Fulton schools: These cuts will be felt by students and parents
Many of you have said – and I agree — that budget cuts will not hit home for Georgia taxpayers until they feel the effects in their daily lives. I think they are going to feel them in Fulton schools, judging by the emotional school board meeting Tuesday night.
School counselors whose ranks will be thinned considerably told the board about their vital roles in keeping children safe and school. The superintendent acknowledged her own regrets about sacrificing band for younger students.
The problem for legislators is that there are many Georgians for whom a tax increase of any kind is anathema. In talking to Sen. Seth Harp last week after his press conference on higher education cuts, he told me that wherever he goes, the plea is the same: Don’t raise my taxes.
Well, we are not taking in as much money as this recession has hit Georgia harder than many other states because of our strong dependence on real estate as an economic engine.
So, what else can schools do but cut? While some parents are passionate and willing to pay higher property taxes for their schools, their neighbors without kids in the schools are not. (And there are plenty of public school parents who also maintain that a tax increase is unacceptable and that the first step should be cutting all the waste in schools.)
I agree that there is waste, but I think eliminating every penny of squandered materials and superfluous staffing would still not make up the deficits we are facing.
So this is the scenario in Fulton and everywhere else in the state.
According to the AJC story on the meeting:
Speaking before the county board of education Tuesday night, counselors provided stark examples of students at risk: three elementary-age children who were left to fend for themselves while their parent was strung out. A 14-year-old who was being recruited by gangs. A fifth-grade girl whose mother didn’t believe she was molested by her step-father.
“How do we educate that child without a school social worker to intervene on his behalf,” Stephanie Schuette asked the board.
Schuette, a 38-year-old mother and school social worker, was one of nearly a half dozen school employees and parents to address the board before an overflow crowd. Board president Linda Bryant assured the audience it would take the comments under consideration.
Parents and employees had been bracing for an additional $28.9 million in cuts recommended by Superintendent Cindy Loe.
Those recommendations come after the more than $35 million in cuts that the board approved Feb. 18, when it voted to increase class size to the state maximum across all grades. The board also agreed to eliminate the pre-kindergarten general fund, the summer CRCT retake program and reduce the school calendar from 180 days to 177 days.
The board is expected to vote on the more recent recommendations – the elimination of 1,000 positions – at its March 18 meeting.
Nearly half of those positions are teachers. Others included are 100 are custodial jobs, 26 social workers, 37 counselors, 28 psychologists, 42 instructional support teachers and 59 positions in the district’s popular band and orchestra program.
Unlike other budget items, Loe said the district does not we receive state funding for its band and orchestra programs.
“Anything we cut is straight savings to the bottom line,” she said.
A big proponent of band and orchestra, Loe said it was difficult for her to recommend cutting the programs, which could save the district $4.1 million.
Board members indicated they had all lost sleep over the issue and not just the cuts.
“South Fulton needs social workers, counselors and psychologists,” Bryant said to applause.
Loe said she has the backing of elementary school principals who say they favor dropping band and orchestra over staff reductions. But she added, “If we do this, we should have an after-school program and that is part of my recommendation.”
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78 comments Add your comment
Just Wondering
March 10th, 2010
8:38 am
Want to cut the budget? Try starting at the top. Reduce the numbers in the top seats, increase their work load, rather than cut teachers and counselors and increasing theirs. Let teachers do the job for which they were hired, i.e. teach. Each high school should have one counselor and in today’s environment one “resource” officer (COP). Reduce administrative staff to part-timers or hire from temp agencies. Enforce truancy and those students who do not wish to learn given the opportunity to find JOBS outside of the school learning a trade (vocational schools rather than academic). Not all students are college material. Test early for vocational skills and aptitude and continue testing throughout their student career and direct those who are more qualified for vocational areas to those locations. First and foremost – reduce the administrative costs at the top. Remove perks such as traveling out of state to conferences that can be held in state. Restrict what can be included on expense statements by the “suits” and closely monitor for misconduct in those areas. Reduce the waste within the bureaucracy and the savings will generate. Monies collected in taxes designed for school programs need to go to those programs, not directed elsewhere due to shortfall in those budgets. Do NOT cut the arts from the schools. They provide many more benefits to the students than just learning music.
Hootie
March 10th, 2010
8:39 am
Every government agency needs to be run more fiscally responsible. First, cut out all waste. Next, in the good years don’t spend everything you make. How about a little buffer for when things aren’t so rosy? Like now.
The first paragraph of the AJC story lists 3 situations where the school does not need to step in and act like parents.
As Judge Smails said “The world needs ditch diggers!”
James
March 10th, 2010
8:46 am
There was a time before every school had an army of counselors, psychologist, and instructional support teachers. I wonder how in the world we ever got along without them?
Fedup
March 10th, 2010
8:49 am
This district has more problems than the $140 million shortfall. Seven superintendents in 12 years, a Board comprised of individuals with strong right political beliefs that has disallowed any millage increase in years…folks, you get what you pay for, and this board has refused to take the steps necessary to provide a conducive atmosphere for optimal instruction in these schools. Think about it – increasing class sizes by two at the elem levels and taking away parapro’s…increasing middle and high school classes by three students while decreasing school resource officers, counselors and social workers in schools with student populations that need the help – recipe for disaster…and the biggest concern is band and orchestra for elementary schools? I hope the AJC keeps an eye on the impact of these issues throughout the school year…why are other districts not increasing the class sizes so significantly, cutting everyone’s salaries by at least 1% and causing job losses that could reach over 1,000 affected individuals…wake up, Fulton citizens and find out why you are in this perilous position. Perhaps the first step is to modify “where students come first” to “where students come first once the Board has met it’s political agenda”……
Maureen Downey
March 10th, 2010
8:52 am
James, I can tell you one way. Kids with serious learning problems received few, if any, services. I saw this firsthand in my own school.
Maureen
The Right is Wrong
March 10th, 2010
8:52 am
Katie Reeves and Ashley Widener are not losing any sleep. The situation in Fulton is a direct result of the bad choices they made over the past years. Their stupidity and incompetence was somewhat amusing when times were good, but now they are on the verge of destroying the school system they claim to serve (though we know they only serve the rich and well-connected). Katie and Ashley want to dissemble and pretend that they don’t have any idea how this happened. But we know how it happened and why: tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Katie is an enemy of teachers, and anyone who has ever crossed a politically connected parent has felt the Wrath of Reeves. Ashley Widener is just a dolt, a mindless idiotic republican. If you want to see where her priorities are, google Widener Associates and see where her husband gets the money to live in Johns Creek. Ashley serves special interests, and she cannot to understand anything more complicated than planning a dinner party for special interest clients of her husband. I know such tasks tax you intellectually, Ashley.
Cindy Loe has joined the party, and she fits right in. It is distressing to see her claim that she has the support of principals to cut the band and orchestra program. Well, what does she think they are going to do when their choices are limited to agree with Loe or get fired? I know that principals are not in a position to talk publically, but they would have some interesting tales to tell if they were free to speak. They hate you, Cindy, and so do we.
The more the republican approach to public education fails, the more they seem to want to expand its destructive reach. It costs money to educate children, and Katie, Ashley, and Cindy are willing to sacrifice our children’s future so that greedy republicans can keep their money. Repubs want to eat out at $200 restaurants and go shopping at Phipps, while children go without. For so-called Christians, republicans seem to have missed the point. Then again, people like Ashley always miss the point, don’t they? I wonder if Ashley hates teachers so much because she realized how stupid she is early in life. Did a teacher hurt your feelings, Ashley?
These people have no respect for teachers. They are pushing you around because they think you will always take it. Teachers should begin collective action, even though you don’t have a union, or they will never stop abusing you. What do you think might happen if 50% of the teachers called in sick every Friday? Think that might get their attention? The only thing repubs care about is money, so if you want to get their attention, take their money. Make it so expensive to continue down the path they’ve chosen that they literally cannot continue. Fight back, Teachers. Your and the children you serve deserve much better than these clowns ever will give you. They laugh at you for your dedication, and they think they can lie to you with impunity.
Ashley and Katie and Cindy will not stop. The Fulton County School Board has been a joke for a long time. Now, however, their incompetence and stupidity has serious consequences now. Fight back, teachers. This is the moment where they will learn if you are going to take it—or not.
EX-Evil Old English Teacher
March 10th, 2010
8:56 am
James–those were the times we had a 50% drop out rate. We can go back to them is you’d like.
Kerry Skelton
March 10th, 2010
8:57 am
This e-mail is for Hottie. So the school should not be concerned with a 14 year old that is being molested at home or about kids that have no parents give me a break. If the school does not step in what is going to happen to those children. You have to be a Rebulican with that mind set, screw everyone but my self, great mind set.
DAVID: AJC truth Detector
March 10th, 2010
9:00 am
lWHAT WOULD ABRAHAM LINCOLN have thought …if he could seen into the future of 2010..& seen how off-base public education had veered off course of just educating kids…..Schools hve become Recreational Centers.
EJ
March 10th, 2010
9:01 am
I’ve got three high schools within 5 miles of my home, two within 1 1/2 miles, and those are under 5 years old.
So instead of buying all this land, and then building two of everything, why wasn’t one larger and more cost efficient school built?
Because they were not having to earn the money they spent, it had little meaning as to how much things were costing.
Now that the budgets are rightly being cut, they are going to learn that one should live in the good times prepared for the rough times.
me
March 10th, 2010
9:05 am
Yeah James, that was great when the schools had 200 or 300 students and parents didn’t want us to raise their kids for them. Now with a marked lack of responsible parents and 2000 kids in a building we need these professionals.
Guy
March 10th, 2010
9:06 am
Fulton County tell us that our kids’ safety is worth $900 thousand! This is the amount that is cut from the budget by “riffing” an officer from each high school! These thankless officer watch over our most prized commodities that we have, our kids. More often they perform duties above & beyond & many paents don’t even realize it. The officer @ my kid’s school handled a very delicate situation with my daughter in a manner that was incredible. His sensitivity and professionalism were without a doubt key to solving her problem.
Safety and security is a “pay now or pay later” ordeal. If and when something happens on school grounds and adequate security is not provided law suits will stacking up against the school board.
Wise up Fulton County School Board & protect out future by protecting our kids!
Time to PUNT
March 10th, 2010
9:08 am
This is a holy mess and was not created by the down economy, only revealed. I think we could all agree the WASTE is rampant in government and no one seems to be concened until a time of crisis. Why is Perdue so intrested in “pay for performance” NOW of all times. Teacher morale will be at an all time low next year due to all the cuts and he is on his way out! There has been NO oversite and not enough accountability at the top. How much have we wasted on changing text books for minor and insignificant changes? How much have we wasted on changing curriculum only to scrap it when it didn’t work?
The politicians going after the teachers instead of stepping up and sponsoring a higher sales tax and property taxes are only choosing to pick on the little guy instead of doing what REALLY needs to be done, Tax payers do not want to pay more because we know taxes don’t ever seem to come back down when the crisis is past. The extra just gets wasted on something else.
Education is the LAST thing that needs to be cut!
me
March 10th, 2010
9:08 am
David:
“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”
– U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864
(letter to Col. William F. Elkins)
Ref: The Lincoln Encyclopedia, Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan, 1950, NY)
Support Staff
March 10th, 2010
9:10 am
I don’t think that support staff (i.e. social workers, counselors, psychologists) are given the respect and consideration they deserve. When a teacher is trying to instruct students with social and emotional issues, their efforts are wasted. A child cannot learn when their home lives are in chaos, and cannot learn if there are disabilities that need to be identified through testing. This is not just a problem in lower income areas – it affects all children regardless of parental affluence. These are the professionals that are connecting families to resources in their communities for assistance during this economic crisis, making home visits to see why a child has excessive absences, and who have the ability to meet with a child in crisis at any point during the day without having to worry about instructing 30 other students. As a social worker and therapist in the public schools, I have encountered so many horror stories from my time in the schools that it would astound you – even concerning the parents and children of high achieving schools. Teachers are meant to teach – that should be their focus. They are not trained or licensed to provide counseling services, just as I am not trained and certified to provide classroom instruction. These are not interchangable professions, and by reducing and/or eliminating support staff, an additional and unfair burden will then be placed upon the teachers. The long term effects will be horrific after these children leave the public schools and begin their “adult” lives.
Jaye
March 10th, 2010
9:15 am
Just like the State of Georgia and local governments, our school systems’ financial problems are largely of their own making. And they began years ago with unwise financial and operational decisions made by school administrations and their boards.Now, the children, community and taxpayers are on the losing end. Maybe these kinds of situations will make more of us less apathetic when we go to the polls.
DAVID: AJC truth Detector
March 10th, 2010
9:16 am
MILLLIONS of students graduated from the little RED SCHOOL house….& became successful…….Get rid of 90-percent of administrators….& support staff…& SAVE MILLIONS..$$$
Hera
March 10th, 2010
9:16 am
Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits: A total of 12 years, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A member of congress collects a salary while in office and shall receives no salary, expenses, benefits or other remuneration from tax dollars when they are out of office.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server their term(s), then go home and back to work.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement and health care plans just as all Americans.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
6. Congressional staff members shall have no benefit that is herein not provided to their Congressperson.
Serving with Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people and may not exempt themselves from any such laws.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11
The American people did not make these contracts with members of congress, the congress members made all these contracts for themselves in their best interests.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
9. Each person running for Congress shall provide a written contract with the American People setting out their campaign pledges and as reasonability possible how they expect to effectuate said pledges in detail no less than six months prior to the election. Said contract shall be signed by the candidate, published and put on line.
The American people have to know what they are voting for and The American people have the right to recall or have impeached these Elected Officials that lie to get elected.
10. Each Congressperson shall have ALL their public offices monetary accounts recorded on line day by day, to include but not be limited to: salaries, expenses, benefits, committee remunerations, travel, per diems, rents, supplies, vehicles; costs of any and all natures that are paid from tax dollars.
The American people have the right to know how their tax dollars are being used and the American people have the right to recall or have impeached those Elected Officials that steal or misuse tax dollars.
r
96 SC
March 10th, 2010
9:27 am
Gross Mismanagement and Theft of Funds is the cause of the current FCSS situation. Everyone claims to have a concern for Academic Excellence in our Fulton Schools yet the cuts are being made in the Academic Arena while the K-12 GLORIFIED ATHLETIC PROGRAMS continue to receive all/any desired RESOURCES e.c. $500K Scoreboards, etc. FCSB doesn’t need a HORSE CENTER and TRAIL at an elementary in Milton while FCSB claims not to be able to provide flutes and tambourines for its elementary and middle schools; this is a prime example of waste and irresponsibility. Why does FCSB insists on recruiting and hiring top Educational Executives and Leaders including the Superintendent from outside of Fulton County? FCSS $$$$ is good enough for these Carpetbaggers to happily carry to their home districts where their dedication and loyalty reigns…. and by the way the $$$$ derived from FCSS is spent to improve their home District Schools. Surely there are competent Fulton County Residents available to perform these FCCS Jobs. If Academic Excellence is FCSB’s Objective the FCSB should have the courage to cut KING ATHLETIC PROGRAMS to the bone. If the parents and students are really interested in continuing their playground fun….then apply the same after school user pay logic spouted by the Superintendent regarding elementary and middle school band and orchestra programs. I am sure the FCSB lacks the GONADS to touch the GOLDEN COW aka PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETICS.
just wondering
March 10th, 2010
9:32 am
After years of tax cuts, tax breaks, and no new taxes; is anyone surprised? When the economy was “booming” no one wanted to raise taxes that would have amounted to what, an extra $25 a year per home? Now the chickens have come home to roost and everyone is complaining. Just like people who 5 years ago purchased the gated community house, the european sedan, the family SUV, and had the yearly vacations, sooner or later they have to be paid for.
What is really sad is the affect 3-5 years down the road when we look back and see the quality of students we are producing.
Pamela
March 10th, 2010
9:57 am
David…you asked the question ‘what would president lincoln do if he was alive today and able to see into 2010?’..well if he was alive he probably would have tried to start slavery all over again since he was FORCED to end slavery!
Pamela
March 10th, 2010
10:01 am
The reason why school systems in this state is over stressed and the class rooms are over filled is because the parents who used to have their child in private schools had to take them out of private schools and place them into public schools. That has a lot to do with it.
School systems should NOT have to suffer because of this.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the reason why Georgia has the lottery is to support education? THAT is the reason they used to bring it here. You don’t hear the GA Lottery talking about laying off…in fact they are doing so well that they are giving their employees raises and are NOT laying off! So is the money REALLY being used for education in the State of Georgia? NO!!! It is a lie and always have been a lie. The ‘intelligent law makers’ ~ pun intended
~ used that excuse to bring gambling into Georgia….that money is NOT helping this state at all! It is NOT bringing in revenue for this state…Think about it people!
MannyT
March 10th, 2010
10:08 am
I won’t blame the school districts around the country for their current lack of funding. Unlike a business, they have few options to increase revenue. While there is an entire question around how the money was spent in better times, that is not going to change today.
Here’s my simple suggestion. Monetize every ethically acceptable marketing opportunity for the schools. Sell ads on school buses, gyms, sports fields, celings and floors if organizations will purchase them.
Take sponsors to defray the costs of lunch trays, pens, pencils, trash cans, etc.
Allow ads on school websites.
There are businesses that would like to get their message in front of school personnel and families of school aged kids. Don’t take inappropriate businesses, but turn those blank spaces into school revenues.
This can be done in time to add revenue for this school year and next.
DeKalb Conservative
March 10th, 2010
10:12 am
Wouldn’t social workers in the school systems overlap with other social worker services?
The Right is Wrong
March 10th, 2010
10:19 am
How would commercializing schools be the correct path forward? I sometimes wonder if repubs have any functioning brain cells at all.
Fulton County Schools — Where Failed Republican Ideology Comes First
DeKalb Conservative
March 10th, 2010
10:19 am
Here’s the big issue here. We’re driving around with a V8 muscle car that has a busted / inefficient carburetor. We’re talking about cutting back, and getting a nice 4 cylinder car, but we’re also talking about keeping the busted / inefficient carburetor.
Tax payers aren’t putting up with the 4 cylinder ploy because they know it is processing its fuel (tax dollars) inefficiently. Maureen is probably correct, cutting all the waste out of the schools isn’t likely going to fix this problem. But until the waste is cut out and the tax payers have been proven that the schools are capable to running efficiently, there should be no further discussions of tax increases.
If the schools can illustrate all cuts have been made, and prove it (freezes on spending, including text books, technology, construction, etc), then there is an obligation to find additional funding sources. Discussing additional funding before then makes no sense.
KH
March 10th, 2010
10:19 am
I agree with the others in this blog- someone needs to intervene and look at eliminating fewer but higher paid positions at the top of the food chain in Fulton County. Are we ever going to stop crapping on the teachers? Less teachers and maximum allowable class sizes are not the answer. Less bureaucracy and red tape at the top is going to save more money and impact fewer people. I must have missed where the top brass in Fulton Co agreed to cut their own wages!!! I say keep the teachers and let the heads up top roll..
Proud Black Man
March 10th, 2010
10:20 am
Yall act surprised about whats happening to schools. Just a plot byt the white right to wreck public schools to force the voucher issue. PBM tells it like it is!
AJ
March 10th, 2010
10:22 am
I don’t like all the cuts either, but when you have to cut that much $$$ out of a budget, eventually jobs will be on the line. Something like 85% of a school district’s budget is salary. Nobody wants their “area” to be the one cut or gutted, but they have to decide what to cut, because nobody wants their taxes raised either.
I agree that agressive efficientcy measures should be put into place. There is a lot of wasteful spending, but with these drastic cuts there is no avoiding job cuts without raising taxes. I agree on NO NEW TAXES.
I also like the idea of trying to operate on 85%ish of revenue to build a “reserve” that can be used to make up for shortfalls when the valleys are low, like now.
Dan
March 10th, 2010
10:26 am
The schools needs counselors, officers, and social workers! Besides teachers they are the backbone of the school system. They address the issues that most parents don’t want to hear about. Cut those “fat cats” postions from downtown who dictate insanity.
Last year the all of these “fat cats” including Dr. Loe took only a 5 day reduction in pay while the counselors, soical worlers, and police officers took @ least 15!
Now that’s true leadership. Asking the low people on the poll to take a bigger cut than the those on top. Get real Dr. Loe !!!
do right
March 10th, 2010
10:29 am
Pamela you are wrong.
In accordance with the Georgia Lottery for Education Act and the Georgia Constitution, proceeds from lottery sales have been used to solely fund the following educational programs:
Tuition grants, scholarships or loans to undergraduate college students and teachers who seek advanced degrees in critical areas of need.
Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs
Technology grants to train teachers in the use and application of advanced technology and capital outlay projects for educational facilities.
Political Spectator
March 10th, 2010
10:35 am
As an education community, we have questioned the overuse of standardized tests. I believe that this standardized revolution has created the cost that we are now cutting. For example, we employ instructional support, academic coaches, curriculum specialists, data analysis people, and so forth to ensure that we support students so that they will pass the TEST.
What I have not figured out is why we are cutting all the support without cutting the tests.
Fulton, I understand your staff cuts. I believe you when you say that it has been an agonizing decision to cut livelihoods. What I hope you will do as a result is lead the charge to cut the cost for standardized tests in the state of GA. Below is a partial list of the standardized tests that our children are subjected to from Pre-K to graduation. Wow!
GKAP
CRCT
ITBS
NAEP
PSAT
EOCT
GHSGT
GHSWT
ACCESS
SAT
ACT
AP
IB
Battery of Tests for the Gifted
Battery of Tests for Special Ed
Benchmarks by the boatload
**** County benchmarks by their own name ie Gwinnett’s Gateway (AKS curriculum)
Dan
March 10th, 2010
10:36 am
The counselors, police officers, and social workers do a great job for our students. Second only to teachers, their role and value to our school system is pricless.
Last year these group took a 15 day pay cut while Dr. Loe and other “fat cats” downtown took only a 5 day reduction.
What kind of leadership is this? A true leader never ask anyone to do something that they would not. What happened to lead by example?
Once again the low person on the pole gets the short end of the stick.
The Right is Wrong
March 10th, 2010
10:41 am
I strongly disagree with the right-wingers who are posting. As usual, you all are dead wrong: no surprise there. You are the ones who have led us into this sorry mess, so apologize for your errors and get out of the way.
Here’s what should happen. Instead of raising class sizes to the state maximum, raise the millage rate to the state maximum. It’s time that republicans stop getting a free ride; make them pay. Right-wingers’ “ideas” (I feel so generous to call them that) have failed, are failing, and will always fail.
Fulton County Schools — Where Failed Republican Ideology Comes First
Mike
March 10th, 2010
10:46 am
@ Pamela:
You are an idiot. If you read the State of Georgia Constitution, the lottery must be used for educational purposes. Those purposes were very restricted. The money must be spent on pre-K programs, technology equipment for public schools or the HOPE scholarship program.
I know school systems are receiving money to upgrade technology as technology changes, students who graduate from Georgia High Schools with a B average are receiving scholarships to attend state uniersities and money is flowing into Pre-K programs in the state.
The lottery is not to blame. Ineffective use of TAX dollars is to blame.
ugaaccountant
March 10th, 2010
10:57 am
Translation:
Raise the millage rate = I don’t own property and have no ability to ever doing so
DeKalb Conservative
March 10th, 2010
10:59 am
@ Proud Black Man
Just a plot by the white right to wreck public schools to force the voucher issue.
Is the idea of supporting vouchers seen as “acting white?” In your opinion, is it an exclusively white issue? Can you be 1) black or 2) on the left and support vouchers? Just curious on your thought process on this one.
David
March 10th, 2010
11:01 am
No change will come to the running of our schools until it is a crisis. The crisis is now here.
Everyone, teachers, administrators, taxpayers and students now realize that we have reached and long surpassed out ability to afford the present system. We will never again be able to provide the services that we reached two to three years ago.
Georgia and the U.S. economy in general were in a bubble and it has popped. The days of a principal and 3 assistant principals for a middle school (it exists today at my son’s school) are over. The days of multiple counselors, special ed asistants, psychologists, the list is endless, are over. I graduated from a high school here in Georgia with a principal, an assistant principal, 1 guidance counselor and 2,200 students. We all lived and made the best of it – frankly none the worse. The Administrative staff for the FCSB system is so bloated – I would love to know how the Administrative positions and expenses for FC compare to the National Avg both by # of jobs and total expenses. The fact that 87% of the school budget goes to salary and benefits tells it all. 87%!!!
The lack of a stable home environment and its impact on kids at school cannot be denied, Likewise, it cannot be denied any longer that our schools are somehow capable and responsible for fixing the dysfunctional home and cultural environment where some kids live today. The needs of the majority will once again trump the needs (and desires) of the unfortunate minority that are simply eroding the quality of instruction for all.
It may seem cold and cruel, but the needs of the majority will always be the final determining factor. Special needs children will be shunted aside to pay for the instruction of the other 32 kids that need a teacher. No politician will tell you that but it will happen. The special needs child will make a heart-wrenching special segment on the 6:00 news on how “unfair” the cuts are to a face that we can all see and feel. However, even more heart-wrenching is the other 32 children’s futures that would be diminished if their educational instruction is sacrificed for one.
We have unlimited desires for all our children but we have limited resources. The inability, or the simple denial, of this basic fact by our representatives and even people on this blog to recognize this is frustrating. We are at the end of our fiscal rope.
Quit attacking each other with screeds from each end of the political spectrum and face the facts. It’s over folks and deal with the aftermath.
Your all adults – not children.
AJ
March 10th, 2010
11:01 am
TRIW…
Raising the millage rate to its maximum is the kind of “lets fix it now with no thought of future consequences” thinking that got us in this mess in the first place. One you max out the millage rate, there is no room to do things. What happens the next time there is budget problems, yet the millage rate is already maxed out.
Funding via tax revenue theory needs a complete overhaul. The concept of spend it or lose it is ridiculous. Budgeting must be done with the future in mind, not just the next fiscal year.
My two cents...
March 10th, 2010
11:03 am
@Right is Wrong: I can not say that I blame an entire political party. What I will agree with is that citizens can not have it both ways. You can not say DO NOT RAISE MY TAXES yet you want to keep the services you dearly love. If you want to keep your schools, your jobs, your band program, then raise taxes in addition to cutting big cost items such as the overuse of standardized testing. I also think schools need to be prudent and not invest in these capitalistic quick fix programs. I can remember sitting in a board meeting in this metro area and thinking how can they spend that amount of money at a blink of an eye. The expenditures included $50,000.00 for some study, $25,000.00 for some consultant and then the large amount of money being spent on programs and the professional learning needed for the specific program! WASTEFUL!
its all part of the plan
March 10th, 2010
11:05 am
government has to cut cost
but in the GA constutition it requires to educate the states children; other programs should be cut by at least 10%; the horse park, fish pond, politicians salaries, then look at reducing the work force. Yes, there are some teachers we need to get rid of. GA state governement needs to get off the tit of federal government. The “people” send their money in and Washington knows how to spend it best….. PLEASE. people need to read court rulings on DUAL sovereignty. remember a lot to combat is misdirection and maybe these politicans are distracting everyone on education to run some end game.
Tony
March 10th, 2010
11:07 am
Funny someone should use the “little red school house” as a classic example of America’s past successes with education. Let’s have a short lesson on that success.
1. The little red school house routinely denied entrance to students of color or of social classes that “would not benefit” from public education.
2. Only select students were provided advanced studies that led to college.
3. The “little red schoolhouse” provided only a very limited curriculum for students. More advanced curriculum could only be provided by specialized schools, private schools, or schools in urban centers. Many of these schools stopped after sixth or eighth grade.
4. Only about 30-40% of students completed the sequence of curriculum provided by the “little red school house”.
Yeah. Let’s go back to the “good old days”.
Ole Guy
March 10th, 2010
11:09 am
Not too many years from now, when Georgia is once again, as it was in the 60s, a third world economic presence, we’ll know who was responsible. The big “industries”, as they were back then, will be “DIRT FOR SALE”, “HUBCAPS FOR SALE”, and the like. The industries which developed and flourished in the 80s and 90s will still be with us, but they will all be owned and operated by foreign concerns whose motherlands always embraced the value of quality education. Meanwhile, native Georgians who choose to remain behind will live a hand-to-mouth life of subsistence, much like the agrarian south of the 60s. 90% of the adults of that not-too-far-into-the-future era will probably have degrees which will have the marketable value of a dried up pea.
But not to worry…the leaders of the early years of the 21st Century will be ok, as will their families. They’ll have their fishing camps and the like, built during those early years of the 21st century, from monies gleaned from the educational systems of that era. HAPPY TRAILS, FOLKS!
Landlord...
March 10th, 2010
11:12 am
@ugaaccountant: Renters are impacted by higher mileage rates as well. I do not know a landlord that will pay the additional taxes themselves. They pass the cost on to the renter. Please come off that self righteous high horse about home ownership. Before you wrongly accuse me of not being a homeowner, I am a homeowner; moreover, I am one of the landlords that raise rents when the property taxes are raised on my rental properties.
ugaaccountant
March 10th, 2010
11:12 am
my two cents – Exactly on the 50k study. These are the kinds of things that 100% must stop. Basically $0 professional development expenditure for this budget year (and largely into the future). I’m sorry, but if you’re a teacher you’ve already been developed. That’s what the college degree was for.
In addition to not spending the money, you’re easing the time burden on teachers by eliminating the “professional learning” that most of them don’t want to attend anyway. So now, when you cut their pay at least they honestly are being given less responsibility as well.
ugaaccountant
March 10th, 2010
11:13 am
Landlord – I know that, but I assure you uneducated tax and spend liberals don’t know it. And also liberals often don’t even pay their rent anyway.
Top Heavy !!!
March 10th, 2010
11:22 am
Reduce from the top(associate superintendents, deputy superintendents, coordinators, executive directors,Manny,Moe,& Curly)!
Let the teachers teach in a smaller classroom.
Children are really our future.
music 8
March 10th, 2010
11:28 am
Just want to let all of you who want to keep Band & Orchestra in the elementary schools that students will still have general music classes that will actually better prepare the students for middle school band and orchestra. With general music they will be given a better understanding of musical concepts and a stronger music foundation so they can better perform in middle school. Fulton County is the only school system in the state and maybe the country that offers band and orchestra in the elementary setting.
I would rather give up band and orchestra and keep the academics and the support staff.
Also, name calling and blame is going to solve the problems. We all need to work together to do what is best for all the students.
Fulton co teacher
March 10th, 2010
11:38 am
Maureen, where did the number of 1,000 jobs cut come from? I know the number of non-teaching job reductions in FC were listed in detail on the FC Board Docs, but I didn’t see a list for number of teachers that would be cut. Where can I find this?
The Right is Wrong
March 10th, 2010
12:10 pm
UGAaccountant:
Look in the mirror and repeat after me: “I am the problem. I am the problem. I am the problem.” It’s thinking like yours that has gotten us into the mess, so, again, I say apologize for your many errors in the past and get out of the way.
I agree that both parties are to blame, but Fulton County is run by a bunch of republican ideologues, and that is a fact. Katie and Ashley are to blame. They got us in this mess, and they cannot get us out.
BTW, UGAaccountant. I bet my house is a lot nicer than yours. I hire people like you as lackeys. The difference between us is that I understand that we cannot have a first-class life without a first-class education. I also understand that education costs money, though it is a lot cheaper in the long-run than any “ideas” you have. Stop forcing your mediocrity on the rest of us.
Fulton County Schools — Where Failed Republican Ideology Comes First.