UPDATE 7/29: Was the State Board right to approve furloughs?
UPDATE 7/29: Atlanta Public Schools joins several others districts in saying they wont furlough teachers. Read the story here.
UPDATE: As expected, state board members cleared the way for school districts to furlough teachers. Wait there’s more: the unanimous vote gives school districts the opportunity to use up to seven more furlough days.
The State Board of Education is meeting today to vote on amending rules so that any of Georgia’s 182 school districts could change the terms of the teachers’ contracts to allow for furloughs.
Last week, Gov. Sonny Perdue requested that public school districts furlough teachers for three days to save the state about $100 million.
State employees will be furloughed three days and state agencies must cut their budgets by 5 percent because of a $900 million hole in the budget.
Perdue can’t make the districts furlough teachers. But he told system leaders that the amount of money they receive from the state will be cut to reflect furloughs. If schools systems don’t want to furlough, they have to find other places to cut.
Of course, school districts have been slicing and dicing their budgets for years because of austerity cuts and other reductions in state funding.
Some school districts – such as Gwinnett, Forsyth and Cherokee – decided to furlough. Many other systems have done the same, cutting into teachers’ pre-planning time as they prepare for the new school year.
Other systems – such as Cobb and DeKalb – have found other places to cut.
Several systems that furloughed teachers told them not to come in yesterday or today. Teachers, are you still doing work from home?
It’s expected that the state board will approve the change to allow for furloughs. But what message would the board send if they voted it down?
NOTE: The State Board of Regents is expected to take up furloughs and budget cuts for Georgia’s public colleges and universities when it meets Aug. 11 and 12.
STORY HELP: Reporter Nancy Badertscher is looking to speak with private school parents who are using scholarships funded by the tax credit approved by the General Assembly in 2008. If you would like to participate in this story please contact Nancy at nbadertscher@ajc.com.
MORE STORY HELP: A co-worker is writing a back-to-school story looking at who is volunteering in schools. If your PTA or school has an interesting group — whether it be all fathers or all grandparents or employees from a local company — we want to hear from you. Send a note to gstaples@ajc.com if you’d like to participate.
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322 comments Add your comment
Jane
July 28th, 2009
12:34 pm
Leave the teachers alone!!! Also add police and fire fighters to that list.
Robert
July 28th, 2009
12:40 pm
Crawford Lewis is a joke!
nana
July 28th, 2009
12:41 pm
ex ga/northview or whatever, enough already.
johnny too good
July 28th, 2009
12:42 pm
So an aspiring teacher like myself shoud consider other options huh?
ShooShee
July 28th, 2009
12:46 pm
Doesn’t Dr. Lewis have access to technology? It would be so easy to post a You Tube video of his message for teachers to watch… if they care to. Why does he think it’s so important to spend all this money busing teachers around to listen to his “vision”? We all know that this vision will change by Thanksgiving break. Wasteful spending abounds!
Red Foreman
July 28th, 2009
12:49 pm
I say, for the next year, Sonny and the Georgia Legislature work for FREE!!!!!
If I did my job like they do theirs, I would get FIRED!
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:53 pm
Frustrated teacher, I completely agree with your comments. I have seen DeKalb become a chaotic shell of its once proud self over my 25 years. I would rather loose $1100.00 in pay than to have my retirement savings further decreased. This decision is one of many that this administration has made that I find completely asinie, but not surprising, given DCSS’s current leadership.
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
Enter your comments here
School Level Administrator
July 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
As an elementary administrator, I see my teachers working all summer (for free). These dedicated individuals come in as soon as the building is clean to start setting up their room because they love their children and love to teach. Now these teachers will still come and work on furlough days (not only for free but also losing money) because they can’t stand the thought of children coming to open house and not seeing a room that is perfect. Teachers are undervalued and greatly underappreciated.
Allen
July 28th, 2009
1:03 pm
$27 million for a fishing hole, $23 million for a hole of another sort–the CRCT, in DeKalb alone hundreds of thousands wasted on “administration” . . . seems to me there’s plenty of ways to make up funding deficits that don’t involve compromising our children’s education
catlady
July 28th, 2009
1:03 pm
Let’s furlough during CRCT! Instead of testing! NOT at the beginning of the year (what a harebrained idea) when we are supposed to be getting things ready. Of course, they count on teachers to work anyway, throwing the guilt trip on them (it’s for the children!) Puhleese: if it was important to be ready for the children, we SURE wouldn’t be scheduling furloughs then. Do it when we have the worthless “training” meetings–it will save time and money (the cure du jour they bring in) and aggravation!
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:04 pm
Amen, ShooShee! Didn’t we listen to Dr. Lewis last spring on a pre-recorded video; one where we had to sign off that we attended? Wasting time and resources seems to be de riguer in DeKalb!
Flyfish
July 28th, 2009
1:07 pm
Interesting..in a non union state there is little for teachers to do, except follow whatever their local school board decrees. I do wonder though why Georgia still has early start. I believe we are the only state that has not gone back to a normal start to school (Florida & SC recently have gone back to later start). the savings in fuel & electricity (during the hottest month) would be significant.
Teachers will have to accept the furloughs, since they have no way to fight it, and education is not the only business that has gone in this direction. In Georgia, be thankful you still have a job, and if your benefits are still being picked up during the furlough, be thankful again.
Erase the board...the DeKalb Board of Ed
July 28th, 2009
1:15 pm
I have an idea…..if the crazy DeKalb Board of Education will not wise up and get rid of Crawford Lewis, then let’s get rid of the DeKalb Board of Education…Sara Copelin-Wood, Zepora Roberts, Jay Cunningham, Eugene Walkers and all of their cohorts. Shhhhhhhh. The DeKalb Board of Education is worse than the Clayton Board of Education, and that is saying something. The media needs to focus on the board members…they are the ones who put up with that pitiful Crawford Lewis. Fellow DeKalb Citizens: Let’s Erase the Board in the next Election!!!
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:16 pm
Thank you School Level Administrator. What you decribed is so true. Even we veterans still want that open house to be perfect for the children we greet and spend the next 10 months with. Despite knowing that society in general underappreciates and undervalues us, many teachers stay because we love what we do and understand the positive impact we can have in the lives of the children we teach. It’s not always all about the test scores!
fred
July 28th, 2009
1:16 pm
When will the Gwinnett Superintendent be taking his furlough?
It has been through his poor leadership that the schools find themselves in this mess. I have lost confidence in his ability.
Perhaps if they hadn’t wasted Tens of millions of dollars on a duplication of a testing device (GATEWAY) or buy the Taj Mahal (ISC)and pretend they needed all the office space, when they really don’t. They would not have to ask the teachers to be “true professionals”.
In reality, if the superintendent had been a true professional this would not be necessary.
Teacher’s Union anyone? I’m tired of getting stuff jammed down my throat without a lick of consent (furloughs, increased class sizes (IE2))
Mr. T
July 28th, 2009
1:17 pm
I believe the worst part could be that the state voted to take as many as 10 days for teachers. These are days that we will never get back even when the economy is better. I already know that the state plans to announce three more furlough days in January 2010. I strongly encourage all teachers and staff to stay home on the furlough days. If classrooms are not ready on the first day of school, oh well! We can let the students help. I hope everyone remembers this come election time.
Art teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Dear “Happiest Teacher”,
Anyone who gloats like that while his or her fellow professionals are suffering may not be fit to be involved in the field of education. Do you treat your students with such an utter lack of empathy? Shame on you.
jdawg
July 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
If you are going to furlough….then turn the lights off and lock the doors…watch…they will leave open so the little teacher can go in and do work….when they furlough a vital records person in Atlanta….they aint showing up and doing work….thats the reason for 6 wks to get a copy….you will also see long time teachers retire….so have at it….elections are just around the corner….jdawg
25-yr. DeKalb Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:25 pm
Thank you School Level Administrator. What you described is so true. Even we veterans want that classroom to be perfect on open house day for the children we will spend the next 10 months with. Despite being undervalued and underappreciated, we teach because we understand that what we do has a positive impact for the children we encounter. It’s so much more than just a test score!
legal egal
July 28th, 2009
1:27 pm
Teachers, ckeck with your attorney concerning local BOE’s changing your contract. Every contract has language refering to state funding decreasing. BUT, the funding referred to is state apportioned funding. That is written into law. The state school board cannot change that. They reduced the number of required days to the local district. They did not, nor could they, change the terms of the district’s contract with its teachers. That change can only occur by act of the general assembly. Why then are they (the governor and state school board) doing this? They have no money and they are hoping that enough local systems will go along with this idea that it will become law. It is very similar to the story of “The Emperor is wearing no clothes”. I’m just the little boy saying “he’s naked”.
Money pit
July 28th, 2009
1:28 pm
While I understand cuts are necessary, I truly find it mind-boggling that our elected officials could not come up with a better way to save money than to introduce furloughs for teachers. The only solace I have right now is that Perdue can’t run for reelection to the governor’s seat. Sonny, you’re absolutely useless and worst kind of politician. How about we stop funding pre-kindergarten programs with lottery funds ($337 mil plus). Instead of preparing kids to enter kindergarten (really?) and subsidizing day care for parents who can afford it, let’s spend that money to teach children and young adults who have a more immediate opportunity to contribute to the economy in the near future. Even if that program only subsidized care for at-risk families and families who qualify based on financial need, which I could support, the money left over would be an enormous boon to the educational budget.
Download your state’s budget here: http://www.opb.state.ga.us/
Marie
July 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
abacus2-
Fayette County is deciding tonight at a board meeting at 7pm what they will do. I have been waiting too, not because I work in the county- I work in another one, but because my daughter goes to school in Fayette and I want to know if it will change her calendar at all.
fred
July 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
They better not even think of using HOPE scholarship money for anything else. EVER
Art teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:33 pm
As a new teacher in my district last year, we were given presentations by our PAGE and GAE local reps. I find it interesting that no one mentioned that PAGE (which appeals to teachers due to lower fees) has fought against the creation of a teachers’ union. GAE is in favor of creating a teachers’ union, and has been lobbying to do so. So when it comes time this year to choose a professional association- remember this moment. It’s time for a strong teachers’ union!
DeKalb teachers and GAE
July 28th, 2009
1:34 pm
Zoemol you are completely missing the point.
Bottom line whether it was technically TRS or not, GAE in Dekalb used monies that teachers were counting on in retirement as a bargaining chip for restoring teacher furlough, even though DeKalb spends one hundred million a year more in administrative salaries than Fulton.
Where was the loud, vocal, and public demand from DeKalb GAE that Lewis cut some fat from the extra one hundred million in administrative salaries so that a teacher’s retirement won’t be affected in the future? I’ve yet to see a statement in the paper that GAE pushed that option but that it was denied.
Did GAE push for administrative positions to be cut, seeing as there is an extra one hundred million in salaries compared to Fulton, or didn’t they? And if they didn’t shouldn’t teachers feel that GAE placed a higher priority on protecting administrative deadweight than they did teachers retirement?
And, if this is indeed the case, how should teachers feel if an organization they joined to look out for them, considered looking out for administrative deadweight positions a higher priority than looking out for teachers retirement?
And if DeKalb teachers can’t, or won’t question why the largest organization in DeKalb thought losing retirement benefits was the better tradeoff for keeping furlough days, and thought losing retirement benefits was worth it to keep the one hundred million dollars extra in administrative salaries intact, why should anyone feel sympathy for DeKalb teachers when they say their concerns are not being heard?
Mrs. L
July 28th, 2009
1:45 pm
Many counties DO NOT have 10 days left to furlough. So how are they to furlough additional days without interruption of the 180 days of student instructional time? I DID NOT go to my school yesterday or today- 2 of my 3 furlough days. My not working for FREE does not make me a bad teacher. I can not justify to my family working during this time. My students will help with class set up and they will learn in the process. Parents will just need to understand why the classroom is not perfect.
Teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
don’t like the furloughs, but am glad to have a job. The post about teachers not being able to do at home what they do during pre-planning is spot on. I am going to do the best I can with the time they give me. I alredy get to school about 45 min to 1 hour early everyday in order to get things done. When not coaching, I stay for 30-45 minutes after we are contractually allowed to leave to wrap things up. I already work at least an hour and a half everyday for free, and it gets very frustrating to be given less in time, pay, and respect while being expected to do more.
The previous poster is correct. Teaching is becoming more of just a “job” for me…..Georgia will never make gains in its educational rankings until the politicians and the citizens of this state make education a priority. There is nothing more important for the future of this state than the education of its children. No matter how much I love teaching, the kids, etc. you can only bend so far.
Ernest
July 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
Perhaps I’m missing something. I thought we were in a recession with less revenue coming in to the government. Property tax revenues may be lower, partly due to SB55. SB55 requires tax accessors to factor in foreclosures in determining the ‘fair market value’ of homes. Areas that have been hit hard by foreclosures have also seen other properties devalued by up to 30%, resulting in lower property tax revenue. I’m not sure if we’ve seen the worst of it yet.
As a result, there must be some ‘belt tightening’ to go along with that. Possible remedies?
-Layoff employees
-Across the board reduction in salaries
-Reduce expenses
-Increase taxes
Most school systems have performed a combination of the first 3 above prior to this latest request for more cuts. Anyone want to talk about a tax increase during a recession?
Elementary teacher
July 28th, 2009
1:53 pm
Want to save money? I know of 2 jobs in every elementary school that are a waste of money: Literacy coach and Math coach….
I am an elementary school teacher and did not see either one in my classroom at all …. worthless
Eliminate these jobs and no furloughs are needed…
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
1:55 pm
I guess the contract my spouse signed was not binding. My wife usually will work on days off and also furnish supplies. She won’t work this Friday (1st furlough day ) as I am not sure she would be covered under workers comp if she got hurt. You never know when putting buliten boards together you may fall and break a bone. She will not be buying class room supplies this year. Don;t call her selfish, un caring, etc she has taught some 28 years and she said enougn abuse is enough abuse. Oh yeah, they also lost ther local supplments, they being class room teaches–coaches and administration kept theirs.
How showing up devalues the children
July 28th, 2009
1:56 pm
School level administrator, you can make the case that showing up on furlough days in the long run devalues the children. When teachers allow themselves to be treated this way, and show up and open themselves up to injury without job protections in place, it sends a message that teachers can and will tolerate being utterly disrespected, abused even, and that they will tolerate having their voices and concerns as to what’s best for students ignored as well.
In the long run, sending the message that you will tolerate your concerns not being addressed is bad for students, as they lose the voice of the those in the school best suited to speak to their concerns.
I would have far more respect for an administrator who told their staff to respect themselves by not reporting on furlough days and while I would ask for the children that your lessons be in place, maybe if enough parents and enough media see bare walls and hallways, and see the effects of this furlough, then maybe our legislative leaders will conduct themselves in such a way that this doesn’t happen again.
Would school level administrator praise a mother whose husband slaps her in the face repeatedly for staying in the home for the sake of the children? Then why would school level administrator praise teachers who are being slapped in the face and taking it silently for the sake of the children?
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
1:58 pm
Mrs. L. has a good point.
Kudos to her for not going in on furlough days and for planning to have the students assist in class set up.
I’ve got another idea for Mrs. L. — how about teaching the students how to grade tests?
– Considering the school day ends at a certain time each day, isn’t it unfair to expect teachers to grade papers at night when they are not getting paid.
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
2:00 pm
I forgot in above post. Everyone is welcome to join us. A bunch of us are going to go up to Perry, Ga this long weekend (we are furloughed Friday) with our campers and boats. We want to use the nice boat ramps that Perdue had built with tax dollars. Does anyone know exactly which one is closest to So. Ga via I-75.
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Hey Dekalb Conservative. If I am not mistaken, students are allowed to help grade test. Think this is part of teh NCLB crap
Gwinnett Parent
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Where I live in Gwinnett County there are 4 new parks within 2 miles of each other as well as a new multi-million dollar stadium. My daughter’s 1st grade class this year will have 20 students and no parapro. Last year there were 17 students in her class. Real estate has been declining for 3 years and unemployment started creeping up in 2007. Therefore, we knew the shortfall was coming. Guess it is obvious what matters most in Georgia.
Derwood
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Oophe above post is incorrect. It should say students are NOT allowed to grade test.
gw.teacher
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
I totally understand the need to balance the budget but two important factors concern me. The more educated you are, the more money per day you pay. In addition, I am in a 2 teacher family, so we have been affected x2. There are MANY households where both spouses are teachers, and I have not heard any reference to this. We have 3 advanced degrees between us and have over 15 years expereince in the classroom. This 3 day furlough is costing us $450 a month for the next 5 months and not the state has agreed to approve up to 7 more??? I don’t know how you would figure it out, but I wonder how many HOUSEHOLDS this teacher furlough is affecting – not how many teachers individually it is affecting. I am blessed to have a job – really I am! But with up to 7 more furlough days you have to wonder how this really affects the ECONOMY- not just the state budget. With the 3 day furlough, you have taken 120 million out of the economy. This is 120 million less in spending. It is bound to HURT the economy more than help it. On a side note… I have not even gotten my state tax refund yet.. the state has some real issues, and they are making irrational decisions.
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
2:10 pm
Gwinnett Parent, apparently everyone knew the shortfall was coming except the General Assembly! How can we be nearly ONE BILLION dollars short on the budget 3 weeks into the fiscal year? Dubose Porter, Eric Johnson, Nathan Deal – you want to be considered for governor in 2010? Better show some leadership now!
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
2:10 pm
The only viable reason I see not to go into school was brought up by Derwood. That reason was if a teacher was to have an accident, ex. slip on the floor, which resulted in injury, it could be argued that the claim could be potentially declined.
Teacher
July 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
not to mention all of the conferences and training we are expected to go to on our own time….
Art teacher
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
Anybody know if there’s a way to recoup some of the lost salary at tax time?
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
Students can’t grade tests!?!? That’s crap.
In all seriousness this could be an excellent opportunity to teach children about civics, hopefully it is possible to deviate from lessons plans for this.
Marie
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
7 more days just blows my mind! And like someone else said by January we won’t even have 7 days left of “workdays” to use so the students will have to have their days cut. I am losing $268 a day before taxes plus an additional $10 more out every month for TRS contributions since that went from 5% to 5.25%, plus health insurance is going up AGAIN! This is just awful!
Ofcourse my school system still has us doing all this stupid training crap during preplanning….God forbid if they cut that. I never get anything out of it anyhow. I already do everything they want us to “learn to do” during this training….such a waste!
Joe Wilson
July 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
I am a 28 veteran of DeKalb County Schools and I am proud of my school board over the last few years finding ways to counter massive cuts from the State of Georgia. Supt. Crawford Lewis did try to make cuts this past year to central office personnel and other cost savings, but the state is largely defunding state education and the university system. Many teachers voted against Roy Barnes in 2002, only to find Perdue has made drastic cuts in education funding over his tenure. Perdue was making this cuts well before the economy turned bad and increased out of pocket costs for health insurance. The Republicans are all about giving tax breaks to the wealthy and cutting government services. In this economic downturn, my school’s neighborhood will see more students return from private school. People are buying less at Borders and Barnes & Noble and making use of our public libraries. Perdue closed schools for two days, due to the high gas prices for Katrina, and being the only governor to do this–made Georgia the butt of jokes. Save money by cutting all the standardized tests, especially the CRCT that goes well beyond that required by other states. The time taken by these test cuts from instructional time and learning by students.
Danielle
July 28th, 2009
2:21 pm
Since many teachers are unhappy in Dekalb, I suggest that you LEAVE as I did 3 years ago. Stop complaining about Crawford Lewis and his croonies. It is obvious you are stuck. Get out or SHUT UP!!!!!!
Marie
July 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
Great point about the CRCT taking instructional time away. I mean why in the world do we have 1st graders take this test for 3 days! If you want them to have some “practice” in 1st and 2nd grade so they can do it on their own in 3rd grade then have them do it one day or something. Plus, having a huge test in every subject from 3rd grade up is just ridiculous. It is like having final exams in 3rd grade on everything you have learned all year. Too much for 3rd graders and too much stress for teachers of these small children!
DeKalb Conservative
July 28th, 2009
2:24 pm
Joe Wilson is right, we ax 2 much from are public skools:
“Save money by cutting all the standardized tests, especially the CRCT that goes well beyond that required by other states. The time taken by these test cuts from instructional time and learning by students.”
On a national level, GA is a joke. I would expect a 28 veteran of DeKalb County Schools to want to increase CRCT standards and keep increasing standards until GA increases its rank nationally.
State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled - Himanchals Org.
July 28th, 2009
2:27 pm
[...] the original post: State Board of Education takes up furloughs | Get Schooled :182-school, amending-rules, change-the, change-the-terms, Education, georgia, meeting-today, [...]
Davis
July 28th, 2009
2:28 pm
After completing my first year as a high school administrator, I have to point out that many school systems in Georgia do not pay their building level administrators nearly as well as others. I made barely $2000 more to be an administrator than I did as a teacher. Sadly though, I spent an average of 60-80 hrs a week at the school all year long, and while I’m good at my job, it is never ending and there is no such thing as overtime pay in this profession for teachers or the building level administrators. I am a hard worker, used to working two jobs to make ends meet and I have never, ever worked this hard in my entire life! Like many of our overworked, underappreciated, often maligned teachers, I too am a single parent and these cuts hurt! I’ve always been a team player, supportive of the system and state. Right now though I’m appalled at the fact that teachers are getting this news right before the beginning of the school year. We all know it’s a tough economy. However, why is it that fire, police, EMS, and teachers continually get pillaged time and time again when the local, state, and federal governments continue to spend, spend, spend on ridiculous programs we can’t afford! As for the comments that teachers, etc should do their part like everyone else, they have been for decades! Quit bashing the very people who are raising your children for you! You give them cell phones and car keys and turn them loose. We feed them, transport them, educate them, teach them morals when they come in the door without them, we teach them how to dress, we teach them about personal responsibility and accountability, we provide them with supplies when you won’t, we spend our own money to help those who are without find a way to pay to take the SAT, we show them how to apply for college, we try to help them find hope when no one cares, and we use every tool we can to hold these kids together to get them to graduate when for many of them there is no one else!. Great for the elite who can afford to have someone else care for their kids or those who have the ability to homeschool. For the vast majority though, we are the only hope some students have of making it. Sure, there are some mediocre teachers, however by and large most people are in this profession because they love helping kids. Too bad the powers that be do not share this same love. As for some of the bitterness many people have towards public school, keep your kids at home and teach them 8 hrs a day! I can’t wait to see how much they raise my health insurance costs, how much the federal government’s new programs will tax me, and what new requirement will be put in place to continue to help the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So this is how we lead the nation in improving student achievement. I hope those in power start taking a hard look at all these vouchers dollars being sent to private schools and all these cuts being made to the private schools and finally realize you either support public education or you don’t. At least say what you really mean. For the sake of my own kids, perhaps it’s time I quit killing myself for someone else’s lack of priorities and reevaluate my own.