Worst of all is the media lets her get by with saying this;
“I will tell you proudly, just a few years ago, when every teacher took a significant pay-cut, the subs did not. Their salary was protected,” Homan said.
While her statement is true, ABOUT LAST YEAR what Pam doesn’t tell you is this;
SD Teacher average Salary Raise Last 10 Years: 31.7%
And according to the SF School District, these were the pay increases/decreases since 2006;
2006-7 +3.64%
2007-8 +5%
2008-9 +6.4%
2009-10 +4.6%
2010-11 +1.25%
2011-12 -2.05%
2012-13 +2.3%
Yes, while teachers in SD enjoyed a 31.7% pay increase over the past 10 years, subs have gotten NOTHING for the past 6 years. And the only decrease in pay was last year. Remember also that subs receive NO benefits from the school district, only pay. Looks like Homan’s only defense is to tell the media 1/6th the truth about pay increases, and the media does ZERO research on her statement. My research took about 10 minutes.
I did the math, and if subs got the same increases and decreases as the regular teachers over the past 6 years they would be making $108.10 a day right now. (starting at the $90 a day fee in 2006).
Is there such a thing as a “full time” substitute (meaning one who follows the Walmart model and works almost every day but still doesn’t get benefits), or are the subs generally retired teachers or part time employees that pick up a day here and there?
I have to wonder if part of the reason they haven’t increased the pay is because they have so many people willing to do it for the current rate. Sure some might complain, but if you have 2 people willing to fill every available spot, it makes it more difficult to pay them more.
I know Harrisburg pays a bit more – what bout other schools in the area? What are the rates for Brandon Valley, Canton, Tea, Lennox, West Central, Tri-Valley etc? What about sub rates for Sioux Falls Christian or SF Catholic / O’Gorman? If Sioux Falls is below all these other schools, I would think it would be an embarrassment.
“I have to wonder if part of the reason they haven’t increased the pay is because they have so many people willing to do it for the current rate.”
Well, that is the school district’s excuse. But I guess they have trouble getting subs on Mondays and Fridays (you know, the biggest vacation days for regular teachers). That and the subs are not represented by a union, so they can pretty much tell them to piss off.
I guess the vice-super told Stehly today she couldn’t talk to other district employees about this, which is a violation of Stehly’s 1st amendment rights because they are publicly funded employees. She is also the legal advisor to the school district. They are trying to scare her into backing down and they cannot. Period.
I wouldn’t categorize a one-time pay cut of 2.05% as “significant”. More like a small bump in an otherwise smooth road.
I’ll be kind and simply suggest that Super Pam take a math class.
l3wis, I think you are misunderstanding the First Amendment. When it comes to matters of employment, there can be contractual issues and policies about speaking to the media. I’m not sure they exist, but they can, and employees can be held to those standards.
In short, she has a First Amendment right to open her mouth and nobody can stop her, but she does not have a constitutionally protected right to keep her job within the school district. There was a case a few years ago that reached the SCOTUS that basically said an public employee’s speech can be restricted if it is in relation to their employment or official duties. Thus if Stehly was talking about flowers or knitting or even unrelated politics the school has no right to tell her what she can or cannot say (unless it conflicts with her duties), but when it comes to matters involving her duties as a sub they do have the right to tell her she cannot talk to other employees about the matter.
Now when it comes to employees in the private sector, their employers can limit almost anything. There really isn’t any First Amendment protections to employes in a private workplace.
I don’t think the Asst. Super has any authority or basis to tell Stehly she can’t talk to employees about this. Might be able to tell the employees they can’t talk, but not Stehly.
Didn’t know Stehly worked for school district.
Craig – she doesn’t have a contract. That is just it. They are used to controlling teachers, because they can, due to their union contracts. Subs are freelance. There were other parts of the convo that got into where Stehly can hand out fliers. She is free to do whatever she wants to on public property. Homan has been challenged and she is trying to climb back into her rabbit hole. As a taxpayer and private citizen she has the right to talk to anyone as long as she is not threatening bodily harm. The problem with the school district is that they don’t like to hear a differing opinion. Well tough shit.
Still no teachers have commented on this issue. I guess they are willing to eat there kind when their not buying into the club. It just goes to show you that school administration and the NEC union share the same goals. And to another point, why do they work for substandard pay? A lot of the full time teachers are hired from the list of young subs. So if the subs bitch—No full time jobs for them. I am so glad we have a Jimmy Hoffa mentality teaching our children. GIVE US PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND I WON’T GIVE A DAMN HOW CORRUPT YOU ARE!!!!!
The Sioux Falls school system has sucked for many many years. Teachers should register to vote and they should vote and not vote for republicans.
Interesting Helga…I was in Monks late one Friday afternoon in 2008 after plAying golf with friends. The room began to fill with people. Someone carried in a sign that said SDEA welcomes Stephenie Herseth and some other candidate I cannot remember his name. (SDEA is the SD teachers union). Not five minutes later another person carried in a poster board in the form of a donkey that said “South Dakota Democrats Stand United with the SDEA”. I asked one of the people at the bar that appeared to be a regular “”What’s this all about”? He told me that the teachers union held rallies on a regular basis in the room next to the bar. Couple minutes later a nice gentlemen sat next to me and asked which of the micro brews were good. We struck up a casual conversation and I finally asked him about the teacher rally and the Democrat party connection. He told me that the candidates would pay the tab for the room and the food and they had the opportunity to give a stump speech. I asked how many times a republican had held a rally for the SDEA and he laughed and said never. I asked why not and he told me that no one from the union would even consider affiliating themselves with a Republican.
So Helga, it is abundantly clear that the Sioux Falls SDEA is clearly in the Democrat tank and benefiting form this incestuous relationship. Maybe Helga, party politics is the problem with this educational system.
LJL – Sorry to be snarky, but, ah, duh.
What a laugh, party politics is the problem with the
educational system. The repubs have been in control of SD for 35 years, now that is the problem with the educational system. Stupid ass republicans.
If Theresa, the patron Saint of bitter women, doesn’t like the Sioux Falls Gov’t School wages, she should get on the list at Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea or the privates. I’m sure they’ve heard about her and don’t want the baggage that she carries.
Hilltopper –
Glad you brought this up. Actually Stehly called Holbeck, super of Harrisburg as part of her research, they pay better and reward their subs for more service. Holbeck makes around $130,000 a year where Homan makes around $180,000 a year with gobs of perks. Holbeck was very happy to help Stehly out with the information and the district has invited her to be a sub.
I think Theresa is doing a commendable thing and has been in this fight for 3 years. Do you think it is fair that teachers get an almost 30% raise in the past 10 years and the subs get nothing?
Stehly will always fight for the right cause.
Kinda sounds like you are bitter one.
BTW, I think I figured out who this commenter is. Seems they are a little upset since Stehly put them in their place at one time over another issue concerning the schools. Call a whaaaabulance.
In response to the anonymous “Hilltopper”, I would like to say that the surrounding districts of Harrisburg, Tea, Lennox, Brandon and West Central have a staff that treats people with deep love, caring and regard. These schools also have a refreshing open and transparent attitude toward the public. These are characteristics that are desirable for any business or governmental entity to follow. The children in the Sioux Falls School District deserve quality instruction, whether it comes from their regular classroom instructor, or a person hired to fill in for the day. (Substitute) These substitutes have a college degree, and many are certified teachers. Giving them fair compensation to do a very important job is a cause worth standing up for. All citizens deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter what their financial or social standing is. And the wonderful thing about our country is that we have the right to speak up for justice and to work for beneficial changes for society. And we do NOT have to be afraid to put our names on our actions , words and beliefs. Whoever YOU are Hilltopper, you are in my prayers. God BLESS YOU!!!!
Do you want a know why teachers do not speak up? They fear for their future and I have heard this first hand. I have multiple friends that are teachers that have stated to me more than once that they would love to have a voice, but they fear the repurcussions. It is well known knowledge among teachers and principals that you don’t “rock the boat.” Homan will make your life a living hell by sending you to a different school or by making sure you are eventually eliminated. Look at our school board for goodness sakes. Have you seen any of them challenge her on anything? Nope – she only feeds them the information she wants them to have and has a way of screwing with and demeaning ideas that aren’t hers, and I have heard that directly from a past school board member. They are suppose to be her boss and checks and balances. You wouldn’t know that by watching them. Until our school board changes, we get same old, same old. I have contemplated running in the past, and I had a former SF principal tell me to wait until my kids are out of the school district so they also would not be on the receiving end of anything I would do on the school board. Nice, huh? Theresa – run for SB. It is time we had people that would challenge this district for the better of our schools and our kids.
“As a taxpayer and private citizen she has the right to talk to anyone as long as she is not threatening bodily harm.”
I don’t disagree with you DL, my point was if she wishes to continue working for the Sioux Falls School District, then yes they can temper her speech, because as the SCOTUS has ruled, any speech involving official duties can be controlled.
Granted about the only thing they could do it tell her that her services would no longer be needed and remove her name from the list of subs – if that is their decision then maybe it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
As for Hilltopper, I’m not sure I understand the logic. Are you suggesting someone who sees injustice shall simply turn away and go home? Martin Luther King Jr. could have walked away from a lot of controversy in his life, and he probably could have lived a lot longer. Rosa Parks could have just moved to the back of the bus and/or to another bus. Students in Montgomery could have just went to another school. America could have stayed home instead of entering WWI and WWII.
As MLK himself once wrote “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. You don’t make positive changes by placing faith in the idea that people just need to accept it or go elsewhere. I heard a lot of people talk that way when the Iraq war started… they said “either support the war or move to another country”. I also heard it after the Gore v. Bush debacle… they said “if you don’t like it then go someplace else”.
Does that line of reasoning make any sense? How can you have an impact if you just leave? I might argue if all (or at least a super majority) of the subs would leave they would have such an impact, but with no union and no organization in place, that most likely cannot happen.
I applaud Ms. Stehly for standing up for what she believes is right. I happen to agree with her this time, but even if I didn’t I would still applaud her for taking a stand when so many others have simply bit their lips and accepted the status quo.
She is making an effort to organize the subs at their meeting next Thursday, August 2 at 7:45 AM. It will be held at Washington High School.
The irony of all this is that in 2006 the subs got their last raise because of Stehly.
I have to take Theresa’s side. She’s stayed & fought while other subs moved on to fair pay districts. Her fight is not selfish. Sioux Falls school children suffer when better teachers leave for better pay.
She uses her real name. Identify yourself if you believe what you say. Otherwise STFU
So says the guy who in a matter of four minutes posted under two different names.
We all know who you are Dan, but you don’t post under your real name very often, and you have used a number of different names over the past few years.
Obviously the school distract failed in Helga’s schooling. She doesn’t understand a local government structure. This has nothing to do with the legislature.
As to the teachers who are afraid…..So if I get this correct teachers are not afraid to take bus trips and have press conferences about their pay and tenure but your afraid to speak up about whats best for the kids. That sounds like screw the rest as long as we the union are getting ours.If your really putting the interest of the children first, that you will stand for what is right. Do you want what is best for our children or what’s the cheapest?
“That sounds like screw the rest as long as we the union are getting ours.”
You hit the nail on the head. That is the SD motto. From Republicans who run our state in government, to rich business owners and to people who tip shitty. I have seen this on every level. ‘not my problem they don’t get paid well.’ Ironically it is, because when everyone makes good money, it actually boosts the economy because people spend more, and EVERYONE makes more money. Make fun of the little guy all you want, but he is the foundation of this country, and if you have a poor foundation your big bad house is going to fall over.
And BTW, I have several cheap nimrods in my family, and they irk the shit out of me. As Angry Guy said to me the other day, and he says some brilliant things now and then, “It’s just money, who cares.” Exactly, you can’t take it with you, so be generous and kind.
Homan’s budget must stay trimmed so there’s funds for her compensation. Greed in public service has become likened to extravagant unproductive CEO theft.
What’s Craig’s real name? Coward
Craig is my real name. DL has my full email address and last name, but I don’t post it here due to past issues with e-stalking. I would be more willing if the site used Facebook logins and had a comment expiration policy which removed content after 30 or 60 days (like KELO and the Argus et al), but I don’t need people searching for my name five years from now and reading every thought I ever had.
Am I to believe “Pathloss” is your real name? Didn’t think so.
PL, Craig has told me his full name from the beginning, and everyone knows who you are.
Let’s stop freaking out.