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Old 05-10-2013, 08:33 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
13,715 posts, read 31,011,624 times
Reputation: 9270

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Quote:
Originally Posted by ImOnFiya View Post
By now, everybody knows that!

I voted early for all the bonds. The schools are very crowded. Just as this Statesman article clearly illustrates:
Why hasn't AISD used the $200M they have from prior bonds? That would fund about ten elementary schools.
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Old 05-10-2013, 09:06 AM
 
Location: The People's Republic of Austin
5,184 posts, read 7,240,558 times
Reputation: 2575
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano View Post
A corporate finance officer would not issue bonds to repair a roof or air conditioning system. But a Texas school district might choose to do so because the alternative is to pay for the new roof with M&O (maintenance & operations) funds. Those funds ARE subject to Chapter 41. That's another reason school districts subject to Ch 41 will buy computers and text books with bond money.

School districts cannot necessarily operate like private enterprises because their revenue and spending is highly influenced by state law.
Completely get that. And a corporation might even borrow, via commercial paper, to buy short lived assets like computers. Two problems w/ AISD's financial stewardship. First, the growth in $100K+ administrators is a problem. Second, there is ZERO discussion of bond terms, call dates, repayment rates, etc. I don't have a problem with borrowing if the repayment rate is tied to the projected life of the asset - almost like a capital lease. I have a huge problem with buying a computer with a three year obsolescence and paying for it over twenty years. And from what is on the table, one can't tell.

Of course, when your CFO's undergrad degree is in sociology and their masters is in urban policy analysis and management then what should one expect?

Last edited by scm53; 05-10-2013 at 09:22 AM..
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Old 05-10-2013, 09:47 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
13,715 posts, read 31,011,624 times
Reputation: 9270
Quote:
Originally Posted by scm53 View Post
Completely get that. And a corporation might even borrow, via commercial paper, to buy short lived assets like computers. Two problems w/ AISD's financial stewardship. First, the growth in $100K+ administrators is a problem. Second, there is ZERO discussion of bond terms, call dates, repayment rates, etc. I don't have a problem with borrowing if the repayment rate is tied to the projected life of the asset - almost like a capital lease. I have a huge problem with buying a computer with a three year obsolescence and paying for it over twenty years. And from what is on the table, one can't tell.

Of course, when your CFO's undergrad degree is in sociology and their masters is in urban policy analysis and management then what should one expect?
Your points are all good ones. I happen to know that LTISD does exactly these things when they issue bonds. Though they typically don't spell it out in the package. Their experience is that the vast majority of the potential voters don't care, and if they did, they don't understand it anyway. Most voters are only concerned with whether or not Johnny or Susie's school will get a new X or Y.
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Old 05-10-2013, 09:47 AM
 
440 posts, read 710,749 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano View Post
Why hasn't AISD used the $200M they have from prior bonds? That would fund about ten elementary schools.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scm53 View Post
Completely get that. And a corporation might even borrow, via commercial paper, to buy short lived assets like computers. Two problems w/ AISD's financial stewardship. First, the growth in $100K+ administrators is a problem. Second, there is ZERO discussion of bond terms, call dates, repayment rates, etc. I don't have a problem with borrowing if the repayment rate is tied to the projected life of the asset - almost like a capital lease. I have a huge problem with buying a computer with a three year obsolescence and paying for it over twenty years. And from what is on the table, one can't tell.

Of course, when your CFO's undergrad degree is in sociology and their masters is in urban policy analysis and management then what should one expect?
Great questions. Go to a board meeting and ask. It's amazing what a difference you can make if you show up in person and persist.

The major part of the problem is the constant intrusion of the Legislature and THEIR blatant refusal to reform school funding as they have been ordered to do for decades. The rules on what monies can be used for what, the end runs available to wealthier districts to avoid Robin Hood, and caps on taxes even if that means the school district can't operate - all of these are horrible. The Legislature does two hypocritical things: 1) it leaves the funding of the schools largely to the ad valorem taxes per school district, which creates inherent inequality in poorer areas - hey, local control, right? BUT 2) it turns around and dictates the way the monies can be spent and sets limits on the rates.

I am no fan of MEria Carstarphen. We were idiots to hire her, and she needs to go. But to say no to bonds in the face of overwhelming overcrowding and influx of students is irresponsible.
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Old 05-10-2013, 10:37 AM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,237 posts, read 35,431,654 times
Reputation: 8572
I have not totally formed a complete opinion on Carstarphen; while there are some things I have issues with, I do believe that she has shown a willingness to actually look for better answers.

Quote:
First, the growth in $100K+ administrators is a problem.
I am not sure if this is a problem or not, honestly. The AAS reporting is too vague. 43 made 100k+ in 2008, now 70 make 100k+. That could amount to as little as $27.00, for all I know. I know that is not realistic, but without talking about percent increase on average for positions or more firm data, how am I to say whether this is a problem? Realistically, if there were a bunch making in the upper $80s or low $90s in 2008 and they got somewhere around 2.5% a year, that would result in them all going over $100k. Sure there might be a problem, but how can I get outraged w/o knowing more about it? By what percent did the average AISD employee salary change over this time period? The story points the '12 cabinet members' as the big salary earners, but I don't know whether they even had a pay increase (presuming they were all over 100k already). For all I know, the 27 new 100k earners are all HS and Middle school principals that have continued to receive modest raises over the last 5 years.

The story may have a point, who really knows? They disregarded meaningful information and instead sensationalize out of context data.

Gah, tried to get more information, but the link to the "school administrators managed to keep their jobs" was a story about Houston ISD, not Austin, and does not even mention Austin. This link is not even relevant to the rest of the article.

The second link (comfortable salary and benefits packages) shows the superintendents pay per student for RRISD, Eanes, AISD, and Houston and makes AISD look like they have a relative bargain. But I am not sure that that metric is even relevant, not sure why it should be linear at all anyway. The pay ranges from 230k to 300k, with is exactly in line with the larger districts paying more and the smaller paying less. Sure, it is not linearly tied to the number of students, but why should it be?

Then this brilliant math:
Quote:
Whew. Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier is paid about $300,000 a year, and his district has about 200,000 students. That's about 66 cents per kid.
Ummm....$300,000/200,000 kids = $1.5/kid. Great reporting KXAN.

And following the article's logic, the Eanes' Super should be paid $11,000 per year.

Last edited by Trainwreck20; 05-10-2013 at 10:52 AM..
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:02 AM
 
Location: The People's Republic of Austin
5,184 posts, read 7,240,558 times
Reputation: 2575
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainwreck20 View Post
The story may have a point, who really knows? They disregarded meaningful information and instead sensationalize out of context data.
I'm not so concerned about anybody's pay going up. What I am concerned about is this:
Superintendent, chief of staff, chief performance officer, chief financial officer, chief schools officer, chief academic officer, chief operations officer, chief human capital officer, four associate superintendents, executive director of public relations/multicultural outreach
What is a "chief performance officer"? What do they do that doesn't duplicate what the "chief schools officer" or "chief academic officer" do? And you know every one of those folks has a staff large enough to justify their $150K+ salary. How much more does that add to the budget, not just in salary but in total compensation? Has to be $1,000,000+ each year in duplication. Don't expect the CEO to question it. Her $280K is certainly driven by the number and pay level of her direct reports. Don't expect the CFO, with ZERO finance academic background, to question it. And don't expect the Ace Cash Express board to question it either. They have other axes to grind.

Sorry. Understand growth. Don't understand empty seats across the district while insisting on more money. Might be just as irresponsible to enable this behavior as it is to vote no. World won't end because AISD comes back in two years.
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:39 AM
 
Location: Great State of Texas
86,052 posts, read 84,141,708 times
Reputation: 27718
Some of the positions really make you wonder.
I worked in summer school a few years ago and worked with a "curriculum specialist".
I asked them exactly what they did.
They make sure the teachers follow the curriculum and assesses the curriculum.
I mentioned that the state has TEKS to follow and CSCOPE has curriculum plans, including lessons and worksheet and projects all layed out to make sure that happens.
Well this person makes sure that the teachers do that.
I asked if they taught.
No, it's an administrative job.
I asked if they watched over several schools.
No, each school has their own.

What is a Curriculum Specialist? (with picture)

Curriculum is so canned these days that I guess I'm missing why this type of job is needed at each school.
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:57 AM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,237 posts, read 35,431,654 times
Reputation: 8572
Quote:
What is a "chief performance officer"? What do they do that doesn't duplicate what the "chief schools officer" or "chief academic officer" do? And you know every one of those folks has a staff large enough to justify their $150K+ salary.
I have to agree, so why don't they (newspaper, TV, someone that is a 'reporter') do a story on these positions, what they do, what other districts do, what added value the may (or may not) have, and even maybe a little background on the people occupying the positions - skilled, capable employees, or political flunkies? Actually do a little research. It could be that some of those positions are really justified or even necessary due to regulation. I admit to not being a specialist on school organization, so help me out here AAS or KXAN or whoever. Don't just tell me x people are making more then y dollars. THAT takes about as much effort as the value of information if supplies. For goodness sake, the only things on this ballot are school related.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:03 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,237 posts, read 35,431,654 times
Reputation: 8572
Quote:
I mentioned that the state has TEKS to follow and CSCOPE has curriculum plans, including lessons and worksheet and projects all layed out to make sure that happens.
Honestly, that is part of the reason that they need curriculum directors - some of the plans and lessons set forth do not work for all groups of kids, all teachers, etc. w/o some tweaking. My sister was a curriculum director for years for middle school math. She worked out the curriculum with the other teachers, although she of course taught as well. She was paid an additional stipend, but it was hardly worth the extra time if you broke it down into $/hr. Each area had their own teacher/director, though, since it was preferable to have a teacher experience specifically in that area. Maybe if you add all the stipends together it would come close to a position, I don't know.

In a perverse sort of way, the existence of standardized testing has led to more administrative oversight. If your school falls 'short', then there will be a witch hunt of some type and they need someone to say 'see, we followed the curriculum and can even prove it because we tracked it'
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:42 PM
 
440 posts, read 710,749 times
Reputation: 266
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainwreck20 View Post
In a perverse sort of way, the existence of standardized testing has led to more administrative oversight. If your school falls 'short', then there will be a witch hunt of some type and they need someone to say 'see, we followed the curriculum and can even prove it because we tracked it'
Exactly. The curriculum advisors have to negotiate and have approved any variance from the canned stuff. They've become a sort of in-house lawyer to go through state guidelines, interpret them, and jump through hoops.

Which is again absurd. For example, in Algebra and pre-Algebra, the kids spend as much time learning to use a fairly complicated graphing calculator as they do the conceptual material. Why? Because they are tested on their ability to use a specific TI calculator. That's ridiculous and unnecessary at that level. But it's the rules.
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