"Board member Jose Gutierrez wondered whether teachers would be interested in compensation that goes beyond health coverage, similar to the perks that local tech companies use to entice prospective employees, such as gym memberships and yoga classes."

Seriously? I tell you what Trustee Gutierrez, you take the gym memberships and yoga classes and we'll take the raises particularly as inflation and the likelihood of a recession settle in.

We really need Board Members more familiar with basic economic principles. Wheeler and Coladonato seem to get it. Gutierrez has a ways to go.

So there's huge uncertainty in the economy, but the school board wants to begin a massive building project to house a small number of teachers (and staff)? And pay a consulting firm with very little understanding of the local community to figure out the options of what kind of risk the *school board* is comfortable taking?

They refuse to account for the increase of enrollment in the district, despite their own studies (2015) that claimed enrollment would be flat or decline. Where are all these kids coming from?

They can't even figure out what their own teachers want.

When is this school board going to exhibit some basic fiscal responsibility and accountability to the tax payers of this district?

Jose, I don't think paying for yoga classes will do much for teachers who leave because they can't afford rent anywhere close to Mountain View!

Board member Jose Gutierrez wondered whether teachers would be interested in compensation that goes beyond health coverage, similar to the perks that local tech companies use to entice prospective employees, such as gym memberships and yoga classes.

There is nothing wrong with exploring expanded wellness programs like yoga or offering teachers free lunches that are already made on-site for the students, or anything that leads to a more emotionally and physically healthy workforce.

A wellness program done right can also reduce health care cost, turnover, and absenteeism. Yoga doesn't pay the rent, however, nor does it cost that much more to simply respect teachers enough to think they deserve wellness options like yoga.

Did you get a 26% raise from 2013-14 to now? I did not. But local taxes and fees have constantly gone up thereby reducing my net take home pay.

The high teacher turnover percentage - generally running about 20%, is IMO reflective of the poor work environment that sometimes exists at MVWSD schools because of poor worker-environments for some teachers. 4 math teachers left Graham after the Teach to One Math problems [poor administration, both pre and during roll-in] and there has also been science teacher turnover that was exacerbated by the school/district administration not listening to science teacher input on reconditioned science facilities [1/4 million dollars, 'couldn't be spared' from SFIP Bond money].

The real data - is contained in the county rankings for average teacher retention - in years - compared to the other districts in the county.

Three and four years ago, the teachers in their own survey, also came up with the problems of special education as being particularly galling (before any $ 1/4 M District quality audit - the worker themselves have a very good handle on why they are unhappy-at-work and likely to leave for another employer). Starting to fix 'disfunctional' special eduction will help both these students, their families, and all the teachers.

Robyn, what kind of raise did you get over that time? What was your income over that period?

@Robyn - I’m with you - I didn’t get that 26% raise either. Nor does my employer provide gym memberships or yoga classes. They aren’t building me a house to live in either so that I don’t have to commute to work. I guess it’s easy to dole out bennies when you’re on the taxpayers dole. It’s so strange to consistently see the teachers given elite status without recognizing the thousands of local employees that also provide essential services at similar or smaller salaries than teachers. Nobody seems worried about their commutes to work.
Perhaps I should get a teaching credential (not very hard if you have a degree in anything) so I can get in on these perks- especially those that say I only have to work 75% of the year and collect almost full pay at retirement.

@No Violin,

Doesn't the fact that you haven't become a teacher tell us more about how you truly feel? You've put your money where your mouth is, and you realized that it's not as easy or lucrative as you're pretending it is.

Interesting how we can pay cops but not teachers....

From 'Join the MVPD' Web Link .....
MVPD SALARY - $102,099 to $123,984 annually
MVPD BENEFITS - Generous paid leave, CalPERS medical coverage, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and an employee assistance program (EAP).

@Drake- you’re missing the point. Teachers are not the highest paid employees around but they’re certainly not the lowest either especially when you divide their salaries by 0.75 since they only work 3/4 of the year (which is what draws many of them to the profession). My point is that their situation isn’t anymore dismal than the thousands of other workers in town that have to commute to work or do without employer paid yoga or free food for the same salaries. Comparing their employment salaries and benefits to those of the most educated, most talented engineers in the world that come to Silicon Valley to work is unrealistic. As evidenced by the congested freeways and thoroughfares almost everybody has to commute to work because hardly anybody can afford to live here anymore including the doctors, nurses and yes, those educated, talented engineers. When you live in an expensive, urban area that’s just a fact of life. Rather than blaming the commute on the large turnover it would be wise to consider the demographics of those that choose to teach - are they young moms that decide to stay home with their kids rather than teach? Are they leaving MVWSD for more lucrative jobs closer to home? I doubt it...