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
back to work today....
July 28th, 2009
7:25 pm
I am extremely angry that my motivation video today, at my first day of preplanning, was soon followed by, well, 3 furloughs now, 3 after the first of the year, and then news we could even have more when I got home and saw the news it could be 10 or more this year.
I was even more pissed that the new teacher evaluation book was in a new binder with colored paper. How much did that cost for the thousands and thousands of teachers of GA? Obviously we aren’t good enough to get paid, so you should have saved the paper and notebook and just given us all unsatisfactory. All I have to say is that though cuts and sacrifices were made in Cobb and DeKalb, at least your school system had the balls to say we aren’t going to furlough our teachers.
gw.teacher
July 28th, 2009
7:27 pm
quoting Tim
July 28th, 2009
7:03 pm
“Teachers do need to remember that many other state employees have been taking furloughs for about a year, and some of these jobs involve the safety and risk to children’s lives. I find it only fair that teachers now can join the club of working with GA’s budget shortfalls.”
You are not a state employee, are you?
Mrs. L
July 28th, 2009
7:29 pm
A PP said that teachers in their county could get off 15 minutes early to make up for having to work during a furlough day. That is stupid. If the teacher works at a high school where students drive to school the parking lot is not clear for at least 15-20 minutes after school gets out. The same is true with Ele and MS with the lots being backed up by parents picking up those students. My school had an every WED inservice this year at 7:30 that’s 15 minutes prior to our contract time. We were told we could leave at 3:30 instead of 3:45 we could not even get out of our parking spots at 3:30 due to being blocked in by students and parents, since the car pool lanes run right through the teacher parking lot.
Today we got an email stating that this year we would once again be REQUIRED to be at work at 7:30 every Wednesday, but we can leave at 3:30. This is an abuse by the administration. If you do the math it comes out to be 2.88 additional days we MUST work for FREE, since it is impossible for any teacher to leave the building prior to 3:30.
I hold a position outside of the classroom and already took a 10 day cut, with NO NOTICE. Now I have 3 more days being cut for a total of 13. Yes, it will be hard my family will make it, but I WILL NOT work for FREE ever again. My Principal had the nerve to call me Monday and ask me to come in today, I told him I was not available after all today was a furlough day.
Furlough the politicians
July 28th, 2009
7:43 pm
I don’t see any of these legislative clown willing to be furloughed…It’s well past time to furlough them all.
Veteran teacher, 2
July 28th, 2009
7:52 pm
Tim, many state workers have NOT been furloughed, also. Let’s all join together to tell the politicians that this is unacceptable rather than sniping about who is and who isn’t furloughed at a given time.
Everyone, spend time on the furlough day to contact your senator and representative. Many legislators report many contacts, some say few contacts. The election is only 15 months away. Every state senator and every state representative is up for re-election in the fall of 2010. Let them know this is unacceptable. Give them notice that we expect them to fix this situation. Ask about pork in the budget. One of my representatives told me there was no pork in the budget. The ballot is our best weapon. CALL THEM NOW!! 50,000 calls to legislators would make a HUGE difference.
test
July 28th, 2009
7:55 pm
We need to cancel standardized tests for the next two years and see how much money that will save. How much time it will allow for real education and how many jobs focused on testing can be eliminated. Save paper, go green. Save trees, reduce the amount of number 2 pencils drastically.
Next, move to the 4 day week now. Save a lot of energy costs each week. Don’t wait till the state and county can’t pay the bills.
The ecuse has been we can’t change the planned schedule at this late date, but they can change the schedule whenever they want to change it.
teacher/georgia
July 28th, 2009
7:58 pm
First no raise,then no $100 gift card, then 3 day furlough, with the possibility of 10 day furlough. How can Kathy Cox dare to compare her department employees having 5 days furlough as compared to 10 day furlough when most of the teacher that I know buy up to 90% of supplies needed for their class and most teachers that I know spend at least $1000 in supplies for their students. Teacher should not be expected to take more days than any other state employee and that includes the State Department of Education. How is Georgia suppose to raise their test scores when you penalize the people who can help you do that. Is the State of Georgia going to repeat the same mistake that the City of Atlanta in furloughing their police which resulted in dramatic rise in crime, that resulted in a city councilman being hijacked?
test
July 28th, 2009
8:08 pm
Cut staff development. Cut the requirements to have staff development, cut the days to do S.d., Cut the people in charge of S.D. Cut the speaker money. For the next two years this could save a lot of money. The State makes the rules to require those days. They can obviously change anything any time they wish. So, change the requirement and save some money.
BC
July 28th, 2009
8:29 pm
My momma always said to take up for myself or no one else would. How about teachers get together and for every day we get furloughed, take an extra sick day or two? We don’t work, we get paid, and they have to pay a sub. I am curious of the 150,000 teachers (not sure of the exact number) and countless other full time staff in this state, how many hundreds of thousands of sick days we could take off? Might as well take them, or they may just take them from us anyways since they just made slavery legal again in the state of GA.
God Bless the Teacher!
July 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
Comparing teachers to other critical service professions isn’t really fair. The folks teachers serve are FORCED to be in school until the age of 16. Accordingly, teachers have to deal on a daily basis with clients who frequently do anything to disrupt the learning environment because they do not want to be there in the first place. Is the citizenry required to set fires on a daily basis to activate firefighters? Is it required that everyone have a lawyer and utilize their services even if we don’t want to do so? Am I required to visit my physician on a basis that is more regular than I care to? May I pace myself in the classroom to meet my workload like many of the government office (e.g., tag, permit, etc.) workers do without having someone threaten to non-renew me? Do any of the aforementioned non-teachers frequently spend personal money to purchase items needed to fulfill the duties of their jobs? Hmmm…
I challenge ANY non-teacher to walk a year in a teacher’s shoes before making any claim to understanding the frustration teachers are feeling right now. Even the best and most dedicated teachers must be honest with themselves and admit the figurative slap in the face felt a little harder this time.
I wish the best in the coming school year for my education brethren. Please remember that this blog is nothing more than a self-select sampling of the general population. Such a sample always tends toward the negative in response. Keep up the good work…this too (and the morons who don’t know how to balance a budget without cutting critical areas) shall pass.
d
July 28th, 2009
8:51 pm
As far as DeKalb not furloughing instead of taking monies from the annuities program, please remember that had they furloughed, that would be three less days going into TRS in addition to losing your three days pay. We are better off doing it this way, especially since the governor already hinted that he will be calling for more days in January. I do agree we’re an extremely top heavy system, but the timing by the governor did not leave a lot of room to fix this situation now.
Just wondering
July 28th, 2009
8:53 pm
With the economy the way it is, are they going to take away the National Board teacher subsidies or the cost of living raises for teachers who have retired?
love hurts
July 28th, 2009
8:59 pm
Love hurts! I love my job as a teacher, but admit the slap in the face hurts and stings a bit. If I could afford to do it with no pay, I would be there way before the bell rang in the morning and well after the buses pulled out in the evening, just as I do now. Unfortunately, I have children of my own to provide for, student loans, and a mortgage to pay. I never ask for a thank you and sadly see other teachers waiting for one that will never come.
I don’t even send a supply list home for my kids in my classroom as I know most can’t afford it and I can really do a lot with very little (previous experience).
I too have worked in a couple other states than GA, union and not. It is what you make of it. Every state and system has their issues. I understand teachers feel abandoned, unappreciated, underpaid (or non paid) and frustrated, however, remember why we do what we do. Remember that we are shaping our future leaders now. Be good to them, set a good example, and they will be the ones leading this country one day and they will remember the difference you made in their life.
I have been setting my class up little by little this summer, and enjoy doing it. I wouldn’t dream of letting a child come to school on open house and not see their room prepared. They are nervous and excited about that first day, no matter their age.I teach my kids that fair doesn’t mean the same for everyone.
God Bless, and make it a great school year guys and gals. No doubt that you will, because you always do.
NC Christine
July 28th, 2009
9:01 pm
My Facebook posts:
GEORGIA TEACHERS–more than 3 furlough days now. Us with our Nat. Board Certif. are probably not going to get a dime for this–the state had promised us an additional 10% of our pay and then said for this year 10% of a 1st yr teach pay–I think most NCBTs are taking a $600/MONTH hit. That + the furlough days are dropping my salary by about $10K. This hurts ALL of us! Advanced degrees–next? What R U going to do?!!!
AND
GEORGIA TEACHERS–don’t go to work on Tuesday if you are furloughed!!! I have from a reliable source, the state is going to get some kind of a count of the teachers who will work for free on furlough days and they will use this to see if they can give us 3 more days off in Jan.—they think they can get us to do the same work with much less pay. Do not go in and act like it is “for the children” you’ll screw us all!
And I have had many comments & lunch at the pizza place next to Kayson’s exit 14 off 575. Just questions written into a memo.
WE DESERVE ANSWERS about where our $ has gone–can you say misappropriation of funds?
NC Christine
July 28th, 2009
9:03 pm
Friday lunch at the pizza place exit 14 off 575 on FRIDAY @ 11:45;)
Just a nice meeting of like minded friends who CARE!!!!!
ScienceTeacher671
July 28th, 2009
9:04 pm
Please use your furlough days to contact your elected representatives, including the governor and lieutenant governor and those currently in the General Assembly contemplating a run for governor. Urge them to call a special session and redo the budget.
Eliminating the sales tax holiday will eliminate $10-13 million from the deficit. Raising cigarette taxes by $1 per pack could add another $400 million. Enacting Sen. Dubose Porter’s suggestion on collecting sales taxes more efficiently could raise $1 billion, eliminating the current budget shortfall and then some, without adding any additional taxes at all.
THERE IS NO NEED TO FURLOUGH ANYONE, if our General Assembly would stop hiding behind a lame duck governor and do the right thing. If they refuse to do so, we should refuse to vote for any of them.
im a teacher
July 28th, 2009
9:09 pm
I’m a teacher and glad to have a job, but I will not work for free. I don’t care if the boards are empty when the students come. Why should I care? Purdue doesn’t care, Kaythy Cox doesn’t care, and the State doesn’t care. No teacher should work for free. Teachers are not respected so why allow the government to continue to belittle us as professionals. Don’t work for free!
Oh Well
July 28th, 2009
9:17 pm
Motivate me, pay me. I agree…get rid of the graduation coaches, math coaches, literacy coaches, assistant prinicipals per grade, CRCT Test (a joke-you only have to pass 1/2 the test to make a passing score) cut the instruction time, teach mastery of the basics (not the test) cut out experimental programs (stick to tried and true methods) We can read, write, count and reason and guess what? We didn’t come near a computer until college. And please, oh please use the ITBS as the real measure of whether Georgia students are on level. We know for a fact that you can be on the second grade level in reading and pass the eighth grade CRCT test. Parents need to know this! Maybe they wouldn’t be so proud when their children score level 2 or 3 and quit insisting that they are gifted. No sweetie, your little darling is just low normal. I am so glad that I was educated in another state. I love Georgia, but I don’t love the basic education system. It is truly A JOKE.
im a teacher
July 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
Amen! The CRCT is a joke and the parents don’t know it. Bring back the standardized test ITBS. That’s a true measurement of how well your child is doing. Making 50% on a test is never passing, so why make that passing on the CRCT? Again, teachers please do not work for free!
im a teacher
July 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
Teachers, do not work for free!
Real disservice
July 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
If you show up on furlough days, you are saying to your students and parents that you serve that it is entirely acceptable that you be serve by a professional who is being disrespected and marginalized.
Teachers did remember when Roy Barnes tried to marginalize them. Will teachers remember that Kathy Cox tried to marginalize them by subtle intimidation by suggesting they need to show up and work for free?
Where are GAE and PAGE?
July 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
Have they or have they not taken a stand on advising teachers how to handle the pressures of being asked to report or furlough days? Have they or have they not, put the appropriate pressure on school officials as to whether or not any teacher who does report, and is injured will be covered by workman’s compensation?
Real World
July 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
im a teacher,
I have an idea….instead of working 190 days for 180 days of pay just sit your sorry self at home for all 190. The profession does not need people like you. This should give you plenty of time to plant your rather worthless rump on the corner at the liquor store.
Real World reality check
July 28th, 2009
10:02 pm
So what are you going to say to a teacher who falls off a table trying to put up a precious poster so the room will look nice, only to be told sorry your permanent disability won’t be covered by workman’s comp since you came on a furloughed day?
Real World
July 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
I am going to say if the only thing they are doing is putting up posters why does it take 3 days of pay to accomplish this? Ohhh that’s right we are talking about a worthless government employee. Never mind.
Courtney
July 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
Why are teachers the only employees expected to work on furlough days? I doubt “Go Fish” workers would show up if you didn’t pay them.
Ashley
July 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
Since Gwinnett pays 1/3 of my salary then where is that money going for 3 days? Oh, that is right. All the Principals just got Blackberrys paid for by the county.
Courtney
July 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
“putting up posters” – You have NO IDEA what it is teachers do. Teachers have more paperwork every year. Worthless do nothing paperwork but still required paperwork.
Private School
July 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
We don’t have these issues. We make less money and are happier. Simple thing to do is not show up for those days if you feel you are not getting what you deserve. However, it may be reflected in your performance apprasial.
Second Job
July 28th, 2009
10:26 pm
What will I be doing my furlough days??? Working my part time job so I can at least make some money to cover for what I will be losing…
D Teacher
July 28th, 2009
10:36 pm
TEACHERS UNIONIZE! We have been silent too long! Stand up and set some limits for yourselves! Our profession is sinking faster than the Titanic!
Do NOT work on furlough days! Take a few extra days of sick leave this year while we join ranks to work on an approach to unionization to protect ourselves!
D Teacher
July 28th, 2009
10:40 pm
I can’t work on a furlough day. It’s too difficult to walk around and be productive while I am holding my ankles.
Real World
July 28th, 2009
10:44 pm
D Teacher might need a remedial class in D Law…………How about another analogy…..sinking as fast as the test scores in public schools………unless of course we are referring to one of the schools that helps the kids by changing the results of standardized test…..what a commendable thing to do.
Erase the board...the DeKalb Board of Ed
July 28th, 2009
10:50 pm
All I know is that MACE wrote to Governor Perdue (www.theteachersadvocate.com) proposing that he eliminate 25% to 35% of all administrators in Georgia. Did I hear GAE or PAGE making similar proposals? Nope. Why? Their membership ranks are full of administrators. That’s why you did not hear a peep from GAE and PAGE about the cheating scandals. Again, MACE has been the lone wolf in the wilderness howling, writing, and picketing about the systematic cheating. All I know is that when it comes to teacher empowerment, MACE is the only organization/union/association (or whatever you want to call MACE, PAGE, or GAE) which stands boldly and unapologetically for Georgia teachers.
Note: My fellow DeKalb citizens, let’s erase the DeKalb Board of Election. The board is responsible for that clown of a superintendent named Crawford Lewis. The DeKalb County Board of Education is worse than the Clayton County Board of Education. A million dollars more spent on DeKalb Central Office Staff than the Fulton County Board of Education’s Central Office Staff? Please explain this. The DeKalb Office of Internal Resolutions (under the “illustrious” leadership of State Senator Ronald Ramsey) has a staff of seven or more people and they cannot follow the Georgia grievance law? Can someone please read the law to this group? Seven or more staff members and they cannot get this one law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-989.5 et seq.) correctly? Talking about pitiful…
Erase the board...the DeKalb Board of Educaton
July 28th, 2009
10:57 pm
Furlough the administrators and the legislators, not the teacher.
CareerBuilder
July 28th, 2009
11:02 pm
May I suggest a change of careers for all those who feel they are not being “respected”, “appreciated”, “exalted” for the truly wonderful job they are doing by educating the public throngs. I mean just look at the standardized test scores for GA and you should realize how valuable these bloggers really are.
Career change
July 28th, 2009
11:18 pm
May I suggest a change of careers for all those who feel they are not being “respected”, “appreciated”, “exalted” for the truly wonderful job they are doing by educating the public throngs. I mean just look at the standardized test scores for GA and you should realize how valuable these bloggers really are. Where else could you increase the pay and get worse results?
The Messiah
July 28th, 2009
11:21 pm
Don’t worry………..I know these GA Legislators acted stupidly and I am going to use this as a teaching moment. The fact is that you have to pay to play…..we need more pay for teachers and less workdays. Those are the facts. Thank you for your time, PrezBO!!
Disgusted by Republicans
July 28th, 2009
11:26 pm
It seems that Purdue and company are putting us in a position where we have to resort to passive-aggressive measures. I like the idea of us all calling in sick on certain days. If we could stand together and resist, then I think we might get their attention. Imagine what would happen if we all simply did not show up for two days a month until this idiocy passes.
We have more power in this position than most of you realize. Fight back. Now.
How could we go about organizing a furlough day for ourselves: paid, this time? If anyone is a math whiz, perhaps she could figure out how many days we would need to be out until the cost of subs and our salaries would exceed what they are “saving” by this furlough.
Purdue, Cox and company only seem to understand money, though I doubt they really understand much of anything at all.
Let’s all call in sick. How about on the first day of school?
d
July 28th, 2009
11:28 pm
The governor has no power to eliminate administrators at the county level. Just as he said when he “ordered” the furloughs, he had no legal authority to do so since the teachers hold contracts with the individual districts. MACE may scream and shout and picket, but until they develop a working relationship with the people in power, they will just look like fools. Besides, they’re the ones who were behind Clayton County losing its accreditation. They put students in jeopardy. This situation sucks, but screaming and shouting without providing working solutions will not help anything.
That's what we thought
July 28th, 2009
11:40 pm
Notice when Real World was presented with a real world scenario about the furlough Real World resorted to a generic slam against teachers and avoided discussing the issue?
Real World indeed.
For the record
July 28th, 2009
11:53 pm
If you look at the Clayton County accreditation mess objectively, it’s hard to find any innocent party, and that includes the politicians, the teacher organizations and SACS.
But for the record, during the entire period that brought about the accreditation mess the majority of school board members in Clayton were members of GAE, and that’s including the board chairman.
Of course the AJC never informed their readers of that fact, and that’s why you can add them to the list of acronyms that were agenda driven during the entire episode.
Currently Unemployed Teacher
July 29th, 2009
12:03 am
I find it funny that so many people want to compare teachers to other service industries. Firefighters and Police Officers have all been furloughed. Yet, you do not see them coming in to work, putting themselves in danger, and not getting paid. No, they stay at home. Crime has risen. Fire calls have been delayed. Everyone wants them back at work at any cost. When the system pushes them around, they conveniently get the “Blue Flu” or have a nice “Brown Out” until changes are made. Why are teachers expected to continue giving of themselves, their time, and their money when they are underpaid for their services, constantly disrespected, and undervalued for what they provide? Teachers work longer than 8 hours per day. They work more than the contracted 190 days. They already do this for free to provide the best instruction they can while trying to complete the mounds of state and federal mandated paperwork. They reach into their pockets to pay for students meals, student supplies, and student activities and field trips when their parents cannot or will not provide it. Many teachers even provide transportation for their students. Teachers are always asking parents and the community to get involved but you never see or hear from them until test scores come out and they are worried about losing federal or state funds because they did not make AYP. Many parents see public education as a taxpayer supplied free babysitting service. They don’t complain about their child’s behavior until they are told they will have to leave work to come pick up that child or hire a babysitter to stay with that child when he/she is suspended for school violations. Or, they don’t care about grades until their child has to sit on the bench or not even dress out for the next sporting event because their grades aren’t good enough. They ask why they had not been notified before then even though the teacher has called home and work repeatedly or sent home notes or emails… all of which went unanswered. Teachers are required to have advance degrees to earn well below their counterparts in other professions with advance degrees. Think about that before you say teachers shouldn’t complain about the furlough days.
Legend of Len Barker
July 29th, 2009
12:15 am
Almost always, the association a teacher joins has little to do with anything.
PAGE has a stronghold locally mainly because it has for years. Not to mention that the dues are cheaper. GAE has a grip on other counties. It usually just depends on custom.
There is very little difference between the two groups.
Sp Ed Teacher
July 29th, 2009
12:27 am
Furlough means stay home. If the school opens fine with 2 days off, don’t be surprised if your next contract is for less than 190 days. I can see that coming in the near future. Having a 185 day or less contract is more common. Teachers work on their own time, so why pay them?
I am not buying supplies for the classroom this year. Students will need to furnish their own paper, pen, and pencil. I need to close the gap in my budget and this will help. I often spend $1,000 or more per school year. But, not any more.
gwin. co. parent and teacher
July 29th, 2009
12:28 am
Gwinnett County fourth grade students have to take and pass five CRCT tests and now a new Math Reasoning Test to be promoted to fifth grade. Save millions by withdrawing these tests for a year.
clayton resident
July 29th, 2009
12:37 am
hey “d,” I see that you, jim d, catlady, sweet onion man, or whatever you want to call yourself (on your many blogs — blogaholic? — under many, many monikers each day) cannot seem to resist your urge to blame mace for clayton county’s woe. this is undeniable: the gae-board members, ericka davis and rod johnson, called for sacs to come to clayton county because they were losing power on the school board. it was the mace folk who were simply calling for the school system to remove the thugs from the classrooms. i live in clayton and it was refreshing to hear union folk calling for strong discipline. it was gae board members who gave up the school system to that fake mark elgart and sacs. shame on gae and shame on blogaholic for his pissant ways.
hey folks, let’s work together to remove pedophiles from our schools. the children always come first. all of this stuff on the blogs mean nothing if is not for the children. the schools exist for the children. pedophiles are dangerous in our schools.
clayton resident
July 29th, 2009
12:45 am
oh, the governor has no power, eh? i thought that about 80% of the adminstrators’ salaries come fron state funding. hmm, mr. “d” (and all of your other dozens of daily monikers, most notably is the fake name “jim d”), you are a jackanapes just like your “lisa b.” moniker. if you were so assured of your opinions, why will you not — even one time — use your real name. “you scared…you scared…you scared to shoot dat ball.” BABY SAY, “GUN GUN, YOU SCARED.”
BABY SAY
July 29th, 2009
1:30 am
You scareddddddddddddddddddddddd.
Kingfish
July 29th, 2009
1:36 am
I periodically read this blog. It is very interesting!!! I keep my eyes on it.