Saving Money and Limiting Options

[natvrabit]

Nada, zero, zip micros seems extreme to me. I ate packed lunches many a year, because the cafeteria food on many days just wasn't good or very nutritious. I look at the school menus sometimes now, and ICK, I would really be in a bind to eat some of it!
I really don't agree with removing them from the cafeterias. JMO.

[peace1]

Munn5,

I hope that the money that is saved is used for an extra teacher for the students and not a new created position in the county office.  I feel that with raising lunch prices and eliminating microwaves in the cafeteria is setting the tone of "we do not care about you, we just want your money!"  I would like to see a survey go out to the public to ask for ways to save money.  I bet there are teachers out there with great suggestions and they could suggest ways for cutting cost that would not fund just one teacher but probably ten.

My suggestion on how to save money in the schools:
        Why does each school need a curriculum coach? Each teacher has a curriculum guide in their classroom. Teachers already know the "curriculum", and if they don't, they need to be gone. Curriculum coaches are just a good label for an unneeded position.
        Most of the schools have large windows, so let's cut off the lights! Most rooms have two sets of light switches, so just use one set of lights. Wouldn't that cut down on half the electricity used for lights? Fluorescent lights should not be cut off and on when you leave the classroom, as a letter from the CCS asked us to do. It takes more energy to turn this type of light on and off.
         

[mamamia]

Curriculum coaches are just a good label for an unneeded position.

I totally disagree. I imagine it varies from school to school, but our curriculum coach is intensely useful and important. Her job is not just telling the teachers what the curriculum is (as if they can't read) - it's delivering staff development - both needed and that which is mandated by the county, writing grants, mentoring new teachers (and old), managing materials, serving as liaison with various folks up at county office, as well as a whole bunch of other stuff. Above all, the curriculum coach is an instructional leader in the school - someone who can bring all the staff to a higher level of instruction and collaboration.
I know from talking to folks that not all the curriculum coaches are created equal, but I would hate to see that position disappear since some of them are doing an amazing job.
As for saving money - if we had a year or two without EOGs a LOT of money could be saved at the state level. Plus the last 5 weeks of school wouldn't be a total bust.
JMHO,
m

[hulahoop]

less testing seems like an easy and painless way to save money.  I know the proposal was floated to cut back to just the "big five" EOC's required for graduation.  I don't know how often they do EOG's, but even just cutting it in half could save a ton of money!

[artymarty]

My suggestion on how to save money in the schools:
        Why does each school need a curriculum coach? Each teacher has a curriculum guide in their classroom. Teachers already know the "curriculum", and if they don't, they need to be gone. Curriculum coaches are just a good label for an unneeded position.
        Most of the schools have large windows, so let's cut off the lights! Most rooms have two sets of light switches, so just use one set of lights. Wouldn't that cut down on half the electricity used for lights? Fluorescent lights should not be cut off and on when you leave the classroom, as a letter from the CCS asked us to do. It takes more energy to turn this type of light on and off.
         

that is an urban legend!! It takes more energy to turn any lightbulb on, but it is negligible.  Still frequent off-and-ons burn the bulbs out faster so the government suggestion is turn it off if its going to stay off for more than 15 minutes.  You can read about it at the energysavers.gov website!!!

[Luvteaching]

I believe that curriculum coaches are used in different ways in different schools.  I feel that there are some really good teachers who are curriculum coaches that would better be utilized as classroom teachers in order to keep classroom size numbers down.  If I taught K-3 I would prefer to have an assistant full time than a curriculum coach.  Also there are AIG teachers that are shared among schools and some schools do not have AIG services for their students except every other week, how effective is that?  I would want services for my child every week!  I do not think that teachers need a curriculum coach to be their liaison for the county office, that is what our Principals should do for the teachers.  Just think if we had all the expertise of our staff working in the trenches TOGETHER how effective would that be!  Chatham County has great teachers and I agree that if they do not know the curriculum that they are hired to do then they need to be addressed.  I think the better solution to bring about effective teaching strategies to a higher level is to continue with the Professional Learning Communities or (PLC's) that are happening in our schools.  It offers a collaboration among staff instead of a person coming in on their territory and trying to change them.  Ideas are bounced off together and everyone takes ownership in the child.  Just my opinion!

[mamamia]

Just think if we had all the expertise of our staff working in the trenches TOGETHER how effective would that be!  Chatham County has great teachers and I agree that if they do not know the curriculum that they are hired to do then they need to be addressed. ... It offers a collaboration among staff instead of a person coming in on their territory and trying to change them.  Ideas are bounced off together and everyone takes ownership in the child.

Oh, but see - this is what our curriculum coach does. She is in classrooms daily (unless she has a meeting at county office!) and she is the best collaborator I know. She works really hard not to be someone imposing solutions on people...but then again, she is an astonishingly good and accomplished teacher, so most people respect what she does.
That's what I meant when I said all curriculum coaches are not created equal.
Maybe the solution is to give principals discretion on this position. Some principals might decide on curriculum coach, some another classroom teacher, some more AIG services, some an extra clerical position or 2. Based on what I've seen, for example, I would ditch AIG (in 2 of 3 elem. schools we've been connected with in my family - and my son is AIG. I think a classroom teacher that pushes him further is way more effective than someone he sees 45 minutes once a week...
Again, my humble  opinion!
Off to brainstorm more ways to save $ -
m

[Silk_Hope]

I agree with dumping the AIG teacher, the one my child has had has been useless.

[peace1]

You are very lucky to have had a wonderful experience with your curriculum coach. I just think that a classroom teacher would be needed more. And as far as AIG, could some advanced courses not be available online for advanced children. I have heard that it helps to be a "self taught learner" (on the comp.) to some extent because of the ammount of this in college. JMHO. New teachers are supposed to have a mentor, that takes care of that, and meetings? How about using conference calls; less time away from the office and gas... There are ways to save money, the Big Dogs just don't want to do without the little perks they are used to. Wonder how many lunch hours only last 30 minutes, and how many times they just "visit" with other employees at central office. Teachers can't do any of that. It is 150% work at all times, and during the 45 minutes for planning, that is exactly what is done, and still they have to spend 3+hours doing their job at home. You think this happens in other college degree jobs as a rule? Especially not for the income they make, which is also being taken away...

[Luvteaching]

Amen Peace1.............

[Steelmagnolia]

Amen...again.  Sometimes you have so many people making 'suggestions' on how to teach you don't know which way to go.  I feel like a teaching degree should mean and in most cases does mean you are adequately prepared to teach.  I certainly don't see why each school needs a curriculum coach especially with the size of most our Chatham schools.  School board should rethink this one.

[Luvteaching]

I was wondering, at the last school board meeting, if a decision was made to remove the microwaves from the cafeteria and refrigerators from classrooms.  Also, does anyone know if 3rd grade teachers will have assistants?

[munn5]

I was wondering, at the last school board meeting, if a decision was made to remove the microwaves from the cafeteria and refrigerators from classrooms.  Also, does anyone know if 3rd grade teachers will have assistants?

There has been no discussion at any school board meeting in the past several months about removing microwaves from the cafeteria. The decision to remove refrigerators and other personal appliances from classrooms was made several meetings ago. 

Until the state budget is finalized, we won't know if there is funding for 3rd grade assistants. The legislature's goal was to have a budget by June 30, but I'm not holding my breath.

[mamamia]

The decision to remove refrigerators and other personal appliances from classrooms was made several meetings ago. 

...but hasn't necessarily been passed on to people who work in the schools. The only reason I know is b/c I read this board...
m

[Dazey Mae]

Just think, if Perdue would make things right in the case below, she could save over $200,000.00 that we are paying to the new guy she hired, when we already have June Atkinson performing the work! Then we could keep those appliances. I think it is sad they are taking away a major health and comfort item like the micro's and fridges from the schools.  I can see putting some away, but not all of them. It goes back to the deficit problem, big government, and greedy politicians. Look at how Perdue hired her boyfriend (I'm being fresh), when we already have June Atkinson doing the job. It is now a court case. Perdue is saying to reduce the role of June's office, but at a tune of 175K to pay the new guy.

 
Atkinson: Time to decide who runs schools
Schools Superintendent June Atkinson is asking lawmakers to give her authority over education.

In a letter to legislative leaders sent today, the two-term Democrat noted Gov. Beverly Perdue's recent decision to consolidate power under the chairman of the State Board of Education, saying it as part of a long trend toward reducing the role of her office:

June says:
Every State Superintendent since 1995 has coped with the confusion caused by the current governance structure. It seems logical that an elected official would be able to select, organize and run his or her state agency. You can rest assured that the over 2.1 million voters who voted for me think I have the authority to run the Department. To think otherwise would discount the voter.


She asked legislators either "restore authority" to her position give Perdue "total authority" or hold a constitutional referendum on the issue.

"North Carolina deserves your final decision," she wrote.

The full text of the letter after the jump.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/atkinson_time_to_decide_who_runs_schools/

June St. Clair Atkinson was elected North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 3, 2004, in a race that was decided by the North Carolina General Assembly on August 23, 2005. She was re-elected in 2008. Dr. Atkinson is the first woman elected to the post of State Superintendent, and is also a member of the North Carolina Council of State.

As State Superintendent, Dr. Atkinson is secretary of the North Carolina State Board of Education and holds an uncertain position at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In 2009, Atkinson sued Gov. Beverly Perdue to regain power over DPI, to which she believes the office is entitled under the North Carolina Constitution. [1]

She has to regain power because Perdue hired the other guy with the same job title and job description. It makes no sense to me and many others.

Harrison in top schools job, Atkinson may sue
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/story/1431300.html

How much of our taxpayer money is being spent on this argument?

I just wanted to point out that the root of the problems with the microwaves and fridges that are being removed is our Government's inability to govern.  It's the "trickle down" effect.  I would not be surprised to see more cuts like this.  Meanwhile Mr. Harrison is collecting full pay while June Atkinson who also makes over 100K does the same job.  And what about the court case?  It seems like they don't care, and it is the taxpayer that always takes the hit. I also notice we are not hearing very much on the news about this court case anymore.  I believe Media is controlled by the Gov, and by what they think the viewers want. It's all about money and greed.  Media puts "pet pics" on every morning, but you don't see status on June Atkinson's court case do you?  It's because people don't want to see and hear that.  If you put too much politics on the news, your viewers will watch something else. We only get the little "soundbites" of what's really going on.   

Here we all are trying to find a way to have our measley small appliances in schools and big money is wasted at the North Carolina State Board of Education level.  Yes, go to the meetings and voice your opinions.
I am grateful for this site, and appreciate all feedback.

and look at this wasteful spending on an Ex-Director that we are still paying for his ridiculous charges and he isn't doing his job:
Ex-director got raise despite reassignment
Records show Jacobsen's perks include $4,000 yearly bonus. Now at UNCC, he says it's in his original deal.
By Fred Clasen-Kelly
frkelly@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Richard "Jake" Jacobsen Jr., Director of Mecklenburg County Social Services, poses in his office among the more than 100 teddy bears he has collected and received as gifts over the 10 years he has worked in Charlotte. GAYLE SHOMER -gshomer@charlotteobserver.com. Doing an interview with Jake Jacobsen, head of Mecklenburg DSS, in the wake of the filing of a lawsuit by two of his former aides accusing him of being too forgetful and erratic to do his job in the wake of a stroke. Just needing a portrait type photo of him, plus a mug for the file (he says current mug we have is old)

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/790482.html

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