Steve Collorassi has asked for the input from all parents, students, staff, teachers, taxpayers and citizens for the 2012-2013 budget process. This is the opportunity to do something positive for the school system. He has also posted the dates and time of the next Finance Committee meetings. They are April 4th and April 11th at 7:30 pm. He has provided you with his e-mail address in the last post. I know some teachers would love to comment on cuts that could be made, but want to remain anonymous. Here is your chance. Post here. I promise you anonymity. I don't even have a way to find out your identity.
So what do you feel could be eliminated or reduced in the system to save the jobs of teachers and to keep important programs?
I looked at a listing of city-employee top salaries recently. Can't find a link at the moment, but it was basically all school administrators (including the superintendent) and police officers.
ReplyDeleteI suggest cutting the salaries of principals, vice principals, and the superintendent. Teachers are our MVP's, putting in time with students every day. Principals and vice principals are supposed to be their support staff. *Support staff*.
Someone bring up admin salary numbers. Compare those numbers to actual teacher salaries. Heck, compare those admin salaries to anyone else out there struggling in this economy. It's crazy that they're making so much.
I have a child who is in special ed and I believe that if someone looked at how the department functions, he would see that the department wastes so much money that there would be room for cuts and still maintain the same level of service for all kids. While I feel that the current administration is better than it has historically been during all my years with this district, it still appears as if the focus is on providing kids with the least amount of services and instead using a lot of their budget to prevent kids from receiving services rather than on training professionals within the district. I know that at one point there was talk at looking at how much money was being spent on legal fees, but I also believe that someone should look into how much duplication goes on and really take a look at how the money is being spent within that department.
ReplyDeleteI did ask that the Pupil Personnel Services Department present a full analysis of their current spending and to provide some insight into possible programs that could be instituted within our schools (which would benefit students and save taxpayers significantly). That presentation can be viewed at this link: http://portal.norwalkps.org/documents/Superintendent%20Data/BOE%20finance%20committee%203.14.12ver2.pdf
DeleteTo the above poster, I completely agree. There is no accountability whatsoever in that department and they have a license to wastefully spend taxpayers' dollars. In a sense they are doubling hurting the tax payer, first by throwing away good money on administrative gate-keepers, and secondly by failing to properly educate these kids so that they leave the system needing more, not less, help.
ReplyDeleteP?S. Apologies to Steve Colarossi for misspelling his name.
ReplyDeleteIf only the PPS department included a line item devoted to time and money spent trying to deny services! Then you'd be able to spot the money trail. I think you hit the nail on the head, 5:53.
ReplyDeleteThe first item to cut out of the budget is paying the teachers’ union president. Why is the BOE paying any portion of this man’s salary? He has not been in the classroom in over twenty years because he is not qualified to teach any subject that is offered in this district. So we pay him, not to teach, but to sit home in his pajamas.
ReplyDeleteThe second thing to cut is the two Athletic Directors. There is no justification for paying these outrageous salaries. What do these people do to justify salaries in excess of $145,000? How do they contribute to the education of our children? Are they really more valuable to this district than a Principal or Instructional Specialist? I think not. The only other Directors this district has are for Pupil Personnel, Facilities & Maintenance, Information Technology and Human Resources (Interim). The Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education have been eliminated. Yet we continue to have, and pay quite handsomely, TWO Athletic Directors.
While we are suggesting, why not cut the director of IT? Seems that's a luxury that does not affect students.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the exchange of ideas here and will try to respond to questions that are raised.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the teachers' union president, his salary is split between the union and the school department. That payment arrangement is set by the teachers' union contract (which is set to expire next year). That provision was actually negotiated from prior agreements where the school department paid the full salary. So, because that provision is in our contract, it can't be changed for the 2012-2013 budget year.
The athletic directors are actually paid as full-time teachers (which includes guidance counselors). They receive an additional stipend for their work as athletic directors. They each have a considerable budget to manage and are responsible for all of the coaches in fall, winter and spring sports. The pay for and role of the athletic directors were the subjects of a lengthy grievance some years ago. Once again, that is an area governed by teachers' contract.
The IT Director position supervises technology implementation in every school and in the central office. In addition to being responsible for everything from email accounts, data management and network administration, the IT Director is also responsible for working within each school to implement/assist technological enhancements to curriculum. If there were no IT Director, then the COO would need to supervise the technicians. At a minimum, we would need a certified network administrator to tend to those technical functions of the job. The school implementation pieces of the job would then need to be delegated to someone in the Curriculum Department- fortunately, at the present time, we do have an IT Director who is well-versed in the technical and educational aspects of the position.
As for information about potential cuts, the Superintendent's Budget Workgroup has not yet met to review possible budget reconciliation options. At our Finance Committee meeting of April 4th, I did ask for the status of our discussions (which were started in January) of how we could better use smaller class sizes at Wolfpit and Columbus (among other schools)-- we were informed that there is no plan.
The Director does nothing with email, data or network. The people in his department do all that. We have never worked with him in any of these areas and when we do communicate issues or questions in these areas he defers us to his staff. If it wasn't for those few techs and support staff nothing would be done. They make him look good.
ReplyDeleteThe Director of IT is never available because the BOE gave him 20 days to work from home(MA); however he has a condo in Shelton, so why does he get the 20days? No one in his department has any respect for him because they do all of his work. Also, Steve C. do you know that some administrative assistants in CO receive stipends? Some of them do not do the work that they were paid for and some get stipends for job responsibilities that are part of their job descriptions.
DeleteRegarding the union president, the contract also says "The Federation President shall teach a half-time load i.e. three (3) classes per day or the equivalent." The president does not teach any classes. Again, whay are we paying him not to teach? Either put him back in the classroom, or if he is not qualified to teach, then he needs to go (retire).
ReplyDeleteCOURSE OFFERING - HOW TO BALANCE A BOE BUDGET - BB101
ReplyDelete1. Eliminate 12 elementary school assistant principals - $1,500,000
(salaries & benefits)
2. Reduce hrs & benefits of Columbus aides - $500,000
(to match how we operate at the 11 other elemenart schoools)
3. Eliminate 5 useless teachers dumpedd & hidden at Briggs - $600,000
(problem teachers that flunked out at other schools)
4. Eliminate 3 positions in Finance Dept at CO - $225,000
(salaries & benefits)
5. Eliminate 3 positions in curriculum. instruction & sped - $230,000
(salaries & benefits)
6. Eliminate Interim HR and Budget director - $50,000 (net)
(replace with permanent hires)
7. Eliminate one Food Service secretary - $75,000
(2 Witson & 1 BOE to remain)
8. Eliminate 1 of 2 assistant principals at West Rocks - $150,000
(one at every middle school)
9. Reduce size of security force at high schools by 4 - $200,000
10.Reduce maintenance & janitors by 7 - $550,000
Excellent suggestions, in my opinion. Except would hate to see security cut. In this day and age, schools definitely need them!
DeleteIf every school and every department is taking a hit, how about looking at Columbus Magnet? Why should they have two teachers in every room when no one else does?
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement about the magnet school. I also don't see the need for small group instruction from then remaining literacy specialists. That's a lot of money for tutoring small groups. Those teachers need to be in classrooms.
ReplyDeleteMy child has never met with a "literacy" specialist-- don't know what they do with the teachers, but they are not working with children at our school.
ReplyDeleteWhy does a tiny elementary school have the same staff as a big school? Does that make sense to anyone?
Why does Norwalk pay a superintendent $230,000/year for work that a volunteer on the Board of Ed will do for free?
Can someone explain Columbus to me? 2011 CMT scores indicate mixed results- yet, double teachers in every classroom. Looking at % at or above proficiency shows Columbus is not a top four school in any category.
To Shayne @6:11, they don't have 2 teachers per room at Columbus. They used to have a teacher and a teacher's aide per room, but I think many of those aides are now rotating between classrooms.
ReplyDeleteAnd anyhow, it's a magnet school, and the teacher's aides and curriculum and so forth is part of their original plan.
Instead of trying to cut teacher's aides, it's better for all the kids to instead focus on how we can get more teacher's aides in the other schools. Use Columbus as an example of how having more teacher's aides works well for the kids, and should be more common at other schools.
Re. anon @10:23
ReplyDelete> Why does Norwalk pay a superintendent $230,000/year for work that a volunteer on the Board of Ed will do for free?
Because not enough people care enough to fix the problem.
> Can someone explain Columbus to me? 2011 CMT scores indicate mixed results- yet, double teachers in every classroom.
1, It's not double teachers in every classroom, it's a teacher plus a full or half-time aide. And 2, because it's not all about test scores. With a teacher's aide, the teacher is freed up to cover other material outside of what's on the CMT's, or the aide can handle a task while a teacher deals with a discipline problem, or the aide can help out a kid who's struggling so the rest of the class keep moving.
Instead of trying to get rid of aides, you should use Columbus as a good example of why the other schools need more aides.
I'd *way* rather spend money on more aides than the crazy salaries I'm seeing for principals, assistant principals, and the superintendent. The kids would benefit far more.
Yes, I'm looking to the Board for accountability regarding the superintendent, but that's a whole other argument. We are stuck with her because of nasty politics. So what else is new? Regarding Columbus School, Norwalk is looking for savings, not additional spending. We can't hire an aide for every classroom in every elementary school. Why should Columbus be any different? Let's be realistic! These are terrible times, but benefit packages for hourly people need to be cut. There must be a way to cut hours for hourly people who still get benefits. Sorry to have to suggest that, but tough times........
ReplyDeleteColumbus aides get full benefits and are the exception to the rule. The majority of aides are under 30 hours and do not get benefits they have pay for their benefits. Most of the aides have had their hours cut over the years. when columbus aides hours were cut they got them back. so address that please. Why is columbus so special the aides in the other schools do as much as they do if not more with less pay and less hours...
DeleteOIL FUEL.... CLASSROOMS, OFFICES ARE HOT - WINDOWS ARE OPEN AND HEAT IS WASTED
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has had kids in special ed for years, there is tons of money to be saved in that department, if only it were used more efficiently. You could balance the budget on the money wasted in that department alone.
ReplyDeletePlease, Board of Education, please . . .
ReplyDelete1. Be fair to all our students. Columbus is probably a great school. Columbus' kids are deserving- but so are the kids at Fox Run, Brookside, Marvin . . . You get the point. Don't cut one school's assistant principal so Columbus can have an extra nearly empty classroom.
2. No scare tactics- you're not going to crowd kids in classrooms or cut out high school sports or close the pool.
3. Don't get weak knees when the masses come out, but LISTEN to us. At the end of the day we'll support thoughtful decisions even if we don't like them.
Columbus wants to add another kindergarten class at a cost of 135,000 just for one teacher and one aide?????? isnt that a little expensive think of how many aides you could pay with that? How much doe these aides make plus they get free benefits when 3/4 of the aides have to work 2 and three jobs to afford the price of benefits. how is that fair? there is plenty of room in the other schools to put the kindergarten students without putting these extra burden on the tax payers
ReplyDeleteWe had a productive discussion of the Columbus kindergarten issue at last night's meeting. I believe that Columbus offers a valuable option for many families. However, I have doubts as to the costs of adding a third kindergarten which will need to be eliminated in three years as there will be insufficient classroom space for that class to continue.
ReplyDeleteAs I stated at our Finance Committee meeting, we are facing nearly $6Million in budget reductions that will impact, in certain ways, all of our schools and students. Therefore, we need to carefully assess if a desire to create a third kindergarten satisfies an educational need or is a "want". Given limited resources, I am approaching each line item in the budget by assessing "needs" vs. "wants". We may very well be facing a situation in which we must hold true to the maxim that the needs of the many outweigh the wants of the few.
these are tough times--hope that someone is reviewing class sizes for specials, talented, and other undersubscribed classes at the middle schools and high schools.
ReplyDeletein tough times you look at the basics first,- can our students read and write? Can they they do the math and have sciences that are required courses? make sure we have the basics covered.
There are very many underenrolled classes that either should be consolidated and those that are electives and nice to have --prioritized and reviewed.
there seems to be so many arguments that too many administrators--but if we have low enrolled classes then we may have to revisit the number of teacher we have. Every class in every school should be reviewed-there are union guidelines and many classes are way under.
Consolidation may mean layoff. but you don't get 5+ million dollars by cutting contracts of administrators back, and secretaries to thirty hours. You really look the the overall organization and begin to go where the biggest bucks are.
It is also nice to have assistant principals at all elementary schools but look around surrounding districts...it is a luxury--especially when you have many schools who have less than 350 students.
The job is difficult, painful, but looking at all avenues make sense.
Good luck--i will say in times like these unions, board, community, and the supt. should be able to have a working relationship and not an antagonistic one.
your job is a difficult one for sure--
the choice of reductions should ask questions?
what is really needed?
what is nice to have?
what is most import for kids?
5:42am - I agree with you too. Its time to truly tap into the teachers/administrator workforce. I'm not a fan of laying poeple off especially good ones but its time to clean house. I'm not sure how much more you can do in Central office - we can't keep complaining about Director of Elementary or IT guy, which for what I read his time is up anyway. We need to look at each school and start consolidating and remove unneccessary weight. Wait me up when real talks take place.
ReplyDeleteNice thoughts by Anon 5:42.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if any one knows what is needed. Supt Marks did not complete any of her work to look at the high school schedules, special ed programs, etc. So here we are in April, the superintendent puts the burden on the BoE Finance Committee Chairman and tells her principals to come with other ideas.
Either she's Tom Sawyer and Colarossi is conned into painting the fence for her, or she is adrift on a raft in the Mississippi-- for you literary purists, I know I mixed my Twain stories. But you get the point.
Makes me very very happy to have the "micromanager" as Finance Comm. chairman- glad to see a true leader stepping up as he always seems to do.
5:53--i agree it is time to focus on important things...our kids... as an educator, parent, and taxpayer I was getting really tired of inappropriate comments and bashing of people.
ReplyDeletethe city is in a crisis, our kids are suffering. there are many stones that need to be moved in the district,and i agree laying off is tough--cutting programs that are nice to have, electives, and the privileges of small classes need to be really thought about--we don't have luxury of having what is nice, and fun--when our kids can't read and write, our schools do not have programs that support struggling readers at the high schools or even the middle schools. Other districts are using their monies to support programs so that the achievement gap doesn't continue to widen. Basic education of reading writing math,and science, are the core understanding and foundations to learning. I know I sound like an old school teacher, and I am old school--but not old... When i see some classes in my school with so few kids there, and talk with colleagues across town that the numbers in classes are in some cases single digit. This is not good management or logic, who is protecting these classes and why?
we keep cutting resources from special ed., and the more we do that the more it is going to cost when the department has to outsource. Now does that make sense! It is late in the year to do something now--but again a very sore subject do we really need 12 elementary schools? I only ask that because look at enrollments? Full-day kindergarten is also very costly!
whoever has the task of the budget has a challenge--but there should be no backroom deals, sidebar conversations--put the collective brainpower at the table look at everything--the numbers, the programs, sports, staffing, electives, and then start making the hard decisions--but at least do it with factual information.
what about early retirement or incentive programs?
again, no bashing here just putting ideas out there.
bless you!
It's easy to cut a dollar amount on a line item. It's an objective decision. To the members who have taken on this role -- spend ONE day in the shoes of the people affected by your decisions. Then make an informed decision. Don't assume what is written in this blog holds truths. It's just common sense to review the workforce duties, understand their responsibilities, the hours and resources at hand and then make an informed decision. Have any of them actually been in the workplace of those on the chopping block? Please, at least one member, spend a day in the system - with any position - see how the wheel turns before a spoke is removed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Norwalk is not a city struggling with a deficit budget. Where is the crisis? It feels like a situation is being exploited...take advantage of a lame duck at the head of the school system and use it to strong arm the budget...look at other tax funded groups. Why are none of those budget, union, positions ever questioned to save money? The BOE is not the only area where millions could be saved.
4:20 AM, when I read your comment, I felt for you and all the others who will lose their jobs as a result of these cuts, whatever the cuts may be. It's a sad state of affairs when your boss doesn't fight for the school system. (the superintendent) I just wanted to let you know that I heard you and wished I could make things different for our kids and our staff. Maybe Norwalk will get lucky when a new superintendent takes over, if that ever happens.
ReplyDelete4:20: I agree with you. The decision makers even those at CO don't know. They don't visit the schools, and if the Board has to rely on their opinions then cuts without understanding will cost our kids even more. My children are in school and I feel like all other children they will suffer the consequences. I don't know enough about what as happened with Supt., but from buzz in schools, she never had a chance to make any changes, walked into a deficit that got worse, and people she could not count on to get things done, and some members of the board who worked behind the scenes not for the supt. but against. At least that is what buzzes in the community. Without fact I can't criticize, it is just what seems to be how some feel.
ReplyDeleteBesides that what can we do? Hope boe is being given the thoughts here that at least point to some ideas; not the attacks that doe not save money just hurts and slanders. I do hope people continue to put ideas out and if there are cost-saving facts or ideas that will salvage some of the Norwalk education--stand up speak up!
While I agree with the poster above on most things, I felt compelled to get on to refute what 'the community' feels about the superintendent. They are absolutely wrong! The superintendent was not experienced and was a poor fit for our community. A mistake was made in appointing her. It was not because she was unable to make changes. it was not because some members of the Board fought her. People fought against her because of the decisions she was making. I don't want to be mean, so let's just let it go that she was a poor fit for the community.
ReplyDeleteSupt Marks has shown no leadership on the budget this year. Last year, her first budget was a total disaster. It's ironic that the guy who saved her on the budget is the one she complains the most about it. Enough about that . . . .
ReplyDeleteWhy does Norwalk pay Bruce Morris over $90,000 a year? The City person who handles human relations gets a lot less?
Why is Marks overpaying her friend at Norwalk High School?
The high school bands are great- but do we really have to pay them each $20,000 so they can go to contests?
Are sports in the middle schools needed?
Will Rosa, Midaglia and Heidi vote for a budget this year- or will it be more politics?
Followed the debate about Columbus in The Hour and tried to piece stuff together here. I did go to the CMT reports webiste (cmtreports.com) to see how Columbus does against the other elementary schools.
ReplyDeleteIf "proficiency" is where the kids are supposed to be, Columbus ranks in the bottom of all Norwalk's schools. So I guess the model of a teacher and an aide in every classroom doesn't work.
Nice to see some suggestions- here are a few more: 1. no middle school needs two assistant principals 2. no one in the schools except the principal should be paid for a full year of work.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestions. I agree with no one in the schools should be 12 months except the principal. I also agree that Columbus has never shown that a teacher and an aide combination improve test scores. It's typical of Norwalk to start a program or even a Magnet School and never study how effective the model is. We hire ineffective superintendents who collect big bucks and what do we get? Same old, same old! Study what is in place before changing everything so that we look like Maryland.......Study what works and what doesn't work. Where's the common sense? Steve, do we have to look to you for everything? What's with this superintendent? ***rubs head in disbelief***
ReplyDeleteCan we stop for a moment to ask what people are talking about when they say that no one in the schools except the principal should be paid for a full year of work?
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong, but aren't teachers and other academic year personnel given the option of getting paychecks for just the academic year, or _smaller_ paychecks for the entire year (adding up to the same amount over the course of the year)? And if that's the case, wouldn't it be the case that they _already_ being paid for less than the full year?
In the elementary schools, only the principal is expected to work over the summer, along with the secretary. In the middle schools, the principal and the asst. principal are paid to work through the summer. In the high schools, it's the principal and the housemasters who are paid for the full year of work. The argument for the school administrators is that there is scheduling and new student registration which requires an administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhether a teacher is paid in 52 checks or not is irrelevant. They do not have duties over the summer.
Wet noodle floggings all around. What is this "thus-and-so" debate about who is full year and who works school year? Nonsense, I tell you. Gobbleygook and hogwash.
ReplyDeleteShould the BoE pay high school housemasters for 12 months of work but have to give them three weeks of vacation (that's in addition to all the school vacations)? Guess what? That means that they are not available over the summer to do work (because that is when they take vacations). Each high school has department heads to plan curriculum. They do not need housemasters in that process. Housemasters do evaluate staff. There is no staff over the summer. They should work the same schedule as the teachers they evaluate and the students they discippline. That means creating a new position that costs one-sixth less than the current job.
Regarding Columbus- stop serving up the Kool-Aid. The TRIBES/HOT School model with a teacher and an "assistant teacher" in the classrooms doesn't work. Look at their test scores. If the claim is that those kids are happier and more well-adjusted, well doesn't every school say that about their kids?
Surprised to hear that Supt. Marks wants to close the Roton Planetarium-- if the program needs improvement, why hasn't she done anything to help improve it?
Noodle floggings and gobbledegook aside, this person is correct. Housemasters should be 10 months at the HS. and the Columbus model needs to be changed. As for Marks, why hasn't she done ANYTHING meaningful? Maybe she isn't capable?
ReplyDelete1. No third K at Columbus- totally unfair to every other school where deep cuts will be felt.
ReplyDelete2. Two school department services can be merged with the City side to save money: Human Relations and Grants (that saves over 250,000).
Recently heard (1) Marks is ending staggered entry......She's not listening to what people want and don't want, once again! (2) Marks met with Norwalk High and was not well received. The overwhelming opinion was that she doesn't get Norwalk, nor does she want to. She didn't even know that both high schools have open end days. (3) She's way off base on budget talks.
ReplyDeleteI think we get it that Supt. Marks missed the mark last year and didn't even swing at the ball this year. Let's move on----
ReplyDeleteWhen will Colarossi's options be released? What's the schedule for hearings/meetings about the options?
With about 2 months before the big budget vote, do we want the out-of-towner-superintendent involved?
ReplyDeleteHas anyone thought about outsourcing school janitors? Maybe they could start outsourcing the night custodians?
Does the City have a big IT department? Their website is better than the school department website. Can't those services be combined?
There is a lot of money spent on substitute teachers. Right? Has there been any attempt to control absences?
FYI to those interested.... if secretaries at high school level were cut to 10 months, this is what would result. No final report cards sent home, no college transcripts sent out for graduating seniors, no one to take student obligations during the summer. Also, no forms, etc. ready for opening of school for teachers; new incoming permanent records would not be processed in a timely fashion. And what about registration for new students entering the school system. So when the new school year begins, everyone and everything will be way behind schedule!!! Someone really needs to take a good look at what takes place in schools during the summer months.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering how many secretaries are assigned to the task of getting transcripts out for the seniors and what that entails? I assume the transcripts are computer generated. Do the secretaries stuff envelopes? Couldn't that be assigned to the many secretaries in central office over the summer? Exactly how many envelopes require stuffing? I know there is a machine that folds computer generated reports so that they don't have to be folded by hand. Same should hold true for report cards. The forms for the opening of school....Are you referring to forms that need to be copied? Surely there is a machine that can copy serious numbers of forms in record time these days. It would be cheaper to outsource this task to Kinkos. We need to think more economically.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, unless you have worked as a school secretary or house secretary, you have no idea the amount of work that is involved. Report cards have to be gone through individually and not sent home if the student owes an obligation (which many, many of them do). The parent/student comes in during the summer to pay the fine or return books, at which time the report card is given. Teacher mailboxes must be set up after the school scheduler determines which house the teacher is to reside in. Since counselors do not work during the summer, the secretaries are responsible for phone calls from colleges asking for senior transcripts which have to be logged in to a journal. Believe me, there is MUCH to be done during the summer months. Wish we could take your suggestions, but it wouldn't/couldn't work.
DeleteI still wonder how many secretaries work during the summer months? That was never answered. It still seems like poor use of staff. Why does the staff wait until the summer to collect the fines? Why can't it be made known that fines will not be collected over the summer. Report cards would be held until school opens. I'll bet fines would be paid quickly then. As for transcripts, isn't there someone in central office who already does this for students who already graduated years ago?
DeleteLet's review a few questions that have arisen:
ReplyDelete1. Whether or not custodians' services are outsourced is a matter for contract negotiations (the custodians' contract prohibits outsourcing if it will result in a loss of jobs).
2. I did not present any plan for reduction of secretarial staff hours.
3. I can not support the creation of a third kindergarten class at Columbus. There was no reference in the budget book (and class staffing is presented in two different locations) to a third kindergarten (even after those sections were corrected due to a number of errors I highlighted in the original January budget book). The third kindergarten class is not sustainable because Columbus does not have enough classrooms for three sections of each grade; therefore, we would be hiring a kindergarten teacher who would earn tenure and then have to be moved- that's not a wise use of staffing. Finally, the cost for the teacher and the assistant teacher (aide) is needed for actual educational needs-- the creation of the third kindergarten is not a "need" . That total classroom cost of $135000 (teacher + aide + benefits) is critically needed in many other areas. The children who would fill that class would all have a very good kindergarten program in their home schools (and the one or two additional students taken per home school would not make a difference in terms of teachers needed in those home schools). There is no substantiation for the claim that the third kindergarten is needed to keep Columbus "viable". Small schools with dedicated teaching staffs are just as "viable" as larger schools. We also need to consider, if students are leaving Columbus, why they are leaving. Some parents have commented to me that Columbus does not seem to do as well in CMT results as one would expect (a statistic which I have checked and confirmed).
4. I will be providing copies of my budget scenarios to all BoE members on Tuesday (having already emailed drafts to them) and will gladly email a copy of the document to anyone who requests one after that date. Please send your request to stevecolarossi@gmail.com (it is easier for me to track requests from my Outlook than it is from the school department email site). But please remember that I crafted budget scenarios because we desperately needed to begin the discussions about how to best reconcile our budget-- only by starting the discussion now about specifics can we fully assess the plan that will minimize the impact on student learning and be as fair as possible to employees. That's a tough balancing act that needed to get started. My colleagues will have the ultimate vote on the ultimate plan which is adopted-- I trust that there will be additional suggestions made by them and, given their years of experience, I trust that improvements will be made to the reconciliation.
Steve, perhaps you didn't submit a plan for cutting secretarial hours, but shouldn't someone other than the principals determine whether there are too many paid employees over the summer? I think you will find poor use of staff over summer months in schools and in central office. Have the IT Dept. monitor computers for shopping, social networking and lots of personal e-mails. I guarantee you will find evidence of misuse of paid working hours, unless someone warns people in advance that this is being done.
ReplyDelete