Proposal From The School System?For a number of years now we have
In what amounts to a poorly disguised attempt to extort more money from the County Commission the School System seems primed to propose suspending bus service for the coming school year. The proposal will be voted on tonight.
Based on past experience the threat of cancelling bus service was all that was needed for angry parents to demand the Commission come up with more money for the less than thrifty school system.
For several years we have seen budgets built on fabrications, misstatements, hidden money, bloated expectation of income and underestimates of costs. Each year we heard the promise that the new budget was "bare-bones", "no new monies involved", etc. The budget was a house of cards that blew down in the winds of decreased student enrollment and arrogant denial of realities. Those responsible for the mismanagement now propose to extort more money from dry wells with threats of no bus service for students. I certainly hope the commissioners will not be intimidated by this proposed act of blatant intimidation.
It's bad enough that so many in the trenches have lost their jobs while the elite on the hill and in the sports programs have skated away unscathed, it's even worse that extravagant costly programs are continued while more basic less expensive programs are dismissed.
Based on past experience the threat of cancelling bus service was all that was needed for angry parents to demand the Commission come up with more money for the less than thrifty school system.
For several years we have seen budgets built on fabrications, misstatements, hidden money, bloated expectation of income and underestimates of costs. Each year we heard the promise that the new budget was "bare-bones", "no new monies involved", etc. The budget was a house of cards that blew down in the winds of decreased student enrollment and arrogant denial of realities. Those responsible for the mismanagement now propose to extort more money from dry wells with threats of no bus service for students. I certainly hope the commissioners will not be intimidated by this proposed act of blatant intimidation.
It's bad enough that so many in the trenches have lost their jobs while the elite on the hill and in the sports programs have skated away unscathed, it's even worse that extravagant costly programs are continued while more basic less expensive programs are dismissed.
posted by Allen Barrett | 1:58 PM
48 Comments:
So I take it that the money that was not missing never showed up? How many millions was that again?
That is alright I am sure the ones that caused this mess will be the right ones to figure it out.
The sad part about the schools wailing about being broke is that they send the kids home begging from the first day of school. Magizines, wrapping paper, candy. Anything they can get them to sale. In the younger classrooms, the children either meet their sales quota or they have to stay in study hall while the ones that did -- or had their parents do it for them -- get to go on a field trip or watch a movie. What do they use that money for? Seems like that would buy some gas for their overpriced buses.
Ray Lanier
They could save 100 thousand by getting rid of t. While they are at it should probably get rid of all coaching supplements, and the little man at Elkton,"Call me DR Gonzales" Hey someone tell michael that is a title of respect that must be earned not demanded simply because of a degree.
Under the Financial Management Act of 1981 the commissioners allocate a set amount to the schools. How the schools distribute that amount is up to the school board entirely. It is not the responsibility of the commissioners to set the line items of the school budget.
While I understand and basically agree with Mr. Barrett's post regarding the irresponsibility of funding of the school systems budget, especially regarding the supplements of the coaching staff, I do feel compelled to offer this statement as well. School bus service is a convenience, not a right. While it might be difficult for some parents to get their children to and from school, the fact remains it is the parent, not the school system's responsibility to provide transportation. Far too many parental duties are delegated to the system now, and if things don't always turn out well, the system is blamed. Parents still have to feed, clothe and house their children. It is the school's job to educate them, so please untie their hands and force parents as well as teachers do the jobs that they are supposed to do.
True enough in part, 8:59, but what about the household where both parents work and have to be there by 7:00? Should they take their children to the school an hour early and leave them in the parking lot?
This isn't a parental duty such as teaching the child manners or respect, this is a matter of getting them to school. Failure to do so can have consequences up to and including jail time for the parents.
While I agree with the 8:59 post, I feel that cutting buses will only hurt the education of many of our students. There are already attendance concerns - can't imagine what the attendance would become without buses! Furthermore, the public (teachers and school staff) want answers about the current budget crisis before drastic measures like cutting buses is taken.
The schools cannot afford to lose any more teaching positions. It would take over 20-30 teachers to reach the one million dollar cut that is needed. I ask, what other major budget item can be cut that would trim over $1 million? There are no good answers here. Something major has to be cut. Do you cut all sports programs? Do you cut buses? Do you cut art, music, and PE? I want to hear your educated suggestions, not the ones that have no foundation.
10:05, you're right, there are no quick and easy answers. I don't know of one thing in particular that could be cut and make up the shortfall. You could pare down the sports expenses. Parents could run car pools to get players to games, as the middle school soccer teams at Richland do. You could start school later in the year to cut down on energy consumption. That's just two suggestions, but you have to start somewhere.
School has to have 180 days as per state regulations. If you start late, you finish late. Start in September and end in late June. That still doesn't halp much on energy, since you will still be using the HVAC all year.
Most years it's a hell of a lot hotter in August than it is in June. Many school systems have also increased the length of the school day. As you pointed out, the HVAC is already running.
I am 8:59 and I cannot disagree with any of the posts regarding busing and attendance. I would hope that suspending bus service would never ever happen again. However, I do stand by my statement that it is not a right. I remember having to pay to ride the bus as a child in another town. (Yes I am an outside, going on 20 years, but not a native). Also, I actually made a tidy bit of "mad" money when my children were in elementary school by allowing parents to drop their children at my home, as a pre-school service,and I made sure they got on the bus safely. It was similar to after school care. It's not a perfect solution, probably not the best solution, but the fact is, we are not guaranteed the right of transportation. Again let me emphasize, I do hope bus service continues but utimately it is a parental responsibility not a school system's.
Would it not be nice if the School System had to create and maintain a multi-year financial plan? Say a 3-year operational plan and a 5-year capital projects plan?
That way we would all know not only what is possibly occuring now but what is coming down the road?
We would possibly have a clue that State and local funds may decrease because of decreasing enrolement.
Everyone should realize that the School Administration knew that enrolement was decreasing and therefore funds would also decrease. If not then the School Administration should be fired for incompetance.
Here are a few suggestions to make needed cuts:
Reduce number of assistant principals in the system (if enrollment is down and teachers have been cut then it only seems necessary to reduce assistant principals as well)
Reduce number of central office staff
Cut all computer lab programs (these classes will have to be led by the classroom teachers)
Reduce all classroom assistant positions (teachers will have to grade own papers and make needed copies)
These are just a few suggestions.
Another suggestion or two
Why not stop all transportation for kids who live within 2 (??Pick a number ) miles of school. That way by the time they'd walked to school they'd maybe be awake and ready to start learning and less likely to be disruptive . T'was nuthin to walk 4 miles ea way in days of yore
Stop ALL school sports or make them 100% paid for by those parents who are currently so rabid and accomplished at spending other taxpayers $$ on their kids .School is for learning how to be smart NOT how to knock yourself senseless on the ball field
R U Knocktout
You should change your name to U R Anutjob. What parent wants their young children walking to school with the crime and pedophiles that are running around these days? Sports are a major part of school. It teaches kids much more than how to compete. Just because you may not have been athletic doesn't mean it isn't important. Get real.
4:44, sports have their place in a childs developement, but they don't take the place of basic educational skills.
I'm not suggesting we do away with them altogether, but there is money that could be save with a bit more parental participation.
There is no good answer to the delemma that has been created. One spoke of losing assistant principals. The number of children and the problems associated with them are still there. There is always a need for discipline in the schools. There are not enough teachers left to dismiss and carry on the day-to-day operations of the schools. To stop busing would be disatrous to many and I realize the hardship it would create, but if you don't have teachers, why send the students to school. It really becomes a babysitting job then. It still looks bad when the Central Office staff has remained intact. As a matter of fact, it has increased. This is not setting a good example when teachers are being released. As I said, there is no good answer.
Central office ran for years with 13 people. Now there are about 27.Tee needs to let several go. And he has bragged that he would do just fine without this job so to make up for all the assinine thing he has done over the years he could support one teacher with a cut in his salary. The discussion with the coaches has been as issue for years. And nothing will be done. Coaches rule. They can coach but are dummer than a box of rocks. Wake up school board and read TCA you might learn something. A lot of teacher dismissal. I don't think he played fair.
12:48
While I do not like troublemaking, I tend to agree that some streamlining needs to be done at the Central Office. I don't know. But it just seems to me that a large number of people are NOT needed there.
The coaching issue has been a sore spot for me for several years. I have a friend who has never been able to find a high school teaching position in his field because he would be required to be a coach of some sport. Isn't that a shame? And these sports folks seem to be on a pedestal, and I don't understand why. It would seem to me that academics are much more important.
9:01 - you seem to disagree with cutting asst principals but do you realize that there are only 4 schools in the system with asst principals - how is it fair that the remaining 4 have managed without asst principals when those schools have close to equal amount of students and in a couple of cases MORE than 2 of the schools with asst principals?? I agree that there is no simple fix to this crisis but something has to be decided without punishing the classroom teachers - give them a break!
8:50
There was a time when nobody had assistant principals. I agree with you as to the fairness of it. I also think non-essential faculty should be cut out...at least for now. I can even remember a time when counselors divided their time between two or more schools. Just some thoughts.
Now with all the testing, it is impossible for a school not to have a counselor. They are primarily responsible for the testing in each school. We will soon have more tests in the year than possibly beneficial o the students. Assistant principals should be present in every school. Each one needs someone to help wih all the evaluations and paperwork associated with it. The only school in the system with such small numbers is Elkton. He still needs someone to help, even if it is a split between Elkton and Minor Hill. Richland has three principals. Send one of them to Richland Elementary. Just a thought.
11:01 - then what about GCHS having 4 principals - guess one of them can go to Minor Hill and one to Southside? Another suggestion.
When Bill Holt os in a commission meeting he seems to use his position as principal to give out school board and principal meeting info. As a principal he gives out commission meeting info. He needs to keep his mouth shut and he needs to get off the commission. 5th district people quit putting him in.
8:10 They try but there are too many people who don't see both sides of his personality.
Pulaski Elementary should not have an assistant principal. Bridgeforth needs one because of the age and hormones raging at BMS, GCHS needs 2 assistant principals that can also run the Vocational program, that would cut 2 positions there. The coaching staff at the high school is double what it was 10 years ago so half of them need to go unless they are volunteers. I don't know where there are 27 positions at the Central Office, I think you are wrong there.
Check the state education office for the number of people working in the central office that's where the number came from.
Since they can fine a parent if the child don't go to school, how can the county get away with not furnishing transportation?
I agree that we need transportation but it is not a requirement. Parent are responsible for getting their child to school the bus is a luxury that we have always had in Giles County. All school systems do not run bus transportation, some have private buses and you pay for your child to ride. We have always taken for granted that we would have buses but it is always a possibility to lose them.
Name a county in Tennessee that don't have buses.
Write a sentence that is grammatically correct.
My my is Lucas cg woodard now correcting people on grammar?
Wouldn't that be a hoot, 2:11. After all the dropped letters, sentence fragments and just plain old poor structure, I don't think they are qualified to instruct anyone. My my.
Who is woodard 2:11? The commissioner?
Can someone post what the solution was? They passed a budget at the school board meeting this week. I heard some teachers were called yesterday and let go, but can not confirm.
I am hearing no Drivers Ed this year. Anyone confirm or deny? What other programs have been cut? I am sure it wasn't atheletics.
At gchs Agriculture and family/consumer science has been reduced back to1 teacher programs. Career management was cut. I think drafting was combined with robotics. This is what I have heard through the grapevine. There are going to be a lot of kids in study hall! If they cut drivers ed, what is Coach Hannah doing now?
We were told Hannah is doing PE
I'm wornding if "DR. Gongos" wife t her job.
11:48 PM, can you explain what you were trying to say? Is it cg drunk again?
Come on 8:15, aren't you wornding if Dr Gongos wife t'd her job? I know I am.
Did the great doctor G's wife loose her job? I hope not she will be stuck with him more.
I'd bet that's why another lady I know is working full time. ithout that job she would have the same fate.
In the topic I posted for this thread I stated that the School Board would vote on suspending bus service for the coming year.
I was in error with that statement. While I was informed rightly that the subject would be brought before the School Board it was merely my assumption that it would then be voted on. The matter was brought before the School Board but it was not voted on one way or the other nor was it given serious consideration. I apologize for the error and hope it did not cause anyone any undue stress.
Why would Mrs. Gonzales need to lose her job? She is an excellent teacher. She genuinely cares for her students. I do not understand why there would even be a question of her job being cut. Those who are questioning her job status seem not to know what they are talking about.
4:44 I don't know Mrs. Gonzales or was I the one posted about her, just have a question.
Did any excellent teachers get a pink slip? Your post sounded like only teachers that wasn't good got a pink slip.
8:56, I agree and would like an answer also. A coach at Richland, who also taught algebra was laid off. The students loved him. He cared about the kids and his attitude clearly showed this. His students didn't fear the dreaded subject of math because of his concern for them and his methods of teaching. We are still struggling to comprehend how that decision was arrived at.
It's quite obvious that teaching skills didn't have a damned thing to do with it.
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