<p>Does anyone want to rant about Texas public schools funding crisis? What is your school district doing to deal with it? Ours is going from a wonderful A day B day block schedule to a traditional 7 period day schedule. Instead of 32 classes over the course of HS, students will take 28, which means teachers will be fired. It's so sad.</p>
<p>Texas needs gambling.</p>
<p>Kidding aside, ISDs are going after easy fixes and fixes that will play well with public (i.e. the fear). I still see substantial waste and excess people.</p>
<p>What waste and what category of people?</p>
<p>Which state ISN’T facing dramatic school cuts these days? Colorado’s K-12 budget just got whacked by well over $300 million…</p>
<p>Fortunately, our district has a large “rainy day” surplus that will help lessen the blow from state/federal cuts. So far, no changes have been announced, but the school board is having lots of meetings. A lot of the talk is about cutting full day pre-K.</p>
<p>We have a big deficit, before any budget cuts. Ah, Robin Hood.</p>
<p>Get in line behind us Californians.</p>
<p>NJ is having huge school budget issues too. They are just not used to having to work within a budget like ‘everyday people’. The school board is so used to asking for more money and getting it that they are having a hard time dealing with this economy. </p>
<p>The taxpayers are just tired of being an ATM for the school system. Personally, I’m giving several thousand dollars a year to the public school system and I’m crying UNCLE!</p>
<p>Missy…we went from A/B schedule to 7 period day this year and it has been a huge transformation. But frankly, not as bad as I had thought because the HS set “rules” about type of classes could test on what days, ie, math, social studies, fine arts, computers on even days, science, English, and whatever else on odd days. It has made it tolerable.</p>
<p>I was just reading our school district will be laying off alot of teachers and staff. Very sad! Instead, they need to cut the waste and the excess admininistration at the top and then trim the salaries and extra perks of those administrators that are left, instead of laying off teachers. Too many of these administrators are making too high of a 6 figure salary. We need our teachers!</p>
<p>We lost our block scheduling this year. And all jr. high and freshman sports. And all high school transportation. Only have elem transportation if kids are more than 2 miles from their school. Next year, they are talking about getting rid of all middle schools and going to K-8 AND getting rid of 300 teachers - 137 of which will be all art, music and phys ed elementary teachers. That’s the report from this city in Ohio. </p>
<p>When will it stop?</p>
<p>Over 1000 teachers will be cut. Not a single peep about raising taxes. Class sizes will increase… terrible!</p>
<p>Ten years ago we wnt from A/B to 7 period day to save money. Now going to block schedules will somehow save money. </p>
<p>Here is my very simple solution: Every school administrator from super to secretary should spend 4 hours-8 hours (10-20%) IN THE CLASSROOM. So, the PHD program director (paid $150,000) could actually interact with clients and students. The super (at $225,000) could proably learn more as a substitute one day at middle school than at a conference out of state.</p>
<p>Well,I can dream, can’t I?</p>
<p>Not at all a bad idea, eggmom.</p>
<p>Don’t rant here, write to your state Sen or Rep or both or to any other applicable person. Call, email, rant away and often. Look at your local distict website - they should have the right addresses for the folks from your area and for those on committees dealing with education . If not, call the district and ask. I promise you that they will know and be happy to help you. This is a critical time and every voice needs to be heard.</p>
<p>I just got back from a school budget meeting, my third of the day. Exhausted, demoralized. One more tomorrow being lead by students. Proud of them.</p>
<p>I don’t know where I was in 2006 when the Legislature made the rule that the local districts could never raise the tax rate. More income can be generated if property values increase…but we all know what has happened to property values. So we have that problem, in addition to state budget cuts.</p>
<p>Also, did you hear why they have to lay off teachers instead of making mild salary cuts? When there was fed gov stimulus money, the teachers got an $800 increase. To keep the local districts from taking that way, the lege passed a law that says that teachers’ salaries can’t be reduced. Instead of everyone taking maybe a 1 or 2% pay cut, they have to lay off folks instead.</p>
<p>I think there must be a secret rule that you can’t serve in the Texas legislature if you have a grain of sense in your head.</p>
<p>Exactly my thought dragonmom - please write to your legislators! If you want education to be a priority, let your voice be heard.</p>
<p>missypie, ranting with you! Did you see Gail Collins today? It would be funny if it wasn’t so close to home…</p>
<p><a href=“Opinion | Mrs. Bush, Abstinence and Texas - The New York Times”>Opinion | Mrs. Bush, Abstinence and Texas - The New York Times;
<p>Thanks for the link to the article. I’m kind of embarrassed that the rest of the country has noticed us.</p>
<p>I think my D was in 6th grade when they did the abstinence-only sex ed and they were all strongly encouraged to sign an abstinence pledge…pretty good timing on that because at the time, all boys had cooties anyway.</p>
<p>My state representatives are very proudly announcing on Facebook that they aren’t going to vote for any tax increases.</p>
<p>Community colleges are being hit hard, too…and they have greatly increased enrollment due to the economy. SO MANY of the teachers are adjunct. I just read something that said that quite a few of the ccs are changing their librarians to adjunct positions as well.</p>