In a continuing tradition I sometimes put up a discussion or debate entry on Thursday Nights and recruit a few participants. Over the next few days former Simi Valley Mayor and School Board Member Greg Stratton and long time educator and union leader Stephen Blum of Ventura will be discussing their views and experiences in education.

Here are their biographies:

Greg Stratton:

Greg has served as mayor of Simi Valley and after that he served on the Simi Valley Board of Education. He has occasionally written comments on my blog and has been outspoken in his views to the local press. Greg, Stephen sent in his bio below. He has frustrated fellow board members, unions, and more over the years. Serving on local boards and councils is often a thank less job. Being an elected official opens a person up to a high level of criticism, some of it deserved and some of it not. Greg, ever think of running for the park board and saying you served on all three?

If you want to add more to your bio email it to me and I will update yours too.

Stephen Blum:

Education: BA in history from California Lutheran - 1977, MA in education from California Lutheran - 1990, Juris Doctorate from Ventura College of Law 2006. Passed California Bar Exam in 2006.

Taught for 25 years at Buena High School, Foothill Technology High School, and Ventura Adult Education. Coached cross-country and track and field for 22 years at Buena High School. Currently serving in eighth year as president of the Ventura Unified Education Association. Member of the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees since 2006.

Married to Debbie Blum who teaches at Rio Mesa High School. Our daughter, Teresa, is attending Ventura College. Competitive road runner for 30 years, two time Master's National Champion (5,000 and 10000 meters) former Master's American Record holder (road 5,000).

The format for this discussion is free flowing. I am going to start by posting some questions below that I want both of you to answer with a very brief response. After that it will be more Lincoln Douglas style where you can ask each other questions and explain your views more.

Make sure to include examples from your involvement with education to help all of us understand your reasoning more.

So here goes:

1. What are your thoughts on the recent Pink Friday rallies? Did either of you attend an event?

2. President Barack Obama has said he supports merit pay, extending the school day, and other educational reforms. Have you ever supported these type of proposals?

3. What do you think of the growth of magnet schools and/or charter schools? Would you like to see the expansion of charter or magnet schools in your community?

What are the major reasons charter or magnet schools haven't been increasing in your area? Simi Valley has two elementary magnet schools but it takes luck to get a student in. Do you support growing charter or magnet programs?

4. The state budget is likely going to cut back substantially on education spending. What do you think the impact on the quality of education will be? What programs or staff would you cut?

5. The seniority system makes sure that new teachers are laid off first, regardless of passion, talent, and skills. But most districts use some sort of tie breakers after seniority.

Do you support the seniority system as it currently is used? What tie breakers do you think should be used?

Thanks to both of you for agreeing to participate.

Comments from other people will be deleted until after the discussion when my readers can post their thoughts.

UPDATE: THIS ENTRY IS NOW OPEN FOR ANYONE TO COMMENT.

I took many photos and videos at the Pink Friday rally in Simi Valley. Click here to see all of the photos and videos I have posted.

You do not need to register or use your real name to post. But for many using your real name adds credibility to your ideas. To others it doesn't matter. The choice is yours. Click on continue reading on each entry to see more pictures, videos, and to post comments.

Credit for the following photos belongs to teacher Nicole Barr. If you know Nicole you know she is a smart, talented, and an accomplished teacher that demands much from her students.

Many teachers at the rally were given Pink Slips. But many of their colleagues were there to support them and to stand against more cuts to public education. A teacher/coach in this photo only had a few minutes before going to help at a sporting event but stopped by to show his support. He might have left thinking it was a small gesture but to those that were told they might lose their jobs it was very significant to know that we all realize the cuts will hurt students, schools, teachers, and our state. It should be our goal to minimize the damage cuts do to local schools by working together.

I know union leaders, administrators, teachers, district personal, and school board members have been meeting for months to plan for the future. The negotiations are tough and there will be hardships created by their decisions. I have seen many of you returning from meetings looking very depressed. I heard of a recent meeting where the two sides faced off with angry words but when the meeting was over there was tears forming in the eyes of normally very stoic people. I don't envy the people that have to sign off on orders to lay people off, especially knowing that many schools aren't hiring. Many of the people with pink slips will be hired back. But for some of them their careers as teachers are likely to end. Keep focused and do your best. We know you face hard choices and many of the options aren't good for education.

I have been trying to bring more transparency to local schools during the budget problems local schools are facing. In addition to the photos and video I have also been posting memos. Click on continue reading to view a campaign flyer from Rick Lebeck who ran for a position in our local union. There are also more videos to see by clicking on continue reading.

Send me any photos, memos, or videos you want posted.

If you are new around here you don't need to register or use your real name to comment.

Thanks for reading my blog.

( Conservative activist Tom Snyder discusses why he thinks the CTA is run by socialists.)

( Santa Susana teacher Andrew Hollander discusses seniority, getting a pink slip, and why he likes his school.)

Just like back in November during Proposition 8 rallies there is almost always a sign waver for pizza or something else. This time the sign waver joined in.

School Board Member Jeanne Davis was at the rally talking with teachers and giving hugs to those that were going to get Pink Slips. Jeanne, it meant a great deal to people that you were out there to encourage everyone. I know there was other administrators or district personal out there that I missed but other teachers saw them and it was a great gesture to stand side by side with those that were going to be given Pink Slips.

Click on continue reading for more pictures and videos.

I have more photos to post over the next few days. I am going to go back and label the photos tomorrow but these are all from today's rally in Simi Valley. I will also write my thoughts in greater detail. But quickly, I support President Barack Obama's idea of paying teachers more based on performance. I also know the proposed cuts in education funding in California would be damaging to local schools. I know schools will be cut back because of the economy, but the size of cuts should be limited to the best of our abilities.

Many of my friends received their pink slips today. Many of them will be hired back, but they have months of uncertainty facing them, which is not really in their control or based on their performance.

Simi Valley Unified School District is posed to lay off some of the best teachers we have and that will have big impacts on the quality of education students have the opportunity to earn.

Click on continue reading for more photos and videos.

If you take any of these photos or videos for your FaceBook page, please post a link back here.

( Send me any photos or videos you want me to post. Many people assumed Pink Slips were onyl going to be given out to new teachers. After seven years most teachers would have felt safe. But this young elementary school teacher was told she was going to be given a Reduction In Force notice ( RIF ) on Friday.

( These two teachers were told they were going to get RIF notices on Friday. For many teachers it isn't just the thought of losing their job, but also the reality that not many districts will be hiring this year. Many teachers want to teach where they live and be involved in our community on and off campus. Both of these teachers grew up in Simi Valley. I know them both personally and they are impressive educators.

The staff at Hollow Hills reacted quickly to show solidarity for their coworkers by printing up tshirts with the names of the teachers given RIF notices at their school. Hollow Hills is an award winning magnet school with an accelerated curriculum and contracts for families that send their children there. To lose many staff members of this innovative school would set Simi Valley back.

The theme of the day was pink. Wearing Pink shows solidarity with the teachers that have been given Pink Slips. I didn't own a pink shirt before last week ( Button up long sleeve almost pink shirt at Kohl's? Less than 5 bucks.) but I proudly wore my shirt to show I support the many hard working and talented teachers that are afraid they will lose their jobs. I am not going to buy a pair of pink Converse any time soon.

Photo Credit: Ethan Renner. Thanks for taking this picture when I ran out of memory on my camera.

Conservative activist Tom Snyder showed up waving a Yes on Proposition 8 sign and making it known that he believes the CTA is a radical union that supports socialism. Here is a YouTube videos of him explaining some of his views. I ran out of memory and didn't get a chance to ask him many questions.

( Simi Valley School Board Member Jeanne Davis at a rally on Pink Friday)

To keep people informed and allow them inside the process I am posting memos from my school district in full on my blog. If you have memos from your school district to post please send them in.

Here's the latest:

TO ALL CERTIFICATED STAFF MEMBERS OF THE SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

This communication is being sent to advise you of the process the District is using to notify certificated staff members of the impending notices of potential layoff. We have shared this process with the leadership of SEA.

All notices of potential layoff will be mailed to the appropriate certificated personnel via US Mail. The mailing will be sent certified mail, with return receipt. These letters will be delivered to the US Post Office no later than tomorrow, March 13, 2009.

Principals have been given direction to speak to each of the certificated staff members scheduled to receive these notices. Principals are to do this on the morning of March 13, 2009, hopefully before noon. If a certificated staff member has an individual question that cannot be answered by the Principal, then that person can contact either the Certificated Personnel office or the SEA office.

All certificated staff members that receive a potential layoff notice have the right to appeal. A form for requesting a hearing is included with the notices being mailed out. If a certificated staff member feels strongly that a mistake has been made, then we urge you to notify your association as soon as possible. We would like to resolve any potential concerns prior to the Administrative Hearings scheduled for the end of April.

The current State budget crisis has forced our district, along with virtually every other school district in California, to make these very difficult staffing decisions. While we deeply regret having to send these notices out, please know that we believe all of our certificated staff members are doing an outstanding job of teaching and caring for our students. We want to thank all of you for your service to our children and the District.

Message on Conejo Valley Unified District Budget Cuts:

PINK FRIDAY -- MARCH 13, 2009
STAND UP FOR SCHOOLS

Please join us to support public schools!
Wear pink in support of RIF'd teachers

Blood Drive at Thousand Oaks High School from 3-7 PM
"They have taken everything else -- this is all we have left to give."
New information: You may call the UACT Office to sign up for a time.
Call 805-497-8220 from 10-1:30 to reserve a time.
Community Rally at Thousand Oaks Community Park
Next to Thousand Oaks High School 4-5 PM
Music, Speaker, Signs, & Support
It is time to educate the public to the cost of the CA State Budget Cuts!
Education is only 40% of the budget but we took 60% of the cuts.

$11.6 Billion in Cuts to K-12 Schools in California
This is a loss of $2,000 per student in California.
We are now ranked 48th in the nation.

What is the Impact of the Cuts to CVUSD?

$5.3 Million in Cuts District-Wide

Approximately $250 in cuts for EACH student in CVUSD

65 Elementary School Teachers Laid-Off

16 Middle School Teachers Laid-Off

20 High School Teachers Laid-Off

4 BTSA Teachers Laid-Off

12 Counselors Laid-Off

21 Administrators Laid-Offo
Classified Lays-Offs Yet to Come

Larger class sizes proposed in 2009-2010

Textbook Adoptions Postponed

Come learn more, support teachers with lay off notices, and support our children.

I will be at the rally at Sycamore and Cochran tomorrow afternoon doing interviews and taking pictures. if you take pictures of your rally send them in.

This Friday teachers across Ventura County and California will be rallying on corners to bring attention to how many teachers will be receiving Pink Slips.

The lay off notices, also called Reduction in Force notices ( RIF) are given out to teachers with the least seniority. Many of the people that receive a RIF notice will be rehired once the budget projections are clearer, but like many of my readers that means economic uncertainty for more people.

Click here for the CTA website.

I plan to post videos, pictures, and more from the rallies in Simi Valley that will be at the corner of Sycamore and Cochran. The rally should be underway by 4:00PM because Friday is a staff development day. We are joking that we will be going to a workshop on resume writing! If you are planning on attending a rally in Ventura County and want to post pictures, videos, or post your thoughts on the manner send me an email and let me know. Even if all you plan on doing is sending in a few photos let me know before if you can.

If you work for a local school district and want me to post any information from your union, your district, or your thoughts on the process send the information to me. I will give you credit or leave your name out of it, whatever you request.

The process should be open and transparent to the public. Thanks for helping me to update people on what is going on. I am a public school teacher in SVUSD. I am going to post information that we teachers get from our union and our district to add more transparency to the process for all of my readers. Send me in information from other sources or districts and I will post that information too.

If we agree or disagree it doesn't matter, I want my readers to hear from you.

Click here for my previous entry on the subject.

Click on continue reading for a press release detailing the rally in the City of Ventura.

Marie Lakin is also blogging on the subject. According to her recent post Simi Valley teachers are being hit harder than Ventura teachers will be with RIF notices. Click here to read her blog.