Watch Out for that Cliff
According to MSNBC, schools can suffer now or later:
Using federal stimulus money to avoid layoffs at schools is going to create a shortfall even more difficult for states and schools to contend with when that money runs out, according to a first-of-its-kind study released Monday.
That doesn't fill me with Holiday cheer.
(Hat tip to Alexander Russo.)
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The Long Turnaround
According to the numbers, Central Elementary School in Roundup, Montana, seems to fit the currently fashionable definition of a “turnaround” school. After many years of below-average test scores, the school has recently made double-digit gains in the number of its students meeting proficiency on the statewide assessment. In true turnaround fashion, that improvement appears to have happened in a very short period of time. As recently as the 2005–2006 school year, for example, Central’s math score was nearly 20 percentage points below the state average. In 2009 it was at the state average.
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Our district is cutting back
Our district is cutting back on staff, increasing class sizes and eliminating those pesky school nurses. But who needs nurses when you only have 600 kids using the school playground on a given day?
If it were up to me, I'd cut administrative pay and benefits to "part-time Wal-Mart employee" level, commesurate with the value they give to the organization.
IMO this decision puts teachers in a bad position. I can't imagine what "post-stimulus" schools will look like if this is what it looks like on the gravy train...
Anyway, I hope you have a WONDERFUL Christmas and you have my best wishes for a happy and safe New Year. God bless ya! :)
Thanks for the kind wishes
Thanks for the kind wishes Mrs. C--and a wonderful New Year to you as well! (I'm late on Christmas.)
Can't agree about the administrators, though. You'd be hard-pressed to meet anyone with a harder job. I've known too many 80-hour-a-week principals and superintendents out there. And the research on the importance of a good leader is very clear.
But the cliff will be tough on EVERYONE, that's for sure....
This is news?? Someone had to
This is news?? Someone had to do a study to figure this out??
But part of the point of the stimulus was to tide districts over until state revenues recovered -- but there not there yet (though there are glimmers of hope) so budget projections are done with an end to stimulus money and no uptick in state funding.
Were people actually paid to study this??
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