St. Mary's School Board never satisfied

[glitch]

I kind of prefer that the BoCC just tell them no occasionally. You can only go to the "it's for the children" well so often before people say screw the kids.

The problem with that mentality is that few people understand the long term consequences of such a decision. They'd turn around and blame the educators for the long term problems these sorts of decisions create.

The U.K. recently did a study involved the lifetime cost, to governmental agencies, of students with special needs and the results were very clear. More money spent, at a younger age, equates to a lifetime savings of something in the neighborhood of 2 million pounds per individual. Granted, the children involved in these studies were significantly handicapped (i.e. severe autism) but I still believe the results could be loosely generalized apply to children in regular education settings.

Related studies have been done in the U.S. that track the likelihood of individuals becoming habitual criminals later on in life. The results of those studies were shocking - an individual that didn't reach at least a 4th grade reading level was 75% more likely to commit a crime that resulted in long term incarceration. We all know the significant costs to states and the federal government involved with the long term incarceration of individuals.

In my opinion, spending money on education should be a 'no brainer'. Spend some now or spend more later, it's a choice that each of us needs to make as a citizen. I certainly know which side of the fence I stand on.

 

[Merlin99]

The problem with that mentality is that few people understand the long term consequences of such a decision. They'd turn around and blame the educators for the long term problems these sorts of decisions create.

The U.K. recently did a study involved the lifetime cost, to governmental agencies, of students with special needs and the results were very clear. More money spent, at a younger age, equates to a lifetime savings of something in the neighborhood of 2 million pounds per individual. Granted, the children involved in these studies were significantly handicapped (i.e. severe autism) but I still believe the results could be loosely generalized apply to children in regular education settings.

Related studies have been done in the U.S. that track the likelihood of individuals becoming habitual criminals later on in life. The results of those studies were shocking - an individual that didn't reach at least a 4th grade reading level was 75% more likely to commit a crime that resulted in long term incarceration. We all know the significant costs to states and the federal government involved with the long term incarceration of individuals.

In my opinion, spending money on education should be a 'no brainer'. Spend some now or spend more later, it's a choice that each of us needs to make as a citizen. I certainly know which side of the fence I stand on.

If you can't tell, I'm not a proponent of throwing money at a problem. If you keep the kids that don't want to be there in the class it brings the entire class down to their level and no one prospers.

 

[itsbob]

Then maybe it's time that the BoE get taxing authority. Not a new tax base but split the existing tax sources between the BoE and the BoCC. That was the BoE would be accountable. I'm sure there will be arguments against that idea but folks can't oppose the BoE having taxing authority then turn around and call them unaccountable.

They can't do their job now, and you want to give them the authority to raise their own taxes?

NO FRIGGIN WAY!!

In this case the BOE would NOT be accountable to anyone, and if they had a budget crunch instead of making the hard decisions that have to be made, would continually raise our taxes.

I think we should fire the lot of them and hire people that can and will do their jobs for less money.. Then ALL the teachers can keep their jobs and we'll have an administration in place that would know they aren't untouchable.

 

[MrZ06]

And you have a problem with basing an educator's evaluation on student performance?

This forces teachers to "teach to the test". Some kids are just down right stupid. These stupid kids will through off the pass/fail percentage of a teacher if they teach a normal curriculum.

To get around this teachers simply teach to the test that is going to be given at the end of the year. This kind of a system is horrible. Race to the top and No child left behind may sound good on paper but in all reality they hurt teachers more than they help them.

 

[BernieP]

Then maybe it's time that the BoE get taxing authority. Not a new tax base but split the existing tax sources between the BoE and the BoCC. That was the BoE would be accountable. I'm sure there will be arguments against that idea but folks can't oppose the BoE having taxing authority then turn around and call them unaccountable.

In a lot of areas that is how it works, the school system might encompass one or more political subdivisions. The county/township/boroughs run almost everything but the schools. The elected school board runs the school system, they vote on a budget, negotiate the contracts etc. While they may have a cozy relationship with the school administration and the unions, they still know that they will have to face angry taxpayers if they keep raising taxes. Taxes go up, but the increases are controlled, managed within the practicality of the economy.
They are after all people, politicians, and an angry mob gets their attention.
Problem here is that it's only the BOCC that people are angry with. If taxes do go up, it's still only going to be the BOCC that people will be angry with. Not that I have some sort of love with the BOCC, but in the budget battle they can't win. They either have to deny services or increase taxes.

 

[MrZ06]

The U.K. recently did a study involved the lifetime cost, to governmental agencies, of students with special needs and the results were very clear. More money spent, at a younger age, equates to a lifetime savings of something in the neighborhood of 2 million pounds per individual. Granted, the children involved in these studies were significantly handicapped (i.e. severe autism) but I still believe the results could be loosely generalized apply to children in regular education settings.

This should not be the county's responsibility. If a kid has special needs the parents should have to float the bill for the special care their kids need.

As a tax payer it is not my responsibility to pay extra money because some did drunks or drank when pregnant resulting in a retarded kid.

 

[PrepH4U]

This should not be the county's responsibility. If a kid has special needs the parents should have to float the bill for the special care their kids need.

As a tax payer it is not my responsibility to pay extra money because some did drunks or drank when pregnant resulting in a retarded kid.

Yep just keep giving your money to those on welfare or the crackheads going through rehab. Don't forget those who make a living using the system to become professional unemployment collectors.
You are so ignorant!

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

If they got paid for only 10 months out of the year, they could file for unemployment. If their 10 month pay is divided equally over 26 paychecks, they are considered annual and therefore not eligible for unemployment.

It doesn't matter how the pays are divided up teachers are not eligible for unemployment in the summer unless they have been laid off. Unemployment law in every state recognizes the school year of 10 months for teachers. Same way for cafeteria workers and bus drivers employed directly by the school system. I don't know if this is still true but drivers down here that worked for the bus contractors were, at one time, able to collect UE.

 

[daisycreek]

Everyone is hurting

Yes, everything is going up. Teachers will also be paying 2% more toward pension and that money will also go to the general fund. I agree this is taxing educators and state employees to work. I am not sure if anyone has every checked to see what our governor pays towards his pension but it is nothing. After 8 years of service he will get 2/3 of his salary for life. Teachers have dues if they choose to join the local teacher association.

State employees will also be paying an increase of 2% toward pensions, as well as forced (no choice) union dues of 15.00 per pay period, no colas, no step increases for the last three years, salary reductions, furlough days, service reduction days, no overtime pay.

regarding the $750.00 bonus for state workers-
this will be made in 26 payments of $28.87
minus the 15.00 union fees = 13.87 per pay period (bonus is down to 360.00)

pension increase for average salary of 35,000 =$ 26.92 per pay period (bonus is down to negative $340.00 or in the hole 13.08 per pay period)

add in increase to health insurance, increase to prescription co-pays:

even deeper in the red... but glad to have a job.

salary of 35K amounts to a net annual @ 20K - not much to work with in this economy

 

[Tony_M]

No what I said was this....Sometimes the smartest person does not make the best teacher.

Nothing more. You are making a leap of logic not me.

So not all teachers need to be smart, so not all teaching positions should require a 4 year degree..

Is that what you just said?

 

[Tony_M]

OK how about an example of how they can't do their job now?

I want to see what more fiction you can come up with.

They can't do their job now, and you want to give them the authority to raise their own taxes?

NO FRIGGIN WAY!!

In this case the BOE would NOT be accountable to anyone, and if they had a budget crunch instead of making the hard decisions that have to be made, would continually raise our taxes.

I think we should fire the lot of them and hire people that can and will do their jobs for less money.. Then ALL the teachers can keep their jobs and we'll have an administration in place that would know they aren't untouchable.

 

[Tony_M]

Sad....

What about those birth defects that just happen? Do you feel the same way towards them?

I hope nobody in your immediate family ever gives birth to a special needs child.

This should not be the county's responsibility. If a kid has special needs the parents should have to float the bill for the special care their kids need.

As a tax payer it is not my responsibility to pay extra money because some did drunks or drank when pregnant resulting in a retarded kid.

 

[glitch]

This should not be the county's responsibility. If a kid has special needs the parents should have to float the bill for the special care their kids need.

As a tax payer it is not my responsibility to pay extra money because some did drunks or drank when pregnant resulting in a retarded kid.

Unfortunately, federal law makes it a county responsibility. These children are just as deserving of a public education as any other child. The problem is that while federally mandated special education programs are not adequately funded by the federal government. If you take a look at the U.K., they have managed to meet the financial obligations involved in educating children with special needs. So, bottom line, it can be done. We, as a nation, just need to decide what our priorities are.

 

[Speedy70]

This should not be the county's responsibility. If a kid has special needs the parents should have to float the bill for the special care their kids need.

As a tax payer it is not my responsibility to pay extra money because some did drunks or drank when pregnant resulting in a retarded kid.

Wow, you're an idiot.

 

[Speedy70]

Sad....

What about those birth defects that just happen? Do you feel the same way towards them?

I hope nobody in your immediate family ever gives birth to a special needs child.

Amen.

 

[glitch]

If you can't tell, I'm not a proponent of throwing money at a problem. If you keep the kids that don't want to be there in the class it brings the entire class down to their level and no one prospers.

That's a perfectly reasonable stance. I just urge you to keep in mind that this has nothing to do with local government or LEAs. To maintain compliance with federal law, LEAs must offer a free and appropriate public education to EVERY child, end of story. What you're talking about is a complete and total reform of the public education system in the U.S., which I am not entirely against. There are a laundry list of issues that need to addressed.

 

[awpitt]

They can't do their job now, and you want to give them the authority to raise their own taxes?

Please reread my post. I did not say I supported giving taxing authority to the BoE. I offered that idea in reply to someone who said the BoE is not accountable because the taxing authoroity falls soley to the BoCC.

In this case the BOE would NOT be accountable to anyone, and if they had a budget crunch instead of making the hard decisions that have to be made, would continually raise our taxes.

Actually, the BoE is accountable to the same people the BoCC is accountable to, the voters. Years ago, the BoE was appointed by the governor. At that time, the BoE was not accountable to the voters.

 

[BOP]

Sad....

What about those birth defects that just happen? Do you feel the same way towards them?

I hope nobody in your immediate family ever gives birth to a special needs child.

Too late. His mom already did.

 

[awpitt]

Statements like this are a result of the uninformed and self centered...

This should not be the county's responsibility. If a kid has special needs the parents should have to float the bill for the special care their kids need.

As a tax payer it is not my responsibility to pay extra money because some did drunks or drank when pregnant resulting in a retarded kid.

 

[smilin]

This whole discussion reminds of dinner at a family of boys. Business stinks, parents aren't making the money they used to so instead of steak it's meatloaf for dinner.
The larger, noisier boys get the larger shares, the others split the rest.

Tax revenue is down:
Sheriff's department get's an extra dog - woof.
BOE comes up with $750k. Woof, woof.
Deputies need to join the teacher's union...