Coronado Common Sense

Coronado Teachers Underpaid, Coronado Superintendent Overpaid

 

In today’s Sacramento Bee, Phillip Reese wrote an attention grabber titled “See how well your school district pays its teachers, superintendent”.  Mr. Reese stated in his article:

 

“The average teacher salary last year was $67,871, a decrease of 0.1 percent from 2010, according to new state figures. The average superintendent salary last year was roughly $159,000, also essentially flat from 2010.”

 

Here is my summation of the data. According to the 2011 school data (updated on 12.29.11), Coronado teachers did not fare as well. The average salary for a Coronado teacher was $62,502 which is a decrease of -4.4% from the previous year’s annual salary of $65,396 (which at this higher rate was still below the norm). The overall teacher payroll is down -8.1%. These are the people responsible for teaching the future leaders of our country.

 

CUSD Superintendent pay is substantially over and above the norm. According to the chart, Superintendent Felix’s pay was $175,000 in 2009 and 2010. This year it dropped to $169,000 but even that lower pay is $10K more than the average superintendent compared to $16K above average in the previous two years.

 

The evidence indicates that the CUSD Superintendent is overpaid compared to the median salary and our teachers are underpaid. This data does not take into consideration the multiple assistant-superintendent salaries paid in Coronado. I doubt that the other districts have as many. Seems that our school district is a little top heavy. Maybe some adjustments should be thoughtfully considered.

 

Teens' Tdap Shot Record Is School Prerequisite

 

July 21, 2011—A Tdap booster for pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, should be at the top of the back-to-school checklist for parents of middle and high school students, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

The number of pertussis cases went up to 290 for the region in 2011. This week’s new cases of pertussis included: a 9-year-old who attends the YMCA Mission Valley and a 7-year-old who attends Shoal Creek Elementary School in the Poway Unified School District. Both students were up-to-date with immunizations and potentially exposed others to the disease. Whooping cough cases in the region reached a record 1,144 cases, including two infant deaths last year.

 “We are strongly recommending that parents get their middle and high school students a booster shot before the new school year, or obtain proof of having received it previously,” said Eric McDonald, M.D., M.P.H., County Deputy Public Health Officer. “The number of parents with teens seeking shots is increasing at our clinics and we want to remind families to seek care early to avoid the rush.”

Residents without a regular healthcare provider can get vaccinated at a HHSA Public Health Center. The California Department of Public Health recommends a pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap) for everyone 10 years or older who has not yet received it, especially women of childbearing age, before, during, or immediately after pregnancy; and other people, including household contacts, caregivers, and healthcare workers, who have contact with pregnant women or infants. Children 7 to 9 years of age who did not receive all of their routine childhood shots are recommended to receive a Tdap booster dose.

A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild. The disease is treatable with antibiotics. For more information about whooping cough, please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit the web site at www.sdiz.org.

 

Source: County of San Diego

Letter To The Editor: CUSD Culinary Arts Students

 

 

Hello CCS Readers,

 

I’d like to give a round of applause to the CSUD Culinary Arts students who created and served a lovely buffet meal at the PAWS annual dinner Wednesday night.  Under the tutelage of their instructor Tammy Cusick, they presented, along with lovely smiles, one of the most delicious catered dinners I have ever tasted.

 

One of the students told me with pride, “It’s good because we put artichoke hearts in the pasta!”

 

The students actually grow some of the produce that they use in meal preparation, so it is fresh out of the garden. They study nutrition and catering in the program at Palm Academy. In its third year now, the program has grown to be very popular. There are currently 17 students enrolled.

 

While this year is almost finished, if you would like to contact them for next year call 619.437.7256, or you can send an email to tcusick@coronado.k12.ca.us

 

Thanks!

Gail Parker

 

Got Game? Bring It This Friday

 

 

Islander Sports Foundation’s

Got Game?
Bring it!

 

A game show themed evenT
Where winning isn’t everything, but having fun is

 

 April 1st, 2011
6 – 10 pm
Coronado Community Center 

 

 Start with the Ultimate Tailgate: Nado style …
Finish w/a spirited competition where everyone participates...
And pay tribute to the coaches, families, and former athletes that shape our students along their path to becoming….
 Champions through Sports

 Tickets on sale NOW on a first come basis.
This EVENT will sell out, as seats are limited!
  To purchase tickets, Visit our STORE website at
ww.islandersportsfoundation.org

 

 

Source: Islander Sports Foundation website

Coronado Local Plans To Play Lacrosse For Notre Dame

 

On Friday, March 25th, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an article about a young man from Coronado. If you know Kyle Runyon, or his parents Dan and Sue, I think you'll enjoy this article.

In Coronado lacrosse standout focused on big picture, PK Daniel wrote:

 

"Early on, doctors told Kyle Runyon’s parents their son wouldn’t be able to play sports.

Runyon played anyway, improving his skills as each year passed. Now a senior at Coronado High, Runyon has committed to play lacrosse for Notre Dame.

Sixteen years ago, that didn’t seem possible."

 

Click on the link above to read the story in its entirety.

Coronado Teacher Salaries Range From $29K - Over $100K

 

[Click on image to enlarge for easier readability]

The information above and following came from a site called "Teacher Salary Info." I found this quite interesting but cannot verify its accuracy.

 

General information included the following facts about the Coronado Unified School District:

 

• Staff: 288
• Full time teachers: 141
• Pupil to teacher ratio: 18 to 1
• Instructional Aides: 41
• Kindergarten Teachers: 9
• Elementary Teachers: 80
• High School Teachers: 49
• Pre-K to 12 Students: 3,035

 

Other bits of information on this website included revenue from local sources; expenditures on instruction; teacher salaries and teacher benefits; teacher salaries for regular education, special education and vocational education; student to teacher ratios; number of students in each grade for each school; median family income; income of a renter; income of a homeowner; and the breakdown of households making amounts ranging from $10,000 per year up to over $100,000 per year.

Jerry Brown Wants To Abolish Redevelopment Agencies

 

Columnist Logan Jenkins spoke of Coronado yesterday in his column "Brown's war on redevelopment summons old warrior's ghost" in The San Diego Union-Tribune. He was speaking of our new governor’s—Jerry Brown’s—desire to recall all redevelopment funds. He wrote that the cities were rushing to lay claim to the redevelopment funds ahead of the legislation. In an imagined conversation with Vista ex-councilman and development foe Lloyd von Haden, this is what Mr. Jenkins penned about Coronado:

 

 

 

"Remember in the ‘80s when Coronado declared the whole island ‘blighted’?

 

Yes, my parents were astonished that they lived in a slum with million-dollar houses."

 

His opinion was that public opinion needs to be reshaped and that redevelopment agencies should be looked at as criminal syndicates for all intents and purposes.

 

 

The talk around town is that the credit for the creation of the “blight” angle in Coronado goes to Dave Blumenthal and current councilman Al Ovrom. Mr. Blumenthal passed away early last year. His obituary mentions the redevelopment funds as follows:

 

“By attending a State Superintendent’s meeting, he learned of little known piece of legislation that could replace many of the blighted buildings in our schools and community without raising taxes. With his leadership, the Coronado Unified Schools and the City of Coronado united to form the Community Development Agency. This resulted in the building of most of the new community and school structures that have graced the face of Coronado for the last 20 years.”

 

This blight angle has not given Coronado a sterling reputation to say the least. More than a few cities over the bridge look down their noses at Coronado, believing that the city leaders knew that Coronado has no blight and feel that money is being taken from California cities that actually need the money.  Janine Zúñiga captured this tone in her Union-Tribune article (2005) “Coronado’s blight-fixing funding criticized.”

 

Looks like it might be time to pay the piper.

County Offers Whooping Cough Booster Shots On January Weekends

 

 

A Pertussis  (Whooping Cough) resurgence has caused private and public schools across San Diego County to request proof of a Tdap booster shot before students can attend school this fall. This requirement will be strictly enforced and all students entering seventh through twelfth grade must have the booster.

 

The San Diego Health and Human Services Agency will be offering the booster at the following local Northgate markets on Saturdays and Sundays in January, from 10am to 4pm:

 

• 2909 Coronado Avenue, San Diego 92154

 • 1410 S. 43rd Street, San Diego 92113

• 1058 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista 91911

• 606 N. Escondido Boulevard, Escondido 92025

• 1150 E. Vista Way, Vista 92084

• 1346 S. Mission Road, Fallbrook 92028

 

According to the County of San Diego website:

“Parents can also get the vaccine from their primary care physician. Residents who do not have health care coverage may visit a HHSA Public Health Center.

Last year, there were 1,106 confirmed cases of pertussis in the region, including two infants who died from complications of the disease.  The previous record of 371 confirmed cases was reported in 2005. In 2009, there were 143 confirmed cases of pertussis.”

 

Coronado School Budget Suffers As State Of California Struggles

 

Just two days before Christmas, the San Diego Union-Tribune published a bleak story written by Ashly McGlone about problems in Coronado with the school budget titled "Coronado schools eyeing cuts." Ms. McGlone wrote:

 

"The Coronado Unified School District is projecting a $2.4 million deficit in next year’s $26 million budget, not including potential midyear cuts from the state.

The district saw a budget shortfall of $2.1 million this year, prompting it to cut $1.5 million in spending through furloughs and class size increases. Adult education was cut in half.

Teachers are taking seven furlough days this year, five of them by shortening the academic year. Nonteaching staff are taking 10 furlough days. Class sizes have also increased in an effort to reduce the number of teachers needed.

But the worst may be ahead. The Legislative Analyst Office is projecting a $25 billion state budget shortfall this year and next."

 

A lot of the problem began with financial difficulties across the state of California. As in the past, the educational system often seems the first to pay the price.

 

Recently, I've heard discussion in the media about solutions for California and New York. Most analysts say that another bailout would be risky and it's time for these two states to "pay the piper." Pension payouts across California are often calculated at a hefty percentage of the employees’ total pay their last year in the work force. What was promised in pensions does not exist in the budget at the current time nor is it expected that it will materialize. The option most commonly being tossed around as a way out of this predicament is to allow California to go bankrupt. Bankruptcy would erase the slate and these promised pensions would disappear.

 

Yesterday’s U-T had for its featured article (front page, above the fold) “6 retired educators in county are paid more than U.S. education secretary” written by Maureen Magee and Danielle Cervantes. It listed the top eight educator pensions in San Diego County, ranging from 83% to 113% of original salaries. No Coronado educators appeared in the Top Eight. These top-paid educators were compared to the top five city pensions listed in the 2009 San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System data. The top pensions range from $227,250 to $299,103 a year. You might recognize the #4 spot holder as our own Coronado Police Chief from his years as San Diego assistant police chief.

 

As 2011 quickly approaches, it will be interesting to see how Governor-elect Jerry Brown handles the situation.

Coronado Community—Mark This On Your Calendar Now!

 

SAVE THE DATE 

A Coronado Community Discussion about Education

 

Coronado Schools:

Are We on the Right Path?

Saturday, Jan 22, 2011

 4:30 to 7:30 PM

 

Coronado High School Performing Arts Center

Tickets available in January

 

Watch the movie ‘Race to Nowhere’,

 Hear from a panel of experts

Open dialogue with Panel and Special Guests over coffee

 

 

Watch the movie trailer at……

www.racetonowhere.com

 

 

Brought to the Coronado Community by CSF, CUSD. Elementary, Middle and High School Parent/Teacher groups