AISD Money Issues (Austin, Andrews, Howe: best schools, minimum wage, professionals)

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

The Montessori programs are around 8K a year. The catholic schools are less as is Holy Redeemer Lutheran. You are cherry picking your evidence.

Nope. Catholic schools are not less. Sure St. Austin's is around 5500, but St. Gabriel's is over 12K!

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

I'd be interested to see what the language REALLY is. Perhaps it says something about resources, as in the school doesn't have them? Because that's what I've read in some of the schools we are looking into and that is a far cry from we don't want them here.

This is verbatim from the application...

What about classroom modifications for learning disabilities?

[We] are unable to provide modifications for students with special learning needs. Students with any learning disability must be able to function in [our] high academic environment without classroom or grading modifications.

This isn't a small private school. It's one of the largest, well regarded, and best funded. Probably top 3-4 in the city.

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

BTW, I grew up poor but I went to private school because Catholic schools have money set aside for the truly needy members of their parish so this idea that only rich kids or upper middle class kids can go to private schools is bumpkis.

Having toured Redeemer just on Wednesday, according to the principal, they don't have funds to cover "financial aid". They eat the cost to provide needy kids with tuition. That can only go so far.

[ScoPro]

How about an interesting personal anecdote?

When I first applied for a teaching position in AISD (1967) the personnel office was at the old Bickler Building on East Avenue. Ernest Cabe was the director, and his department had one other staff - a secretary, with no computers.

That was for a district that had 60,000+ enrollment.

Today's AISD enrollment is about 81,000+.

The AISD Human Relations (personnel) office today has 33 total employees - and no telling how many computers.


Just one example of one department.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

How about an interesting personal anecdote?

When I first applied for a teaching position in AISD (1967) the personnel office was at the old Bickler Building on East Avenue. Ernest Cabe was the director, and his department had one other staff - a secretary, with no computers.

That was for a district that had 60,000+ enrollment.

Today's AISD enrollment is about 81,000+.

The AISD Human Relations (personnel) office today has 33 total employees - and no telling how many computers.


Just one example of one department.

And they will defend each of those employees as VITAL to the operation of the district.

[ROY DUBOSE]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

How about an interesting personal anecdote?

When I first applied for a teaching position in AISD (1967) the personnel office was at the old Bickler Building on East Avenue. Ernest Cabe was the director, and his department had one other staff - a secretary, with no computers.

That was for a district that had 60,000+ enrollment.

Today's AISD enrollment is about 81,000+.

The AISD Human Relations (personnel) office today has 33 total employees - and no telling how many computers.


Just one example of one department.

any idea how many reports must be completed for how many agencies for how many employees today vs. 44 years ago?

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Austin97

1) anecdotes are meaningless. On the whole private schools dont accept special needs students
2) anecdotes are meaningless, statistically poor people are hugely underrepresented in private schools for obvious reasons
3) competition can happen within the public school system.
4) government (even state) funds going to religious schools is most likely unconstitutional.

You do believe in the constitution right? law of the land, founding fathers, tea party etc. right?

I agree that competition can happen within the public school system as long as the school district lets go of centralized planning and as long as teachers are not forced to join the teacher's union.

And what the hell is the last line of your post supposed to mean? There are plenty of secular private schools out there that could accept vouchers.

What do you mean by special needs anyway? Mentally disabled? ADHD ?(a label I am now suspect of). Kids that don't learn in a traditional learning environment? If that is the case, there are actually private schools that employ different teaching techniques to meet such kids needs. Do you have kids? Have you had them in the public schools yet? I have and this one size fits all paradigm that they are using is doing little for special needs kids.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

Having toured Redeemer just on Wednesday, according to the principal, they don't have funds to cover "financial aid". They eat the cost to provide needy kids with tuition. That can only go so far.

I am not understanding your point. So it sounds like they do allow some kids in that are needy whether they call it funds for financial aid or eating the cost, isn't the result that same, that needy kids can go. A limited number, surely, but still doesn't that mean they can attend?

We toured Parkside, a secular Montessori, a few weeks ago and they do have limited "scholarships" for needy families.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Nope. Catholic schools are not less. Sure St. Austin's is around 5500, but St. Gabriel's is over 12K!

Well, let me RESTATE, some Catholic schools are less, it depends on their mission and many take kids on a sliding scale so even if you cannot afford the tuition, as was our case when I was growing up, they let you go. In fact, one of my law professors used to joke that he went to the "poor man's private school," Catholic School.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Austin97

you mean like kicking out or not accepting special needs children?

This sounds anecdotal to me? Can you provide some evidence (since you aren't big on anecdote and all).