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Reported by: Kelly Dudzik

Email: kdudzik@fox16.com

Updated: 12/19/2009 6:04 am

Published: 12/18/2009 7:39 pm

The leader of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers is upset about a letter written by the Pulaski County Special School Board president.

Tim Clark e-mailed a two page single-spaced letter to every teacher and sent it home with every student. It's the latest chapter in the battle between the PCSSD and PACT.

In the letter, Clark discusses among other things, why he voted against ratifying PACT's contract proposal and why he's upset about the union suing the district, but PACT President Marty Nix thinks Clark over-stepped his authority.

"To spend thousands in taxpayer dollars to send out copies of a ridiculous, immature and vindictive letter is absolutely ludicrous," said Nix.

The district's attorney reviewed the letter before it went out.

"I think the letter really sets out very well what should be done, I mean, the district's interest is in educating children and approving student achievement," said attorney Jay Bequette.

"18-thousand copies even at a quarter, even a quarter, per copy when teachers are being told there's a shortage of paper for instructional purposes, to spend that kind of money on sending out a letter like that is just thoroughly ludicrous," added Nix.

"Typical union comment. I mean, that's not true, that if there are any issues like that in the district, I think the district needs to know about it," says Clark.

"Is this really just a fight between you and Marty Nix?" asked FOX16's Kelly Dudzik.

"Personally, I think Marty Nix is a fine lady. She's doing a job that she's been hired to do by the union, and it's my responsibility to do what's right for the kids. By us sending the letter out, it was to explain what's happening to the parents. It was nothing personal," said Clark.

Friday, was also the first court hearing for the lawsuit filed by PACT against PCSSD. The district's attorney told FOX16 the judge just had to tell both parties his court reporter has a sister who is a teacher in the district. Neither side had a problem with it.

Next, the district will file a response to the suit and another hearing will likely happen after the first of the year.

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Hombre - 12/22/2009 2:24 PM

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memyselfi, I served in the AF for over 20 years and did not have a degree. During my whole time in the service I always earned more income than than my teacher spouse. Second, I did not work as many hours or weekends as she did; often I helped her with her classroom as well as the late evenings grading. Memyselfi, I'll bet that because of your low aptitude and lack of ability to reason, you are stuck in a suck ass job.

Kindly Ponder - 12/22/2009 11:24 AM

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Everyone - you are wasting your breath/typing time trying to reason with memyselfishi. She STILL thinks this is about money - after numerous comments to the contrary. Try to ignore her . . . just MAYBE she will go away. But don't count on it. Methinks she likes to rant for attention too much.

memyselfi - 12/22/2009 9:37 AM

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Other public servants work weekends, my point entirely! Police, Firefighters, and Military (even the National Guard). Other professions also have to continue training too, ask an officer, firefighter, or military member! You think because you are in the education profession you are the only people that continue training? Everyone that breathes does the same thing and not everyone gets paid for it. Ask the next Doctor you go to how much time he spends reading to keep up with the lastest health information. Even welfare recipiants have to keep up with what they are entitled to. This is not about money? I've also read the contract. Tell me do the other taxpayers know that the negotiations are paid half by PACT and half by the school district. Just one more way the PACT team is wasting the districts money. Maybe if we could get those dollars back you would have paper for your printers? If you take your case to the public be prepared for the public to also voice their opinions and views. You are paid with public funds this makes this everyones business and everyone has the right to look into your pay and business. You can bet that other people are thinking the exact same thing as me. This union is costing the school district money. I am proud that the members of the board are taking a stand against this. Maybe this will prevent more waste.

MissSIX - 12/22/2009 12:57 AM

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memyselfi Ok sounds like you need come back to school also. Yes teachers only work a 192 days on salary, but there is only a forty day diference from any other professional who doesn't work weekends. Yes, contracts are only for 192 day but there are also development hours that teachers have to get off contract time(meaning doing work for free, just to keep our job). We are one of the only professions that has to continue educating ourselves. We are the reason that your children are able to become the sucessful individual they are in our society. I am a second year teacher(ba +24 to be exact) and I am still in school trying to go up in pay scale, just to be able to pay my student loans back. Yes, I love and have a passion for my job, but I would like respect and a safe enviornment for my students. We shouldn't have to sit in unclean rooms with leaky roof or have to keep disruptive students in our classroom. So next time do a little bit more research before you think that you have discovered something. And note that you can look up any teacher, in any school ditrict salary through Act 1802. Every school district website has this information posted for the public.

Hombre - 12/21/2009 10:38 PM

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PCSSD Tim Clark keeps stating that he's doing what he needs to do for the kids, who is he trying to convince? He is forgetting that he's a business person who is not touch with what really happens at all the schools. Clark is forgetting that the teachers are the ones in the field connecting with the children. He's busy trying to maximize profits for the Popeyes chicken restaurants.

Hombre - 12/21/2009 10:36 PM

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memyselfi, for some reason unknown to us, you appear to be a disgruntle person who either was not given a silver star on their homework or are closely tied to one of the four clueless PCSSD School Board members. The issue is not about pay but I'll use the comparison of babysitting wages once again in hopes that you'll finally quit being a moron. How about giving teachers $5.00 an hour. And, only pay them for five hours a day, do not paying them for the planning time need. That would be $25.00 a day, right? Each parent should only paid $25.00 a day for these teachers to baby sit their children. Even if they have more than one child, it’s still cheaper than private daycare, right?. Now how many children do they teach a day – maybe twenty? That’s ($25.00 X 20 = $500) a day. But remember, a teacher only works about 180 days a year! I’m not going to pay them for all the vacations and accrued leaves, ect. So $500 X 180 = $90,000 (Just a minute, my calculator must need batteries.) Teachers say what about those who have ten years of experience and a masters’s degree? Well, maybe (just to be fair) they could get the $7.25 (minimum wage) per hour, times five hours, times twenty children. Minimum wage ($7.25 X 5 X 20=$725.00) that’s $725.00 a day; $725 X 180 days = $130,000. Memyselfi, you must really quit being a moron.

onlooker - 12/21/2009 8:40 PM

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memyselfi, I don't understand what you are even trying to talk about here. Nothing in this story is about wages and if you knew the actually debate going on here you would know this has nothing to do with wages. Are teachers paid the best no are they paid the worst no are there many without jobs yes. The point here is that pact wants to be recognized so that they can continue to support teachers in educating students. The teachers are the ones in the classroom not the school board, administrators, or others in the community but amazingly no one listens to the teachers and without pact their voice will completely be lost.

memyselfi - 12/21/2009 1:11 PM

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I have found the Pulaski County Special School District Teacher Salary Schedule 2008-2009. It’s online for all to google, if anyone else is interested. The first thing that catches my eye is you only work for 192 days of the year. Nothing new about that, it is relevant for people to judge your wages though. I have a few points about this to make. At the lowest possible pay level (1) the teachers of PCSSD makes $31,000 a year. That is $31,000 or more for 192 days! That is an estimated $160 a day. Keep in mind they have sick days and earned leave in which the PACT group uses for knee jerk walk outs. Judging from the amount of crow’s feet I see from the news footage I am guessing that the majority of the PACT members are at bare minimum BA + 12 ($32,488 Level 1) or BA + 24 ($34,047 Level 1). Keep in mind this is the least they are and could be making. They get special pay for additional duties! All the extra things they do that do not involve teaching, they keep complaining about these duties. There are no other public servants that make this much money and works so little. Since the current conflicts over the pond began, even the National Guard works more than you for less pay and benefits. What are you doing with the other 173 (leap year 174) days? I have a few suggestions to help out with your financial issues. You could stand in line with all the other people at the employment office that have been put on permanent layoffs and beg for sympathy from them for your $160 a day. Keep in mind you will be competing with those same folks for jobs when they do not have one job. We have people in America that both adults in the household are out of work. There are working teens that are making car payments for their parents right now. Maybe you could steal a fast food job from one of those teenagers with your BA+12. I really can’t imagine why you want more money, all you will do with it is buy another ugly sweater.

Hombre - 12/21/2009 9:41 AM

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UnionTeacher - 12/20/2009 5:35 PM

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All day Friday I kept trying to find copy paper to put in my printer. There wasn't any. Finally called the office and they "found some". But low and behold this letter was brought to me by my principal with a threatening memo attached by Rhonda Harnish for disciplinary action to be taken if I didn't hand the letter out to all students to come home. This is exactly how teachers are treated daily in this district.... with threats... The letter was so full of inaccuracies, but I believe most parents will just look at it as more "unnecessary politics" from a district that is too busy fighting and not really focusing on educating the kids. I was such a supporter of Mr. Clark when he was running for his position. I felt such a kinship and thought of him so highly. Now without any explanation, he has changed. Seems as if he could have had the respect to explain to PACT why he turned on us. No one can answer why it happened. I feel saddened first, while my coworkers look at me with that "I told you so" expression on their faces. This district seems to just be cursed. It may take years to turn things around and get honest people in these positions that have had no formal ties to the old "ghosts" and us have a decent reputation. A lot of us teachers may be retired before this ever happens.

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