schools all year or

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

The year round schools have all converted back to traditional schedules already...they had the same 180 days as all other schools, just spread out over the full year - 9 weeks on, 3 weeks off.

Changes to what? Education? It's a necessary service...and an important one. There won't be any changes that will hurt or diminish education because of budget constraints. The money will always be found to pay for education.

Deacon

First, most of the year round schools in GA had the schedule you described but for some students, those most at risk for failing, remediation was offered for part of those 3 weeks-- thus the extra expense.

Now about spending: This state (along with most others) is in terrible financial straits. Education spending makes up something like 55 percent of the state budget. Additionally, most metro systems have either the majority or near majority of funding coming from local property tax revenues. Some systems will see a dramatic drop in home values in the next few years. Almost all systems will see a decline in property values period. Most of the big metro systems have very little room to raise property tax rates (which would be a bad idea anyway in a recession) because the state actually caps them.

You can fully expect big cuts in education spending next year. DeKalb is already making them this year. Class size will be increased, extras will be cut.
Gwinnett's proposal for flexibility is all about saving money.

[DeaconJ]

I teach in Dekalb County, but thank for the ever present lessons on education, MOM. Where does your expertise come from...the media?

The remediation was something else, not a basic part of year round school. That same remediation is available in ALL schools - it's called summer school. I would love to know where cuts in education spending will be made...we already operate on bare bones as it is. The public will not tolerate much more when it comes to their children...

[lastminutemom]

Deacon

The bare bones part is why it is so scary. My expertise comes from over a decade of involvement in public education issues at the national, state and local level.

But mostly it comes from attending meetings regularly with both democrats and republicans and local school board members where spending is being discussed.

If you are in DeKalb, you should know about the fact that STEP increases were rescinded and many cuts are going into effect this January and the next year. DeKalb's financial picture is bleak-- property values continue to fall and about 50 percent of DeKalb's revenue comes from property taxes.

Every state department but education was ordered to plan for cuts up to ten percent -- education was ordered to do 6. However, if more cuts are necessary education will have to give more, because things like juvenile justice and medicaid can only give so much.

I wished parents cared more -- but most just take it, no consideration at all to school board elections and who they vote for or even the state legislators that they elect. Parents complain about education but refuse to even send an email or attend a meeting. What a shame...

Read about this group in California. Can't swear they are making a difference, but I wish we had something like this in GA... I for one would love to march in the street in support of public education.

Public School Parents, Unite! - Campaign Stops Blog - NYTimes.com

[lastminutemom]

Deacon

It doesn't bother you that the STEP increases were frozen this year. Although, I am thinking this is your first year teaching (or are you just subbing) so you probably weren't impacted by a broken promise.

To me, it wasn't the money that was the issue, but it was the fact that it was promised to teachers (who are the most important determinant in the quality of a child's education) and then taken away. And the fact that no other metro system had to take away the increase and had, in fact, given it in September.

I am simply speaking the truth -- education funding across the county is in trouble. Next year in GA, elementary classes may very well be 1-3 children bigger than they are now, almost entirely rolling back the class size reductions of years past. GA has never found the money to reduce high school class sizes, which is a terrible problem especially in sciences.

By the way, I do more than attend meetings -- but to protect my identity I won't go into details...

[lastminutemom]

Sorry for my confusion-- but I thought I read posts from you where you were job hunting-- just got confused that's all.

I have never been in a school where the class sizes weren't adhered to, especially in the last few years where the flexibility was removed. Sorry you have had that experience.

Of course, I don't think the schools will shut down -- but I do think schools will do without for the next few years and that makes me sad. I think children benefit from all the extras like field trips, foreign language, art and music etc and I think teachers benefit from having a chance at adequate supplies, decent salaries and appropriate raises. I happen to believe that salary does matter in attracting and keeping teachers.

I doubt we are on different sides. But I am done with this "conversation."