Rather than slash 10 days, could DeKalb schools shut down for month of July?
I watched the DeKalb school board meeting long enough today to hear the school chief announce that the state DOE said DeKalb could cut its school year by additional days.
With an $85 million deficit and no reserves, a proposal is on the table for DeKalb to slash 10 more days.
Paul Womack wants to cut an additional 10 days from the school calendar.In approving a tentative general fund budget, the board had already voted to reduce the school calendar for students by two days. Four furlough days approved for teachers in prior years would also remain, but they would not affect students.
Officials said it costs the system $3 million a day to operate, so the proposal could save $30 million — enough to balance the budget without a tax increase. But they needed time to check on the details, so the budget deliberations were postponed until 6 p.m. Thursday.
But Lisa Morgan, a teacher and representative of the advocacy group Organization of DeKalb Educators, said Womack’s proposal wouldn’t save as much as he thinks. Womack wants to make up the lost school days by lengthening the rest of them. Another county in Georgia tried that several years ago, Morgan said.
“Because teachers were providing the equivalent of 180 days of instruction, they had to be paid for 180 days,” she said. The proposal, Morgan said, could still save money on utilities, gasoline for buses and pay for support personnel, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
Womack threatened to cut teacher pay if his colleagues don’t find some other way to avoid new taxes. “I’m going to get $30 million somewhere,” he said. “I’m not going to vote for a millage increase.”
Here is another idea on how DeKalb could cut costs from a reader — she suggests that DeKalb shut down its whole operation for the month of July.
I think parents would prefer this alternative to slashing instructional days (And I don’t think those lost instructional hours can be mitigated by adding 10 or 20 minutes to the remaining days.)
Please note that several posters have said this idea would not save much money because many DeKalb employees are on 11 month contracts already. In that case, could some of them go to 10 months?
From a reader:
A school-level administrator posited an interesting, creative idea for restructuring the DCSD budget that I thought I’d pass along to you. DeKalb now has 12-month employees (principals, some assistant principals, custodians, and the central office) and 10-month employees (teachers and elementary assistant principals). The idea is to make the 12-month employees into 11-month employees and shut everything down for the month of July.
This administrator explained that everything that schools need to do over the summer to get ready for the next year can be accomplished in the month of June and in that first week or so of August (this year we start back August 13). CRCTs are back and reported in June; AYP has been certified, etc. The buildings can be prepped and planning can be done in June.
And the same goes for the central office — with a competent BOE, get the budget approved by the end of May and then work efficiently and effectively through June.
Yes, it’s a cut in pay for non-classroom personnel, but that should be the priority — cut pay there before you cut teacher pay or increase class size.
This kind of idea has plenty of precedence elsewhere. Back when I worked full-time, a major car manufacturer was a client (I was a lawyer). It shuts down for four weeks a year — from the highest level corporate executives to the assembly line workers at each and every plant. Shut down. Period.
It’s done in the last two weeks of July and the last two weeks of December, and employees are not paid during that time. It saves the company a substantial amount of money.
In these dire financial straits, an idea like this merits at least a try for a couple of years — who knows, we may find that the work gets done just fine and we have actually built up reserves. We need innovative, creative thinking like this, and not the constant bickering that this BOE gives us.
The other suggestion this administrator had was as follows: Have middle and high schools designate one “lead AP” who is the now 11-month employee who works the month of June to prepare for next year.
In reality, many of those assistant principals right now are sitting idle — there’s simply not work for them to do. Anyway, just thought I’d pass these ideas along in case you thought readers would find them interesting to discuss.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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131 comments Add your comment
Just a Mom
June 20th, 2012
6:17 pm
Watching the meeting was just plain embarrassing to this Dekalb citizen! Dekalb students already lag in achievement – less class days is certainly not going to narrow the gap. I like the idea of 11 month employees but sadly it may be too forward thinking for this board (or friends and family will ensure it doesn’t happen because, after all, they are the ones who would affected by this proposal the most)
mountain man
June 20th, 2012
6:27 pm
Typical response – “I will NOT increase the millage rate”, even though your assessments have gone down and you are enjoying a big tax decrease as a result. Instead, let’s cut the number of teaching days, but we WON”T cut the amount of material that hass to be covered. If it doesn’t get covered, it is the teachers’ fault and they should be fired.
d
June 20th, 2012
6:32 pm
My concern is Mr. Womack saying *I* will not…. Mr. Womack is not *the* board of education.
Donaldo
June 20th, 2012
6:32 pm
It seems to me that the quality of education will be significantly affected by slashing learning days. A few things could be done immediately without directly impacting the students. Cut all administrative pay across the board, starting at the top, make all non teaching personnel that a 4 day work week, work with local colleges to offer teaching internships to help support the teachers, allow parents to organize tutorial programs and enrichment programs supported by local community and business groups. These are just a few ideas, fundamentally we need to rethink our educational model, saw a very interesting interview on MSNBC today on this precise topic, active learning vs rote, memory teaching to the test.
cello12000
June 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
To clarify some of the information in the above posting: In DCSD, no assistant principals or counselors are 12 month employees. Some are 11 month, some are 10 month – depending on the level or classification. 12 month employees assigned to the school house for the summer are principal, custodians and a secretary (or some clerical classification person to act as registrar for students enrolling or performing other office tasks.
Work being done in the building by assistant principals and counselors during the month of June includes refining the master schedule and making sure all students have appropriate classes for the following next school year. The last day for DCSD 11 month counselors and APs is June 21.
Custodians have the enormous task of cleaning huge buildings, maintaining grounds, and performing routine maintenance which is difficult to do with students in the building during the school year.
12 month employees (including the custodians) already have 7 furlough days – with additional 2 possibly to be added).
There may be a way to close for a week or two to combine those days which would give 12 month employees a welcome break, but please do not think that those in the building during the months of June and July are “no working” or that there is “nothing” for them to do.
Dekalb County Taxpayers are SHEEP
June 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
How much does it cost to bus kids from S. Dekalb to the northern district schools? What a waste. Poor Dekalb taxpayers have to pay for private education for their kids and high taxes for school that are debased by kids who create problems in the schools. Don’t call me a racist because I’m not; just show me where busing makes a positive difference except for what I alluded to. Just give parents vouchers and let them choose where they buy their education. I’m sure private enterprise will come up with good alternatives for the handicapped and low SES students….better than what the public experience provides. I don’t understand why the northern district parents don’t demand this instead of always giving in to the minorities. What a waste.
Mr. Sixth Grade
June 20th, 2012
6:42 pm
This is all very troubling for me. I am graduating from my teaching program in a few weeks and am awaiting certification any day now. What are us new teachers to do for the 2012-2013 school year? Look out of state, or at the boondock counties? I’m really concerned over the lack of middle school positions that seem to be available or will be available.
mg
June 20th, 2012
6:50 pm
Maureen,
What Mr. Perrone actually said was that the district saves $3million for each furlough day. A furlough day is for ALL employees. Shutting down in July and/or the end of December will not save that amount since the vast majority of the school based staff are already not working during that time and thus not earning any salary for those days.
Roc-a-Fella
June 20th, 2012
6:51 pm
I’m a DeKalb County resident. Please raise the taxes to keep the kids in school. To cut education for so many to save $40 per year in property taxes is an idiotic thing to do. This clown that won’t raise the millage rate should be voted off the board immediately. I get it that we shouldn’t just continue to raise taxes whenever the wind blows. We should start to find ways to spend tax money efficiently (should’ve thought of this before getting involved in that multi-million dollar lawsuit with the construction company). However, desperate times call for desperate measures. The slight increase in property taxes (which I own 3 properties in DeKalb County) is well worth it to keep our future on track by educating the kids. It totally baffles me that we have teachers that actually support these Republicans that constantly attack the system of public education and it’s servants.
anotherthought
June 20th, 2012
7:00 pm
I know that it might be too late for this next but maybe not. Times are desperate. I know of several school districts that were on block scheduling but have returned to the traditional 6 period day to save money. Students in high schools now take 8 classes (8 teachers a year instead of 6). If a student passes all classes in high school, they earn 32 credits (I think only 24 are needed to graduate). DeKalb requires more than the state, perhaps we could move to be more in line with the state requirements. Our high school students take more electives. I agree that I would like for our children to be exposed to more, but electives usually cost more. Think about supplies for art, band, computer classes etc… There are other academic disadvantages to the block schedule. Students sometimes take a math class or foreign language class during the first semester of one year and do not take the next class the second semester of the next year. Ugh!! Someone needs to look into how much could be saved by stopping the block scheduling.
Old timer
June 20th, 2012
7:01 pm
I like the idea of just shutting done in July. That would affect children the least. I also wonder if money could be saved by outsourcing some of the maintenance..yard work…., painting and the like.
catlady
June 20th, 2012
7:05 pm
I DO like the idea of furlough days for principals and CO staff for 3-4 weeks during July. As for principals and planning–maybe they should take it home to work on during their own time, like teachers have to! Sauce for the goose, etc.
justbrowsing
June 20th, 2012
7:05 pm
@Mr. Sixth Grade- I am so sorry that you chose the middle grades level to major in at this time. I would consider obtaining additional certifications (GACE) to increase my marketability to get my foot in the door at various levels in case no position is open. These are troubling times.
Ernest
June 20th, 2012
7:13 pm
An earlier headline on the AJC was somewhat misleading. It seemed to suggest DeKalb would have 164 instructional days. I interpreted Womack’s proposal to eliminate 10 instructional days. Most forget that teachers are/were paid for 190 days. The additional 10 days were for professional development and planning days. The furlough days have been taken from these 10 days, i.e. only having one day at the end of the school year for close out rather than the 2-3 in years past.
When you factor in the other 6 furlough days and increasing health benefit payments, teachers are really taking on the chin in DeKalb. The budget Dr. Atkinson presented attempted to minimize the impact on employees while spreading the burden over the community and staff. Unfortunately the Board wanted to micromanage and examine each line item of the budget. Eliminating 10 instructional days (and pay) would probably push many teachers over the edge and out of DeKalb. I think this discussion will cause a lot of reflection about what we are willing to cut in the budget.
Tired
June 20th, 2012
7:14 pm
Cutting instruction days is not the answer, and neither is raising on taxes on people who never have and never will send kids to school (because they don’t have them, home school, etc.). If closing in July will get us there, then I say we do it.
Tired
June 20th, 2012
7:16 pm
Now that I’ve read Ernest’s comment, I think eliminating 10 non-instructional days is perfect. I have to prepare and engage in professional development for my job on my own time, I don’t feel badly about asking anyone else to do the same.
catlady
June 20th, 2012
7:16 pm
One thing about block scheduling: Teachers are teaching only 3 periods a day (75%) but with regular scheduling you have much better return on teacher time–up to 87% per day. And school boards need to stop employing people not to work with kids! (I am talking about coaches who teach half time and then do things related to their sport half time, or even less) All teachers should have the same “planning time,” not 25 minutes for elementary and 2 hours for middle and high school!
d
June 20th, 2012
7:18 pm
@anotherthought going off block would require a huge investment in textbooks. For just my department at my school, that would be about $50,000. Another problem, with the state’s new CCRPI measurement, it would be more difficult for students to complete career pathways that are part of the measurement.
Angela
June 20th, 2012
7:19 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else realize that every time the board meets there is more and more money missing or short falls?
Student Advocate
June 20th, 2012
7:20 pm
this teacher is planning her exit from DCSS ASAP. Some students and schools excel *despite* the central office and school board spineless incompetence. I have never felt more disrespected or used as a pawn.
Taxpayer and Teacher
June 20th, 2012
7:22 pm
Why is it that when I went to school we ended in May, came back after Labor Day and learned a HUGE AMOUNT more than these students? I’ll tell you why–we were taught discipline, self control, to be motivated to learn, study habits and strategies, basic skills mastery, rote education while sharpening critical thinking skills and life skills. Many of us worked in high school and in summers. Some of us were from single parent households. We lacked health care, we didn’t wear helmets when we rode our bicycles or skate boarded and we lived in what is now called THE HOOD. Our group includes an anesthesiologist, dentists, ministers, nurses, engineers, teachers, artists, actors, musicians, accountants, clerks, mechanics all about to RETIRE from WORKING. We wore hand me downs to school and our parents slapped the taste out of our mouths if we sassed the teacher. We were celebrated by the neighborhood when we achieved, and shunned when we lived below expectation. I am not a native, however I know from the inside that the budget is not the problem the system setup, lack of expertise and experience at the board level and cronyism is the problem. Unless the system is revamped from the state to the student Georgia will forever be at the bottom in education. Stop putting emphasis on college and tests and teach these students how to make good choices and master basic skills in writing, reading, math and thinking. It takes everyone to make society run successfully. There are few geniuses in the world, most citizens are regular folk. Get rid of so called High Achiever Classes! You are either gifted or you’re not! Just because a student can read on grade level does not reflect a gift! The gifted are people who show an exceptional skill or talent beyond the norm. I have not witnessed many truly gifted students in my career. And since when has being “normal” been considered a sin? Let’s be realistic in our expectations and prepare students for career readiness. Your dropout rate would decrease and your labor force would become more competitive.
NTLB
June 20th, 2012
7:28 pm
If the 10 furlough days are spread out on the Fridays or the days before a long holiday weekend, or the day(s) before Thanksgiving/Winter/Spring Break, then no learning days will be affected. These are typically days of high student and teacher absenteeism and are also days with little or no learning takes place during the school year. Not much learning goes on during CRCT testing days either. Why not furlough half days during CRCT testing week?
Althought I am against furlough days when other types of irresponsible spending recoccurs in this state’s government, the 10 furlough days don’t necessarily have to impact student learning, if planned well.
SuperDad1
June 20th, 2012
7:31 pm
I see where closing the entire county down in July. What about summer school, band and football practices? I agree that all 12 month employees take July off.
William
June 20th, 2012
7:33 pm
Yeah… cut the teachers salary another 16% and make ‘em work longer hours. That ought to get the standards up.
catlady
June 20th, 2012
7:33 pm
I have suggested that our middle school teachers, who have 2 consecutive 50 minute planning periods, use the first 30 minutes for planning, then come to the elementary school and remediate (RTI) students. In the long run, not only will it make things more equitable, but also it should assist the students who are headed to the middle school, years behind, to have interventions in very small groups. This would work here because the middle school is 7 minutes from one elementary school, and 3 minutes from the other! The other middle school would have a 10-12 minute commute. Best use of resources available.
Angela
June 20th, 2012
7:36 pm
@Donaldo
“allow parents to organize tutorial programs and enrichment programs supported by local community and business groups.”
************************************************************************************************************************************************
The county and staff would be greatful for parents to organize outside of the school these programs. However, because the parents in this county on the south end especially would rather complain, attack teachers, etc. The northern end of the county have these programs because they realize that the students are their children. They realize and know that education and the support of education begins at home and not with the school and teachers.
As for the cuts in pay why don’t we start with Cheryl’s 300K PLUS salary. It is most amazing that they can find money to pay her and her right hand people but cut others pay. Again, if they don’t find money to pay the teachers it will be a huge you get what you pay for year(s). Teachers have not had a raise in over 6 years and have endured continued cuts in pay. Each super has gotten a continued raise. The super does not make the county it is the teachers who make or break it. There is not one teacher or person who works for the shear pleasure of working. We all work for pay. And, before some person gracefully says be glad that you have a job. Please come and work for free we teachers will step aside and let you do the job.
Taxpayer and Teacher
June 20th, 2012
7:37 pm
Furlough days will affect teacher pay! If we get furloughed ten days look for a mass exodus! What you don’t realize is that teachers can leave and go elsewhere as long they receive a pay raise. This is considered a promotion and you are not obligated to your contract. So if the citizens of Dekalb allow this to happen be prepared to see a record number of permanent subs in the classrooms.
Dave
June 20th, 2012
7:38 pm
I’m just fed up!
Where do we get to vote to get off this train wreck?
I live in Dunwoody and my taxes have NEVER gone down $1 in the last 7 years. Instead, I’m hit with a 5-15% increase EVERY year, while down in South Dekalb their taxes go DOWN every year… do they have less children going to school? use less resources? have their incomes lowered? NO.. just some arbitrary assessment
It’s time we left the Titanic and found a lifeboat.. (Forsythe, Milton?) HELP! we can bring resources….
Bill
June 20th, 2012
7:40 pm
I got a great idea!. Shut the whole thing down and let me keep my school property taxes to educate my child as I see fit.
bilbo799
June 20th, 2012
7:43 pm
What happened to all of that talk about cutting central administration in DeKalb?
PatDowns
June 20th, 2012
7:51 pm
Make additional CO staff cuts and then reduce the pay by 15% for those who remain, 10% for principals and 7% for APs. Then, I would be for a millage rate increase to make up the difference to balance the budget.
It is absolutely foolish to cut more student instruction days, especially from a school system already at the bottom of the barrel. Plus, leave the teachers alone. They have shouldered enough of the burden.
Rather than slash 10 days, could DeKalb schools shut down for month of July? | Get Schooled | Buffy Hamilton's Unquiet Commonplace "Book" | Scoop.it
June 20th, 2012
7:55 pm
[...] I watched the DeKalb school board meeting long enough today to hear the school chief announce that the state DOE said DeKalb could cut its school year by… [...]
Fulton Employee
June 20th, 2012
7:55 pm
When Fulton County reduced its school year from 180 to 177 days, any concern about lost instructional time was countered by the reminder that 10 whole minutes would be added to the school day to make up for the lost three days of instruction. Needless to say, teachers and administrators have seen no demonstrable, measurable instructional gains from the 10 minute addition to the school day; in fact, most teachers express frustration about the three lost days of instruction. Fortunately for Fulton employees, their contracts were not reduced along with the reduction in instructional days. A reduction in instructional days, especially the ten suggested by Mr. Womack, would be a disaster for a school system like Dekalb that is already struggling academically. The cost cutting proposal made by the Dekalb employee to reduce 12-month employees to 11-month contracts along with the suggestion to shut Dekalb schools for the month of July seem the most logical. In fact, Fulton County would benefit greatly from a similar proposal because as I go to my building this summer and see APs (11-month employees) sitting around bemoaning their summer boredom in the office, I cannot help but think their time would be better served at home tending their yards rather than sitting around the office on the taxpayer’s dime. The same could be said for central offices employees as well.
DeKalb Teacher
June 20th, 2012
8:02 pm
As a 17 year veteran in DeKalb, I am so disappointed in the way things have gone. While not having any sort of pay raise since 2007, I am expected to enthusiastically and whole-heartedly give everything I can to raise student achievement in my classroom. At the same time, I am struggling to pay my mortgage due to increased property taxes, health insurance premiums, etc. And with the coming of Common Core Standards, you want me to do this on less days and pay? This kind of reminds of a segment on SNL”s weekly update…REALLY????
Donaldo
June 20th, 2012
8:07 pm
Angela: Thanks for your comment. As a former educator & parent, I have walked in your shoes, and yes, actually helped organize a group of parents to precisely do what I suggested earlier. However, I will say it is not easy, it is hard, but our kids are worth the fight…we adults need to set the example for them by fighting for improvements, I choose not to blame others for not sharing my values, your job as parents is to convince those less willing to participate, that it is worth their interest to get involved and be active parents to encourage active learning. We need to raise the bar, not lower it any further. Remember, majority rules in this country, so if you are unhappy with governmental programs, organize and build a majority……it is not easy, it is challenging, but our kids are worth the effort..This entire conversation is about commitment..
FMX
June 20th, 2012
8:08 pm
This is just the hens coming home to roost. There is too much waste in public education any. Its a shame it took a bad economy for the public to realize. We put too much money into the schools for what we get in return. It kills me that teachers get on here crying poor. You go to any school and look in the teachers parking lot; I guarantee you will see more luxury cars than in a rap video. I blame the parents as well because they aren’t involving themselves in the education of our children but don’t give me that bs about salaries because you all are grossly overpaid (especially in administration).
Solutions
June 20th, 2012
8:08 pm
Dekalb is turning into another Kansas City schools disaster: “Kansas City came to national attention ten years ago, when federal District Judge Russell Clark ordered the school district to build and staff the best, most expensive public schools in the country—perhaps in the world. They were to be so dazzlingly good that they would both lure white students out of their safe suburbs and raise black student achievement to the white level. Judge Clark was even willing to wield dictatorial power to get what he wanted, looting both the city and the state to fund the gold-plated schools that desegregation was thought to require.
Of course, the grand experiment failed. The wondrous schools were duly built but blacks learned no more in them than before. Whites stayed in the suburbs. And now a recent Supreme Court decision will probably cut off massive subsidies from the state, leaving the city with a hugely expensive system to run and no money. If Kansas City cannot dream up new ways to make whites pay for them, the dream schools will slide back into the ramshackled mediocrity from which Judge Clark thought he had lifted them.” The rest of the story is here: http://amren.com/oldnews/archives/2008/05/catastrophe_in_1.php
Proud Teacher
June 20th, 2012
8:08 pm
What are they financing instead of school? Follow the money. This just doesn’t sound right.
Taxpayer and Teacher
June 20th, 2012
8:14 pm
@FMX I don’t know what teacher parking lot you’ve been watching because we barely have running cars in ours. You must have us mixed up with another school district. They have already cut back on toilet tissue and most student bathrooms don’t have soap. So, maybe you are either visiting the North end of the county or you just made up your observations.
BlahBlahBlah
June 20th, 2012
8:17 pm
We live in Dekalb. We’re thankful we can homeschool, but dread trying to possibly sell our house next year.
incredulous
June 20th, 2012
8:17 pm
!Solutions? Com’on, quoting an offshoot of StormFront.org (however slick the design) that’s 17 years old isn’t lending you any credibility or traction. Get some new news. Come on Lee! If you’re going to spout racist, misanthropic, hate filled rhetoric, do a better job.
DeKalb Teacher
June 20th, 2012
8:17 pm
To FMX: I would love to know what schools you are driving by…lots of old cars in our parking lot and along the streets where we teach.I may drive an Acura but it’s a 1996! I have a feeling you don’t have many teaching/schooling experiences from the past 10 years. Would love for you to spend a day or two in a classroom. You might be surprised by what actually goes on.
Bobby
June 20th, 2012
8:18 pm
I’m a 35 year Dekalb County resident. And while I sympathize with Dekalb teachers, I haven’t had a raise in 5 years, my bonus has been eliminated, my health care insurance has gone up tremendously and my living expenses have gone up. I just don’t want a tax increase at this time. We are all in a hard spot right now but the County, whether school board or DC Commissioners must learn to live within a budget. And if FernBank has to be closed, so be it. Should conditions get better in the future it can be reopened.
James
June 20th, 2012
8:22 pm
I remember when Dekalb County schools had some of the
best HS in the state- Lakeside, Tucker, Avondale and others…
The idiots running the school system the last 20-30 years have ruined
it. It’s a shame that the only good schools left around are mostly
private now…only a few decent public schools left in Dekalb & Fulton…
WAR
June 20th, 2012
8:22 pm
dekalb is embarrassing.
Dave
June 20th, 2012
8:23 pm
3.5 years of Obama has brought us to this….
Thank and praise Almighty God that the Obamanation’s Reign will soon come to an end, and our time of tribulation might soon be over. Amen.
WAR
June 20th, 2012
8:24 pm
@fmx
you are embarrassing too.
MB
June 20th, 2012
8:24 pm
Fulton cut assistant principals back to 220-day contracts two years ago and 240-day contracts back to 235 days. Think some downtown folks could still absorb some more cuts in the length of their contracts – as others have noted, those of us on 190-day contracts work on our own time to catch up. They cut classroom and media assistants to 177 days; don’t you think they could get by without their assistants for less than 235 days?. Agree with the block scheduling deficit: my friend has worked with both schedules and says block is easier for teachers but NOT better for student learning. (And don’t you think the savings from teachers in the classroom 87% of their day would offset any textbook expenses???)
WAR
June 20th, 2012
8:28 pm
@dave
really? dekalbs problems are because of the president? besides, what if Almighty God provides us another 4 years of Obamanations Reign?
Solutions
June 20th, 2012
8:30 pm
The Kansas City Schools disaster was real, I have not read enough about it to determine if the article I posted was extreme or not, they pulled no punches in their comments, I did note that.
Starik
June 20th, 2012
8:30 pm
The DeKalb school system is beyond redemption. I’m moving.
Teacher2
June 20th, 2012
8:35 pm
It is very telling that DeKalb County School System is willing to consider any reduction EXECEPT reductions in staff at the county office. These positions have the highest salary and have little to no impact on student achievement. DCSS paid for an audit to find waste and when the results were the excessive county office staff, the results were ignored. The county office will not propose cuts that affect THEIR pockets but everyone else is fair game. Why is the school board also ignoring the county office staff for cuts? Taxes do not need to be raised in order to balance this budget, simply slash the county office staff; no one will ever notice the difference!
Dekalb Alum
June 20th, 2012
8:43 pm
EASY FIX!!!
Increase the day by 45 mins….
Shorten the week to 4 days.
The excess day can be used for dr appts, study halls and etc… Even Half Days and it would still equal to more than the amount of days they are proposing to cut and give kids a real break from learning while maintaining the option for engagement.
However MOST parents will complain that it will increase crime… or quite possible force them to be responsible for their children for 5 hrs when they are not in school..
Serious Question
June 20th, 2012
8:45 pm
What exactly does an assistant principal do?
zeke
June 20th, 2012
8:46 pm
seems with property values going down, a homeowners taxes will go do. raise millage rate on average by 75% of lost revenue from property digest (on average taxpayer gets some benefit) and require the rest from cuts, days, staff, whatever. and hire some staff that can add and subtract, multiply and divide. sounds like a bunch of baffoons. cut pay of top administrators and finance folks who are partly to blame. kick board members out who have been there long enough to have been part of the problem.
augustus
June 20th, 2012
8:48 pm
I am a veteran teacher. As far as the comment about cars, I drive a 2003 Mazda van purchased at Car Max. It has 158,000 miles on it, one door sticks and it has numerous dents. I cannot afford a new car. My school is located in the northern end of the county so geography is not as issue. There is a young teacher in our school who makes 32,000 and has not had a raise since she started, she is living with her parents and has two other jobs. She has student loans to pay.
Keep in mind, that teachers will not be receiving all of their Social Security. The county suspended paying into the investment firm that was in lieu of that several years ago.
imjustsaying
June 20th, 2012
8:50 pm
one word sums up the comments posted – FRUSTRATED. If one reads beneath all of the race bating, stone casting, and accusatory statements, they will see that we all want the same thing whether White, Black, Asian, Latino, or Indian or a North DeKalb, Central DeKalb, or South DeKalb resident – we want a quality education for kids. So, here we are wanting our kids educated so they can compete in a global economy, complaining about the BOE, yet last time I checked there were 4 seats up for re-election in 2012 and only 12 people running of which two of the races have only 2 people each – one incumbent and one challenger. In 2010, of the 5 seats up for re-election, there were only 2 new members elected. Folks complain about DeKalb leadership and then when its time to put up, no one pays their money and qualifies. Imjustsaying…
bu2
June 20th, 2012
8:52 pm
Atkinson had some time in Kansas City. That was a red flag for me.
CA
June 20th, 2012
8:53 pm
I’m curious about all those who say that President Obama brought us to this. School systems make their own budget decisions. States make decisions regarding schools. What has the current administration done to bring this on? Georgia is Republican state, so please explain how the Republicans are not to blame for this, but Democrats are. It is not a party issue. It is an issue of those being in charge making poor decisions.
Sick and Tired
June 20th, 2012
8:54 pm
Sick is the only word to describe what happen today. I am praying for DCSD. Mr. Womack you need to resign. You have no respect for the Superintendent you hired. It is your way or the highway. I am grateful to have 25 years in DeKalb.. It is time to move on.
What do you expect?
June 20th, 2012
8:59 pm
It’s Dekalb County! One the most corrupt county governments in the nation. Penny sales tax increases year after year and the myth of smaller class size while the system becomes more bloated with “administrators” and fat cats. Fernbank being open makes no difference in your child’s quality of education. You’re paying teachers who can’t be fired and don’t teach while money disappears meant for students. Until you get a hold of your county government and oust the teachers unions, NOTHING will change. Then again, this is the county that elected Cynthia McKinney and Hank Johnson. Enough said.
Solutions
June 20th, 2012
9:10 pm
If the parents on this blog really want a quality education for their children, one that will allow them to compete in the global economy, then you need to be brutally honest with yourself. Are your children taking the summer off from school and from learning? If the answer is yes, then you are not serious about wanting a quality education. I can assure you, the East Asian children, both in the US and overseas, are not taking the summer off. Did you know the average freshman SAT score at tech for Fall will be over 1400? Did you know a significant number of Freshmen will be of East Asian Extraction? Why? Because they earned it. There are a multitude of free opportunities to learn this summer, from the khanacademy dot com to the free MIT lectures and I believe Harvard has put a lot of their course ware online for free. If your children are not spending at least a couple hours a day using this free learning material, which is far better than most classroom instruction in public schools, then they are falling behind their competitors.
d
June 20th, 2012
9:15 pm
@what…. When is the last time DeKalb increased sales tax? It’s been at 7% for as long as I can remember. Besides, sales taxes can only support capital improvements. There has been no increase in school tax rates in nearly a decade. Please check facts before posting stuff like that.
Foreclosure S. Dekalb
June 20th, 2012
9:19 pm
I agree Solutions and Blah Blah Blah. It’s all in all about a better way to educate the kids, right? A better education starts with a soild family. The Dekalb system amoung others is nearly broken, and at wits end. The school system is broken and so is many an American family. Why do students in Connecticut score so well on the SAT and kids in South Dekalb so poorly? Kids in Connecticut know where there father is, right at home. That is one of the two reasons.
d
June 20th, 2012
9:20 pm
@what… Also, letting teachers go, even with fair dismissal, is quite easy if a principal is doing his or her job. I say this as an ODE/GAE/NEA member. We don’t want bad teachers next to us. We have helped bad teachers transition out of the profession. Please stop blaming unions for the problems of education. We want very much to be part of the solution, but ignorance like what you are spreading here is what perpetuates the problem…. As has been pointed out here several times, highly unionized states tend to rank at the top in educational rankings, so why not give us a chance?
Lark
June 20th, 2012
9:23 pm
Teachers are highly educated individuals trusted with some of the most important times of a child’s life. Close down for the month of July – work harder in June and August and vote in new school board members.
Taxpayer and Teacher
June 20th, 2012
9:27 pm
@Solutions–You first need to be able to read, write, comprehend, count, spell in order to even consider taking the SAT. These students are not QUALIFIED. Not because the teachers don’t teach, but because learning is not important to many of them. To those who are interested the system has been organized to teach test related materials only. Eastern philosophy is a part of the life of Asians. Personal responsibility is not emphasized for many Dekalb natives. Again I repeat, I did well on my tests and have other skils that I possess, so teaching may become a fond memory. You are comparing apples to oranges. The United States public school system was created to train workers, not thinkers nor visionaries. That is the mission of liberal arts institutions. Asians are taught entrepreneurship, however citizens in the U.S. are taught to become workers. Asians have a common cultural mission. There is no common mission and vision for Americans. We are a hodge podge of cultures. Those who hold true to the values of their original cultures are more successful. America is a nation of if it feels good do it, without repercussions.
Jerry
June 20th, 2012
9:39 pm
I have a friend who is a Dekalb teacher and she just retired after 30 years. She’s 55. My understanding is she retires with 60% of her pay for the rest of her life. In my profession there is hardly anything like that. Given this economy and the loss of real estate values the way they are, and many facing the chances of no retirement ever, a teacher is making pretty darn good money after all. Hey I work 12 months per year and not much time off, work nights often, often just long weekends for xmas and Thanksgiving.. When the boss says we’re working overtime, I’m working overtime. What is all that about poor educators working too hard or can’t figure out which MONTH to take off?
d
June 20th, 2012
9:45 pm
@Jerry, educators are willing to take a much lower salary now in exchange for our retirement benefit, which, by the way, is not free to us. We pay into the Teacher Retirement System to fund that pension. I also pay into a 403(b) since I am not in Social Security.
Claude Pottshogworths
June 20th, 2012
9:46 pm
I am glad I got wisdom and was smart enough to move the HECK!!! out of disfunctional DEKALB KOUNTY and their PUBLIK SKOOL SYSENEMA.
valid questions
June 20th, 2012
9:50 pm
@Jerry, As a parent in DeKalb, the issue is now that every system (including Clayton) in metro Atlanta pays better (much better, in some cases) than DeKalb. Who will want to work in this system? Keep in mind that Fulton is actually hiring teachers. Cobb and Gwinnett and Atlanta will all bounce back faster than DeKalb.
The best and brightest teachers are already bailing. I know of 10 teachers who have left DCSS to go work for Fulton.
Anonmom
June 20th, 2012
9:52 pm
I’m not so convinced the $2 mil tax increase is going to get us anywhere in DCSS …what percentage of that $2 mill will go elsewhere with equalization? What percentage of the $2 mil increase will actaully be collected? What percentage of that $2 mil increase will actaully see the kids and not go to central office and special programs/projects? I understand that in DCSS I’m paying a fraction for public schools that my “brethern” pay in Mass/NY/NJ — I ultimately lose when I add in my private school tuition — but — and big but — we’ve got many more dollars lining pockets than going into the classroom on a percentage basis.
Voice of Truth
June 20th, 2012
9:55 pm
Shutting the school system down for a month in July IS NOT FEASIBLE. The budget can be balanced if the BOE reviews it closely (line ite by line item) and trims some of the fat.
Jerry
June 20th, 2012
9:58 pm
@tax payer and teacher….good points but the “not visionaries” part is not entirely correct. Remember Apple-Jobs, Microsoft-Gates, NASA, Steven Spielburg and movie arts, American colleges and med schools where students come from all over the globe to attend, American leadership in medicine, post graduate education, science, information and technology, satalite and communications, ideals such as Facebook for freedom lovers in China and Syria, defense technology, very advanced aircraft and subs,the leading global scientific community in many disciplines, NASA moon walking (not too un-visonary) Hey don’t cut down my girl “America” too much, she stumbled but she hasn’t fallen just yet. Our kids are the brightest and the best. That’s why everyone in the world wants to live here and go to school. Hey American car visonaries? Ever heard of a Corvette ZR-1? Google Utube ZR-1 versus Lambo……Just saying…..
Jerry
June 20th, 2012
10:05 pm
Sorry to get off point but I had to vent…
Geogia and education not compatible
June 20th, 2012
10:10 pm
@ Jerry Thank you, there are far too many people drinking “public school education is bad” kool- aid.
I have a lot of friends that teach in South America and all over the world. They all say the exact same thing and they don’t know each other and that is, any family (most often well to do families) WANT an American High School diploma. Families in China, that can afford it, want their kids taught in an American school setting. They think it’s the best.
I almost fell on the floor when I heard that. In addition, in China, there are businesses that “lie” for “clients” just so that they can get into an American College. True Story…check the New York Times if you don’t believe it.
However, that board meeting was laughable and caused headaches for many concerned. Start cutting from the top Womack!
Finally, America love it or leave….
Gone Fishin'
June 20th, 2012
10:19 pm
Jerry seemed to hit a raw nerve……I would also add to his comments the fact that those teaching in private schools (private industry) make far less than their peers but yet they refuse to go into public schools. Why would that be?
More of the same
June 20th, 2012
10:22 pm
Just like Dr. Lewis, this superintendent is demoralizing the current administrators. During this week’s leadership seminar, several new principals were introduced who have worked under Dr. Atkinson or whom she’s known previously. She’s showing that she has little respect or value for the current administrators in DeKalb, therefore she’s brought in her own people even though the budget isn’t balanced instead of promoting the assistant principals that are already in the system. Furthermore, regardless of a school’s performance she’s moved many administrators around to other schools. Can someone found out what the rationale for this is? There are some great leaders and teachers in our schools. They just need to be left alone and provided with the resources and support from the central office to do their job.
historydawg
June 20th, 2012
10:22 pm
Can we please place the blame on the Perdue, Deal, and the state legislature?
Jerry
June 20th, 2012
10:23 pm
Gone Fishing, tell me, I don’t know. give us a hint
Taxpayer and Teacher
June 20th, 2012
10:24 pm
@Jerry and @Georgia–These people utilize the good in the system. @Jerry you are speaking of “What Was.” @Georgia–There are possibilities however, you get out of anything what you put in, and unfortunately as I see it with my own eyes on a daily basis, the natives are NOT putting in what they used to. Sure we have what is valuable to everyone else, but WE DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. So, as the saying goes, “A prophet is never recognized in his own land.” That which is of value, just like freedom is never missed until it is taken away. Our business acumen is fierce, but our own students are not prepared to read let alone comprehend the structure or the importance of what is being presented. Unless, someone intervenes quickly, the psyche of our own citizens will be permanently damaged. If everything is handed to you, i.e., welfare to EVERYONE regardless of need why would we create? Necessity is the mother of invention. If you don’t need, as in the case of many of our poorest citizens, you don’t imagine. I am a true capitalist. Work, do not allow people just to be handed things. NO MATTER WHAT COLOR THEY ARE. Train citizens to use their brains, as in logic and reason, then apply these talents to correcting this train wreck. I think it is time to apply the business principle of deconstruction.
Dunwoody Dad
June 20th, 2012
10:36 pm
Hey Jerry- Are you handcuffed from 8 to 4 everyday? Can you go to the bathroom anytime you want to? Do you have more than 25 minutes for lunch, and do you have to babysit 11year olds while you eat? Are you expected to teach 5 classes a day, plan for the next day, contact parents, grade papers, make copies,meet/plan with your fellow teachers at some point, counsel students, coach a sport, be a club advisor…etc…etc…etc…..everyday, 5 days a week for 180 days? I’ll bet not.
I was in Corporate America for 18 years. Layoffs from 3 Fortune 500 companies pointed me to a much more rewarding career…… Teaching. But, I will say, teaching is BY FAR the hardest job I had ever had…and trust me. Having the 2 months “off” in the summer is far from being “off”.
You folks who have never taught have no idea how difficult the job is….But I know from being on the other side of the fence how easy it is to be duped into believing that teaching is a cushy job.
d
June 20th, 2012
10:42 pm
The last day of school was May 24. Not counting weekends and Memorial Day, I have had exactly 2 days off so far…. and actually, I administered the SAT and ACT this month, so that offset those 2 days. By the way, only 4 of the other days I worked were for any compensation.
Taxpayer and Teacher
June 20th, 2012
11:00 pm
@Georgia-Just noticed your comment Love It or Leave…The uber rich are leaving…they don’t want to pay the taxes. That’s why HGTV international is one of the most popular shows on television. Make the money and go. And as you mentioned, Facebook…one of the co-founders renounced their citizenship or haven’t you heard. You also said people come here for an American education, but they go HOME and use it. If something is not done soon, America is going to suffer the same brain drain as other so-called Third Word countries. Make the money and run…Now, I’m just saying.
Geogia and education not compatible
June 20th, 2012
11:04 pm
@historydawg Would that be a GA dawg? If so, hello fellow alum.
I do place 90% of the blame on the General Assembly. The State Constitution says that Georgia is supposed to pay for public education k-12. They have never fully funded education. Hence my blog name Georgia and education not compatible.
@Taxpayer and Teacher I do agree that without discipline there won’t be education… Dr. John Trotter
AGOG
June 20th, 2012
11:05 pm
After seeing that circus of a meeting today it is evident that the crisis in DCSD will not improve with the current board. At BEST the dynamics can only be described as dysfunctional with more than a trace of belligerence. This problem can no longer be solved on a local level. Womack was right about one thing: calling the state. It is past time for parents, teachers, and concerned citizens to do the same. Mr. Womack is on the board and even he thinks an investigation is necessary. So why is the District Attorney dragging his feet? He has been advised to do so, yet nothing has happened. Then to make things worse, irresponsible voters either vote for the incompetent incumbents or don’t vote at all, so the chaos continues. I say give ME the money alloted for the education of my two children and let me do for my children what the board apparently cannot do and does not even seem to be willing to do: PROVIDE FOR THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
PAC
June 20th, 2012
11:29 pm
The problems with DeKalb are too long to list. What is going on now is a by product of years of corrupt school officials and politicians. As well as a population that des care about education, getting ahead or actually working for what they want in life. Parents let their kids do what they want, talk back to teachers, skip classes, disrupt classes, etc. The fact that you have to go walk through medal detectors to attend a football game should tell you something about the state of DeKalb county.
Old teacher
June 20th, 2012
11:44 pm
Thank you, Dunwoody Dad!
Anyone who believes “teaching in a public school is an easy job”or “teachers are overpaid” is sadly misinformed!
Also, I agree 100 percent with Jerry. I have always said that I would put our best students ( in the USA) against any in the world.
In our country, we try to educate everyone, but some of the students don’t want to be educated–that’s where the problems are. These students come to school to socialize with friends or because they are required by law to do so. Many of these students “Christmas tree” the tests–and now they want to pay teachers based on the test scores!
Money for Nothing, Chicks not Free
June 21st, 2012
12:06 am
I pay for the education of Dekalb “school children” yet I have no children in public schools. I decided to take the most important job a parent can have upon myself rather than leaving it to the incompetent school system known as DCSS.
Double Jeapordy
June 21st, 2012
12:14 am
Who in their good mind, would buy or rent a house in DeKalb? I am an educator who works in a Dekalb School and unfortunately lives in Dekalb as well. My pay has been cut….thousands of dollars, my insurance is going up, I’ll have limited funds in my retirement account because Dekalb stop paying into the private account, haven’t received a cost of living increase in years and they are expecting me to be able to pay additional money in taxes? Where am I to get that from? I agree that the mil rate should not be increased but teacher salaries should not be cut either. They have already been cut to the bone! Teachers are always the first to get the cuts but they do most of the work! I am still waiting to hear Dr. Atkinson or a board member say, “We’re cutting administrator’s pay and that includes Dr. Atkinson’s pay”! I am troubled that although we have a huge shortfall we are still hiring people from outside of the county at 6 figure incomes. I am also troubled that I have yet to hear Dr. Atkinson or anyone from her county office staff who do not directly work with children and make and excess of 160,000 plus(for some) not volunteer to take a pay cut. I’d like to hear them say, “We’re cutting Administrator’s Pay and leave the teacher’s salaries alone! Several previous Area Supers were reassigned which created positions that could have received a hiring freeze. The work of those positions could have been allocated to the remaining Area Supers. Instead, they opted to hire additional people for those positions at 160,000 plus. Where are we getting this money when there is a budget shortfall, teacher’s salaries have been cut but additional county office staff were hired! Also, if you notice our calendar, our last day of school for the students for the 2013 school term is the day after Memorial Day. Who does that? When parents leave for the Memorial Day vacation or send their kids to relatives for the summer, they don’t come back and certainly not for one day! Total waste of money. The last day of school for all students should be before Memorial Day. With an increase in taxes, teachers who live and work in Dekalb will be forced to move elsewhere and walk away from their homes. That would mean even less money will be collected in taxes, Good teachers would be forced to leave Dekalb for other counties who appreciate teachers by paying them what they are worth! Who would want to work in Dekalb? If I had more than 8 years to go before retirement, I’d run for the hills. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing if the state took over this school system since we don’t seem to have the financial knowledge to do so.
alm
June 21st, 2012
12:25 am
Longer school day is a bad idea for elementary students.
Tom Yarbrough
June 21st, 2012
2:50 am
I guess that $60 Million plus Sembler offered for that property on North Druid Hills is looking pretty good about now. . . .it seems Paul Womack opposed that deal also.
Just wondering
June 21st, 2012
2:56 am
Can someone tell us where our contracts are? Do we assume we have a job with a salary to be cut?
aziolko
June 21st, 2012
5:24 am
Maybe if they had some of the money back that they are spending on prosecuting the folks that ran the schools…or if the new superintendent didn’t need such a large expense account…so many “maybes” when they should definitely be education for our children. Don’t blame it on the President…blame the citizens who are complacent in times of plenty.
Two Cents
June 21st, 2012
6:42 am
Wait until after Labor Day to start school.
kris24datl
June 21st, 2012
7:20 am
The budget crisis is the result of two divergent issues that converge with the School Board: the lack of over site by the Board – failure at cost control when times were flush, corruption by past leadership, infighting among its members, and inability to anticipate falling revenues in light of property values plummeting; and lack of leadership – leadership to get ahead of the problem, advocate a unified vision and guide us to a better future.
Educating the students of DeKalb is a societal responsibility. That can be done either through public funding/family choice of schools OR through publicly provided schools. Either way, there is a minimum amount of funding needed to get the job done.
I am not advocating increased taxes, just smoothing out the way education is funded. The cost of educating our children does not automatically drop just because our property values did; so why would we assume that we should pay a lower amount to the school system – because to do so adversely affects the students (whether by reducing programs, decreasing teacher pay, or whatever else is surreptitiously proposed without much thought).
The DeKalb schools budget may well have too much fluff in it, but that is a different argument than the hurried decisions to balance year to year. There must be a way to smooth out the revenue stream – say propose a budget and then assign a millage rate to meet that target. In my example, year one requires $750 million and a millage rate of X; then in year two, property values drop, but we still have the same number of students so the financial need remains at ~ $750 million and a millage rate of Y.
All residents benefit from the funding of schools. If we don’t pay for education publicly, then are we willing to pay higher prices in the private sector so that each job has higher wages for families to educate our children? The trend in our society is a BIG NO to that question. The next issue is whether we are willing to suffer the consequences of inadequately funding the schools – failure to retain good teachers, lower student retention, more crime, and less economic vibrancy – again the answer to that is NO.
Is there fluff in the school budget? YES, where is it I don’t know; but in the such to meet a budget, neither does anyone else. That is a longer term structural issue that needs careful study. Drastic drops in funding source have not alleviated demand for services. In this case, the public sector is not like the private (where loser revenues mean less need for inputs because of lower demand) and we cannot propose solutions that mirror the private sector.
In the short-term, retain revenue at same rate as previous year so as not to short change our students. Then in the longer term, let’s REALLY define what is essential and build a solution that is lasting.
LOGIC
June 21st, 2012
7:40 am
There is absolutely no excuse for not being able to educate our children with an average spend of $9K+ per year per child. The heart of the matter is where the money is allocated.
Without a reputable educational system, this metro Atlanta county will become the next large metro ghetto in the United States. This is a proven fact. We have 98K in this school system, a substantial budget, yet we can’t figure it out. It is a pure embarrassment to be the home of such outstanding organizations as Emory and the CDC, yet our county and BOE leadership makes us look like the most ignorant and corrupt county in the state.
The budget needs to be tied to goals that will allow us to grow and correct areas that are causing us to fail our children. The pandering to the North and South “line” needs to turn into conversations of fulfilling critical needs for that particular school. Some schools need basic supplies because the areas are so impoverished. They do not need promethean boards and we have to have everyone reach acceptance of what the real needs are for the very different areas that make up DeKalb.
I am tired of Atkinson’s political pandering (eBooks for All!) and lack of drive towards real results. She has been here a year and we still have Ramona on the books (another stupid contract negotiated by this Board) I have completely lost faith after the calendar debacle, the band debacle, the new administrators who are making $150K with pending raises (see below) and the ignorant approach on how to create a budget to generate results and not just plug holes.
BOE To Do List:
1. Cut non-teaching employees pay by 15%
2. Eliminate proposed salary increases – esp. Atkinson’s inner circle that are slated to go from $150K to $160K (line item on last posted budget, folks)
3. Eliminate Regional Superintendents
4. Eliminate Asst Principals
5. Eliminate the 330+ positions recommended by the Audit (140 is not enough)
6. Cut Superintendent’ s monthly stipend above the salary
7. Eliminate contracts – Georgia is an employment at will state
8. Eliminate LIFO (last in, first out) – great teachers are being “reassigned” or let go to protect the status quo of tenure
9. Eliminate bussing to non-home school locations
10. Eliminate BOE perks, travel, education – elected position and we all know that several of these folks milk their local constituents for perks in return for favors (just look at the S. DeKalb church connections)
11. Eliminate the “special” program funding allocations – Montessori, Magnet, FERNBANK
12. Give the schools a fixed budget and let principals run the school again
13. Eliminate non-Title I school preschool programs – results show that private, lottery-funded pre-k programs have the same results, so parents who can afford the childcarepay for the childcare
14. Keep our tax dollars in the DeKalb – get informed on where our tax dollars are going and how the calculations work to rob DeKalb
15. Put the state to task to help close our gap – their lack of oversight has contributed to the fact these idiots have driven our county into the ground and squandered 70%+ of the county’s tax revenue
16. SELL vacant properties ASAP
17. Fire SACS – they are completely worthless and if this series of events doesn’t show how worthless SACS and our state oversight folks are, I don’t know what does
18. Get ELLIS OUT OF OFFICE. Kasim Reed helped save APS and Ellis has been MIA from redistricting and is STILL MIA. DeKalb needs real leadership and at this point, we need to have someone assigned to our county because DeKalb’s election track record is abysmal
19. Eliminate the Office of School Improvement and reallocate those federal dollars to programs that will drive results faster
20. Cut legal fee allocations
21. Cut programs supported by the school system for truancy ($40K average per student is the current cost)
22. Evaluate charter school budgets more closely – a boondoggle is occurring with some of these charter schools and I think we would find a lot of money in places like Arabia Mountain
23. Look at changing the Coralwood model – average spend is $22K per child – great place, but we can’t afford this
24. Close the school system for the period of time where teachers’ benefit from the time away (i.e., they can keep their summer jobs for a longer period of time or for an uninterrupted period of time).
25. Implement a plan to get the teachers’ their pay and time back on track. The additional days do not improve morale, but incite teachers to start looking elsewhere for both a job and a place to live.
26. Have a plan to get our teachers where they need to be financially and professionally. Commit to developing the teaching staff and not the admin staff!
DO NOT LIST:
1. DO NOT touch the teachers. We have already put ourselves at a disadvantage by demoralizing our teachers with 4 furlough days on the books, decreased retirement benefits, larger class sizes, increased healthcare costs
2. Don’t raise taxes until you have cut to the BONE. The system is broken, capping out the millage rate is not going to fix the problem and we will be here next year. This is not a Dem v. Rep issues, but a budgetary issue. All of the imbedded perks in the contracts that are negotiated in an “AT WILL” state. Why are the administrators able to insulate themselves from the economy and any ills that may impact them, yet our teachers have to accept erroneous, short-term contracts with pay cuts? Stupid business case if you ask me.
NTLB
June 21st, 2012
7:59 am
The problems in public education are a reflection of the problems in this country’s societies and values. Eastern and European societies are built on communal values, therefore, they are going to work and support each other to survive, succeed, and thrive even in education. They also value the family unit.
We do the complete opposite. That’s the main problem with public education in this country.
MiltonMan
June 21st, 2012
8:01 am
“I choose not to blame others for not sharing my values, your job as parents is to convince those less willing to participate, that it is worth their interest to get involved and be active parents to encourage active learning.”
Wrong. My job as a parent is to ensure that I raise my kids in a loving home & provide the tools to enable them to become productive citizens.
MiltonMan
June 21st, 2012
8:10 am
@Jerry, educators are willing to take a much lower salary now in exchange for our retirement benefit, which, by the way, is not free to us. We pay into the Teacher Retirement System to fund that pension. I also pay into a 403(b) since I am not in Social Security.
Teachers in this state are provided a pension (something most private companies have done away with) and teachers are also paid for unused sick pay which once again is not heard of in the private sector.
Teacher Reader
June 21st, 2012
8:11 am
The problem is that we have parts of the county who have not seen an decrease in their property values, while other property values have gone down 50% or more in the Southern parts of the county. Every home should be paying the same amount.
Being one where my home is just an average home, in the central part of the county whose taxes have stayed at the same rate, I don’t want to pay more, while others are paying less. I realize that I am not paying as much as some, but the product that I am paying for is inferior and not a good value, as I won’t send my children to be educated here.
Teaching is a tough job, and EVERY employee needs to be seeing cuts and larger work loads. Teachers however need to stop complaining about their salary and get to the real issues, large class sizes, lack of discipline, and too much paper work just to start. Everyone’s health benefits are costing them more, not just yours. Few are getting salary increases despite the stagnant economy. Teachers need to focus on how they can do their job better and what they need to do the best job that they can do. Whining about your salary and having to pay more for benefits, is what is happening across America.
Until I hear teachers complain as loudly about the increase in class size, the large work load not allowing them to provide a quality education, not being able to give zeros or other failing grades to deserving students, not having discipline in the schools, and other issues that would turn the school district around, then I can get upset about you making less money and having to work harder. Simply complaining about your salary is not showing me, a tax payer, former teacher, and parent, that you really care about the quality of education that the school puts out and are more focused on yourself.
EVERYONE is feeling the economic pinch, not just teachers, and you need to get over yourselves.
Pluto
June 21st, 2012
8:30 am
here’s an idea; why not cancel “summer school” for those at risk high school students that didn’t get the job done during the regular school year. Maybe a bit of “stigma” is needed to kick these kids into gear. If not, let ‘em make a high school career as a freshman for a few years.
DCSD Employee
June 21st, 2012
9:26 am
Some suggestions:
1. Next year have 12 month employees forlough days on Fridays in the summer months (i.e., 8 furlough days = 8 Fridays)
2. Asst. Principals can do 10 months plus 2 weeks. (one week after school is out and one week before teachers return)
3. Have Professional Learning work 10 months and staff that conduct summer courses can be contracted for summer.
4. The month of May can be remediation for CRCT and students that need to re-take CRCT can take the last week of school.
These are just a couple of suggestions.
d
June 21st, 2012
9:30 am
@LOGIC – there are some problems we have here:
4. Eliminate Asst Principals – I’m sorry, a principal cannot run most DeKalb schools on his or her own. There is too much going on and too many students for this to work. Besides, we could be like Gwinnett where schools have 9-10 assistant principals. Reduce, maybe, eliminate…. can’t do it.
7. Eliminate contracts – Georgia is an employment at will state…. have you actually read a Georgia teacher’s contract? It’s not worth the paper it’s written on, but at will is not good for students.
8. Eliminate LIFO (last in, first out) – great teachers are being “reassigned” or let go to protect the status quo of tenure…. “Tenure” or “Fair dismissal” is in place once a teacher has successfully taught for 3 years in order to ensure that great teachers aren’t fired because of a principal’s personal preferences or political issues. It is not in place to protect bad teachers and it does not mean teachers cannot be non-renewed – they can if a principal is doing his or her job, and it is actually quite easy.
11. Eliminate the “special” program funding allocations – Montessori, Magnet, FERNBANK…. I think these programs can be done if done more wisely, they don’t need to be eliminated outright.
14. Keep our tax dollars in the DeKalb – get informed on where our tax dollars are going and how the calculations work to rob DeKalb…. this is out of the district’s hands. Write your legislators.
17. Fire SACS – they are completely worthless and if this series of events doesn’t show how worthless SACS and our state oversight folks are, I don’t know what does… Students cannot qualify for HOPE or most college admissions unless their school is accredited. Do you have an alternative option?
18. Get ELLIS OUT OF OFFICE. Kasim Reed helped save APS and Ellis has been MIA from redistricting and is STILL MIA. DeKalb needs real leadership and at this point, we need to have someone assigned to our county because DeKalb’s election track record is abysmal…. This is out of the district’s hands also, and Ellis has nothing to do with the district.
22. Evaluate charter school budgets more closely – a boondoggle is occurring with some of these charter schools and I think we would find a lot of money in places like Arabia Mountain…. Arabia Mountain isn’t a charter.
23. Look at changing the Coralwood model – average spend is $22K per child – great place, but we can’t afford this…. We don’t have a choice here – IDEA and other federal legislation mandates this for these students.
24. Close the school system for the period of time where teachers’ benefit from the time away (i.e., they can keep their summer jobs for a longer period of time or for an uninterrupted period of time)…. How do you propose doing this? If we start after Labor Day as many advocate, we go later into June and summer still works out to approximately 8 weeks. No change to the length of summer break.
zeke
June 21st, 2012
9:35 am
if the school system keeps getting worse, property values will go lower even more as no one would likely want to live there; can’t everybody move to northern suburbs and then what do you have traffic out the wazooo….
a reader
June 21st, 2012
9:39 am
I just don’t understand how Dekalb can pay for non necessities such as:
- any busing to non home schools
- any magnet program that is not open to all comers
- any special pull out program that doesn’t serve all children (Fernbank, I’m talking you here)
In addition, why can’t we see
- User fees: If you want a special program for your child, pay for it. Still cheaper to pay for an add on, parents, than to have to pull out and use private school and still pay property tax.
- cuts to admin salaries at least as large (or larger) than what teachers are facing.
- funding the legally required retirement funds (yes, that’s another lawsuit coming)
- a line by line easy to find budget on the DCSS website that folks can look at and actually comment on
- a description (easy to find and easy to read) about what is proposed to be cut thus far
- a way to have people comment online / make suggestions
Necessities before nicities. We seem to have this reversed and it’s not working.
d
June 21st, 2012
9:41 am
Have we ever thought about perhaps charging the students $5 a year for their lockers? I paid a rental fee every year in high school for mine. It’s a drop in the bucket, but would offset some costs.
NTLB
June 21st, 2012
9:56 am
I am playing the devil’s advocate with this proposal:
1) Eliminate all those instructional support teaching positions in the elementary schools. Put those teachers back in the classroom.
2) Lay off the Connections teachers in the Middle Schools. Stick with the basics and keep the core subject teachers. Give students double sessions of Math and Language Arts. Give students 30 minutes of recess each day. No need for furloughs,no decrease in learning days, and improve reading and math skills and join the fight against obesity in this state.
3) Use distance learning. Have students take online classes for non core subjects.
Nikole
June 21st, 2012
9:57 am
Teachers of Dekalb: If you are attending tonight’s meeting, please show up wearing black, in protest of Mr. Womack’s Budget Proposal. Dekalb has been balancing the budget on the backs of teachers for too long. Email the board and let them know that this is unacceptable.
valid questions
June 21st, 2012
10:02 am
D
You are wrong about a couple of things — citizens of DeKalb have a choice when it comes to Ellis. He has done nothing to help condemn the Board of Ed.
There are many regular ed students at Coralwood who aren’t receiving a cent of state or federal funding because the state doesn’t fund regular ed three year olds. Additionally, do you really think that a pre-k special ed class in a traditional school costs the same as Coralwood. It doesn’t, it costs much less. LIke Fernbank, there aren’t many school systems anywhere that have such a program and they all comply with IDEA. There is no long term evaluation of how the students do at Coralwood as compared to those served in community schools. I am certain that Coralwood is a cost center that could be trimmed. Paul Womack would have a fit though. This is another group of overly influential parents. DeKalb is a mess.
zeke
June 21st, 2012
10:09 am
as someone mentioned the property on n druid hills, old briarcliff and kittredge, needs to be sold and maybe emory could buy fernbank as they seem to be expanding as it is only a short distance from main campus. or shut her down and sell property as it is prime location for home building.
d
June 21st, 2012
10:12 am
@NTLB – there is much more to a complete education than the four core subjects. We cannot afford to let the connections go or we risk losing the students.
LOGIC
June 21st, 2012
10:30 am
@ d
Agree with most of your counter points. I did not view my proposals as permanent because you do bring up the valid risks, but we have to start somewhere. The contract paper and our accreditation is not worth the paper it is written on. SACS is a laughing stock and the state needs to intervene.
I do take exception by what you state as district v. county. We are DeKalb County and our leadership needs to work together. Ellis’ absence from entering the fray is inexcusable. Reed stepped up and helped Fulton and APS navigate through a difficult time and we deserve the same. Our DeKalb tax revenues are siphoned by DCSD at a 70%+ rate, decreasing the county’s ability to deliver services to the residents. We all deserve to get our money’s worth.
We are also part of the state of GA – it is the state oversight that did not get these huge financial mistakes by Turk and co. and it is the state that drives the calculations for the allocations. We are in a crisis and need all hands on deck to fix the shortfall and salvage what is left of DCSD.
Finally, I love Coralwood and understand the federal requirement, but if you look at the cost of the operating model, we need to look for ways to fulfill our obligation at a lower cost or expand Coralwood into a more full-service elementary school to decrease the cost per head.
Some good finance people need to come to the Board and the County. At this point, we need strong, experienced appointments and not elected DeKalb officials. It is time for an intervention.
Dekalb taxpayer
June 21st, 2012
11:00 am
LOGIC, I wish you were running for the school board, but I’m sure you have far more sense than that. I agree with every single one of your proposals.
TO DAVE WITH LOVE!!!
June 21st, 2012
11:19 am
Dave, WHAT THE HELL DOES OBAMA HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?!! GEORGIA HAS BEEN AT THE BOTTOM IN EDUCATION FOR DECADES, AND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, STARTED BY A REPUBLICAN -GEORGE W. BUSH CREATED THIS MONSTER. YOU ARE AN IDIOT AND OBVIOUS A RACIST!!! STFU!! WHAT IS YOUR WONDERFUL GOVENOR DOING ABOUT THIS? NOTHING, AND AGAIN EXPLAIN HOW OBAMA HAS HURT DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS, LAST TIME I CHECKED THEY WERE AWARDED RACE TO THE TOP MONEY, BLAME THE BOARD IN DEKALB-TYPICAL RACIST OBAMA BASHER. WE GET IT, YOUR ANGRY THE BLACK GUY WON! GET OVER IT, OR LEAVE THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE COME NOVEMEBER HE IS GOING TO DO IT AGIN!! SUCK IT DAVE!!!
Understanding Atlanta
June 21st, 2012
11:28 am
There are definitely ways to trim costs without much of a negative impact on students…let’s hope these people can figure it out.
I’m sure that closing in July will help, but most employees aren’t working then. Spreading out the 10 furlough days throughout the year before holidays makes sense, but it would need to be followed by a reduction in pay for the central office that equals that of teachers…if teachers haven’t had a pay increase since 2007, then central office should be on a 2007 payscale…seems simple
LOGIC
June 21st, 2012
11:37 am
@ Dave and TO DAVE WITH LOVE!!!
This is the type of race baiting that is going to drive rational people out of DeKalb. I recommend that everyone stay focused on the realistic solutions for our educational woes locally. This blog has some well-versed and intelligent individuals who care about maintaining our presence in DeKalb because of the huge perks of living in this county – metro Atlanta access, some amazing neighborhoods and communities and the people.
I am sure that there are other blogs addressing the issues at the federal level that need to be rectified. We have to stay focused on addressing DCSD and DeKalb county issues here.
DeKalb Residents – Please go to the DCSD Budget Meeting tonight at 6 PM. Seek out your Board Member and talk about logical steps to maintain viable education options for our children. Take the emotion out and focus on solutions. On 7/31/12, VOTE with an informed decision for the two year terms.
Prof
June 21st, 2012
11:42 am
Just as an FYI: the earlier blog, “Bloody Monday: Layoffs at Georgia Perimeter College” has been moved to “Older posts” but is still going fast and furiously. Interesting insights that pertain to USG, not just GPC.
NTLB
June 21st, 2012
11:57 am
@d—Clarify to me how a “complete education” is completed with deficient math and verbal skills.
kaitsmom
June 21st, 2012
12:52 pm
I live in South Dekalb and I just received my assessment and it was lowered by about $700.00 . I do not mind paying an additional mill rate. I know that every house in my subdivision of about 120 homes has received similar lowered assessments. There is no way to close a budget gap and provide a quality education with that kind of reduction in taxes throughout the county. Though I do not mind a mill increase, I can imagine that those in North Dekalb are having an issue with an increase because they will see a real increase since their property has not declined in value. Something about that does not seem fair.
ColonelJack
June 21st, 2012
2:39 pm
@ d … WIth reference to your point #8 in your 9:30 post … “tenure” (fair dismissal) is in place exactly for the reason you cite. However, a principal that wants to get rid of a teacher for personal reasons will do so, even though the building of questionable or bogus evidence will take a while. I know this from first-hand experience.
Dekalb taxpayer
June 21st, 2012
3:10 pm
Kaitsmom, I live in Tucker and I think the County way undervalued my property. It would probably sell for 50% more than the value they assigned to it. I wouldn’t be affected too badly by a millage increase until (or if) my home increases in value. But many elsewhere in the county have experienced wildly overvalued assessments. I can understand why they would be opposed to a millage increase because it would affect them disproportionately. This is just another example of how the incompetence in Dekalb government, in this case the tax assessor’s office, creates problems for us all.
Why did we redistrict?
June 21st, 2012
3:13 pm
What ever happened to all that great money we were saving with redistricting? I think a lot of issues here point to the fact that we are getting away from sustainable (smaller) community school models that help communities flourish. If we got back to principals running the schools as one person mentioned, you wouldn’t have the issue of teachers moving here and there, but you would have school’s leader find the best fit for the team he or she builds to advance the school. This would in turn create an environment where teachers feel appreciated because there is leadership in place that picks the teachers, works with the teachers and in turn builds a place where everyone wants to go.
I know a lot has changed, but this is how it used to be before we bussed kids all over this county because of this program, that speciality, that group, etc. Now all this county does is redistribute our tax dollars, our students and any responsibility. We are the ultimate model of redistribution and how it doesn’t work!
I respect what the one person said about increasing taxes to help schools, but I don’t see getting anything for our increases other than rewarding this bad group of people for doing a bad job by letting them keep their jobs. I saw my tax assessment decrease modestly, but the value of my house is no where near what I would get if I needed to sell. On top of that, I can’t boast a great school in my neighborhood because it was closed. I have a great family house, but which sane, growing family would move into it?
Very sad state of affairs and none of our legislator,s county leadership, nor the governor’s office are trying to help.
embarrassed to work in DeKalb
June 21st, 2012
7:11 pm
$3.7 million in central office positions are posted now and they want to furlough teachers? The superintendent’s friends and family plan has replaced the old friends/family plan.
Judge Wyld
June 21st, 2012
8:08 pm
You all know that there is plenty of money in the schools. It doesn’t take a genius (pun intended) to slash the non-educational subjects such as drama, music, sports, and art. Society wants educated children and that is the agreement we make to have our money taken from us and spent.
Having parents on a School Board is a conflict of financial interest. It’s no different than a politician making decisions on how to spend public money toward a business he owns. Parents on school boards won’t give up funding for their kids’ hobbies in schools…seriously, swimming pools in schools?
If your kid isn’t smart enough to get algebra, music class isn’t going to make them smarter at algebra.
It’s time to stop the child tax deduction which basically reimburses parents for their school property tax. This leaves the childless footing the entire bill for the schools, so the childless should get to approve how school money is spent. Of course, this idea would be outnumbered by the greedy parents getting a free pie to split amongst themselves. If you want more money for the schools, don’t take the child tax write off. JW blogtalkradio.com/judgewyld
logistixs
June 21st, 2012
8:28 pm
Hey Dave,
I realize you want to blame your president for all of our earthly ills but this problem with Dekalb Schools began long before your president’s reign even began. Know your facts before spewing your misplaced hatred.
d
June 21st, 2012
10:39 pm
@NTLB research shows that music/art ed increases math ans verbal skills and children who have regular physical education also perform better academically. Frankly, there are also a number of other skills that students need that are met by connections classes as well.
NTLB
June 22nd, 2012
8:36 am
@ d, I agree with the research when the child can already read, write, and do math. But not effective for the child that is already struggling and who is not musically or artistically inclined either.
Connections classes are another education “filler” that is expensive, and they are not teaching students how to think logically, critically, or with common sense either.
I do wish to see organized sports programs at the middle school level instead. Many students who are talented athletes, and their parents cannot afford the extra curricular expenses and lose out to the kids whose parents have paid for x amount of camps throughout their childhood.
5 Ways You Can Help Fund Your Child's School Without Spending Exta Money | Black and Married With Kids.com - A Positive Image of Marriage and Family
June 25th, 2012
5:10 pm
[...] after year budgets are being slashed even further and some school districts are even considering shortening the school year to compensate for financial woes. What if I told you that there was a way that you could help [...]
Judge Wyld
June 26th, 2012
7:42 pm
What role is it of societies’ to notice that a kid is a talented athlete? None. Zero. Nada. Poor kids are NOT behind Rich kids when it comes to sports and athleticism. It is a non-educational issue. I don’t care what hobbies you have as a rich person or a poor person. Society only needs to pay for a core education. If society has the luxury after the core education can be met, then some familiarization classes might be NICE, but not mandatory for society to pay. Rich people’s foundations (not the govt) can pay for familiarization classes. No society owes kids proficiency training in hobbies. Art carving on cave walls may be a way to creatively pass the time between buffalo hunts, but isn’t a core life skill. Sincerely, Judge. blogtalkradio.com/judgewyld
Xteacher
June 29th, 2012
10:57 am
Fire the administrators, they are the LEADERS and they have led you to bankrupsy-BLAME them they are teh LEADERS, Blame someone, blame the LEADERS