them at highly competitive rates based on comparable districts.
8 Do you feel that Wentzville support staff employees are deserving of pay and benefits comparable to the St. Charles and Greater St. Louis school districts?
I believe that staff are deserving of the same pay and benefits based on comparable districts. The neighboring St. Charles County districts are closer to the same plane as Wentzville and should be able to support comparable pay structures. However, St. Louis county spends much more per child and has higher tax income to support that. For our district to move up to that level, we would need to increase our tax income.
9 In many of our support staff groups, there are times when it is very difficult to find coverage when someone is absent. What kind of ideas would you have to help with this problem besides asking current employees to work more and more overtime?
A couple of ideas that come to mind would be to create a sub finder type program, hire out a temporary agency to assist as needed, or create “floating” positions that could move from building to building as needed.
10 If elected, what will be your top 3 objectives related to support staff.
● Find ways to increase professional development to support a healthy district and support staff.
● Implement programs to increase the average years of certified support staff
● Meet with support staff across the district to understand issues and find ways to prioritize and prepare solutions.
2013 School Board Candidates Interview 2/9/2013
Name: Ted Boehm
Why are you running?
He was approached by some teachers who asked him to run. As his kids have grown, he has gotten into working with children, especially at his church. He felt this was a great way to get into helping kids. He wants the district to be strong…even stronger than it already is.
What is your personal opinion of the district in how we rate?
He would put us fairly high in ranking. There are very few districts in the area that anyone talks about as well as us. If he didn’t think we were a great district, he would not be running to try to make it
1. Currently the District gives % raises. What are your feelings on this?
(Example: 8% of $120,000 is much more than 8% of $25,000.)
Explained how the salary system works. He felt it is such a hard question. He doesn’t know the answer to the question because he is still learning about the district.
Wentzville Federation of School Related Employees Local 4894
2013 School Board Candidates Questionnaire
Candidates, please type in your answers. When finished, please attach to an e-mail & return to Beth Finder, President of WFSRE Local 4894 – president_local4894@charter.net. Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.
Name: Marcos Chu
1. Do you support the results of negotiations becoming a binding agreement with the District? Yes
2. Would you support mediation or binding arbitration for the final stage of grievances and for bargaining impasses? Why or why not? Yes, I believe that mediation is an important part of the process to try to resolve issues where two parties do not agree.
3. In addition to the principals, would you be willing to sit down and talk with support staff about issues that concern them? Yes, I would be willing to meet to discuss topics of interests.
4. Would you be willing to go to each building to speak to support staff as mentioned in the previous question. Yes, I stronglly believe that board members needs to see the issues first hand to understand them.
5. Describe your philosophy on the role of the school board in the negotiation process, and do you feel that a board member should be present at negotiation meetings in an informational capacity? I believe board members are a source of resource in the negotiation process and I feel that board members should act in advisory capacity in a transparent way.
6. In matters regarding employee termination, do you feel that all parties involved should be heard by the board before making a final decision?
7. Currently the District gives % raises. What are your feelings on this?
(Example: 8% of $120,000 is much more than 8% of $25,000.) I believe this is a complex issue and I would need more information, specially understand the history of such action and how this is implemented in other districts.
8. Do you feel that Wentzville support staff employees are deserving of pay and benefits comparable to the St. Charles and Greater St. Louis school districts? Yes. I feel support staff is an integral part of the school district. I started my career as a high school chemistry lab assistant
9. In many of our support staff groups, there are times when it is very difficult to find coverage when someone is absent. What kind of ideas would you have to help with this problem besides asking current employees to work more and more overtime? I think we should have a subFinder system like we do have for teachers.
10. If elected, what will be your top 3 objectives related to support staff. - (1) Professional Training - Give an opportunity for ALL support staff to improve their skills. (2) Improved coverage process - Ensure that qualified individuals are found to cover for absense. (3)Recognition Program - Support staff is a key part of ensuring a great district and I don't think they are recognized.
2013 School Board Candidates Interview 2/9/2013
Name: Marcos Chu
Why are you running?
Been in District for 9 years. Grew up in Brazil and moved to Illinois for high school He has been very involved in the district for a long time in science, math, etc. He wants to expand the programs we have in the middle school. He feels support staff is in the background, but they make things run. We need to have recognition for support staff. They have it for teachers, but he doesn’t see it for support staff. He feels professional training and development is important for everyone…to gain new expertise. He is an engineer now, but he has grown from his experiences. Sees himself as a problem solver and feels he can use that on the board. He feels the district is doing great. He feels we really have a great district. He is not running because he thinks there is something wrong. He feels that every kid should have the opportunity to succeed. We don’t have foreign language in middle school, that is a problem to him. That is the critical age for these kids. He is a conservative Christian and believes that we should have local control.
5. Describe your philosophy on the role of the school board in the negotiation process, and do you feel that a board member should be present at negotiation meetings in an informational capacity?
He feels as a board member, they should be open to as much information as possible, to make the best decisions possible. He doesn’t feel they should make any decisions directly, but should have access to as much info as possible.
6. In matters regarding employee termination, do you feel that all parties involved should be heard by the board before making a final decision?
He doesn’t think they should necessarily intervene, but again they should have as much information as possible.
1. Currently the District gives % raises. What are your feelings on this?
(Example: 8% of $120,000 is much more than 8% of $25,000.)
If we are below market, we need to be market value. He talked to someone over the weekend and he was told we are below where we should be. There are always things people in every job can learn. He feels that we should at LEAST meet inflation in raises. If we are the best district in St. Charles County, then support staff should be paid as such. He really doesn’t feel we are there right now. We need to work hard on this issue. Some things can wait, but salaries (especially as well as the district is doing) should be addressed.
2013 School Board Candidates Interview 2/9/2013
Name: Dale Schaper
Why are you running again?
He has as grandson in Boone Trail. If he does well for the other 13,000 students he will do well for his grandson. He worries about the financial responsibility of the District. Wants accountability for every dollar spent.
How do you feel that Wentzville School District rates as far as everything as a whole?
In common core standards, we were ranked 4th in the county. As far as salaries, when he got on the board, we were a training ground for teachers to get started and move on to more money in surrounding districts. He is not sure about support staff salaries. His feeling is that we can bring in people at up to step 5, but why do we have that in the first place? Gasoline, groceries, etc. all has the same price tag for everyone. We need to establish a pay scale that allows ALL families to have a good amount of disposable income.
His feeling is that we can’t control other districts…we can only control ourselves. We have room for improvement financially, in our debt servicing, etc. We certainly have room for improvement. It is only as good as we make it.
1. Currently the District gives % raises. What are your feelings on this?
(Example: 8% of $120,000 is much more than 8% of $25,000.)
He is against % raises and does not feel that it is fair and just to everyone. He went over his example that he attached to the questionnaire. When raises came last year to the board, he and 2 others voted no because they did not feel that it was fair and just. Even if there were needs to increase areas of salary and extra money was injected, then that took away from the full pool given for raises and he does not like that. If we have to put funds into a group low in salary so we can get good employees, that should not be taken away from other groups.
2. In many of our support staff groups, there are times when it is very difficult to find coverage when someone is absent. What kind of ideas would you have to help with this problem besides asking current employees to work more and more overtime?
Problem goes back to establishing a good salary base to attract subs.
3. If elected, what will be your top 3 objectives related to support staff.
He wants working conditions to follow our agreement or what they have in policy.
questionaire_2013_scan_hacker.pdf
2013 School Board Candidates Interview 2/9/2013
Name: Pat Hacker
Why are you running again?
She has been a volunteer for 20 years and has had 3 children in the district. She has been room mother, GPS chair, PTO, PTA, Superintendent’s round table, etc. Has gotten to know a lot of people in the district. She came from a business background as pharmaceutical rep and was a nurse. She was asked to run in the first place. She felt it an honor, but didn’t want to. She decided to do it and she won. She had no agenda when she ran. She is running again because she has really enjoyed the first 3 years and feels that she is ultimately helping all the kids in the District.
What is your personal feeling about Wentzville School District right now?
She moved here because her husband was hired in St. Charles County and they did not look at the schools. They knew it was a fast growing area (very rural at that time) and she is very proud of the District and how far it has come in 20 years. She has been very pleased with the district and proud of the education her kids have received. She feels we are #1 in St. Charles County when looking at ACT scores, cost per pupil, etc. We could never pay our staff enough for where we are. She thinks we are getting close to Ladue, Pattonville, Rockwood, etc.
Do you feel a para getting a $500 raise compared to an administrator getting a $10,000 raise is fair?
She doesn’t know what it’s like to see her superiors get a huge % more than her. She couldn’t believe we thought straight dollar raises were a fair way to go. We pointed out how overpaid our administration is.
1. Describe your philosophy on the role of the school board in the negotiation process, and do you feel that a board member should be present at negotiation meetings in an informational capacity?
Beth gave background on the question. Her answer was no, but she feels we have some very top notch professionals in our district. She feels she would look as if she has no trust in them if she gave another answer. She feels we are all professional enough to solve our own problems in grievances and negotiations.
We told her that we want the board to receive ALL information, which we did not always see in the past. We just want everyone to be on the same page when decisions are made. She asked if this had happened in the past and was not aware that it had.
2. In matters regarding employee termination, do you feel that all parties involved should be heard by the board before making a final decision?
In the past, terminated employees have come and brought their side, and some have not. It is a very difficult time as a board member in thinking about the person needing their job to support their family. When someone has been untruthful or inappropriate with children, they do not always want to hear them. The board decides as a group whether to hear an employee or not.
3. In many of our support staff groups, there are times when it is very difficult to find coverage when someone is absent. What kind of ideas would you have to help with this problem besides asking current employees to work more and more overtime?
No one should not have to work extra if they do not want to. There are physical and safety concerns with this.
Wentzville Federation of School Related Employees Local 4894
2013 School Board Candidates Questionnaire
Candidates, please type in your answers. When finished, please attach to an e-mail & return to Beth Finder, President of WFSRE Local 4894 – president_local4894@charter.net. Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.
Name: Sandy Fitzgerald
1. Do you support the results of negotiations becoming a binding agreement with the District? Yes
2. Would you support mediation or binding arbitration for the final stage of grievances and for bargaining impasses? Why or why not? Yes. Binding arbitration gives meat, teeth or finality to negotiations.
3. In addition to the principals, would you be willing to sit down and talk with support staff about issues that concern them? Yes.
4. Would you be willing to go to each building to speak to support staff as mentioned in the previous question. Yes
5. Describe your philosophy on the role of the school board in the negotiation process, and do you feel that a board member should be present at negotiation meetings in an informational capacity? I believe that all parties should be involved and informed on what the issues are, what the budget is, and what monies are availavble. I believe a board member(s) should be present as a laison of the board.
6. In matters regarding employee termination, do you feel that all parties involved should be heard by the board before making a final decision? Yes, at the very minimum the employee and their representative and anything relative to their case/grievance should be present and heard from by the board before a final decision is made.
7. Currently the District gives % raises. What are your feelings on this?
(Example: 8% of $120,000 is much more than 8% of $25,000.) As you have pointed out, the problem with say an 8% for all is that it widens even more the pay gap, resulting in even greater inequity. Pay has to be evaluated on comparable work/pay, living wages, cost of living expenses and market conditions.
8. Do you feel that Wentzville support staff employees are deserving of pay and benefits comparable to the St. Charles and Greater St. Louis school districts? Yes
9. In many of our support staff groups, there are times when it is very difficult to find coverage when someone is absent. What kind of ideas would you have to help with this problem besides asking current employees to work more and more overtime? I am open to suggestions for this issue and need more information. Having said that, it seems like the obvious solution is to have an absentee pool to cover such absences. In short, hire more people.
10. If elected, what will be your top 3 objectives related to support staff. I would need to hear from you and understand your priorities to more objectively address this. Following are the three objectives I see myself addressing as related to the support staff:
1) Pay increases to at minimum, market/prevailing wage 2) Grandfather current support staff employees while increasing requirements for certain categories of new employees to mirror community standards 3) Monthly work sessions with the leadership of Local 4894, WNEA, full board, and Superintendent at the table, prior to the monthly board meeting.