Timberman-
Attempting to manage a business is way different than this. How could a list of thousands of educational assistants/teachers/administrators have any importance to you as a member of the general public? You cant make any decisions based on this information, yet as a business owner you could. Ok, I dont like Locke and I think he make too much money... what can I do with that information? not vote for him? big deal, I still end up chipping in my nickle towards his salary... I'm willing to bet that Bill Gates doesn't get that detailed information on all those he employs, nor would he want it. A summary of costs for all his employees is more managable... And he doesn't employ near as many people as you do timberman!

please read on below

CFM- I read all three... I'll be up way late finishing stuff now, but felt it was only fair to try and see your side. I have to be honest with you, not much as changed. I already understood the intent when we started the debate. Its a little different perspective when its your information out there. What possible importance could my salary have to any of you? Some think we make too little, some too much... either way there is nothing you can do with this information. If I am failing to see an application for this please clue me in. I really dont have a problem with people knowing how much we make in general. A state salary schedule for teachers is available for that. This item gives you a range of teacher salaries from first year teachers with only a bachelors degree, to a 20 veteran with a masters degree and 90 credits. Even include a teacher count and total amount spent district by district... more than enough information to make sure the money is spent correctly. (probably more readable than thousands of names and salaries too.) Once you attach the name to the exact salary, I think the intent of the code is lost. It teeters on invasion of privacy, of course they included a sheild for responsibility in case this information does cause harm (such as the identity theft example) ya gotta love the government! It was also easy to see that the code was written without mass publication in mind. (They spoke a ton about who was responsible for the paper costs, copying procedures etc...) I dont think an upload to a website was what they had in mind. I do however feel that elected or appointed positions should fall under tighter scrutiny. Its a double edged sword really, disclosure to protect the people yet it puts other people at risk. (even if you think the risk is minimal, its still there as I described earlier...and $1500 wasnt minimal for my budget!) I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I see my representative from time to time at school functions and will bring it up with him to get his feeling about it.

I wanted to address something you said in your last post about accountablity to those I serve. I fully believe i'm accountable to the parents and students I teach. But accountable for what i teach, and to some extent how I teach it. I'm accountable for how I spend school funds, or grants I earn. I'm even more accountable for a childs learning than their parents are... sad as it is. But opening my checkbook to the public is a little much. Especially to everyone in the world (literally) to see. I think that is way more than the law intended.

I'm tired and I'm not sure this is making sense so I'll summarize in one more line... ( I'm not taking responsibility for grammatical errors either!)

The intent of the law could be easily upheld without making the information so personal.

End of Elkrun's thesis ... back to work!