Dear Public Education,
We’ve known each other for many years, and for many years we’ve been generous to you, providing you a large portion of our public revenue so you can accomplish your goal of educating our kids. I consider you a friend, and I support your efforts. You have done much good.
A true friend, as we all know, is honest even when it hurts. Call it an intervention, a “come to Jesus” meeting. Call it a moment of painful candor, but right now I must be a true friend.
You have become greedy, selfish, and presumptuous. I have become tired of your perennial self-righteous demands for more and more, your assumption that you must be insulated from the adverse economic environment around you, and your propensity for tantrum-throwing when things don’t fall your way. After years of demanding more and more, it’s clear that the system can’t be sustained, especially in a rough economic climate. Nobody – not even the haters – like to see teachers getting their salaries reduced, elementary schools having to close down, and programs eliminated.
I value education. Growing minds of children and giving them fertile opportunities for learning is one of our greatest investments. But what I’d like you to see and understand is that every dollar spent toward education is not equal, and when times get tough it’s important to eliminate the less effective dollars from education.
You have assumed that traditional Public Education is the only legitimate way to educate children. You shun home-schooling, see charter schools as thieves of public money, turn your nose at private schools, and shudder at the thought of increased school choice. The traditional model of administering education is becoming outmoded and you must adapt to, accept, and embrace the changes.
Furthermore, by allowing unions to infiltrate the teachers’ ranks, you have allowed them tenure, which guarantees the worst teachers can’t be fired for being the worst teachers. Have you ever wondered how much this policy alone waters down the education of our children? You could make your industry much more legitimate and effective if you allowed yourself to get rid of the dead weight by freeing yourself from the “safety” of unions and embracing new possibilities by rewarding those who do well.
You are able to run your own elections, a luxury afforded only to the tin horn dictators and banana republic despots in the world. You hold school events for parents on voting day in an effort to load the polls with school-friendly voters. You hold them at your own location, on a date of your own choosing, and you send literature promoting your cause home with children. And then, when you don’t win the election, somehow it’s because the voters were uninformed, the opposition was lying, or some reason other than what you are asking for is too much.
Additionally, you have a long history of believing that applying business principles in education won’t work on a large scale, yet you haven’t allowed it to be tried significantly. Yet, we see large companies consolidating services when needed, cutting back when necessary, and making tough choices – not because they wanted to, but because they had to in order to survive.
We are indeed in a crisis, but it’s not because folks aren’t generous enough, and it’s not because the legislature is made up of a bunch of backward tightwads. It’s because the system has become large, outdated, inefficient, and resistant to inevitable change.
You have a choice. You can change and become nimble enough to absorb the fluctuations of the economy. Or, you can refuse to move — like the old man sitting in the shadow of Mt. Saint Helens who refused to leave and is now buried under a thick layer of ash – and perish.
I sincerely want you to survive. But just know that your survival depends on you, not me. It’s time to grow up, join the real world, and move ahead with new energy, a sense of humility, and an optimistic outlook that change doesn’t mean death. On the contrary. It means new life, new ways of operating and growing.
Sincerely,
The Public (your boss).
Popularity: 1%
. Plus that leaves me a day to spend money elsewhere, so yes, there is money to be made on Sunday.
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{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Neal,
For once we have found common ground; congratulations on your logical thinking. The public education system is indeed in need of change. Why not start with encouraging our legislators to embrace a voucher system for education? Let the free market have an impact on education! Let the parents decide where their children should be educated and let the dollars follow the children not vice versa.
Lets shake up this public education system into something that works for all parties involved: teachers, parents, children, public schools, private schools, charter schools, home schools, Montessori schools.
It’s time to give choice a chance.
Top ↑There is not a single actual piece of evidence in this whole article. The above commenter congratulates you on your logical thinking. The only thing you did here is expound on the subject and show everyone your ideology. There is very little logic to anything in this article. Do some research, crunch some numbers. You will be a lot more convincing.
Top ↑@land: evidently you have done some research and/or number crunching; care to share with us un-enligtened ones?
Top ↑GREAT ARTICLE! My thoughts exactly!
Top ↑thats not the point. I’m not trying to show my superiority over you. If i was going to argue a point i would have done so in the comment i already made.
What i am saying is that now i know what you think but you haven’t convinced me. I’m asking you to do a little more research and think a little harder based on that research, rather than writing out your ideology without justifying it in any way.
Show me that charter schools, home-schooling and private schools are real, viable alternatives.
“The traditional model of administering education is becoming outmoded…”
Prove it.
“you have a long history of believing that applying business principles in education won’t work on a large scale, yet you haven’t allowed it to be tried significantly”
Show me that a public institution modeled on a for-profit business is an idea that works.
“the system has become large, outdated, inefficient, and resistant to inevitable change.”
Top ↑This is the basis of your article, yet you show no evidence to support this claim.
Great article!!! This Bond is for buildings only…not for teachers or programs. There is no magic wand and tax money just appears it comes from people…and people they are struggling to make there own ends meet. Just want to add my house is over 75 years old and just fine!
Top ↑@land:
Seems to me that you’re combating ideology with ideology. Please provide us with some facts as to why it is unacceptable to allow charter, Montessori and other types of education into the public education system.
Also, I have opined that a voucher system would be beneficial because it would allow a free-market factor into the equation. Your thoughts?
Top ↑@Anonymous
I hardly think that the fact that your house is old has any bearing on whether or not school buildings can continue to be used. School buildings are not homes, and they do not function as such, nor do they experience the same types and magnitude of wear and tear.
Top ↑@Anonymous (comment # 7)
I have not stated any ideology in my comments. Read them more carefully. I stated a criticism of this article which i think should be addressed. This is not ideology. I wish to understand more fully the source and basis for the opinion in this article. You should be jumping at the chance to try to convince me that your opinion is the more worthy one.
Top ↑@land:
The facts and circumstances of what exists in public schools today speak for themselves; I believe this is (in part) what Mr. Larson was stating in his original article. The current system is failing, if only, because it is out of money. I am presenting one way in which to change the system that would rebuild confidence in the public education system, and that is a voucher system. If people are confident in the system, maybe they would be more willing to vote for bonds to feed the systems money demands.
You don’t seem to disagree on this point, so I’m assuming you agree that a change to the voucher system would be beneficial as well.
Top ↑@ Anonymous
I can not figure out if your just trying to be an agitator or if you seriously believe your responses. Land is asking the poster of this article to back up their claims with reasonable evidence instead of trying to win us over on emotion alone. Your response to land was to demand they provide their own evidence. That is not how logic, critical thinking, or science are accomplished. If a researcher makes a claim it is the responsibility of the researcher to provide evidence of that claim. For example they a person can’t come out and say the moon is made of cheese no prove me wrong. If the critical exploration of ideas and hypothesis was carried out in this way then we would not have ever made past the discovery of fire.
Top ↑Land’s points are a reference to an approach that has an established set of rules and form. They are not using the word logical in an entirely every day sense. They are actually referring more to the formal process of argument form. We should not be convinced on emotional prose we should be convinced by fact and careful consideration of the facts. I stand behind land’s request for the author to provide more evidence.
It hasn’t been said yet but it is an unacceptable response the the article is just meant to be artistic or merely thought provoking. The author of this article clearly is making and persuasive argument. they want us to believe or at least agree with their point but they have not provided a reason to believe that point. Just their unsupported opinion.
Thanks land for demanding critical thinking and rigor in argument form and substance.
You’re not going to get Mr. Larson to state any facts. That’s not his MO. Mr. Larsen is mostly known for posting his opinion on a given topic all the while sitting back and allowing others to debate said issue/s. If you go through this blog and look at his other postings, he very rarely replies to and/or participates in his own debates. It’s like trying to squeeze water out of tree bark.
Top ↑A Letter From the Husband of a Former Teacher
Believe me, I share a lot of the frustrations you express in your letter. But believe me as well, there’s nothing worse than a hide-bound institution resistant to change and too easy to scoff at innovations such as charter schools and home schooling than hidebound parents and patrons who expect public education to produce champagne results on beer budgets.
My wife spent four years earning a bachelors degree in English and teaching. It only took patrons, students, and administrators three years to drive her out of the business entirely.
When patrons are aghast that their precious child got a failing grade in an “easy” class not because the student didn’t do any homework or complete any assignments but because the teacher didn’t do enough to “motivate” said child, there’s something wrong with the patrons. Especially when said teacher can produce documented, repeated evidence of “motivation” that the student ignored.
When students break into classrooms, defy teachers, pout because teachers are “mean” to them, lie about completing homework assignments and generally treat teachers like dirt and encourage their parents to do so as well because students can do no wrong, there’s something wrong with the students.
When administrators can bring irate parents to classrooms and stand idly by while they go over the top berating teachers for their child’s poor performance and not once have the guts to say maybe some of the fault belongs to the student, there’s something wrong with administrators.
When schools are proud to show off new computer labs to be used by English students – when only 20 computers are provided and average class size for English courses is 27, there’s something wrong with the way our schools are funded.
But most especially when patrons try to send messages to schools through denying requests for money to educate the students in their charge and pay the teachers to educate those students and build and repair facilities in which teaching can take place, the rule of unintended consequences comes into play – because then schools have to turn around and cut budgets and salaries and defer maintenance, thus ensuring continued requests for more funding.
Let me ask you this: as Idaho cuts its budget, the first target is always education. I know it’s a big piece of the pie. Idaho is constitutionally obligated to balance its budget. That’s easy to do when all they have to do in Boise is take a red pen to budget lines and pass on to others the responsibility of actually figuring out what to cut, who to fire, and what maintenance to defer to make up for the unfunded mandate cuts Boise hands out. Then to have patrons turn around and slap educators in the face for asking for help to balance budgets, the message sent is clear that behind all the guff about charter schooling, home schooling – which, if I’m not mistaken, actually do occur in Bonneville County and Idaho Falls – is a mean-spirited desire to take all the good work that’s being done in our public schools and dismiss it because of the perception of waste or hidebound resistance to change – which I’m sure doesn’t exist to the extent some believe. These people who are trying to do their jobs and budget within the means they’re given are told that they’re spendthrifts who are wasting money not on education but ivory-handled backscratchers.
Yeah, y’all stuck it to the man, all right. And poked teachers square in the eyes. Told them they’re wasteful and ignorant and resistant to change – and practically in the same breath ask them why the hell they can’t educate your precious little snowflakes better and why you have to home school them or send them to charter schools to get what you want. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Next week, the school district I live in, where three of my children go to school, will ask voters for a little budgetary help. I’m going to tell them yes. Because I know that behind these hidebound institutions are teachers who deserve to be paid better for teaching our kids who deserve better, in buildings and with equipment that could be better if I, myself, will pry open my wallet to help them out.
Meanwhile, my wife is in our kids’ classrooms each week, helping their teachers out for free because getting involved is what good parents do to help not only their children, but every single child in the classroom.
What are those of you cheering the defeats of the requests made by Districts 91 and 93 going to do to help? I’m waiting to hear.
Top ↑Neal convinced me, and I loved the article. The State of Idaho gives about 2/3 of the general fund to education, and that doesn’t even count the local bonds and levys. That is a lot of power and money to one entity (monopoly). If you come out against them in any way, you are demonized and labeled anti-child. They are well organized, motivated, and powerful and I hope some of that power is divided by school choice including increased number of charter schools, continued allowance of home school, and vouchers.
Top ↑Question: Why are vouchers a bad idea?
Top ↑I still think Neal Larson is a Pompmus Ass, following the Republic Motto “Just Say No”. Larson is nothing but a wannbe Sean Hannity, a Political Opportunist, No Courage Scumbag with a wingnut radio show. Neil is just following the Old White Guys with white hair (Republicans), in just saying no to any tax increase.
Top ↑@Anonymous (comment #13)
The fraction of the state general fund given to education is a meaningless statistic unless it is shown to be either too much, too little or the correct amount. 2/3 is an impressive number, but it may not be enough all the same. Until you prove that 2/3 is too much money or that it is enough money, you can’t use that number to argue a point.
Also, economics is a fickle science with many subtleties that i will not pretend to fully understand, but it is worth researching whether:
(A) the public education system constitutes an actual monopoly
(B) said monopoly is dangerous
(C) public policy and funding of public services is even governed by the same principles that govern businesses in a free market
This is a debate worth having, and i’d love to read any real evidence anyone can provide to either side.
Top ↑Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
Top ↑I am disappointed in the marketing tactics of my kids teachers. I found out today from one of my daughters that goes to Edgemont that her teachers were pushing the kids to push their parents to vote Yes.
I have no problems with teachers making more money or even updated schools. There is though a time and place for everything. Why ask for over 50 million dollars to build 4 schools, when they could ask for the money one school at a time? Why out of the 50+ million was over 2 million dollars ear marked for project management? Why in the schools is money grossly waisted? Why cant the Super’ and other administration tighten their belt? Why does Idaho Falls Metro have 2 school districts when consolidation would cut administrative expenses from the top down?
My dad was a teacher for 33 years, his Wife was teacher as well. More money = better teachers instead of teachers that are teaching because they failed in the professional world.
Even though I have 2 kids at Edgemont I am very glad that it didn’t pass.
Top ↑@ John C
Top ↑Thank God in heaven that SOMEONE stands up and says no to new taxes. I, for one, am taxed enough. I voted no on the school bond election, stood in line for 45 minutes amid a sea of parents at the elementary school near my home, who were there for a Parent’s Night. There were hundreds of kids there painting pictures and doing crafts in the Multi-Use room. Photocopied paper, paints, markers, crayons, and roll paper were available for the kids. I’d say $50-$100 worth of supplies easy. Start there. Yeah, I know, that’s not going to make or break the school budget. But start there. Then look around and see that ALL state departments are downsizing, ALL are cutting, ALL are unhappy with it, but must deal with it in this economic downturn. Schools are no exception.
@ john c
You need a time out! You are mean spirited and demeaning. Don’t be a hater just because Neil has a microphone. I hope you don’t teach kids with your closed minded, negative and anti-conservative view of the state. I would hate it to rub off on them.
Top ↑@ Love24Wheel
You must be a progressive that never saw a tax increase they didn’t like. Where does it stop? Just because someone wants to see some common sense used; They hate children? Take another swig of your Red Bull!
The School Administrators to their credit have tried for years to get people to be involved but we’re all to busy chasing the “Dream.” Did you ever stop to think that maybe we wouldn’t have to chase as hard if we didn’t have to pay so much in taxes. Just because you throw your cell phone away every two years and get a new “free” one doesn’t mean it makes good economic sense.
Look around and pay attention maybe you’ll start to recognize waste. Maybe you’ll get involved and use some critical thinking to help solve some of the issues our community faces. Agree or disagree, the School Administrations did what they thought was best. They convinced 65+ percent of people that they knew what was best. Was it really or were there other agendas? The managing contractor stood to make 4+ million dollars. Did that make a difference in their judgment? Did they have the community’s best interest at heart or their bank accounts? I will assume that the School administration took their advice and pushed forward with the plan that was presented because they didn’t have any better information and they have taxpayer’s money to pay for it.
Just like Congress, they allow themselves to be persuaded that when the Tax burden is spread across the masses, “it’s really not that much.” But what about the elderly, or those with huge medical expenses or young couples just starting out? Until those making decisions start thinking about there public spending decisions as if they were spending their OWN money we will have excessive tax burdens. I am reasonably sure that not one of the members of the School Board would take their own 40 year old home and demolish it after building a new one.
Top ↑I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my kids out on busy streets with the “Say No” signs, those kids weren’t even from dist.91, so much for the type of parent I am. I probably pay more taxes than all the people commenting here. Property Tax, Business Taxes for 3 businesses. BUT I’m willing to shell out more if it mean my kids (2 left in hs) and my grand kids have a safe and modern enviroment to learn. Has anyone here rally taken a good look on the inside of some of the area schools?. Those Clowns against the bond had no vested interest in the school district other than crying about a tax increase which by the way would of averaged out less than $100 a year for that home on 11th street.
Top ↑@ J:
I took the comment by Love24Wheel as a comment to John C to calm down. I don’t think Love24Wheel was stating which way they felt about the election or school bonds, just that they think the personal attack by John C was out of line (not productive). As a matter of fact if you look at other postings by Love24Wheel, I think you will see that they are against pointless spending by the school boards. Maybe you should read the posts by Love24Wheel again, and you will see his/her point.
by the way even though our names are similar, we are not related (as far as I know) so don’t think I am defending them because of this. This is the name I have used for years on this and several other web sites.
Top ↑And once again John C is throwing personal insults. these types of comments are not productive in a debate and only show one’s character!
Even if those kids holing the signs weren’t going to school in Dist 91 (home schooled or what ever) does not indicate how they would be affected by a tax increase. Heck, they may live within the boundries for all I know!
I would ask you how you can say that anyone voting against the bond has no vested interest in the school district. Maybe they do have an interest and have seen pointless spending or maybe they have asked questions that have not been answered. I have a question! How come Dist #91 closed two elementary schools 3 years ago (because of a drop in student numbers) but they are asking for more money to rebuild now? They claim it is because they are looking to the future, but if that is true, I would ask, were they looking to the future when they closed the two schools?
Top ↑@love2ride
I might be able to help answer your question. I’ll begin by asking a question of you. Have you spent time in the schools that are to be rebuilt, or the schools that were closed? Also, which schools were closed and which are to be rebuilt (I’m not sure i know the correct answer, help me out)? If the schools to be rebuilt are the ones i’m thinking of, they are in desperate need of this. Not only are they uncomfortable and unappealing, but borderline dangerous as well. Hardly an environment i would want my or anyone else’s children.
Also, i wrote comment #16 but forgot to put my name on it. Feel free to address replies to me.
Top ↑I am on the school board and much of my time over the last two years has been spent on this project of addressing the needs of our aging buildings. These buildings that have been identified as the neediest are all over 50 years old. Age alone doesn’t justify replacing a building, it is the cost of bringing it up to a level of meeting the demands placed on it by modern technology and education. These buildings were designed and built before school lunch, kindergarten, American with Disabilities Act, Title I, and at a time when most kids walked or rode a bike to school. Closets have been turned in offices and hallways into storage areas and instructional space.
I no longer have children in the school system and I am also disgusted with the recent actions of the federal government to increase entitlement programs. I also see a vast difference between a federal tax and a local tax. This bond would have benefitted our community, not someone on the other side of the country or state. I have read articles and done research to gain advice about when it is prudent to remodel and when it is more cost-effective to rebuild. As a district we have experience about remodeling and we have realized it depends upon the quality of the structure we have to start with and how many remodels it has already been through.
I hope that as we move forward, we will get input from the community about what they will support. I know that most members of this community believe as I do: Education is the key to a better future.
Top ↑Neal Larson doesn’t know jack about schools. Public education is forced to educate every child regardless of ability and expected to get that student at grade level or be in trouble.
So, since large families are the norm here, maybe large taxes should be too.
Everybody says merge the schools, make them more buisiness like.
Well, here is a better idea. Instead of just merging D91 and D93 why not merge cities and counties as well. No more Ammon, Iona, Idaho Falls, or Ucon. Just Bonneville County.
Just think of all of the money spent on dupilcated programs and services.
We have one “county school district”, one “county administration office”, one “county police/sherriff”, one “county fire department”.
If it would work with schools it will work for all government agencies.
Top ↑Neal doesn’t support medical marijuana for Idaho either. After listening to him talk about it on his show a couple weeks ago, it’s clear he isn’t educated on this plant being a great alternative to pharmecutical medications for pain. Like many people in this country he’s been brainwashed into thinking it’s a terrible drug and that’s just not the case. Even as a recreational drug, it’s much safer than alcohol, tobacco and most drugs your doctor will prescribe you. But he’s strongly against it even for medicinal use under a doctors supervision.
Top ↑Like his past posts, Neal isn’t interested in writing topics to debate but posting them to sit back while others do all the talking.
The only reason why teachers are suffering a 6% pay decrease is because the majority of our society has already suffered that or worse. Why are you so privileged to be insulated from it? Why should we all cry for you. Name a business or a industry that has not cut back 6%! 10% of all Americans have had their salary cut back 100%.
Top ↑Take the construction industry. Only 6% of them are still working. Yet they have no construction worker appreciation day, often no benefits, yet are they crying to the public for help at every turn?
This is healthy for all public workers to know where there bread is buttered.
Money is not directly converted to knowledge by the school districts. Educate our youth for less. Prove it can be done. Make the best of it. Quit complaining.
@Scren
The reason is that teachers have a truly important position in society. The reason you are able to read the words i typed right now is because of a teacher. The reason you know what a number is (though i question your ability to argue with them) is because of a teacher. Do not diminish the importance of teachers.
Teachers are paid very little when weighed against the paramount importance they have and influence they exert on society. By reducing incentive to become a teacher (decreasing pay), fewer people will want to become teachers. Fewer of the best and brightest people will become teachers and we will (and have been) left with sub-par people in teaching positions, providing a sub-par education to our community’s youth. Thats why society should do our best to insulate teachers and the education system as a whole from hard times. We do our best to insulate our children in our personal lives, why not insulate their education as well? A blow to teachers is a blow to education and that’s something worth crying about.
I mentioned above your use of numbers to argue. Saying that 10% of americans have had their salary cut 100% is a strange thing to say, and i question its accuracy. What you should have said is that 10% of Americans are unemployed, then you must cite your source for that number.
Top ↑I have been torn on the issue of the bonds, because I can see legitimate arguments on both sides.
One place I am not torn is teachers’ pay. I have to take a deep breath before dealing with statements from people like Scren.
The attitude that teachers think they are “privileged” is laughable. I’m not sure I have ever heard the words teacher and privileged in the same sentence. So you think teachers should sacrifice too, because everyone else is? You are missing a huge point. Teachers ARE sacrificing just by being a teacher. They have been sacrificing ALL ALONG, long before the economy went south. (And Idaho is among the worst in teacher pay, even before all these cuts.)
And to the anonymous comment above about teachers teaching “because they failed in the professional world”? I just have to say, I have taught school AND worked in the professional world. The professional world is a piece of cake.
Sure, there are a few bad teachers everywhere. But the vast majority are good teachers who are passionate about making a difference with these kids. They work their tails off for very little pay, recognition, and appreciation.
The districts, government, public, and parents give them lemons. They’re just trying to make lemonade. So cut them some slack.
Top ↑People who teach choose to teach. They aren’t forced to teach. They aren’t forced to sacrifice. It is a choice. Additionally, consider that they get to take summer off—so, if you factor the pay rate with 9 months of work, it is certainly in line with alot of other professions.
Teachers do engage in very important work; I think all of us can relate either as parents and former students teachers that impacted us in a positive way—and those that didn’t help us much at all. If you really stop to think about it, teacher unions are a large part of the problem. They reward mediocre or poor teachers at the expense of educators that go the extra mile (and more) for their students. Educator salaries shouldn’t be based on seniority or union membership, they should be based on objective evaluation of a teachers performance and ability to foster a positive learning environment. Better teachers deserve more pay. I am willing to pay more for those teachers that don’t tow the union line of mediocrity. If Land wants to talk about incentives then let’s have real incentives and not reward those for simply showing up.
Top ↑8.2 million jobs were wiped out by the latest recession, “Land.” That’s a lot of people without jobs. Many more U.S. citizens received their hours cut, were relocated or reassigned to lower paying jobs. Whether teachers recognize reality or not, they and schools aren’t the only ones suffering.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100517/BUSINESS/5170320
Top ↑I think I will side with Land’s original comment about Neal’s sweeping generalities. He uses emotion only and no facts to back up his words. I can listen to both sides and say hey that is a great point! But all in all its a tough choice to decide to cut education.
I guess my biggest beef with the attitude of “no new taxes” is that I hear, “look at all the waste!” Seriously where is the waste? Give me details. Is it just salaries? I know that PTO’s raise a lot of money just so the schools can manage and have a few extras. I need specifics on the waste before I can agree. Now when regular folks cut back they get rid of cell phones or at least cut service back, get rid of Cable, maybe even sell a car and buy something cheaper, when at the grocery store they won’t buy that extra bag of chips, or skip name brand mac and cheese for store brand. I don’t go into schools and see frivolities, I see they are already without cell service and cable, and they have been buying store brand and going without for years! (figuratively speaking of course) One classroom in our elementary has a smart board, guess what? she got it as a gift from her family, the school didn’t buy it. Computers at our school for teachers and kids are at least 10 years old. I tried to use a TV at the school the other day, it was so old that you couldn’t plug a DVD player into it!!! I found one at a local yard sale and asked if she was willing to donate it to the school. She dropped it off Monday, now is someone going to come into the school and see this TV and say HOW DARE THEY THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH…LOOK AT THE WASTE!!! I just think cutbacks suck and if teachers and administrators want to complain I’ll let them, I complain when I have to cut back too! It doesn’t mean they are not willing to deal with it.
I sent a letter to Tom Luna asking about consolidation and salaries of Superintendants I would like to share that here if you don’t mind. The reply was interesting.
Supt. Luna asked me to respond to your latest email as he has been out of the office quite a bit. I hope I can be helpful to you.
Under the state’s funding formula for public schools in Idaho, each district receives funding for .075 administrator positions for each “support unit.” Some people refer to support units as classroom units, since there is usually a rough equivalency between the number of support units funded and the number of classrooms in the district. Districts, of course, make their own hiring decisions. Some may hire more administrators than the state funds, while some hire less. Salary decisions are also made at the district level. The state may provide a certain level of funding for an administrative position, but the district may pay them more or less, at their discretion.
On the issue of consolidation, if you consolidated all school districts in Idaho at the county level (except for Boise and Lewiston, which may present legal hurdles from the fact that they operate under charters whose authority pre-dates the State of Idaho), it would save the state about $15 million a year. Savings at the local level could be more or less, depending on what kind of savings could be gained from the consolidation of staff and programs. Our website offers a presentation Supt. Luna did for the legislature on district consolidation at this link: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/schoolsbudget/ Click on the document entitled “Presentation on District Consolidation” near the end of the list of documents on this page.
It is worth noting, however, that the overall reduction in public schools funding for next year is $128 million, so even a $15 million savings would still leave substantial cuts of $113 million.
Attached is a report on Superintendent salaries in Idaho for 2008-2009 (the most current available). It lists each district and what they pay their superintendent. I hope that is the information you were hoping to receive.
(if you want this you’ll have to send me an email billtam1@cableone.net)
Thank you again for contacting us. Public school finance can be a complicated subject; I hope I’ve provided you some assistance.
Top ↑Brenda Mattson
Executive Assistant to Supt. Luna
my wife is a teacher in D93. When she became a teacher she knew she wouldn’t make it to be rich. Being a teacher she does have her summers off. And every summer she is involved in training and classes to keep her certification. She spends hours preparing for the next year, bith at home and in her class.
I don’t think the average person knows how many hours teachers spend of their own time doing school work. I know very few people who bring home their job every night.
Should teachers get a pay cut? Sure if there are going to be less hours required or less students. However, D93 is adding more students to every class. They can’t build schools fast enough for the growth. How does 300+ new kids next year. Hell that is almost an entire new school.
I am sorry that peole feel like education is a drain on their pocketbook. However, they are the guilty party for having kids. If you want lots of kids, be ready to provide for them. Providing doesn’t mean just birthing! It means clothing, teaching, educating and supporting.
I am proud to say my wife is a teacher. She does a great job. Most teachers do. Yes, there are a few who don’t, but very few. (just like the few in every work place)
If we want our children to be better off than we are, we need to step up our game. I look at all of the people in my neighborhood who have fancy new trucks, boats, atvs, snowmobiles and party every weekend. Their parents at some point made a sacrifice for them, now it is your turn to sacrifice a bit.
Get in touch with your local school principal or PTO. get involved with your kids school. Help make it a better school by helping and if that means paying a few $ darn.
Should districts merge? Good luck getting the patrons of D91 to want to pay for the schools D93 has built and the patrons of D93 are not going to want the old buildings of D91. If they do merge will the D91 teachers get a pay cut or will the D93 teachers get a pay raise? (there is about a $2500 difference)
If they merge will D91 switch to semesters and the A-B Day schedule or will D93 switch to the trimester?
Merging school districts would be like merging the Army, Navy and Air Force. Just isn’t going to happen in this lifetime.
Top ↑Mr. Johnson is sorry that people feel that [public] education is a drain on their pocketbooks and he believes that they, themselves are at fault for having children. What about those members of the community who feel that education is draining their pocketbooks and they have no children? Mr. Johnson believes that people who choose to have many children should be prepared to provide fully for those children. I agree, but what about those parents who provide their children’s education in full, at their own expense? They too may feel that public education is a drain on their pocketbooks.
I have seven children. I qualify for food stamps, medicaid, WIC, public school, and social security benefits for a handicapped child. There are probably more “benefits” that I qualify for and am not even aware of. I CHOOSE not to accept any of these because I agree with Mr. Johnson that, if I am going to have children, it is my responsibility to provide for them. Not my neighbor’s, the taxpayer. And as a taxpayer, it is also not my responsibility to pay for my neighbor’s groceries, medical expenses, infant formula, children’s education, or wheelchair ramps. If I choose to do that, more power to me. If my neighbor chooses to help me out, great! But we should never be forced to do so by penalty of imprisonment. People will help one another if given the opportunity to do so. It is not the proper role of government to force people to care for one another and that includes education. There are other ways to provide quality education than by the monopolistic system that currently exisits. If I vote against a tax increase, it doesn’t mean that I’m anti-education, anti-children, anti-the-future-of-America, or anti-teachers. It means I don’t want another tax increase. I’m all about education, children, and the future leaders of America. As a homeschooling parent, I consider myself a teacher. But you won’t hear me complaining about my teaching salary because I don’t get one. My hours are 24-7. I choose this life. It isn’t a sacrifice. Many people don’t choose it and that’s okay too.
By the way, I live in District 91 and my children were standing on corners, holding signs against the bond. I have been told that I used my children. I can see how it might appear that way to some. They don’t know us.
It would seem that there is a serious case of tunnel vision when it comes to the general public’s view of education and how it should be run. Is it possible that there could be a better way? Tammie, in post #35, told a wonderful story of a member of the community donating an updated television to the school. This should be the norm. Let’s all shift our paradigms away from the mentality that everything should happen through taxation. What if Tammie created an organization where people in the community donated equipment, supplies, or whatever a school’s needs were. All of the people who voted yes on the bond need not go away angry. They can get together and create a private fund to donate to their school to meet some of their needs. I believe we might all be surprised at the number of “no-voters” that would be willing to participate in community fund- raisers or other private organizations that come together to provide the local needs. And just think of the wonderful sense of community this would create, rather than the constant bickering that is going on now. People who want to donate their time, talents, and money to improve schools… can! And people who would rather keep their money for other things could do that too and it’s okay. That’s freedom. That’s America.
Top ↑Sylvia, both school districts do have “education foundations where people can donate money or items. The right to a free education doesn’t mean “free”. Taxes have always been used to provide an education for every person in this country regardless of legal or not.
Home schooling is not something most people can do. Most either don’t have the mental ability and/or the equipment to do it. With the increase in the number of charter schools (which are pretty much the not so rich people’s private schools) and the cuts in funding it is becoming ahrder to educate every child.
My wife had a class of 26 kids. 6 of which were on IEPs and 3 more on 504 plans. More than 50% of the students are from single parent families.
I commend you for your efforts with your kids. The sad thing about the “vote no” signs was it lumped D91 and D93 together when the money at D93 was to repair existing buildings and equipment not build new. Now they will still maintain those buildings and now it will come at the expense of the kids education.
Top ↑a “come to Jesus” meeting.
You don’t need to go any further!
Top ↑As an aspiring teacher I must say Wow, I have no idea how to approach this topic, other than those that complain and whine about the school system and poor educators aught to think what message this sends to those growing up and choosing careers. I grew up a long time ago and have spent time in the proffesional world and decided I wanted an education, what did I want with my education, not money, nor riches, not even power and authority, but the feeling that I could make a difference. A difference for people that might not have a chance otherwise. I hope that those that so easily complain about the school system are good parents and their kids don’t need to seek out support and love from the other place in their lives that they spend nearly most of their time at–the school. But there are several kids out there that need what the school provides and not just the education but the support and caring they receive from teachers. I had a teacher that made such a difference in my life he inspired me to want to do the same. But it is attitudes from people like Bundy and Scren, that keep very intelligent people that know there is no money involved second guessing on whether it is worth it to become a teacher when they get so little respect from the community that they work for. Might I remind you that to go to college costs money and a lot of time and hard work, I find it hard to believe that some feel that teachers just failed at other professions so fell into teaching…I would have to guess that the people that say this have never been to college, it is hard work, and work you have to pay for.
Top ↑I have the option to choose any proffesion I wish, and the GPA to back it, but i still desire to go to work every day where I know I am needed, and difficult to replace, because I have no thoughts that teaching will be easy or that the money equals the hours and effort and stress, but i do know that if I change the life of only one child I will be richer than I would had I taken any other proffession. And I don’t doubt most teachers are smart enough to have figured out that they will never be rich in the proffession they chose, but i also don’t think they would have guessed they would have to buy their own supplies and take a pay cut every time the economy dips either.
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