In follow up to my post from February 12, Bonneville Joint School District 93 is no longer considering a four-day school week.
Now, district officials are considering program and salary cuts as well as letting go some of the newer teachers.
Meanwhile, SD.93 plans to hold an open meeting to address the possible budget cuts and the district’s upcoming request for a supplemental levy. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30PM next Tuesday (03/10/09) at the Sandcreek Middle School (2955 Owen St.). In addition, SD.93 will have their next School Board meeting the following night (03/11/09) at 7:30PM in the auditorium at Rocky Mountain Middle School (3443 N. Ammon Rd.). Please visit SD.93’s site for further details (though in my opinion their site is not very helpful): http://www3.d93.k12.id.us/
My previous post concerning School District 93
Popularity: 9%
Related posts:
- Meetings planned to discuss Idaho Falls School District 91 bond proposal
- Bonneville School District 93 is considering a four-day school week. What are your thoughts?
- What about School District 91’s upcoming request for $85 million?
- School district bans cell phones
- Where is District 91 School Board Leadership?
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
:@:)
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Idaho needs to invest in its future – that means offering incentives for people to stay here, work here, TEACH here, and pay their taxes here. Cutting salaries? Laying off new teachers?
I am a future educator in Idaho, and this is absurd. There is a DRASTIC need for more teachers in Idaho. Our classes are increasing in size, decreasing in value, and it’s our children who are suffering.
We can pay billions to pad the salaries of financial companies’ CEOs, but we aren’t willing to pay people to educate our children? Come on, Idaho. That’s a sad state of affairs.
I’m not really willing to pay either. Our public school system is tired, and I don’t know that it’s worth the money to resuscitate. In my opinion, we’d all be better off if all schooling was provided privately.
So Marcus, you favor allowing public schools to fail and then waiting for the private sector to step in and save the day? What about the thousands of students who will be left out to dry during the transition?
You may not be willing to pay, but what is the alternative? If there is a call for a special tax to “bail out” our public schools, would you really oppose it? What do you propose we do with all of the young people whose lives will be ruined by the unavailability of schools?
And are you really saying that America shouldn’t offer public schooling? That people should be responsible for enrolling, paying for, and providing children an education on a private sector basis?
To #3: That’s exactly what I’m saying. I think that to say that their lives would be ruined without public education is an overstatement, but it would certainly be difficult to adjust to for a period of time. Parents are not helpless, and should be teaching their kids more information that is applicable to their lives on a daily basis than the public teacher can anyway. The only thing that I could see being a problem initially is the question: “Who is going to watch my kid during the day?”
Parent teacher conferences are coming up, and it always makes bums me out. I walk through the halls to my kids’ rooms, get to introduce myself to their teachers again, and the teachers let my wife and me know what has happened in class over the last few months and what they’re planning on through the next three. It always shocks me how little is actually being covered.
When I was in high school, it was close to the same as it is now, but not quite as bad. I had just barely missed most of the funky education plans that came through the system from 2000 to 2004. Tests counted for 40% of the grade, homework and in-class activities for 60%. Well, I was the kid that shrugged off the homework and class activities because I didn’t thrive in that environment, and I failed my share of classes for it…but I always excelled at the tests. We are giving our youth homework to keep them busy…and most of them are doing it whether they pass their classes or not.
There is no consideration given to the kids that just get it. That can pick up the ball and run with it, but aren’t quite up to par in AP classes. Public schooling, at least in this state, consists of sending your children to a big building all day long while you work (Universal Day Care!) so they can learn the number 3 and the letter Q for a week. So they can do a 4 page homework packet once a week on subjects that my kids already know from the daily lessons! Busy work for the sake of busy work.
I guess if public school can cater to every child’s specific learning needs…let it continue. Overall, private schools would better suit our children, and with a school market void of any sort of public schooling, they would be much more affordable. Different schools and classes for different learning styles, state appointed minimum curriculum, competitive wages for staff…I think it’s win win for everybody.
I also think that public schools have served their purpose. I think that if we stopped having public schools, and gave vouchers for private schools, our children would start receiving the education that they need. Schools would have to compete to get the students into their classrooms. This in turn would mean better teachers and better educations.
If district 93 is looking to save money, I think they should fire the teachers that have been there a long time, and then hire younger teachers. Now this is just a generalization, but teachers that have taught a very long time tend to lose the excitement. They are not there for the kids any longer. They just teach for the paycheck. Younger teachers are excited and pass that excitement onto the children.
Our oldest son has been to three different schools. Two public and one private, and then we have home schooled. The private school was amazing. He was excited to go to school and he was learning at a faster rate compared to his friends in the public school. The two public schools made him regress. His education was almost nonexistent. When we started home schooling our oldest son, he was happier, he was learning at a faster rate and with more accuracy. He could actually remember the things that he was learning.
Now, I have nothing against teachers or public schools, but I think that we need to realize that what we have just is not working. And it isn’t just in Idaho. It is all over this country. We need to stop paying the administrations those six figure salaries, and start getting the money back into the classrooms. There are so many things that need to be taken care of, but so many people that are not willing to make it work.
A few comments here:
1) The function of public schools is not limited to education. It would be futile to try and tailor education to each individual student. This is not the primary function of public schools. They also serve as mediums for the process of socialization, giving young people the social skills they will need in the “real world”. It is in public schools that students learn the values and pitfalls of how societies work, it is where they begin to determine their identity and where they fit in within the culture and society.
Private schools are fine, but my questions is HOW you will transition from public schools to private? Who will regulate them? If we’re giving out vouchers, who determines which schools are given the vouchers? Oh, and while we’re at it, how will you fund the vouchers? Doesn’t the voucher system just shift the money from public hands to private companies? How does that help the budget issue?
The value of private schools is that they offer smaller classes, more personal attention, newer teaching methods. This is because they are better funded – you that sent your children to private schools, how much did it cost? If we were to properly fund our public schools, what would stop us from having those same results in the public system?
2) What about students who come from low-income families, who wouldn’t have the ability to pay for private schools? What about mothers and fathers who simply are not qualified to teach their own children? One value of public schools is that they provide a universal source of education for young people of all economic situations and ethnic backgrounds. Education is important, whether or not you come from a privileged household.
I was raised well. My parents took care of me and made sure I had a good education. I can’t say the same for many people I know today – they come from rough backgrouds, poor families, etc. and they certainly would not have even had a CHANCE if it were not for public education. Solid, free public education provides for a basis for a good community, a good culture, a good society, and crime control.
3) If someone can actually answer these questions and provide a tangible plan of action as to HOW education could better be provided by the private sector using the voucher system and HOW we can avoid screwing over an entire generation of young people, I will change my mind.
As a future educator, the idea of private schools is bittersweet. The pay would certainly be better, but at what cost? If the school were sponsored by, say, DeBeers Jewelers, would I be required to teach that the diamond industry was WONDERFUL for Africa and India? That the DeBeers company saved these wretches from a life of poverty and, oh, by the way, they offer the best prices in the area and there’s a sale on? If the school were owned by Christians, would I be required to teach Christianity as a historical topic? Could I be required to be an apologist for a certain religion / political group / ethnic group / company in a private school?
I certainly could. That’s how the private sector works. And this is why we need public education.
Why hasn’t anyone suggested merging districts 93 & 91?
Guest, great idea! I read in the paper today that 90% of the budget goes to salaries, 2/3 of which is administration! Merging the districts would cut back on admin costs greatly without sacrificing too many teacher positions.
Jeremy,
You sound very idealistic. Things change. I am also a product of public school. I feel that things are very different in those same public schools today.
#1. Public schools and socialization and learing our place in society…Well, I don’t think that bullying should be a part of that socializtion. And as for learning our place. That is the major problem with public schools. They don’t teach that you make your own place. Poor kids stay poor, rich kids stay rich.
The schools should not be regulated. At least, not by the government. Private schools should be allowed their own goals and academics. Yes private school can be expensive, but it is nowhere near the cost of public schools. Did you know that one student in a public school earns that school over a $1,000 a day? Why do you think schools push no absences? They lose out on money if that child isn’t at school.
#2. Poor students affording school. They could afford it if there were vouchers. There are many states that are offering these choices. And it is working.
Did you know that for most private schools, the teachers make less than what public school teachers make? And their benefits are either non existent or substantially inferior.
There are many private schools that are not religious based. Since you are used to studying, maybe you could open your mind a little and see that there is much more out there besides public school. And those other things actually work.
As for home schooling. My son knows more about what is out there and what the real world expects than most kids his age. He has lived in three different states and a different country. He has been back and forth over the U.S. more than fifteen times. But no, he has never been to Disneyland. I guess we are failing him in his education.
I know Joe Plumber is looking into what it will take to merge the two school districts. There are far too many in this state anyways.
Guest, Jeremy, my4sons, and others – On the topic of district consolidation, I am just waiting on a few last details from the State Superintendents Office before I post. That being said, not only would I support school district consolidation here in Bonneville County, I would also support such a proposal be implemented statewide.
As for administration costs, I wonder if anyone has brought up the idea for area superintendents to take a paycut? I would guess their salaries could be trimmed down by $30K or so. Maybe that trim could save the job of at least one new teacher.
Joe, I don’t think I know you, but I like your ideas. I would be interested in the Superintendent’s response to a salary cut. Someone ought to ask him that during the town hall meeting.
Joe, are you related to the school district or legislature in some way?
A good chunk of my taxes go to the public school system, and that chunk is not necessarily benefiting my children. Yes, they are getting an education…but not at the level that they could be if they were attending a school that was tailored to their learning styles early on, and their career paths in the last few years of their schooling.
Transition from public to private schooling. It would be a challenge, there is no doubt about that, but it’s not an insurmountable task. Set a date for the transition, allow private institutions to establish themselves and prepare, and watch the market form around them. Remove taxes for public education, and parents have more of a means to enroll their children in the schools.
With market competition, comes lower tuition rates. Some schools will be more expensive than others, though not necessarily any better when you factor in your child’s goals and aspirations. Some will be more specialized toward future career goals and their required skill sets (cover minimums in english and speech classes, with emphasis on mathematics and sciences for example). And still more will be generalized and likely quite like our current public school system.
With lower prices, lower income families will be able to enroll their children in school. Charity is not the government’s job, and I think that you will find that “no child will be left behind” due to both charities formed specifically to put children through school, as well as payment plans offered by a portion of the private schools. I suppose vouchers could be an option, but I really don’t think that they would be required.
I’m not trying to convince you of anything Jeremy, I’m not here to change your viewpoint, and I don’t expect to. Just think outside of the box every once in a while! There is so much potential in this county, and it’s being stifled by the systems that are already in place.
As for the social aspect… Most privately owned businesses that these kids will be working at when they grow up operate with less than 25 employees on the clock at one time, and these employees are rarely all in the same room at the same time. The social interaction that public school provides is GREAT, but not any better than social interaction that would be provided by a private school. In the end, when you enter the field, you still have to learn to interact with your co-workers productively. They don’t teach that in school.
re comment #12 – I know this is completely stupid, but when two Idaho districts (who I will keep unnamed) starting talking about merging years ago, all people wanted to argue about was the following:
What will be our school colors? What mascot will we have? What about xyz traditions? What about sports? What about sports? What about sports?
Yes, we couldn’t get past any of that in several weeks of talks. God forbid we talk about academics, transportation, student needs, etc. Finally I gave up, and figured if administrators, parents, coaches and teachers couldn’t get past what dang animal would be on the football team’s uniforms, we were doomed.
Let’s hope if talks of consolidation in this area start up, those arguments don’t come up. But, mark my words, they will.
Does anyone know who surpervises the use of funds in our school system? I mean, I know that the teachers are supervised (to too high of a degree in my honest opinion), but who supervises the speding of funds higher up? Is there a check and balence type thing for spending in the administrative level? Why are superintendants etc deemed more worthy of high pay than the teachers that actually work with the kids and get the job done? Especially the few great teachers we have out there.
And tenure ticks me off personally. Why is it that if you are there for long enough you can (seemingly) slack off and not worry about your job as much? Shouldn’t everyone be working just as hard to keep doing a great job no matter how long they have been there? Why should a new teacher that is great be on the chopping block when an older teacher can arguably be said to be not “hitting the mark” with the kids?
Wish my husband had tenure at his job… he’d be home free, but like most employees he has to make sure he gets the job done in the best possible way to keep his job.
I am a single mom who has chosen to put my child into a private non-religious school because I have watched the school system decay here for many years. It does cost more but I made the necessary adjustments to make sure that my child is getting the best education he can. I think that somewhere, somehow the time will come that the public system should receive more monetary support from the parents of the students. I understand that is not what the original system intended but eventally something has got to give on this. If you have to pay for something you tend to expect more out of it.
Marcus, I think your understanding of education is too formulated by industrialization. Isn’t there a value to education outside of specialization and career training? What you’re suggesting is that we should begin training our children for a future education as soon as, what, Jr. High? A MINIMUM of education in English and the liberal arts?
Education is not just a career tool, it is a spiritual and intellectual necessity. Are we really going to raise a generation that can repair a microchip but has never read The Stranger? Is it really an education if a person knows nuclear physics but can’t be moved by poetry?
The American style of education is based on the Classical model, one which ensures that a student is able to appreciate art while contribute to society. Studying the liberal arts is IMPERATIVE for a person’s personal growth, in this there is no doubt in my mind. Viewing education as simply career training I think misses the point.
And I’m interested in some of your points – you say you contribute to the tax system, which feeds public schools, but you don’t think YOUR children are benefiting, so you shouldn’t have to pay. What about the roads you don’t regularly drive on in the winter – should you have to pay for those to be plowed? Perhaps we should switch to a pay-per-plow system where you pay private companies to plow your share of the road that passes by your house. I bet your roads would stay REALLY well-plowed since companies will compete for the business.
But what about people who don’t want to pay to have their roads plowed? Maybe they don’t mind having a sheet of ice outside their house? Will you still think it’s each person’s responsibility to plow their share when your car is spinning cookies down the road, or will you think there should be laws compelling people to have their roads plowed? Laws like taxes that will pay for companies to plow roads.
I think you see where this is going. Education is road-plowing for future generations. You may be willing to pay more for a certain type of education, but what about those who can’t, or aren’t will to? Public schools work because it provides for common education, common socialization, common exchange of values. Perhaps you don’t think it’s the best way to do things, just like you might prefer Dan’s Plow Service as opposed to Dave’s Plow Service. Maybe Dan’s Plows are more effective and don’t take so long to get rid of the snow, but Dave’s Plows work okay. They get the job done, and they’re willing to plow everyone’s roads for a lesser price. And maybe Dave’s plows want you to help out by shoveling your walks, while Dan’s Plow Service does that for you.
Sometimes, we have to shovel our own walks and let the government handle the rest. It’s called the Social Contract.
I think you missed the point.
No I get it. You’re saying “Charity is not the government’s job” and I’m saying that public education is not charity.
Libertarianism is great on paper, but in practice, it just doesn’t work.
You picked up on parts of what I was saying, but you’re replying out of context.
As far as Libertarianism, I don’t know a thing about it.
Public school does not ensure the love of poetry and the classics. I went to public schools and learned to hate poetry. And the only thing that I read in school that was close to being considered a classic was The Scarlet Letter.
But, because of my parents I read classics like the Count of Monte Cristo, and Authors like Homer, Chaucer, Dante, Bronte, and other classical authors.
Besides aren’t T.S. Elliot, Emerson, and others products of private schools?
There is no guarantee in life. No matter how you do it. But I think the first thing that we must remember is that it is totally up to the parents. If they aren’t willing to support their children, no matter what school kids go to, they will never get the full education that they deserve.
I agree with My4sons.
I don’t think it’s up to our public school system to completely educate our children on everything. I think it’s the parents duty to pick up where the school leaves off. At least thats how it was in our household. My parents took us to the library every week and my siblings and I were required to read a wide range of books growing up. We were each also required to learn a minimum of two instruments. When we took vacations, most of them were educational to places like the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, Mt Rushmore, The Alamo, etc. As well as a whole host of art museums, Broadway plays, and so on. You can’t even beging to learn everything from the public school system, let alone private, and it’s up to the parents to further balance their childrens education in a number of ways the public school system can’t possibly offer them.
I completely agree.