The Park City School District is in danger of spending more than it is collecting in revenues, so board members are trying to find ways to trim the budget without jeopardizing the quality of education being offered. The issue has become controversial as various departments try to shield their departments from potential cuts. Any suggestions?
Keep in mind that state laws severely limit how much school districts can raise taxes and they also prevent districts from using capital funds for operating costs like salaries.
The school board has held a series of committee meetings to figure out how to make everyone happy while keeping the district solvent, but tempers are flaring. Some of the less popular suggestions so far have included cutting back on school music programs and increasing class sizes.
If you are a concerned parent, educator and/or taxpayer, sound off here.
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147 comments:
try finding and making accountable the missing $11 million!
One of the quickest ways that PC can cut money quickly is with how the Aquatic Center is managed and run. Chemical prices are not bid out and the district wasted thousands of $ becuase of it. Here is just one example. The Aquatic Center lap pool is sanitized using a corona discharge ozonator. This was installed at construction at a considerable cost. The justification, better water and less chlorine used to sanitize. The problem is that the state of Utah requires that there be some chlorine in the pool (with ozonation about 0.5 ppm) not much compared to a non ozonated pool. The chemical supplier for the school district fills 400 gallons of liquid chlorine containment to provide this small amount of chlorine residual required by the state. This is enough chlorine to keep this pool at a low residual for close to a year. Liquid chlorine looses potency over time. The supplier knows this and that is why the large amount of containment. The more chlorine which is stored on site, the more will go bad and the more Hydrochloric Acid is needed to counter act the high pH of sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine). So the district gets hit twice: First with the purchase of more chlorine than they will ever use before it goes bad, and second with the sale of hydrochloric acid to conteract the inert chlorine.
Another example is that the Aquatic center is supervised by a full time position out of the district office. So the administration of the Aquatics center takes a full time supervisor, who hardley ever is at the pool but calls all of the shots, (about 80 - 90K a year when you figure in retirement and benefits), a Director who is actually at the pool (80 - 90 K a year), and an assistant director (50 - 60k a year). This means that Park City spends more on administration for the swimming pool than most district owned pools spend on their entire yearly budget. Compare Park City school District with South Summit, Wasatch County, and Granite School District in how much they spend. Granite School District has a swimming facility in each High School which is used for community use as well as school use.
Figuring out how to manage the budget under the existing system is a little like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The whole system is wrong and needs to be scraped and rebuilt to keep up with the world.
First of all, much longer school year. Much longer school days. Foreign language starting in 1st grade. Two languages required for graduation. Physical Education for all grades every day.
Does this sound do-able? Of course it is. All of Europe and Asia already do it and have for decades. And they spend less money than we do.
We should be copying those systems that work rather than fiddling with one that doesn't.
We are in last place. Don't kid yourself that Park City has good schools. It only is if you compare us to the rest of the last place country.
Park City Schools are the "cream of the crap."
Just as a point of fact, we are not the last place country or are we last in education. I understand what you are trying to convey regarding how bad our schools are, but such an exageration has to be corrected. Especially when you are talking about schools and education.
In any event, yes we have a serious problem with our schools. The first is that our best and brightest individuals have no interest in teaching. They would rather be lawyers or capitalists who can make a living and accutally afford to enjoy their time off. With the level of education required to make a mere 40thousand per year who can blame them. I know everyone loves vacation time, but the majority of educators i know, have summer jobs just to keep up.
Why should we extend the lenght of the school year? lets make little workers out of our kids? Why not, retires have to work at Mcdonalds to make ends meet, so lets send our kids off to year long school also....Stupidist thing I have ever heard of. What about some of you paretns actually getting involved with your kids schoool lives? Spend sometime with them each night going over homework and teaching them something. Just about every educator will tell you that they can see a difference in the children who's parents help them at night and those who dont. get involved and stop passing the buck.
Much longer school days so the parents can work late and have nothing to do with their childs school work. give me a break, your an idiot.
Also,
I have no children and i am not sure if we will have any, but my point is to all you whom have children and especially large families, stop having so many kids. Why do you pay the same amount for taxes for schools as i do? You are taking advantage of the system and driving the schools into the ground with your selfish nature.
I will assume from your numerous spelling and grammar mistakes that your parents didn't read to you at night. I certainly hope you are not a teacher. If you are, that would certainly explain why our students can't either.
You are correct. We are not last. We are 23rd. Go pat yourself on the back.
Sorry for all the spelling mistakes, I was lazy and not using spell check, but since that matters I will do it from now on.
Regarding our international rating, I was referring to our literacy rate which according to the 2005 UN world report we are at 99.9% or equal to many European countries. Here is the link check it our for yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate
I did pat myself on the back. Please reference your ranking number with a link,
Thanks
Additionally,
Instead of pointing out my spelling and grammar mistakes, please look at the points I made:
1: Get involved with your child’s education beyond complaining about the system.
2: Stop having so many kids or at least step up and pay an additional tax for more than 2 children.
3: Pay skilled and talented people a better salary and they may consider going into teaching.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3389816.html
These data show that the US is 23rd. See Fig 1. In Fig 2 you can see that there is no relationship between spending an outcome. You might expect that there is some relationship between those countries who spend more and those countries who do better. But in fact, this shows that there are countries such as the US who spend more and achieve less, and there are countries who spend less and achieve more such as Singapore. So the mantra of 'give us more money' is not supported by the evidence. Quite simply, it is easy to spend money badly and also to execute a good system with less.
As to your points:
I am involved in my child's education. Complaining about the system is the only way to change the system. If we were to never complain about a bad system it would just stay bad. I don't have a lot of kids. There are lots of recent studies published that show that teachers don't make as little as they would like us to believe. I can sedn you those links too.
Yes please do send me the link.
I am married to a teacher who has her masters and I can tell you that she makes 40,000 per year here in UT. Sure there are parts of the country that she can make a lot more, but they are the exception to the rule. Here is the link to the PCSD salary scale.http://www.parkcity.k12.ut.us/documents/jobapps/licensed_sal_07.pdf After 5 years with a masters, teachers make $40,788. By the way this is the highest paying district in UT. What job on the planet pays 40,000 after 5 years with a masters? After 25 years on the job you get 65,000 per year. Try living on that in Park City. You barely qualify for a mortgage on a house on Park Ave.
Regarding Singapore, the national literacy rate is 95%. Far below the US national average of 99.9%. With all the left out information in that report dated 2002 it leaves a lot of holes. What this report doesn’t show you is that in the majority of these high ranking countries’ students attend privately funded cram schools at night. Look at Japan, they sleep thru classes all day and then go to a cram school at night. It is widely known that the Japanese only care about test scores and not necessarily the overall education of the children. Currently they are looking to rework their education system and taking a lot of notes from the US.
One last thing,
Complaining about anything is like screaming into the wind. It is pretty much useless. What changes things is community and national involvement. Work with the PTA, School Board and etc to make the change. Every time I read the paper and it mentions a town meeting the turn out is pitifully low. Especially when you look at how we have had to expand almost every school here in PC over the last few years.
I think as a future parent, one of the biggest problems I have with our school system is the amount of money we pour into our sports. Sports my friends are extra curricular and should be funded as such. take all the money from the sports programs and facilities and salaries for coaches and equipment and pour it back into education. Which is the primary responsibility of a school and I know you will see a great change in the quality of our education.
PS: many of the countries that top the charts in your report have no PE programs or after school sports.
To the poster at 11:32: Considering your atrocious writing skills it's a wonder or perhaps ironic that you have injected yourself so fully into this debate.
Spell check? Sheesh.
Noboby makes it to your so-called "points" because we don't read whatever language it is you're trying to write. Just stop humiliating yourself -- please! Stop!
For the kidz!
Stevie Washington (the angry youth)
p.s. You're not a teacher, right?
So what I typed somehings wrong. Big deal. Now deal with the issues and not my personal typing skills.
There seems to be two things at issue here.
The first is that PCSD "is in danger of spending more than it is collecting." This seems to be the focus of the article "Schools: show me the money."
Let's put that aside while we look at the sleeping elephant over in the corner of the room. Several times I have read that there is 11 million big ones missing. If this is true...
why isn't a grand jury being convened right now?
why aren't subpoenas being handed out like penny candy?
If it isn't true please stop talking about it and get about the business of straightening out the "entry problems" and "decreasing enrollment" by figuring out a way to pass another voted leeway.
In a just world 10% of the sale price of every house sold in Park City should go to the school district. What realtor hasn't said "and your kids will be ging to the best schools in the state?"
It is nearly criminal how the real estate community has for decades gotten rich from someone else's work.
Nothing illegal occurred to result in the school budget deficit. No money was stolen, no money was embezzled. The budget deficit is a result of poor accounting, but not negligent accounting.
To quote the Budget Recommendations slideshow for the upcoming March 20th PCSD Board meeting... "Were there any illegal actions regarding any of the accounting discrepancies? No, the independent audit required by law revealed that the district is in compliance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board practices."
Sloppy accounting... but nothing to send anyone to jail for.
It might have been nice if they had not have wasted so much time and money on whatever one might call the rennovations at the high school. What a waste! Hard to believe that someone had to have attended meetings and to have voted to come up with ideas so wasteful. It is like putting lipstick on a pig.
8:25 a.m.: What you call sloppy typing I call idiocy and ignorance. Again I ask: Are you a teacher in the PCSD? You must be.
Angry Stevie W. (Park City alum) and his off-the-hook girlfriend (who asks: What issues?)
p.s. PCSD -- it's some kind of sick, f--ing joke, right? Parents, teachers and the rest of the shmuck educrats can claim whatever they would like but take if from someone from the inside -- the $11 million -- STOLEN?
To Angry Stevie,
This is blogger 11:32 whom you continue to point out with the bad grammer. Thank you, I will work on it.
Now onto you, I didnt make a comment I could not prove. So if you have facts about the insider information you mentioned, bring it to light. If not, go f..k yourself.
Which stellar PCSD faculty member are you 11:32? You dolt.
Go Stevie -- thanks for trying to protect our lil' ones from these pathetic pieces of crap.
Fight the Power!
Let me get this straight. Each year we're force-fed by the media and those ninnies at PCSD how great the district is -- best in the U.S. according to Newsweek blah, blah freaking blah
Now $11 mil is missing? Who took it?
Thank god for tuition vouchers. Could vouchers cure the corruption apparently afoot at P.C. High?
Look,
This blog is headed in the wrong direction. If you have proof regarding the 11mil, you should present it to the authorities, or else let it go.
Also, if you had your choice, what would you change in the PCSD system? Do tell, please, what is so lacking with our schools?
Headed in the wrong direction? What! The post is called 'Show me the money.' Not 'Sickening teacher back-patting session.'
What part of missing $11 million don't you understand?
Jerry 'I had you at hello' Maguire
You asked how we would change the school system and I suggested several concrete items. Longer school year to be in line with the rest of the world, longer school day to be in line with the rest of the world, foreign languages much earlier to be in line with the rest of the world, 2 foreign languages to be in line with the rest of the world. You dismissed these out of hand and referred to it as babysitting when nothing of the sort was implied.
I had the luck to be able to receive a scholarship to study in Europe for a year and my comments are based on what I saw of my European classmates. Their primary and secondary schools had longer school years, longer school days, more foreign language, more math and science. This is about education and not about babysitting. For you to dismiss it as babysitting really lowered your crediblity in this discussion. Oh and then you ask for more money.
As regard for teacher salaries. You compare salaries of teachers to other jobs. How much value do you place on 2 weeks vacation vs 15 weeks? How much value do you impute for no pension vs a pension? How much value do you place on a much richer health plan than the private sector? Job security? Like it or not, these things are real and have value.
See:
http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3347411.html
This blog is sure getting interesting if not helpful in any way. Every year we try to send our children to the public school, but can't do that. What do the students do during the day? Tell me why there is time set aside during the day for ESL students to catch up on English but our english speaking students do not get spanish or any other language until they can choose one as an elective in 7th grade? Until age 11 children absorb language like a sponge and this absorbancy lowers every year after that. The english only students will definitely be the ones at a disadvantage in the world. And we do pay more taxes as a whole than the ESL students as a whole. Ours are the few in the world that only have one language. This is ridiculous. Now onto the Art which is at risk, PE is a joke, I sat in a class of 2nd graders, they play tag. Where did learning sport rules go and real exercise? The kids can play tag at recess. So $11 mil aside we can definitely make better use of the current school day before we make the kids go longer and not accomplish anything more. Maybe the public schools could utilize specialists like they do in the private schools. Specialists could work with all the different grade levels in one subject such as language, math, art, or science. There are so many intelligent education professionals that i am sure PC could get good consultation on ways to improve and save money. They just need to do it soon. We have a wealthy community and the schools should reflect that. This country needs to make education a priority or our children will pay the price (are paying the price.)
If ever I had never seen a reason for vouchers and enrolling kids into private schools, I would certainly now have a reason to do so after reading this blog. This one really got em going Nan!
One of the first things high school Debate students learn is, if you are going to debate it, get your facts straight first.
It is not $11 million dollars, and it is not missing.
The reality: A $1.5 million dollar short fall was discovered this past fiscal year due to the unintentional misallocation of funds.
- A PCSD employee who actually attends the Board meetings
If there is no 11 million then why is it spoken of so much? Who mentioned it first? It seems to me I read it in the paper.
To make another suggestion, I suggest that the PCSD stop being dumb. Dumb examples: Why do the elementary schools only operate 4 1/2 days? Why not 5 days? Why does the high school start at 7:30AM? Many academic studies have shown that adolescents don't learn well at 7:30 in the morning. Why is PE not meaningful about sports, games, nutrition, fitness, health? Why is it playing duck duck goose? And yet the refrain is "pay us more." And they wonder why people want vouchers? This isn't rocket science. We can start the conversation about paying them more after they stop being dumb.
FY 2006-07 Budget:
Revenue = $34.1 million
Expenditures = $35.6 million
Short Fall = -$1.5 million
See, not $11 million.
This information is published on the PCSD website. Go to http://pcschools.us, click on "Board", then "Agenda", then click on "5.2 Decision-Budget Reductions". Click on the icon for "Budget Reductions.pdf".
Personally, I have to commend the Board on the way they handled the Budget Reduction decisions at the Board meeting last night. They did not just go through and say "yeah, fine, if you say so" and "sure, why not". They had questions, they had discussion, they had concerns and differing opinions. Not everything was a slam dunk, either.
It doesn't matter what they decide, someone is going to get hurt... and I think they took that responsibility very seriously.
You can also go to http://pcschools.us, click on "Board", then "Public Access".
Puh-leeeeeze! Relying on the district's Web site for this information is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.
The blogger at 4:39 p.m.: Amen sister!
Sincerely,
Marty McFly
p.s. Thank God for vouchers and for saving our children from the ignorance that has plagued our public schools for way to long --
Steve W: nice to see you're back from the dead my man
The district's funds were audited by an independent, objective, third party Public Accountant and found to be sound. Allegations about 11 million in missing funds are unfounded, incorrect and slanderous.
The public school system can use all the help it can get. Rather than spending your time maligning it and slandering it, why not go to a school board meeting, or call your school board rep and get educated, or join the PTA, or run for school board. There are more people on this blog than show up to the average school board meeting in a year. Please consider taking your thoughts and energy and putting them to good use in building up and improving a system that takes all kids and, despite its flaws, attempts to help them all.
regarding the alleged missing money... where is the press? The Park Record Education section is a PR rag. Do they have any REPORTERS and JOURNALISTS? Where's the scoop? The public should have correct information from an independent source, not the slide show from the Board of Education. I hold the Park Record partially responsible for the PCSD fiasco since the Record has not done its duty to provide the public with the truth.
Why do I trust the PCSD website?
Because I personally know the webmaster, the business administrator, the superintendent, the human resources manager, and several people on the budget reduction committees. And I trust each and every one of them... as an employee, as the wife of an employee, as a future parent, and as a citizen. I go to the Board meetings, I ask questions, and I get answers... the same answers that are on the website! Imagine that! I think it's important to be informed, and not to jump to inaccurate conclusions.
Yes, the dissemination of information to the public has been poor. That issue has been addressed several times at several Board meetings. But if you want more information, ASK FOR IT. Don't just wait for it to be dropped in your lap.
The fact that many of you insist that something illegal has happened or that everyone is lying are (blissfully?) ignorant. The world is not out to get you (or your children), and God forbid anyone ever make a mistake!
What is never addressed is that Von Hortin took off and was never held accountable for screwing up the PCSD. Why because he will turn around and say the board directed him to do so. Was it a coincidence the DO has a complete turnover. We finally had a decent superintendent and he took off probably becuase all of the crap that happened in the district, now we have some guy who is enjoying the fame and making decisions he will regret once he is put back in into his regular job when a new sup steps in. This district needs to do a sweep of the entire district office administration and get people who know what they are doing or we are headed for further disaster
I'm sorry but all of you have seemed to miss the point...The cuts ALL effect the students directly in the classroom all but ONE of the proposed cuts impacted the district office facility or staff. For a school district the size of Park City it is amazing how top heavy (administratively speaking) it is. Why are there proposals to cut teacher salaries but not adminstrators? Why are there talks about elimating hours of secretaries at the schools but NOT at the district office? Why does it take 2 people to run community education (one on adminstrative salary) whent the whole thing is computerized now? Why are there 4 people (1 administrator and 3 classified position) in Human Resources? The kids are impacted by the belt tightening but the people tightening the belt are not.
Nicely said 6:31 and I believe at the school board meeting they would like to add 20 grand to the orginal salary to be offered to the incoming superintendent with a housing allowance so he/she could live in park city. Boo hoo Dave Adamson lived in salt lake and it did not interfer with his duties. Where would this extra 20 grand come from? Probably from one of the programs one of our kids are in
It's all political. They screw up the budget, then they say thay have to cut classroom programs. They have a top heavy district office, then they say they need to cut classroom programs. You suggest changes, they say pay us more. You suggest that their performance isn't as good as their PR department says, then they say the studies are all wrong. None of it is surprising. It's predictable mediocre civil servants protecting their cushy little jobs and 15 weeks vacation.
Von Hortin was asked to leave when the budget discrepencies were beginning to manifest.
Dave Adamson retired because his mother was dying (and has since died).
Boy, I'm sure getting tired of correcting all the misconceptions going on in this blog.
I come from a family of teachers and have spent the better part of my life listening to teachers at the dinner table. If you listen to teachers you hear many of the same comments. They will tell you that many teachers are dedicated and excellent, and many teachers hit the parking lot at 2:45, give all multiple choice tests, were hired because they were willing to be the baseball coach, have transferred from district to district for various shady reasons, became teachers because it was easy, became teachers because of the long vacations, etc. And they all get paid the same regardless if they are good or no good. They will all also tell you that they have no idea what the district office does, where the money goes, how the district office affects the classroom, etc.
As far as language classes, we have our daughter in German classes after school. She is in the fourth grade. The classes are offered by the school district.
The language classes are available but they are usually after hours, you just have to be involved to take advantage.
This is a great school district full of active parents and superb (for the most part) teachers.
From what I understand the drop in students from Jeremy Ranch also contributed to the budget shortage. Does anyone know about this point?
So does that mean that kids whose parents have the motivation and money to pay for their kids to attend the after-school language program will benefit and the rest are SOL? Does this mean that the district believes that foreign language as a priority falls in the after-school category and not part of the core curriculum?
Here is another matter for the public that goes into the park record with no comment and there will be no debating this one. Michele wallace was fired because of the board being policy happy. The women made a decision in the best interest of kids. She was fired for allowing a teacher to take a short trip, who would have quit had she not been allowed to go. Michelle wanting this fine teacher to stay worked it out so her teaching partner would teach the class. Let it also be known the teacher filled in for her teaching partner full time in the beginning of the year.The teacher quit anywhere because the district gave her so much crap and now a 19 year vetyern is being fired ith not a blemish in her file. A very dedicated person who works side by side with teachers and parents. Let it also be know the TMMS teacher who was fired by our lovely board was hired within 2 weeks by a valley school. I am sure they are very happy to take a high in demand science teacher that had much money invested in her by the PCSD paid with taxpayer money for expensive trainings. Let it also be know that that TMMS teachers class has not had a full time teacher teaching our kids all year. From what I understand a young aide with no degree or any background in science is teaching the class.If my kid was in that class I would be raising hell Who won in that situation not our kids but the board flexed it muscles, now they are trying to pull this with our principal. Taxpayers get involved and contact those board members you and I put in charge of these bonehead decisions they make. Find out where our money is going and by the way I also think Von Hortin is responsible for the PSCD downfall, god help the new business administrator.
AMEN 5:56 don't you love how they say no comment due to personal matters when it got around town in a few hours. Of course Michele will not comment becuase she is trying to defend herself through a legal system . If she gets fired raise the roof on that one. Talk to those Jeremy teachers they are pissed off and they have a right to be. I say fire all those incompentent fools at the district office. I do not see anyone getting fired over there when 2 million dollars disappeared. Oh yeah I forgot they let Von Hortin walk away with it.
The person who keeps trying to clear up these misconceptions seems to know a lot. Who are you? a board member or one of our elite over paid district office officals who sits in the castle all day doing jack making decisions that hurt kids teachers and now administrators. Wake up and fix the problems at hand. If you are a district office official do the right thing and resign maybe we can get someone part time to come in and do the job your screwing up
Hello I am a power parent yes thats right I have nothing better to do with my time than to look into how the district I am giving my tax dollars to keeps losing it. The Jeremy principal situation is a crime. I remember reading an article in the park record not long ago where a handicapped student is filing a lawsuit to the PCSD for injuries she received at PCHS due to a door not up to standard code for persons of disabilities. Now correct me if I am wrong do we not have someone at the district office in charge of speical education and correct me if I am wrong is he now in charge of the PCSD. This mistake can cost the district millions. Why is his mistake pushed under the rug and the Jeremy principal is fired over a decision she made in the best interests of students? Sounds like a double standard to me. Sound off power parents I know your on this blog
In 1975 I took a job as an elementary school teacher. In 1977 I left teaching. The only place more frustrating to have a career than the Federal Government, is to have one in a local school system. This is not meant to denegrate those that have chosen the honorable profession of a teacher. There is no profession more noble.
It is the adminstrators and the school boards that usaually are the idiots. This never ceases to amaze me. It is the same wherever you go and it is no different here in "utopian" Park City.
To 7:29 PM... I am NOT a board member. I also was not on any of the budget reduction committees. I am a PCSD employee, NOT at the district office, but at a school. I am not an administrator and not a teacher. I am a full-time classified employee who works directly with parents, students, teachers, and the district office.
I know a lot because I feel it is my duty as an employee to know what is going on with my employer.
Great 9:09 that is what your supposed to do. The classified employees are the first ones they screw with. You obviously are in a position that is not being touched. Just wait till your number is up. I also doubt you have been in the pscd longer than 5-6 years to really know the background. The downfall is that they let an incompentent person handle the funds for 8 years knowing full well he was screwing it up. When it finally blew up in their faces they blame it on other things like high cost of programs.
The comment that our schools are the cream of crap was uncalled for. We have wonderful programs, excellent teachers, nice schools, and if you looked at the paper yesterday PCHS and TMMS were ranked in the top 5 in test scoring. We must be doing something right. Before making such a statement back it up. Yes I agree the district office is crap but not our district our kids go to school at. I would not want to send my kid to a SL school where they have the basic education. Thanks for your consideration
To 11:48... My job was in jeopardy, so was my husband's. You're right, we dodged a bullet there. However, we have yet to learn if we will lose our dual medical benefits, and we have already lost our voluntary retirement option.
Forget it... I don't need to justify myself to you or anyone else here. If y'all want to continue to b*tch and moan about things you obviously know nothing about, go right ahead. You're not helping the situation.
Your husbands job is safe he is a techie right? You do a great job but I really think you have a cloud over your eyes if you think they are doing you and your husband justice. Stick wit the unions
Top 5 in what?
Utah public schools suck and PC schools are the "cream of the crap." No brag, just fact!
If this mess has been brewing for 8 years, then why are there not recall petitions for every school board member circulating the community right now?
I have a difficult time believing that all this surfaced in the last audit alone.
While Utah schools can rightfully be criticized, throwing out stuff such as PC schools are “the cream of the crap” points much more about yourself than it does the PC schools. Such stuff comes from adolescents (and we aren’t talking chronological years here) who don’t know enough of life to have a worthwhile opinion about anything important. It’s your right to throw away a free education, but don’t go holding anyone but yourself responsible because your job bussing tables is now “unsatisfying.”
I went to school in California and the Park City schools are far better in most areas. What makes me sick about this whole mess is that the teachers, the very ones who have the most impact on the kids are expected to suck up pay cuts and larger classes. Why not cut one out of every four district administrators? Nobody will notice the difference. Walk into the district office any day of the week; it won’t matter when. You won’t see anybody doing anything. You will see lots of people standing around talking, and lots of fingernail painting going on, but hardly anybody doing any work. My work took me into the district office dozens of times over the years and never once did I have to wait to see anybody.
Make the cuts where they are needed… at the top.
The top 5 scores came from ACT scores, programs offered, and class sizes. You can find the article in fridays deseret news in the ducation section. To the person who refers to our schools as the cream of crap, you sound like a student that has or had problems in school. The district office is where they need to make cuts. I am not referring to the many hard working people who back up the highly paid. Here is a way they can tighten their belts. 2 years ago they added a postion of director of speical services. This person oversees bussing, maintenance, food services ect. Over each of these departments is a supervisor. These supervisors used to report to the business administator. Themaintenance department is a joke, ever watch 1 person screw in a lightbulb and 3 watchincluding the supervisor. There is your cuts right there. To get a repair done can take all year. Years ago we did not need all these top heavy people. Instead of cutting programs for the kids or cutting teachers look at the district office. And yes the money problem did not just surface this year, it just blew up in their faces this year. And if any of yopu were at the board meeting you heard it was suggested to add 20 grand to the sups salary so they could live here. There are many employess in the district that struggle to live here, but it is choice. I hope the people who add to this blog stay informed and become involved in the many issues going on such as the auditing, the jeremy principal and the cutting of programs. If there are numbers things will get done..Thank You
To be #5 in Utah is nothing to brag about. Sorta big fish in a small pond. If PCHS was in California, it would be ranked #15 according to Newsweek, and people on this blog keep ripping on California. And keep in mind that we are comparing ourselves to just other schools in the US, which is #23 internationally. So don't be to proud to be in the top 5 in a small state in a mediocre country.
4.08 whatever I think you are a student who did very poorly in school and no matter what education system you were in, you would be a failure due to your attitude. You have nothing to contribe and this will be the last time I address you. Grow up and try to do something positive with your life
If someone wants to do something postive with their life, I would suggest getting as far away as possible from the PC school system!
obviously your still here so get on with your life. What happened mummy and daddy take you away from california and now your bitter? Probably one of those kids who has no friends and is flunking out.
Your local school system sucks eggs and your tax dollars are being wasted. If you have a problem with that, move to Logan and send your kids on a mission when they are 18. Get over it!
Do I need to correct your grammar again? Talk about not doing well in school. Just so you know, I did quite well in school and passed 4 AP tests. I enjoyed my teachers, participated in sports and theatre, got bachelors and masters degrees from respected universities. I value education and I value high standards. I don't value mediocrity or excuses. That is where my attitude comes from.
What mediocrity and excuses are you referring to?
We spend so much money on sports and the children spend so much time for practice. Wouldn't the time and money be better spent on such things as behind the wheel and driver education or how to fill out income tax forms and other similar skills that the children could use ? We give our children a few hours of training and let them loose with a two ton weapon on the streets.
Being #5 in a small state of the #23 country in the world is mediocre. Not being able to plan, budget and account properly is mediocre. Cutting classroom programs when there are numerous other places to find efficiencies, as noted in this blog by others, is mediocre. Excuses are: you don't pay us enough, you don't spend enough money on us, those international studies are invalid, blah blah blah, are excuses.
Suggested Reading:
http://www.kipp.org/08/pressdetail.cfm?a=311
http://www.kipp.org/08/pressdetail.cfm?a=310
So, now that more people have contributed to the blog, I will again rejoin the conversation.
Please all you learned people, tell me how 1 teacher can teach 30 children in a class efficiently? Lets say that there are 4 different learning levels in that class. What is your advice?
Also, teachers teach according to district and county standards. If you have a problem with the quality, subject or levels taught you should take it up with the administration.
One last thing, it seems that some of you actually goto the meetings and not just bitch about things. Maybe the rest need to join them and voice your complaints.
It is no wonder why people are not getting into teaching. It sounds like many on this blog have perfect little ones and it is the terrible teachers that are ruing their kids. Note to blogger 12:04
One more thing, regarding international studies it is like comparing apples to oranges. Compare contries with similar students in schools not Denmark, which dosnt deal with any immigration issues, etc.
I read the attached articles via the links posted and it seems to reinforce my previous statemnts regarding longer school days are replacing parental involvement and baby-sitting. According to the articles these programs are mostly in minority, lower income school districts where parents are required to work longer days, etc., this was my point earlier. Both articles made note that test scores are not yet showing a change but hopes are high, keep hoping...
Beyond all of this incessant bickering, it's much more important to take action. As a recent graduate of Park City High School, I have seen the stature of the school digress. However, I do not believe it's as bad as any of you are claiming it is. If you believe it's condition is too horrible then, please, stop BLOGGING for Christ's sake. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Go to the meetings, call the school, ask to speak directly to the Principal or Super Intendent. I find it almost dissapointing that so many of you, who are clearly educated, are doing nothing about it. If you cannot come up with anything rational to say, then say nothing at all. Frankly, longer school years, languages in elementary school... Yes, they are all great ideas. But, we aren't living in Europe where if we drive 100 miles in any direction we are in a different country. If you are looking for a euro-centric education, well then, MOVE THERE. If you're looking for something else, make the change within our district or send your child to Judge/Rowland Hall. Simple as that, deal with it and stop crying like typical Park City parentals. It's annoying and almost embarassing.
The name-calling on this blog is somewhat reminiscent of the "Donald vs. Rosie" feud, you people are shameless. Flaunt your degrees all you want, you're still nothing of importance.
There are so many holes in the previous bogs it's almost funny:
"Please all you learned people, tell me how 1 teacher can teach 30 children in a class efficiently? Lets say that there are 4 different learning levels in that class. What is your advice?"
I routinely had excess of 30 and sometimes even 40 in my classes as a kid. We sometimes sat on the floor and shared textbooks. But with excellent teachers you can do anything, as Jaime Escalante showed.
"Flaunt your degrees all you want, you're still nothing of importance." Who flaunted any degrees? I responded the the remark that I was someone who didn't do well in school. Before that remark, there was no other reason for my background to come up in the converation. I prefer to discuss content than personal slurs.
"But, we aren't living in Europe where if we drive 100 miles in any direction we are in a different country." No, but we live in a global world where we compete every day with the Chinese, Germans, etc on a daily basis. If we have inferior education to them in all areas including math, science and languages, then we will lose.
"If you are looking for a euro-centric education, well then, MOVE THERE." Umm, I'm an American who wants America to be a better place. I don't want a Eurocentric education. I want a world-class American education.
"According to the articles these programs are mostly in minority, lower income school districts where parents are required to work longer days, etc." This statement is unbelievable in its logic. The longer school days aren't for babysitting. The longer school days are to learn more. I don't differentiate between "minorities" and other people. What works works. If longer school days means better education, then who cares what color skin you have. I am a bit offended by the implied racisim and classism.
"Both articles made note that test scores are not yet showing a change but hopes are high, keep hoping..."
The New York Times - "Harlem, a Test Lab, Splits Over Charter Schools"
By Susan Saulny
June 2, 2006
The schools sit side by side in a handsome red brick building in Harlem overlooking Morningside Park. But they could not be more different. The fifth and sixth graders at KIPP Star College Prep Charter School earned some of the highest scores in central Harlem on last year's citywide reading exams. At Public School 125, only 36 percent of the third- through sixth-grade students met city and state reading standards last year.
The contrast in the building on West 123rd Street is emblematic of the inequities, opportunity and experimentation that define education across Harlem after decades of stagnation, and as gentrification is increasing pressures for better schools.
"Compare contries with similar students in schools not Denmark, which dosnt deal with any immigration issues, etc." Guess you haven't been to Denmark recently. They have very large north African and Asian-subcontient immigration. Also, so what? Should we have lower standards for immigrants? My parents were immigrants and they never had lower expectations for themselves. Again, implied racism and classism.
"teachers teach according to district and county standards". So if those standards are low and they successfully achieve those low standards, then that means that they aren't in fact low?
"So, now that more people have contributed to the blog, I will again rejoin the conversation." I can die a happy woman.
no you idiot,
What I meant was the language barrier and the cultural differences. Not racism. Referencing Denmark with a population of 5 million people Vs the US with 278 million is a far different place. I couldn't care less if the entire African continent immigrated to Denmark, then the comparison would be similar, hence the apples Vs oranges.
In addition the lower income quote came from your article, is that article racists and classest?
Article quote
"They were often unsupervised in the afternoons, many of them were out on the streets with older kids. And there was a lot of violence in the streets and spike in crime during those afternoon hours. And we've taken our 400 students out of that. "
They are unsupervised during the afternoon because their parents work and should have sitters that they cannot afford
Michael Sabin cannot point to higher test scores - not yet. But at least he knows the kids in his low-income school are now safe.
Is Michael a raciest bigot?
your a jerk
Teachers: Once and for all, quit your fu--ing whining! Judas Priest, we can all hear the little violins.
You didn't go into this profession because you were going to make a fortune.
You went into teaching because of the old saying: Those who can, do ... Those who can't -- well, you know the rest.
Unbelievable!
Stevie Washington
I have young children that will soon be middle school age. I would not even think of sending them into this school system. Two words come to mind with this decision. Thugs and drugs. The middle school kids in this town are out of control. I blame the parents and the school system that do not have the backbone to exercise discipline. I cannot imagine how these "little darlings" will be when they reach high school age...I choose to have mine go "down the hill" and get a private education. I can assure you, I am not alone.
Hi Everyone,
Thank God stevie is back. Now he can actually prove his statement:
"p.s. PCSD -- it's some kind of sick, f--ing joke, right? Parents, teachers and the rest of the shmuck educrats can claim whatever they would like but take if from someone from the inside -- the $11 million -- STOLEN? "
Hey Stevie,
Either put up or shut up. Like you say, those who cant, well you know the rest......
Dear 6:50 PM
You really need to learn how to spell.
1 word spelled wrong and you need to point it out. Instead of worrying about my spelling, maybe you should get involved with the school and district, asshole
4
"racists" should be racist
"classest" should be classist
"raciest" should be racist
"your" should be you're
Great,
Now become an english teacher and fix the school's problems
Ain't no fixin stoopid!
Stevie
Imagine how many posters on this pathetic blog are PCSD employees ??!!?? Half, 75 ... maybe 90 percent. Pretty sad state of affairs for the west side taxpayer who funds this catastrophy called a school system. Can you imagine, three-quarters of what you read on this thread was written by people who are potentially alone in classrooms with your children. Yikes!
School vouchers anyone?
Stevie,
You sound like a spoiled prick.
I would bet good money that you had a very privileged upbringing.
Only an arrogant and immature brat would focus on spelling errors and not the actual message.
My primary concern with raising kids in Park City is not the school district. I have lived in other locations in some of the top public districts in the country, and PC is up there with the best.
My biggest concern is the sense of entitlement the children develop as well as the snobbery.
Let's keep it going folks. Let's try to make Nan happy and hit 100 blogs with this subject. Those journalism types love this kind of stuff!
Hey dipshit at 11:06 a.m.: Teachers who cannot spell R the problem. Just like the ones who whine incessantly that they are not paid enough. Boo fu--ing hoo. Teachers get paid what they earn (in fact they're probably a bit overpaid with this new bonus). Now shut up and quit humiliating yourself.
Seems like 11:06 has some real class consciousness issues. He keeps referring to entitlement, snobbery, privilege. He must have been black-balled at a fraternity or something o have such a class-envy chip on his shoulder. That must be why he continues to spell badly, to stay connected to his working-class roots.
6:47
I guess I nailed it on the head.
Only an effete snob would equate working class roots with poor spelling. Might as well throw poor grammar into the mix as well.
Classic, it is as if your only exposure to the outside working class world came by way of Hollywood.
Nothing wrong with being affluent, softy, but you need to learn how to be humble.
6:11-
It isn't "R" it is "are".
Hi Stevie,
I thought you were going away after you ran your mouth about having proof regarding the missing money and could not prove it.
Please check this for spelling and get back to me....
If I were you I would pick an excuse for your poor spelling and grammar:
a) Poor education
b) Good education but just not very smart
c) You've adopted regional colloquialisms as a way to appear interesting
d) No excuse.
8:26AM
If I were you I would pick an excuse for your arrogance and snobbery:
a) Parents spoiled you while growing up
b) Was handed everything in your life, never had to work for anything
c) Reinvented yourself by moving out west to a ski town, take a lot of pride in that, believe it makes you better than other people
d)No excuse, you are just a very boring person.
Whoever started the ad hominem attacks based on spelling (Stevie and friends) has detracted from the main argument.
If you can't comment on the substance of the issue than please shut up.
This is a very important issue.
The Main Issue (as I see it)
Accounting Errors were detected in the last audit, but these problems were reportedly going on for several years. What about previous audits?
1- Were school board members aware of these problems yet chose to do nothing? If so, they need to resign or be run out of office.
2- If problems were not detected by prevous audits the negligent firms need to be sued.
Heard this morning on KPCW that the average pay for teachers in this district is 69K. WOW! The business is much more lucrative than I thought. You get two and one half months off as well? Should not be hearing too many complaints....Also heard that they have narrowed down applicants to three prospects for superintendent.
I hope the poor soul that gets selected knows what he or she is in for.
12:49
The income is right where it should be.
Keep in mind to hit that level takes years of experience and continuing education that comes out of their pocket. It costs money, time, and dedication to get to that level.
I am not sure if teachers pay is the issue in this mess. They need to look at the previous decision makers and find out just what the hell happened.
69K is a little high for all the bitching one hears!
69 thousand is the exception to the rule. I posted the link to the PCSD salary scale and you can check it out for yourself. Do you really think 69 thousand is a lot to pay someone in a community where the adverage home is around a million?
Stevie,
please check my spelling mistakes and get back to me.....
$69K is the average. So some get more, some get less. It is a lot more than 2.5 months vacation. Add into it Winter Break, Spring Break, MLK Day and all that and it is more like 15 weeks. Also add to that the pension, generous benefits, etc. They are not underpaid, they just like to whine. I watch house prices and you can buy a nice house in the district in the $400's very easily.
I dont want to beat a dead horse, and I am not a teacher, as you can tell by my spelling, but if teaching is so great why are you not in it?
I do know this, being married to a teacher, there is a lot of stress and hidden difficulties, similar to all jobs.It seems today that everyone has a little shinning star and god forbid you say anythign negative about precious. sure 69 thousand sounds like a lot, but that is for a masters at 10 years plus on the job. What do Nannies make these days in the district, or your dog walker or for that matter the garbage man. I am not cutting on these jobs, just using them as an ilistration.
i have a friend in CO that works for a Spam company making 6 plus figures a year. No college and no real training. Guess what they promote porn, so what. 25 years old working at his dream job, how bad can that be? no little bright stars to appease and no parents yelling at you for giving their brillint light a D for not showing up or showing up stonned.
Stevie,
please correct my spelling and get back to me......
Before I correct your spelling clue me in on what language you're trying to write! Atrocious! You think it's funny. Really, it's just sad. EEEEdEEEOTs!
SW
Hi Stevie,
Before we worry about the language I am speaking what ever happened to that proof about the missing money?
Hi Stevie,
check out the spelling on this and get back to me....
As Mick Jagger said, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need!".......Translation, everyone gets paid what they are worth, no more, no less. Only they can change things!
This blog is dedicated to the "bleeding heart" Dr. Hanrahan, in response to your recent letter to the editor of the Park Record. First of all, no one really cares that you are an MD. So stop signing your letters to the editor with MD. We all know that is hard for an egotist like yourself to refrain from doing so.
Secondly, do not pontificate and lecture us about the school system here in Park City. If you are so concerned about the public schools, why don't you consider an alternative and send your kids to a private school like Georgetown Prep. This is where they can learn to be pontificating liberals like yourself. Third, let me apologize for those of us that live here that cannot live up to your lofty standards of morality. I am a teacher in this school system, and I resent folks like yourself that always think that they have all the answers. Stick to diagnosing your patients!
The president of the school board has stated "Our vision of what this district can be has not been diminished..."
I will add that their status in the community they represent has been totally diminished! The only option they can come up with to deal with their incompetence is to raise taxes. Who do they think they are... Congress? I voted yes on the last voted leeway, but this time I will only vote so again if these clowns are out of office.
Blogs are made for those citizens with gripes, threats, and visions of conspiracy. In an attempt to take a step back, here are a few fundamental questions:
1) how is it that the PCSD is not flush with cash from all of the new & expensive building that has been going on since 2005?; remember, part-timers are paying RE taxes as TWICE the rate that full-timers do 2) is the PCHS renovations way over budget? is that the problem? Has anyone paid the price for these errors 3) does anyone realize that school districts & the unions run he schools for the staff and teachers as much as they do for the children?
A part-timer
I'd still like to see someone address why Park City schools, with hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax monies received from residents and non-residents alike with no children in the system, can't seem to manage their inflated budget?
How in the world does a district like Sandy or one of the Salt Lake districts do it without the property taxes like we pay?
I say cut the taxes, users pay for extra programs, and try living within your budget, Park City Schools!
Get rid of computers, cameras, palm pilots, lcd players(surely, EVERY classroom doesn't need these!) the cost of buying, upgrading, and, ultimately, fixing these items cannot be justified!
Just raise the taxes, get rid of top heavy district office staff, the money people not the working people, find a sup for a reasonable amount of money, look at positions at the DO not needed example director of special services, Cut Tom van Gorder to part time when he gets back to his regular job, he used to do tim mcconnells job plus speical ed right there this should tell you something. increase athletic fees to pay coaches and bussing. Pay to play, increase the school fees. Lets look at how some of the larger districts do things for consolidation like supplies. We do not need computer upgrades every three years at schools, what we throw out would be new to the valley schools. Bet if you start at the DO we could save money. Oh yeah instead of the board getting dinner every meeting they can try brown bagging it. How about some of the other worthless trainings the district offers decision making waste of money. Try trimming the big fat and not the little fat and we might have some money. Maybe give Von Hortin a call and ask where he put 2 million dollars
Screw the board screw the district office they need to get their heads out of their asses and start making competent decisions. For one they can cut the crap with the Michele Wallace issue I think they distrubed that school enough. The morale sucks as it is in this district thanks to the board and Tom Van Gorder. TVG can't wait till your back in your pee on position.
The board needs to clean up its act and do what they were elected to do. They need to go after Von horton for the money he lost why was he allowed to walk away? Total Totalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll coverup
DeFord must have known something too. This didn't all come up over night.
Sue the bastards and throw them ALL out!
Deford ran a tight ship she would not have allowed this BS circus that has been occuring in the district. Finally the board got their head out of their asses and reinstated Michele Wallace. Whoever was responsible for firing her in the first place should be fired themselves for the uproar in the morale to JRES and the school district.We look like a bunch of horses asses up here not knowing where our money is and firing a principal for no reason
Michele Wallace was lucky. Alisa Felton, TMIS's best and most beloved science teacher, was fired for pretty much the same reason, but the Board never even considered reinstating her. And it's taken 7 months to find a suitable replacement for her! Double standard, anyone?
Kim Carson, president of the school board, said of the hearing, "This was our first opportunity to hear the entire story..."
I can't decide which is the greater sin, Terminating someone without hearing the whole story, or later telling everyone that you terminated someone wihtout hearing the whole story.
Unbelievable!
"Deford ran a tight ship she would not have allowed this BS circus that has been occuring in the district."
Tight ship? The only part of this process she wasn't around for was the public awareness part.
Totally agree Felton should have never been fired and that was a joke. Wallace did not do a darn thing. Just because she was an administrator does not mean an eye for an eye. Wallace was a teacher in this district and worked her way up. Her firing was because she was helping teachers and kids so please lets not use this double standard deal. Wallace should be commended. Now I blame the horses ass who fired her in the first place. Wonder how much it cost the district for a lawyer to be hired. Probably as much to save one program for kids. Think about that you horses ass and you know who you are!!!!!!!!!!
Horses ass good name for that person well said. Thye sure do know how to waste our good taxpaper money by hiring a lawyer to justify michele wallaces firing.
i THINK THEY NEED TO START DISCLOSING EXACTLY HOW OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT COST TO BRING MICHELE WALLACE TO TRIAL WHEN IT SHOULD NEVER HAD BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE. Stupid stupid stupid more waste waste waste. Please I wish they could justify their actions
There was no trial, and the lawyer that was there is involved with nearly everything they do. To fire someone all they need is an executive session vote, then make it public at the next board meeting.
The real sin is an ego-rich school board that doesn't want to accept the smallest amount of blame for a financial train wreck. It's also amusing that it took an 8-hour meeting to reinstate Michelle Wallace. You can bet they knew how they would vote even before the meeting. The next 8 hours were figuring out a way to get out of this mess without looking like total fools.
Exactly a bunch of horses asses and that is insulting horses
Heard the two fools responsible for the firing were torn new holes by Wallaces lawyer. Big win for Wallace too bad it now cost us taxpayers money for the district having to spend money on a lawyer to justify Wallaces firing.
It must have been more than two (fools) because it takes a majority vote of the board.
Interesting set of comments. Just a few basics to consider. It's important to know that the budget of a school district in Utah has restricted categories. Money from taxes raised for buildings, community education (which includes the pool and sports, etc), and a couple of others cannot be moved to other categories. From the information I've read, the $11 isn't missing. It was in fact what someone said -- poor accounting -- and the people in the lead during this period are gone. The school board and district administration have been very open about this problem once it was discovered. Patty Murphy should be commended. It is unfortunate that they get slammed by folks who haven't done their homework as a result of being open and sharing full information with the public. (BTW...I'm just an interested community member. I don't work for the district, nor does any member of my family. I don't have any children in the schools, and I'm happy to pay taxes to support education. If Utah would let us, I'd pay more.) I'm also in agreement with the comments about family size. The only way Utah will ever have adequate funding for public education will be to reduce average family size or to understand that taxes have to rise to support the high child per taxpayer burden. And no, vouchers are not a panacea. There are some great private schools, some good private schools, and many awful private schools. It's definitely a case of let the buyer beware. The good news is that parents who choose private education tend to be more involved in the schools. The better news is that parents who choose PCSD also tend to be highly involved in the schools. That's the best way to understand and ensure quality...get involved.
Last blog I smell district office big shot all over it
Nope...don't have to be from the district office to think objectively and from a knowledge base. You just have to spend a little time. I've always found it best to think the best about people who are just trying to do a job rather than assuming, just because someone has taken a leadership-type job, that they are no longer nice, well-meaning folks. It makes me cringe when I read the mean-spirited, thoughtless, ill-informed comments from some bloggers. It reveals a dark side to our town full of generally nice folks.
Last blogger get your head out of the clouds, they are not nice. They care about themselves and thats it. Do you see anyone of them offering to take any cuts? That DO is so top heavy it is a joke.
Read the article in today's paper about the PCSD administrators -- "Refurbished computers go to students
McPolin kids get school head-start"
Frank Fisher, of the Record staff
No one said anything about the school administratorstheir butts are on the line as much as anyone else, they are basically glorified teachers with no power within their own schools. Just ask Michelle Wallace. I am talking about those DO big shots who walk around doing nothing and collect large paychecks
Sometime back when TMMS was a new building the school board filed to sue the architect (who was bonded) even after the roof caved in over the winter in three places! They were gutless wonders and the taxpayers got to pay for their incompetence.
We should have learned something then, but apparently we haven't. If a business manager bungles the books so badly that we lose 1.5 million dollars that's what the bond is for! If it were a few thousand it would be one thing, but we're talking about 1.5 million of our dollars!
Pack the next school board meeting and demand that they get our money back!
Whoops, it wasn't filed to sue, it was FAILED to sue.
District answers community questions
Dialog becomes key
Frank Fisher, of the Record staff
So reads Frank Fisher's coverage of the meeting to discuss and clarify the budget woes. What questions were asked? What answers were given? A story without one single bit of information! Were you even at the meeting Frank?
Yes they let Von Horton walk away after he lost all the money due to his incompetence. The board knew he was an idiot but just let it go for years until we now have no money. Now he works for the state now that is scary
It seems as if the author of May 2nd's Guest Editorial, Ryan Sundberg, has mysteriously dropped off the face of the earth. Perhaps because he never existed at all. Instead, Mr. Tim Jeffrey, Social Studies, TMIS - could you please explain to your fellow taxpayers why you expect them to face the school board to support your stance, but you yourself hide behind a pseudonym?
What difference does it make who wrote the article?
Was the article based on fact?
The school board wrote a say-nothing article that didn't really explain away much for me, then signed as a group. It's easy to claim later that being a group project items might be included that one or two might not agree with. I would like to know what each individual board member would like to see done about the "shortfalls."
Hmmm...good point. I guess it would be good to know what each individual believes. However, the fact of the matter is that they are a board of representatives, and in order to lead effectively, the must all support a common stance.
I did not feel the board wrote a "say-nothing" editorial. I think they addressed quite a few issues.
Also, I do care who wrote that editorial on May 2nd. I felt it was nothing but a beligerent rant with no actual focus. Furthermore, if Tim Jeffrey has so many opinions, why wasn't he at the board meeting? I just figure he is a coward. I'm sure the board is pretty upset about his slander. I don't see him getting promoted anytime soon. Rightfully so.
1- Was a social studies teacher hired from outside the district with only 1 year's experience? The best school district in the state should be way above that.
2- Didn't they just fire, then rehire a principal? Wouldn't this affect moral?
3- Is it true that for 30 million the high school will accommodate no additional students?
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