Sorry I've been a little behind in my posting. Sometimes I have lots going on.
Tonight the board elected new officers for the coming year, Susan Fox will continue as president, and Susan Manning will continue as Treasurer.
The board also decided to reconstitute the standing committees, last year's "experiment" clearly showed the need in order to get important work done. Stay tuned for opportunities if you are interested in serving the district.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
More from the WSJ
I have to at least give credit the WSJ for continuing to keep education front and center of their Sunday opinion section. This last Sunday, under the headline "Protect kids from cuts" the WSJ takes on the issue of closing the remaining Madison SD budget gap and editorializes for a pay freeze for teaching staff. Although the current budget situation probably makes reducing compensation for staff in one way or another inevitable, I don't think that devaluing the teaching profession can be construed as "Protecting kids". After all, the number one factor in educational outcomes is the placement of a highly qualified teacher in front of each class.
Attracting quality teachers means we have to be sure it is rewarding profession, so balancing the budget through reductions in teacher compensation is in the long term unsustainable. If the current situation was a one or two year problem then a freeze might serve as a bridge to recovery, and although I don't know the Madison situation I'm pretty sure their problems are similar to ours: shortfalls that extend year after year for the foreseeable future. The article notes that the Madison teachers receive the "standard" 1% raise this year. This year that seems inappropriate, but the fact that the same 1% is the “standard” every year since 1993 is also a problem.
According to USGovernementSpending.com primary and secondary education spending in WI has shrunk by 9% as a portion of GDP from 1998 to 2008- the education "Slice of the Pie" has been shrinking, and its the ultimate source of our budget problem, not the current recession.
We have to face it: reducing the money spent on education reduces the ability to provide services to kids. Let's not pretend we can "Protect kids" while doing it.
Attracting quality teachers means we have to be sure it is rewarding profession, so balancing the budget through reductions in teacher compensation is in the long term unsustainable. If the current situation was a one or two year problem then a freeze might serve as a bridge to recovery, and although I don't know the Madison situation I'm pretty sure their problems are similar to ours: shortfalls that extend year after year for the foreseeable future. The article notes that the Madison teachers receive the "standard" 1% raise this year. This year that seems inappropriate, but the fact that the same 1% is the “standard” every year since 1993 is also a problem.
According to USGovernementSpending.com primary and secondary education spending in WI has shrunk by 9% as a portion of GDP from 1998 to 2008- the education "Slice of the Pie" has been shrinking, and its the ultimate source of our budget problem, not the current recession.
We have to face it: reducing the money spent on education reduces the ability to provide services to kids. Let's not pretend we can "Protect kids" while doing it.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Ideas...
The Sunday WSJ editorialized on the idea of condensing high school from 4 to 3 years. Basically they argue the 4th year is of little value to disinterested seniors and the resources are better spent on early childhood efforts.
Although I don't agree with the idea (or rather I haven't given it sufficient consideration) it does relate to an idea I heard from an CA educator several years ago: Complete general education at age 16, and then provide 2 additional years of specialized programming related to the students interests: vocational/technical training, college prep in specific subject areas, etc. The idea was based on the observation that our current K-12 system was devised about two centuries ago and is not a good fit to students who mature an average of 2 years faster than they did then. Reworking the system in this way would be a better match to the needs and interests of students.
I do think that if we were going to design an education system from the ground up without any precedents, then that system would have some big differences from what actually have.
I do unequivocally agree with the last statement in the editorial:
Moving more of our state's educational resources from the top of the K-12 system to the bottom and even earlier in children's' lives demands strong consideration and debate during this election year.
Although I don't agree with the idea (or rather I haven't given it sufficient consideration) it does relate to an idea I heard from an CA educator several years ago: Complete general education at age 16, and then provide 2 additional years of specialized programming related to the students interests: vocational/technical training, college prep in specific subject areas, etc. The idea was based on the observation that our current K-12 system was devised about two centuries ago and is not a good fit to students who mature an average of 2 years faster than they did then. Reworking the system in this way would be a better match to the needs and interests of students.
I do think that if we were going to design an education system from the ground up without any precedents, then that system would have some big differences from what actually have.
I do unequivocally agree with the last statement in the editorial:
Tinkering around the edges of education reform won't be enough to move our state forward.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Lay-off notices...
At last night's meeting the board approved preliminary lay-off notices for several teachers. Final lay-off notices will be distributed in May. Some of the lay-offs are associated with adjustments that happen each year, usually related to enrollment. Others are related to teachers returning from leave of absence and other factors, but several of the lay-off notices are directly due to budget cuts made by the board towards balancing the budget.
Lay-offs are based on qualifications and seniority, in general the least senior teacher from among those qualified for the position is the one laid off. This is the contract language:
According to Jim Orlenko the administration has not completed the evaluation of the qualifications for all the positions that will be reduced, and so in some cases the final determination of who will be laid-off has not been made.
Lay-offs are based on qualifications and seniority, in general the least senior teacher from among those qualified for the position is the one laid off. This is the contract language:
Post probationary teachers shall be laid off in the reverse order of their initial employment provided the teacher with the greater seniority is qualified to perform the available teaching assignment. In determining whether the teacher with the great seniority is qualified, the Board shall take into consideration the appropriateness of training, experience and certification of such teacher with respect to the available teaching assignment.
According to Jim Orlenko the administration has not completed the evaluation of the qualifications for all the positions that will be reduced, and so in some cases the final determination of who will be laid-off has not been made.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April 14th meeting...
Items of note:
New Business
A. Discussion and Possible Approval of MG Alternative School revamp, (30 mins)including new charter and implementation grant application to DPI
(Rebecca Fox-Blair and Bill McDonald)
The MG Alt. High School needs to update their charter to bring them into compliance with federal guidelines. At the same time by rechartering the school it will be eligible for a 2 year "implementation grant" that will provide funds for curriculum development, equipment, workstations, software and furnishings - allowsing a significant upgrade to the offerings of the alt. school.
C. Discussion and Possible Approval of 9th Grade Biology, Beginning (30 mins) 2010-2011 - MGHS Science Department Staff & Bill Breisch
In an effort to align HS science offerings with College readiness standards, the high school science staff is proposing to expand biology to a full year for freshmen (2010-2011 school year) and chemistry to a full year for sophomores (2011-2012 school year). Honors courses will also be offered.
D. Discussion Regarding District Racial Issues (45 mins)
(Renee Tennant, Paul Brost and Charles Ellis)
As you probably know we have some difficult racial issues to address. Paul, Rennee and Charlie Ellis will provide us with an update on the situation and efforts to improve the environment for all students.
E. Discussion and Possible Approval of 2010-2011 Teacher Preliminary (10 mins)Notices of Layoff
Teachers contracts automatically extend for the next school year at the end of April, so we need to authorize preliminary layoff notices that reflect the budget cuts agreed to by the board before the deadline.
New Business
A. Discussion and Possible Approval of MG Alternative School revamp, (30 mins)including new charter and implementation grant application to DPI
(Rebecca Fox-Blair and Bill McDonald)
The MG Alt. High School needs to update their charter to bring them into compliance with federal guidelines. At the same time by rechartering the school it will be eligible for a 2 year "implementation grant" that will provide funds for curriculum development, equipment, workstations, software and furnishings - allowsing a significant upgrade to the offerings of the alt. school.
C. Discussion and Possible Approval of 9th Grade Biology, Beginning (30 mins) 2010-2011 - MGHS Science Department Staff & Bill Breisch
In an effort to align HS science offerings with College readiness standards, the high school science staff is proposing to expand biology to a full year for freshmen (2010-2011 school year) and chemistry to a full year for sophomores (2011-2012 school year). Honors courses will also be offered.
D. Discussion Regarding District Racial Issues (45 mins)
(Renee Tennant, Paul Brost and Charles Ellis)
As you probably know we have some difficult racial issues to address. Paul, Rennee and Charlie Ellis will provide us with an update on the situation and efforts to improve the environment for all students.
E. Discussion and Possible Approval of 2010-2011 Teacher Preliminary (10 mins)Notices of Layoff
Teachers contracts automatically extend for the next school year at the end of April, so we need to authorize preliminary layoff notices that reflect the budget cuts agreed to by the board before the deadline.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Kicking the can down the road...
Last night the board met in special session, with the goal of balancing the budget for next year. We ended up reducing two of the IMC media professionals for a savings estimated at $66,000, bringing the total cuts to $811K, well short of the $1M objective. Essentially we did not deal with the additional $250K we needed to find to offset our decision not to consolidate Maywood.
In normal circumstances I would be willing to say "close enough"- but not this year. We are facing growing deficits each year, and if we don't balance the budget it will only increase the pain next year, with interest (quite literally - our interest expense will increase because our operating cash will be reduced.) Cuts of $811K will save only $4M over 5 years, so the shortfall over the next four years has effectively grown to $11M. If we get lucky and the deficit isn't as big as projected, the additional reductions would serve to make next years reductions a little easier.
I don't believe any reasonable operating referendum will balance the budget alone without additional cuts, so the cuts we don't make this year will have to come out of programs in the future. The road we kick this can down is really one big pothole.
On some of the specifics, I moved that we not reduce the building budgets by 5% ($25K savings). Building budgets pay for pens and paper, art supplies and curricular materials, communication with parents and classroom equipment. Its the kind of thing that supports all programming, and preserving it fits with my philosophy of adequately supporting those things we choose to do rather than trying to do everything. This item alos appeared on the list without going through the thorough process for other items, and the amount of effort we were asking from the staff to make us comfortable with this small reduction just didn't seem worth it to me.
We also reviewed the plans for increasing walk zones to save transportation costs. Currently our elementary students walk a maximum of 3/4 mile, the change would have meant some students would have to walk as much as 1.5 miles. This would effect about 250 students, the vast majority of those at CG elementary. Given the number of students and the small amount saved ($35) I was uncomfortable with the plan and proposed John and Mary Ellen take a look at some alternatives, perhaps looking to develop a plan to provide the service at a reasonable fee to families in these areas.
In normal circumstances I would be willing to say "close enough"- but not this year. We are facing growing deficits each year, and if we don't balance the budget it will only increase the pain next year, with interest (quite literally - our interest expense will increase because our operating cash will be reduced.) Cuts of $811K will save only $4M over 5 years, so the shortfall over the next four years has effectively grown to $11M. If we get lucky and the deficit isn't as big as projected, the additional reductions would serve to make next years reductions a little easier.
I don't believe any reasonable operating referendum will balance the budget alone without additional cuts, so the cuts we don't make this year will have to come out of programs in the future. The road we kick this can down is really one big pothole.
On some of the specifics, I moved that we not reduce the building budgets by 5% ($25K savings). Building budgets pay for pens and paper, art supplies and curricular materials, communication with parents and classroom equipment. Its the kind of thing that supports all programming, and preserving it fits with my philosophy of adequately supporting those things we choose to do rather than trying to do everything. This item alos appeared on the list without going through the thorough process for other items, and the amount of effort we were asking from the staff to make us comfortable with this small reduction just didn't seem worth it to me.
We also reviewed the plans for increasing walk zones to save transportation costs. Currently our elementary students walk a maximum of 3/4 mile, the change would have meant some students would have to walk as much as 1.5 miles. This would effect about 250 students, the vast majority of those at CG elementary. Given the number of students and the small amount saved ($35) I was uncomfortable with the plan and proposed John and Mary Ellen take a look at some alternatives, perhaps looking to develop a plan to provide the service at a reasonable fee to families in these areas.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A humble thank you.
Final results:
Jennifer Pickel: 1435
Peter Sobol: 2004
Susan Manning: 2161
A thank you to the voters of the the Monona Grove School District who have again placed your trust in me to do this job. I will do my best, and I pray that my best is good enough.
Jennifer Pickel: 1435
Peter Sobol: 2004
Susan Manning: 2161
A thank you to the voters of the the Monona Grove School District who have again placed your trust in me to do this job. I will do my best, and I pray that my best is good enough.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Every Vote Counts!
Last year's Monona City Council election was decided by a margin of a single vote, and a lot of people in town who didn't vote are kicking themselves.
So vote TODAY, in every race- your vote matters.
So vote TODAY, in every race- your vote matters.
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