Scary stuff-parents, you need to be paying attention

[Chili]

Texas is slowly turning back into Mexico.

LMAO! Fixed..

[Torinoman]

But the lifecycle for that to happen will be too slow and too much damage will be done in the mean time.

I'm not saying that privatization of the school system flat won't work, just saying it's easy to yell "privatize!"

at least there is a lifecycle for a private school. terrible public schools get rewarded with more funding

[Leah]

Here's some info on the rally and march in Austin in case anyone else is interested.

http://savetxschools.org/

[soap]

this is what happens. when school bord members go on shopping sprees.
for themselves with school ISD credit cards,

they just don't know. and don't care. how to handle money,

[Nash B.]

this is what happens. when school bord members go on shopping sprees.
for themselves with school ISD credit cards,

they just don't know. and don't care. how to handle money,

Are you saying that your poor writing skills are the result of poor money management?

[soap]

Are you saying that your poor writing skills are the result of poor money management?

Something like that.

[JP135]

When did (or will) all this supposedly happen?

She told my wife it was at the last school board meeting. I may have the "ribbon" thing wrong - maybe a nametag, but the ones given to probationary teachers were reported to us as being a different color.

The TEA knows about the administrative moves with people being hidden under new titles, but making the same money.

[Leah]

She told my wife it was at the last school board meeting. I may have the "ribbon" thing wrong - maybe a nametag, but the ones given to probationary teachers were reported to us as being a different color.

The TEA knows about the administrative moves with people being hidden under new titles, but making the same money.

The color of the ribbons were chosen by the local associations, not the board. Everyone knows about the moves being hidden under the new titles, at least all the people who watched or were in attendance at last night's board meeting.

I just watched all 4+ hours of it and the board members did not hold back in asking about these 'cuts'. I learned a lot about what is truly going on, what is a rumor and where each board member actually stands.

[Lone Sailor]

I'm surprised this thread has gone silent.


According to several "News" agencies, word is spreading like wildfire that there has been such an increase in non teaching jobs at hundreds of ISD's across the State the past few years that it is now jeopardizing the actual teaching staff now that everyone is realizing the budget is breached. Seems finger pointing has begun at the over hiring of what is being deemed as unnecessary positions within many ISD's. As well, claims are coming out that by cutting many of the non teaching positions would drastically cut the deficit that is currently being faced. As far as the actual positions being held that are non teaching, they could range anywhere from bus driver's to cafeteria workers to janitorial staff, etc.

[centexchick]

I understand your position and there are many more kids that receive special services that truly do need it, than the ones who are using the system. However, as a special education teacher, there are a great number of students in special ed with nothing other than an ADD diagnosis just because (some) parents want to bleed the system dry, don't want to have to monetarily be responsible for helping their child get the help they need and/or are just plain lazy. They want someone else to 'fix' their kid instead of being a parent to begin with.

My son is a POSTERCHILD for ADHD. Without medication, he can't finish a flipping sentence, much less stay focused on a task. He is also very bright and in Pre-AP classes because WE as parents make sure he gets what he needs to be successful. He would qualify for special ed services like extra tutoring, one on one help, modifications, etc., but I don't want someone else in control of what my son is doing or limiting what he can/can't do. That's MY job as a parent and I will do whatever it takes. Unfortunately, not all parents feel the same way.

We spend more money than you can imagine on students in special ed on services like OT (occupational therapy), PT (physical therapy), Vision, Hearing, etc...for students who don't need it, but parents yell and scream that their kid deserves to receive them so the schools cave. Lawsuits and threats from parents have seriously changed the way schools operate.

*just to be clear-I know you have been a very active and involved parent and I do not want you to interpret this as me saying you are one of 'those' parents. I absolutely do not think you are.

Sorry Leah, lost track of this one and did not see your reply...I totally understand what you are saying. Having taught high school myself, it is at times a complete joke what is considered an at need student.

I completely agree...I just don't think that "some" people on here can differentiate between really needy kids and those that aren't. They just tend to lump them all together! ugh.

[centexchick]

I'm surprised this thread has gone silent.


According to several "News" agencies, word is spreading like wildfire that there has been such an increase in non teaching jobs at hundreds of ISD's across the State the past few years that it is now jeopardizing the actual teaching staff now that everyone is realizing the budget is breached. Seems finger pointing has begun at the over hiring of what is being deemed as unnecessary positions within many ISD's. As well, claims are coming out that by cutting many of the non teaching positions would drastically cut the deficit that is currently being faced. As far as the actual positions being held that are non teaching, they could range anywhere from bus driver's to cafeteria workers to janitorial staff, etc.

at one of our local ISD's they have 4 janitorail project managers. They let all but one go....why they have pm's for janitorial efforts is beyond me. They also let go the art teacher, dance teacher, and choir teacher....