The day the music died in Fulton and 1,000 jobs disappeared
The rock and the hard place collided in Fulton County Thursday night and shattered 1,000 school jobs and the musical ambitions of hundreds of young students.
The jobs and the much-loved elementary school music programs are casualties of the great Georgia budget deficit that is threatening to destroy everything in its path.
The news wasn’t as bad in Cherokee, where the superintendent said he will cut at least 41 teacher and 76 support positions next year because of the budget crisis. But more bleak news could be coming in Cherokee. “I think we will have to eliminate more than that,” said Superintendent Frank Petruzielo after the Thursday night board meeting.
According to the AJC account of the emotional Fulton meeting:
Despite pleas to the contrary, Fulton County school board members Thursday night voted 6-1 to cut nearly 1,000 personnel positions, including more than 500 teachers, from its 2011 budget.
Superintendent Cindy Loe said the cuts, which included 100 custodial jobs and 59 positions in the district’s popular elementary band and orchestra program, were needed to offset a $120-million deficit.
Board president Linda Bryant said that the budget crisis was not unique to Fulton as school districts across metro Atlanta have been grappling with budget deficits. She and other board members said they do not take thecuts lightly and that they have tried to make the right decisions.
Said Bryant: “I can hardly stand to see anybody lose their jobs but we are doing the absolute best we can … even with the music program. I hate all of this but with the state of the economy, you just can’t do anything without money.”
The cuts were on top of more than $34 million in cuts approved in February, when the board voted to increase class size to the state maximum across all grades, eliminate the pre-kindergarten general fund and summer CRCT re-take program and to reduce the school calendar from 180 to 177 days. The board also approved eliminating more than 60 central office positions for a savings of nearly $4 million.
The system is proposing a 2011 budget that is about $137 million less than the 2010 budget, from $857 million to $720 million.
Parents and students had clearly picked their battles. Some who gathered at Dunwoody Springs Charter Elementary School wanted to save teacher jobs. Many were there to make a last ditch effort to save the district’s popular elementary school band and orchestra program.
Binita Patel, a junior band student at Chattahoochee High School, told the board: “I am who I am today because of Fulton County music education.”
At this point, it would take a march on the Capitol by hundreds of thousands of parents to get the General Assembly to reconsider its reluctance to raise taxes to protect schools from deep cuts.
But without a tax increase, it is a given that “non essential” programs and people will continue to disappear in Fulton, Cherokee and across the state.
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118 comments Add your comment
Reality Mom
March 19th, 2010
1:14 pm
The Georgia Dept of Corrections spends on average $16,888 per year PER INMATE (its on their web site). Maybe if we spen that much per child on education, there would be fewer people in prison
Concerned Monkey
March 19th, 2010
1:33 pm
Maureen, do we have any data or reports on athletic programs being cut and/or coaches being fired? Not that I want to see this, but I’m getting the impression music and the arts are being decimated while football isn’t being touched all that much. Doesn’t seem right or fair in these circumstances to keep beating up on the arts.
Elizabeth
March 19th, 2010
1:56 pm
You are absolutely, Reality Mom. I have already said in another blog -in which childless people complained about paying taxes for education- that they can pay now for education or pay later for welfare and prisons. And if you are talking about “fair”, well, no one in my family has ever been in prison or on welfare. So I should not have to pay for prisons, right? Only the families of those who go should pay. That is the kind of logic people ae using and it is faulty. I pay taxes to support prisons to keep us all safe. More education means fewer prions and more contributors to society. Think what schools could do if we were given the amount as prisons get per inmate. It makes you wonder about priorities, doesn’t it?
Attentive Parent
March 19th, 2010
2:11 pm
CM-
Fulton doesn’t cover the costs of sport programs. They build the stadiums but do not cover the costs of fielding teams. Players have to pay the costs themselves and booster clubs fill in.
It was my understanding that the elementary music programs were being moved to after school. Also that they would become fee based.
It’s a tragic change but that was the least tragic of a range of bad outcomes.
Can anyone confirm?
North Fulton Parent
March 19th, 2010
2:11 pm
To Concerned Monkey:
In Fulton County, high school athletics are funded by parents directly while the programs being cut are funded by state and county dollars. Coaches are also teachers at the schools and are then paid 45 cents an hour for coaching a sport. All other athletic costs are picked up by the parents and sports oriented booster clubs… not from county monies. That is why sports are not on the chopping block in Fulton…. they are self funding.
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
2:15 pm
Dear Ashley and Katie,
On behalf of greedy, self-absorbed republicans everywhere, I would like to thank you so much for your support of our long-standing efforts to destroy public education. Katie, I bet you had a party all night at your big Windward house, with cheer and best wishes from everyone in attendance. You really gave it to those kids!
Everyone knows that children who expect to be education should have made the choice to be born into a republican family. It’s really all comes down to personal responsibility, and these tax-sucking children did not even make good choices about what family they were born into. Both of you stood up for us against these underage leeches!
Ashley, never are you so eloquent as when standing up for the interests of the wealthy against liberals and other fools who think we as a society should fund public education. You know better than anyone that it’s costing your husband’s clients a pretty penny to keep screwing the citizens of Georgia, and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your efforts on our behalf. You really stuck it to the kids! As always, you put the special interests ahead of everyone else.
Thanks so much for cutting band and orchestra. What did music ever do for anyone? Just because involvement in music has been proven numerous times to have life-long positive effects on students that is no reason to ask wealthy citizens to help pay for the program. Wisely, you did not mention cutting athletics at all, even though there are numerous rec leagues that could provide these services. We like to come to the football games drunk, so, again, you two have your priorities in the right place. Thanks, Katie and Ashley, for eliminating music from children’s lives.
Here’s an idea. Since, thank God, you’ve both made it more than clear by your actions that you don’t intend to give our students an education in anything but name, why don’t we start an internship program at Wal-Mart? That way, we can give those money-sucking kids a head-start on getting established in the only career you are willing to prepare them for. The world needs more cashiers and stockers, and you are making sure there will be plenty.
Thank you both for putting the interests of the moneyed classes ahead of everything else. I’ve never been prouder of any fellow republicans in my life. You both have shown what it really means to be a republican, and all greedy, self-absorbed people in Fulton applaud your efforts.
Let’s just close down the schools altogether, what do you think?
Proud Black Man
March 19th, 2010
2:16 pm
@ Reality Mom
Just another example of the “white right” cutting off their nose to spite they face!
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
2:16 pm
Caught in the filter. Curses!
current fulton teacher, former fulton student
March 19th, 2010
2:20 pm
This news saddens me. I started band in 4th grade, and even though I’m not a music teacher now, the lessons learned in music class have proved invaluable. In my opinion, the music program is one thing that has helped Fulton County schools to stand out. How short-sighted our school board has been for finances to get to this point.
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
2:26 pm
Dear Ashley and Katie,
On behalf of greedy, self-absorbed republicans everywhere, I would like to thank you so much for your support of our long-standing efforts to destroy public education. Katie, I bet you had a party all night at your big Windward house, with cheer and best wishes from everyone in attendance. You really gave it to those kids!
Everyone knows that children who expect to be educated should have made the choice to be born into a republican family. It’s really all comes down to personal responsibility, and these tax-sucking children did not even make good choices about what family they were born into. Both of you stood up for us against these underage leeches!
DIY
March 19th, 2010
2:35 pm
All true republicans are happy today. Katie Reeves and Ashley Widener really gave it to those kids! Who cares about a bunch of underage tax-suckers?
M
March 19th, 2010
2:38 pm
Why is no one up in arms over the cut of social workers, counselors, and psychologists? These roles are increasingly important to families in poverty because these families lack the resources to get the help and services their children need. How are schools with 80-90% poverty and transiency supposed to function absent social workers and counselors. Is Fulton County Schools to prepared to see achivement scores drop in schools without sufficient support?
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
2:44 pm
Dear Ashley,
Never are you so eloquent as when standing up for the interests of the wealthy against liberals and other fools who think we as a society should fund public education. You know better than anyone that it’s costing your husband’s clients a pretty penny to keep getting the better of the citizens of Georgia, and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your efforts on our behalf. You really stuck it to the kids! As always, you put the special interests ahead of everyone else.
Thanks so much for cutting band and orchestra. What did music ever do for anyone? Just because involvement in music has been proven numerous times to have life-long positive effects on students that is no reason to ask wealthy citizens to help pay for the program. Wisely, you did not mention cutting athletics at all, even though there are numerous rec leagues that could provide these services. We like to come to the football games drunk, so, again, you two have your priorities in the right place.
Thanks, Ashley, for eliminating music from children’s lives.
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
2:45 pm
Thank you, Katie and Ahley, for putting the interests of the moneyed classes ahead of everything else. I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life. You both have shown what it really means to be a republican, and all greedy, self-absorbed people in Fulton applaud your efforts.
Let’s just close down the schools altogether, what do you think?
Beelzebubba - Demon of the South
March 19th, 2010
2:58 pm
Bye bye Miss American pie….
Ex-Milton Mom
March 19th, 2010
3:01 pm
Katie,
Your own son was in the exceptional Milton HS Band program — which is only exceptional due to the tremendous efforts of the elementary and middle school music teachers. How could you vote cut off the lifeline of so many non-athletic students? The thought of all of those empty band and orchestra rooms breaks my heart. My 20-something kids still have good friends that they made back to those rooms. This is a disgrace.
Chief Wiggum
March 19th, 2010
3:03 pm
This is a tough, tough time right now. As unfortunate as it is to cut extra-curricular stuff, and honestly folks, this is that type of thing…everybody is having pain right now. Thousands and thousands out of work, and the government has to cut everywhere, even the precious schools.
There are priorities, and those would be educating the children. They will NOT suffer unbearable by having music moved to after-school. Jeez!
DigALittleDeeper
March 19th, 2010
3:13 pm
I would definitely prefer to spend more money and definitely $16,000 on children. The prisons are not reforming anyone, it’s just a cage that we keep people in for a time period. Then they get out, can’t find a job, committ another crime and we spend more money.
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March 19th, 2010
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LydiasDad
March 19th, 2010
3:14 pm
I’d like for each school to calculate how much more it would cost per child to make up the budget shortfall. What if the parents actually paid into the system to make that up? I’d be willing to. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper than public school.
Mel
March 19th, 2010
3:17 pm
It’s amazing to me that music and arts program are always the first to go in a budget crunch when study after study shows that these programs improve cognitive functioning in students, regardless of the student’s age or the subject being tested. I truly believe that the study of art and music make us better people and fuel the creativity and drive for which Americans are so famous. Without the liberal arts, our schools will be only be only graduating a bunch of vocational school drones.
current fulton teacher, former fulton student
March 19th, 2010
3:18 pm
Hmm … I wonder if Life Long Republican knows those people who have gone by the aliases of (Ex) Northview Teacher and The Right Is Always Wrong. The same hyper-partisan drivel comes from their keyboards. Or could it be … no, that would be too much of a coincidence.
While the writings this time could almost bring a smile to some because of the sarcasm, I live with the reality that some of my lifelong friends are losing their jobs and are scrambling to consider their next option. My wife and I both have dealt with the furloughs this year, and money is very tight. I would dare say that morale is diminished because of all the undertainty. This is not a game to see if I can get famous (in my own mind anyway) by posting provocative statements on a blog. This is my life.
Believe me, I have no use whatsoever for Reeves, Widener and Dean. They can all take a long walk off a short pier as far as I’m concerned. Some of my students were honored by the board a while back, and we all had the distinct honor of shaking their hands. I had a distinct urge to wash my hands at least 10 times right after that.
Voting in a new school board would be fine with me. So far, I’ve survived numerous Desperate Housewives posing as school board members and also at least 7 superintendents. I’ll be OK. Let’s all leave politcal agendas out of it and do what’s right.
So, let’
Hootie
March 19th, 2010
3:19 pm
Here’s an idea… pony up some cash and fund your pet programs. It’s easy to whine and complain that “someone else” won’t pay for something.
By the way Reality Mom, money does not a good school make.
Fedup
March 19th, 2010
3:21 pm
Where’s the outrage in Fulton County? Why is there no more than a few sparse blogs in response to an irresponsible school board that has screwed a distict for years…rest assured that if Clayton or Dekalb or APS had run off as many superintendents as this bunch has done, there would be hell to pay…including SACS sanctions. Why do you think this has happened? When previous superintendents had enough of this board’s medling of operations/construction/personnel matters, etc., and would attempt to make a stand and buck this group, they were all sent packing. Now you have a puppet who has one agenda – keeping her job – and that means she will do whatever this Board tells her to do, regardless of the impact on schools/students. This Board can say what it wants with regard to blaming the economy, but there is not ONE other metro district that has chosen to cut programs and increase class sizes at a magnitude that this group has done. “Where Students Come First” has been the slogan…probably fitting for many years up until the late ’90’s. At least come up with something more appropriate, like “where political agenda’s come first”, or even “screw South Fulton – who cares?” or perhaps “Milton County Do or Die”.
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
3:22 pm
Hootie, your a good republican, to.
Reality
March 19th, 2010
3:22 pm
A few responses to posts….
1. The football program in high schools are primarily funded by boosters and not by the school board. Cuts to football or basketball won’t make much difference at all to the budgets of the school board.
2. No one ‘wants’ cuts. But, without money, how can everything be funded? I feel that the problem is that in the “good” times, the school systems didn’t build that proverbial savings for a rainy day. Instead, they just increased spending. Now that we are in “bad” times there is no savings and budgets must be reduced. Call it poor management.
3. The ones getting hurt here are the kids…. and also the adults now without a job. These are the adults that have devoted their lives to helping our children. And, when a certified teacher is cut they do not qualify for unemployment in our State – ah yes, GA: the State that just keeps on screwing education from all angles!
current fulton teacher, former fulton student
March 19th, 2010
3:25 pm
please excuse the few typos … I hope that most can understand the meaning of what I’m trying to say
Marty
March 19th, 2010
3:26 pm
Fulton County Schools has been blowing money like it was an unlimited resource for years. Now the kids have to suffer for their arrogant mismanagement. What upsets me is the arts always is the first to get cut. It’s like a double whammy.
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
3:28 pm
Ex-Milton Mom,
You fail to understand republican ideology. Katie already got hers, so why should she care about anyone else?
teacher man
March 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
I hope Big Sonny PURDUE and those mentally deficient repbulicans can sleep well at night as they flush the state down the toilet. And I don’t want to hear one d^mn word about how Georgia is at the bottom of education.
JF McNamara
March 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
You get the government you deserve. We collectively voted in people who only care about money, and that’s what we got. If you’re that mad, vote them out.
teacher man
March 19th, 2010
3:30 pm
McNamara…..your right Sonny is awful and not very bright. I didn’t vote for those idiots but I guess I will have to pay for it anyway.
teacher man
March 19th, 2010
3:31 pm
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teacher man
March 19th, 2010
3:31 pm
I guess that one got through.
Life-Long Republican
March 19th, 2010
3:33 pm
Current Fulton Teacher,
I mean no disrespect to you. Honestly, I am on your side, and I don’t think that this is funny. I think this is a tragedy beyond words.
I’m a bit surprised that you think I am hyper-partisan. The only difference I see between repukes and democrats is that democrats throw us under the bus a little later. However, republicans control Fulton schools, and they must take the blame. They earned it. Their ideology has led us to where we are.
I’m so sorry you had to shake hands with Ashley. That must have been just awful.
LAKE SINCLAIR EDUCATOR
March 19th, 2010
3:33 pm
PUT A 2% TAX ON THINGS EARMARKED FOR EDUCATION…..OUR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ARE FIDDLING WHILE THE SCHOOL HOUSES ARE BURNING DOWN…FOR GODS SAKE RAISE SOME TAX MONEY THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO PAY INTO—UNLIKE PROPERTY TAXES, AND GIVE EDUCATION SOME RELIEF….LOTS OF TOURISTS WHO COME THROUGH GEORGIA WOULD HELP WITH THESE TAXES….WHY DON’T YOU JUST COME HOME, LEGISLATORS, IF ALL YOU’RE GONNA DO IS TELL US HOW MUCH MORE HAS TO BE CUT……DO SOMETHING FOR A CHANGE TO HELP….
teacher man
March 19th, 2010
3:34 pm
Good ole boy Sonny and his cronies are laughing themselves into tears over this. He is an awful governor. They planned this…the great assault on public education. They are doing exactly what they want to do.
Janice
March 19th, 2010
3:34 pm
schools need a balance. being a child of the 60/70 i grew up with sports, music, art and academics in school. i went to private school until the last 3 years of highschool. i would not have transitioned as easily without music. children need to be well rounded. i have triplets nephews and niece, and those children have the worst time concentrating as the school they attend in delaware does not have a music plan and their gym periods are hardly existent. if schools don’t have a music/arts program, how will the children discover disclipline besides aggression. also playing an instrument, singing in a choir/chorus or doing art projects is a creative out let for children. if we stop the programs, i am afraid that there might be more school aged children on drugs to keep them calm and focused, as they won’t have outlet. not all children can play sports.
i’m a single homeowner, but i don’t mind my chunk of my tax bill going towards public school. i do mind that it’s going to babysit children who just don’t care, or parents who just don’t care. every child deserves a chance.
LAKE SINCLAIR EDUCATOR
March 19th, 2010
3:37 pm
IF WE FACTOR IN ALL THE EDUCATION CUTS FOR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF, MAYBE WE CAN GET THE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE FROM 10.5% UP TO 15%…..AN ACROSS THE BOARD 2% TAX ON EACH DOLLAR SPENT IN GEORGIA WOULD SPARE US ALL THIS….IF I SPEND $5.00, WHAT IS 10 MORE CENTS….EVERYONE NEEDS TO HELP A LITTLE WHEN THEY BUY THINGS IN THE STATE…..
Fedup
March 19th, 2010
3:38 pm
171 comments regarding the Braves’ bullpen vs. 35 comments about school district leadership sticking it to teachers and students…priorities tell the tale.
Elizabeth
March 19th, 2010
3:40 pm
We all know cuts have to be made. But music and art provide children an opportunity to develop their cognitive brains in a way that other things do not. What you are cutting out is the means to develop all areas of the cognitive brain which is best developed while young. That is in addition to the intrinsic benefits that art and music bring. Every different subject is designed to develop young minds in a different way. Foreign language is another example– it makes you use your brain in a way that nothing else does. Music is mathematical and music students usually excel in math. Art is spatial and mathematical as well as visual. That is why these cuts will affect education so drastically. I cannot believe that after school sports do the same. P.E. is required in school and there are after school receation progrms which substitute for sports. So all that booster club money could be used to raise money for music and art– if people wanted to do that. But they don’t. Sports is the untouchable program in Georgia schools. And do not tell me it is all paid by the booster club because it is not. The school pays for the busses in my system and for the uniforms for sports. But when my daughter was in marching band, the boosters had to raise the money for band uniforms We were not given one penny. It is a matter of priorities. My system is cutting elementary art and music also.
Reality
March 19th, 2010
3:41 pm
Sonny (and the repubs) have been trying to kill education for years. Their type want to totally wipe out public education and have been working hard to make GA worse and worse.
In the good times, teachers never got their fair share increase. Money was thrown to the administration, to central offices, to buildings, but never into the classroom.
Now that we have bad times, few central office jobs are cut, few administrative jobs are cut, but teachers and programs are cut – so much for the children.
Sonny and republicans – add heavy adminstrative costs and cut the real services needed. Let the rich get richer and screw everyone else.
Jefferson
March 19th, 2010
3:43 pm
The GOP has again proven they can’t run the store very well.
Fedup
March 19th, 2010
3:46 pm
Four Fulton Board members’ terms expire in December of 2010(including Reeves/Widener)…those of you out there living in Fulton with school-aged children have an opportunity to kick-start some needed change and new blood into a group of politicos who need a kick for sure.
KAW
March 19th, 2010
3:49 pm
I have been trying to go back and read past articles that describe budget items the state is trying to fund. Looks like they are trying to fun an expansion to a horse show complex in Perry, giving almost $600,000 to Little League to move to Warner Robins (will only add 5 jobs) and $67 million to One Georgia — an rural economic stimulus plan. Do we really need $67 million to go to that plan…maybe half of that could go to help our schools. It seems to me that educating our children should be the priority and just don’t feel like the State is doing enough to find the money.
Does anyone have any insight on other hard cuts the State is making. Seems like education is getting the short end of the stick…
catlady
March 19th, 2010
3:50 pm
Lake:WHO doesn’t have to pay property taxes? While there certainly are some egregious tax breaks, other than the dead, who avoids them completely?
current fulton teacher, former fulton student
March 19th, 2010
3:51 pm
LLR, I appreciate your response. I still think you are hyper-partisan, but that is my opinion.
Fedup, when I was a student in Fulton schools, democrats ruled the roost and the north county schools were the ones getting screwed. There were massive budget problems, not quite like those now, but pretty bad.
I acknowledge the makeup of the current board. I think that they have been short-sighted. They are responsible for a large part of this crisis. What I dislike from the posts (from some) is the notion that if one has a particular ideology, then one is automatically an idiot. There are idiots on all parts of the political spectrum. There are also good people on all parts of the spectrum. We need to stop bickering and do what is right.
Art and Music
March 19th, 2010
3:56 pm
I think that music and art are very important for a child. I will consider removing my kids from Fulton County schools so that they can attend the music and arts program in another county. What happened to all the petitions that we signed to oppose this?
Kira Willis
March 19th, 2010
3:59 pm
Here, here, Reality.
People who do not have direct contact with students should lose their jobs. Period.
WAK
March 19th, 2010
4:05 pm
KAW, trust me- the cuts have been statewide and have affected every aspect of state government except maybe a few pet projects. The state is in dire straits. Must have some revenue enhancements to balance all these cuts, or things will be broken for a long time to come.