Comments on: A Stimulating Debate

By: ChristyPruitt

ChristyPruitt — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:23:39 +0000

Building new schools does create many jobs, but does that money have to come from the same pot that teachers are being paid from? I work in a school system in Georgia. We have something called “brick and mortar money” that comes from a group of outlet malls (a small % of every dollar spent) within the county. This money builds a lot of things, and produces a lot of jobs without cutting teachers. It not only pays to have buildings built, but it pays to furnish them also. The county is very small, but fortunate to have the outlets. I know that not all counties have this, but counties do have small businesses that could help! Two cents of every dollar can really add up!!

By: Jamie Browne

Jamie Browne — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:02:14 +0000

It’s true that some schools are falling apart at the seams. The last school I was at had mold growing out of the walls and the air conditioners regularly caught on fire. Living in Florida, AC’s are a requirement in the tin can portable classrooms. But what good is having a new state of the art school for the students if there are no teachers in the classrooms? There doesn’t seem to be much money allocated to retaining teachers. Our district is looking at cutting most teachers who have been with the county less 3 years regardless of quality of their teaching or certifications/degrees. Already schools are seeing upwards of 30 kids in elementary classrooms, I would hate to see what that will be like next year with even less teachers in each school.

By: Christy Pruitt

Christy Pruitt — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:11:49 +0000

Cutting money from schools and from education anywhere is a big mistake. Children, who are the future no matter how one looks at it, do not need schools that meet half of the standards and have part of the teachers they need. Cutting budgets in a school setting should only be allowed by politicians who have served as school officials for atleast fifteen years. People who have never taught twenty eight students in one classroom do not understand the importance of co-teachers, or resource classrooms. They do not understand the need for paraprofessionals because they have never worked without a secretary. They should ask for more opinions from the people actually getting their hands dirty, which are the teachers.

By: GGW

GGW — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:45:04 +0000

I find it hard to follow the debate.

It seems like there will be 2 types of K-12 money. Business As Usual $. Change $. Right?

Of course Business As Usual $ will be much bigger. But the question is by what factor. 70-30? Or 99-1?

BAU $:
$64b give to states to make up for state shortfalls
$16b construction
$13b title 1
$13b sped
$5b early ed/head start

Change $
$15b to states to make up for state shortfalls, but incentive driven?
$.25b child care quality?
$.25b Teacher Incentive Fund?
$.025b for charter construction?

So, in current form, Change $ is at best about 13%.

But since the “incentive” money for states will mostly go to those already hitting the incentive targets, unclear that it’s truly change money.

Seems quite plausible that the whole $120 b is spent with <1% as Change $.