Comments on: New evaluation tool for Dr. Lutrey

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:19:02 +0000

Umm.. I think there might be a glitch with your keyboard Dee. It looks like every time you write the word “our” it goes into all caps. You might want to have that checked out.

Anyhow, I think the Washington trip is probably going to be a waste of district money and I would have voted against it. Who is she going to meet with — Jeff Flake? Last time I checked he had an office in Mesa.

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:21:25 +0000

Why wouldn’t Mrs. Standages’ trip be paid for? She was invited to Washington to represent OUR district! She has represent us well. She has attend legal meeting at the State level on OUR behalf. Come on…

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:38:13 +0000

Sebring,
I’m glad your watching….if most other parents really knew what was going on in the district office they would have broken Denise and Joyce’s contract long ago. This is what should happen in January….then we’ll really see her cry!!

By: Peggy

Peggy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:13:12 +0000

Yes, interesting story about another HUSD teacher being investigated.
With all the brain trusts HUSD has hired in the last few months, you think they could focus a little more effort on creating a better image.

By: MJ

MJ — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:15:05 +0000

I am so glad to see that there are other voters out there who share my feelings on the district spending.
I cannot wait for January when the 3 good board members get to take action!
By the way- did you see that HUSD made the news again? CBS last night ran a story about a high school teacher under investigation. Glad our representative who was on camera dressed up and sat up straight for the interview which looked as thought it was filmed in a storage closet.

By: Sebring

Sebring — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:51:14 +0000

I actually was referring to Ms. Birdwell not Ms. Standage, I too was dismayed that the trip was approved given the budget crisis we’re in. More proof that the board is out of touch with reality and budget contraction.
However with 3 of 5 seats won as I see it being held by sensible members of our community, I would expect that the accountability pressure on our administration agenda that got our board members elected will be upheld as the will of the people. Too bad we still have to wade out Joyce and Denise’s antics another year and a half without having to break the contract.

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:04:39 +0000

Well Sebring, the voters saw to it that Denise won’t be going for another 4 years but I’m guessing Joyce will not make it that long. Her contract expires after next school year.

Further, Denise is a board member and there is no pay for the HUSD board members so you don’t have to worry about her pockets being lined with override money. (Although I was dismayed to hear that her trip to Washington was approved and will be paid for by the district.) Also, as I mentioned earlier I also don’t think the district administrators are paid out of override money — only teachers. I’ll try to verify that later.

By: Sebring

Sebring — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:51:21 +0000

I don’t mind the evaluation tool and the fact that Joyce and Denise got to give their approval is a joke, I wish I had that leverage in my job. If the new board members do what I (we) voted them in to do and I certainly stumped for 2 of our 3 winning board members then I would expect Joyce and Denise to be standing at the bread line waiting for the checks from Obama.
Contract or not Joyce and Denise need to go I’m tired of the this administrations refusal to listen to community and the teachers. Don’t make me feel I just voted for the override to line Joyce’s and Denise’s pockets with MORE gold while my kids are still coming home with no books.
Greg and Paul congratulations! Denise I will be watching…

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:31:50 +0000

Geoff, thanks for the reply. I am wondering if her raise is one per calendar year or per fiscal year and when her last raise was granted. I know that the staff gets raises once the state provides a budget in the summer. Did she not get one then? Did she also receive a raise when she was made a “Dr.”? How much longer is her contract for?

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:01:12 +0000

Katie: Dr. Lutrey is looking for another increase? How many does that make this year? My understanding is that she gets one raise per year between 3% and 7% as decided by the board. That is required in her contract. I, for one, would like to see a breakdown as to where the money is expected to go. Me too. I'll do some digging and publish everything I find. Dawn: Is this why I voted YES for the over ride- So Lutrey could be given another raise? I was under the impression that pay for staff does not come from the override. Rather the override only pays for teacher salaries or programs. I'll try to research that to verify

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:18:20 +0000

I, for one, would like to see a breakdown as to where the money is expected to go. This is something that BARELY got enough votes to pass and is enough of a reason to question such. The community is neither blind nor stupid. SOmething is not right and we know that. Let’s stand together and continue to use our voices. Our children deserve the best education. Our tax dollars should go towards the necessities, textbooks, qualified and happy teachers that are supported and an administration that is not so concerned with padding their own pockets. Perhaps we should wait until next year to see what type of changes we see, what kind of test scores our district produces and what our turnover rate is before considering Dr. Lutreys raise. Perhaps if that carrot was dangled in front of her we would see some results.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:39:32 +0000

Is this why I voted YES for the over ride- So Lutrey could be given another raise?

If HUSD was in such desparate need for money that they asked all the members of the community to vote yes, why are we not seeing articles in the paper telling us what HUSD plans to do for the schools and the kids?
The current administration needs to get their priorities in check. I bet we will be seeing different kinds of articles once the new board gets going after the new year.

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:34:58 +0000

Am I reading this article correctly in that Dr. Lutrey is looking for another increase? How many does that make this year? It is my understanding that the district is trying to find more ways to cut back since they are struggling financially and have have also given raises to anyone that started on or around July 1, 2008 including the new directors that were just hired. Where do we draw the line? What entitles those to an additional raise? Have we seen such an improvement that she should be granted yet another increase? Will anyone else be eligible for an additional raise? If all of the hourly associates asked for an additional raise this year would it be given the same consideration? What about the employees that are given additional duties now that their departments have been reconstructed? The employees that are now responsible for more than they were hired for? Perhaps this would be an excellent time for someone to come forth and acknowledge those that ARE doing more than expected.

In closing, I would suggest that the EMPLOYEES that work beneath Dr. Lutrey be given the same evaluation tool to fill out and an independant firm look over the results to see how those that are employed by the district feel about another increase for Dr. Lutrey.