Black Day In My School System..

[lailah]

Very sad day in our school system this week. We found out that we have a 12 m deficit in our budget (hello, can you say "what was our treasurer thinking?" so 246 teachers (out of about 750) were RIF'd (reduction in force)! We're talking about some teachers who had 15 years of service. Our board eliminated our fine arts program (no music or art in the elementary totally, and very limited in the high school) and we had teachers in that field that were about ready to retire (short 5-30 days) and were laid off. The board meeting on Monday nite was horrible. The feelings and hurt were coming out of everyone. They blindsided our teachers something awful. Today they were cutting 30 positions in our administrative office (were I am). I am in the union (26 years) but they cut 20 of our positions system wide. I sat at my desk today and watched as some of my co-workers, who were non-union, were escorted out by their supervisors to their cars holding one box. How can you put all of your years of work into one box. Who knew that when they came to work today that they would get a call to see the superintendent and then be escorted out immediately with a letter stating you are terminated immediately, paid through the end of June and your benefits available for 60 days. My other co-workers and I actually sat and cried as we watch them go. No good bye to anyone, no nothing. I don't even know if I'll ever see these people again. I know we all didn't get together after hours, but I did work with some of them for a very long time. I guess I'll be getting some cards out with some encouraging words and a goodbye note. I have a vacation day tomorrow, so I think I'll take care of that right away.

 

[kmjmom]

I think I would also prepare my resume! What a horrible experience. Is there any chance that the budget may be adjusted and positions restored? If you are going to be operating that understaffed, it is NOT going to be a positive place to work. These days there are very few schools that have extra staff, so I would venture to guess that your school will be woefully understaffed. Good luck to you and your former colleagues.

 

[StephMK]

Oh that is just horrible. What a way to start the summer.

As a parent, I would be furious to hear that they are cutting so many teachers and all the arts programs. Sounds like it'll get worse before it gets better in terms of hurt feelings and general outrage in the district. Good luck.

 

[blueangel]

How can they do that? How could they not see that coming? I mean, in our district each school is designated staff numbers based on number of students, the same way we get money. There can't be such a huge mismatch in funding. Doesn't more than one person look at the budget? Was there some kind of embezzlement going on?

I just don't understand...

 

[ttfn3]

Oh, I'm so sorry I went thru a surprise merger/round of layoffs many years ago and it was so disheartening to see people let go.

With the shortfall in funding, it makes me wonder if it's because of the Ohio school voucher program? The Columbus School District is really suffering because of those vouchers. It makes it very hard to budget with a climate of reduced funding especially when the majority of your expenses are salaries and benefits.

 

[crzy4dals]

Prayers to all of your friends from an EAST-SIDER. It is unbelievable that 1/3 of the staff was cut in your growing community. Our state is so screwed up with funding. I know that it does not help with the new residential communities (OSter Homes) going in with 15 yesr tax abatements. There goes some good school funding money from homes with more children to attend the schools. I can't believe they did not offer retirement buyouts for those so close to term.

I pray that you survive this difficult time.

Very sad day in our school system this week. We found out that we have a 12 m deficit in our budget (hello, can you say "what was our treasurer thinking?" so 246 teachers (out of about 750) were RIF'd (reduction in force)! We're talking about some teachers who had 15 years of service. Our board eliminated our fine arts program (no music or art in the elementary totally, and very limited in the high school) and we had teachers in that field that were about ready to retire (short 5-30 days) and were laid off. The board meeting on Monday nite was horrible. The feelings and hurt were coming out of everyone. They blindsided our teachers something awful. Today they were cutting 30 positions in our administrative office (were I am). I am in the union (26 years) but they cut 20 of our positions system wide. I sat at my desk today and watched as some of my co-workers, who were non-union, were escorted out by their supervisors to their cars holding one box. How can you put all of your years of work into one box. Who knew that when they came to work today that they would get a call to see the superintendent and then be escorted out immediately with a letter stating you are terminated immediately, paid through the end of June and your benefits available for 60 days. My other co-workers and I actually sat and cried as we watch them go. No good bye to anyone, no nothing. I don't even know if I'll ever see these people again. I know we all didn't get together after hours, but I did work with some of them for a very long time. I guess I'll be getting some cards out with some encouraging words and a goodbye note. I have a vacation day tomorrow, so I think I'll take care of that right away.

 

[crzy4dals]

Oh, I'm so sorry I went thru a surprise merger/round of layoffs many years ago and it was so disheartening to see people let go.

With the shortfall in funding, it makes me wonder if it's because of the Ohio school voucher program? The Columbus School District is really suffering because of those vouchers. It makes it very hard to budget with a climate of reduced funding especially when the majority of your expenses are salaries and benefits.

Vouchers and the virtual schools KILL the school districts. We were in a small district 2 years ago. Considered a rich district because of 1 major company in the boundaries. Well a group of religious based students all of a sudden started "attending" a virtual school in Columbus based in a higher public assistance area. Our district was receiving $928 per student ... but we paid the virtual school $5,000 for each of those students to "attend" there. After quite a fight it was proven that the students were not attending and the district was returned some funds paid out.

WAY TO GO OHIO!!!!!!! planning for our future.

 

[barkley]

How can they do that? How could they not see that coming? I mean, in our district each school is designated staff numbers based on number of students, the same way we get money. There can't be such a huge mismatch in funding. Doesn't more than one person look at the budget? Was there some kind of embezzlement going on?

I just don't understand...

so much depends on how a state determines school funding. in the state we formerly lived in school district funding was very closely tied to student attendance (the schools got a set amount per student per day they attended). if a district had attenndance problems with their population they could see their funding drasticly lower than other districts with better attendance. schools also got lowered funding (or no special funding to supplement their budgets) by virtue of how their students scored on standardized tests. one of the schools in the town we lived in served primarily non english speaking legal immigrant children-although the school served these children primarily in the early grades (school only went k-3) their student's scores on english only standardized tests were held to the same standards as all other k-6 schools and they more often than not were precluded from receiving the funds other schools relied on for their basic budgetary needs.

we had no voucher programs in our state-i and thousands of other parents paid tens of thousands in property taxes to fund the schools while our kids went to private institutions-despite the extra income and reduced student population the schools deteriorated.


honestly, i'm surprised to hear when any school has arts programs left to cut. i graduated from high school in '79 and a huge property tax initiative that passed that year in california (jarvis gann) cut such a hugh swath in funding the public schools that arts of any kind are a rarity. a community theatre i participated in as a highschooler and 20 odd years later served on the board for now provides the only 'arts' education for the entire school district in which it is located (and that's just giving free tickets to special student matinees if the school can come up with the transportation).

i honestly think that the security that used to come with education and other service related jobs is a thing of the past. i retired from social services just a few years ago, and in talking just this week to a former co-worker learned that as much as 40% of the jobs myself and my co-workers held are now either eliminated or being filled by non perm temps. the fiscal consideration is that the temps have no benefit, retirement or union rights-so they can be paid less, worked more-and in time of fiscal need cut loose with no cause (i worked in a state where you had to have cause to fire any employee-union or not, temps are excluded from that provision).

 

[Aristomommy]

I am sorry to hear about this. I am also in Ohio, southeast of Cleveland, and fortunately we live in a well funded school area. Property taxes are a nightmare though and increased every year. But it is my worry that we may look into private schools later on, if the public schools continue to decline this way. I hope your district can figure this one out and rehire the staff soon

 

[Tigger1]

We had a rif at our district a few years ago. Some teachers moved or found new jobs after being rif'd. By the beginning of school all the other teachers were asked to come back. Oh, btw, there was alot of embezzelment going on the year of the rif. It was found that some employees that worked at the board were hiring police as security guards. The problem was the police did not work the hours they reported. The people at board that hired them were in on this. I heard they even did some vandelism to make it look like they needed security guards.

They are in jail now.

 

[formernyer]

This is shocking to hear. Aside from the obvious hurt and anger you must all be exxperiencing, won't there be an uproar among the parents?

I don't even see HOW you can cut 1/3 of the teaching staff and still have enough teachers to handle the volume of kids. Obviously the 246 teachers weren't all from "special" classrooms (music, art, etc.), so won't a 1/3 reduction in staff result in classroom sizes exceeding state regulations? Or is it that they are firing the seasoned (expensive) teachers and replacing them with recent grads who are willing to work for $25,000.

I'm surprised the teachers' union is letting them get away with this.

And aren't there state regulations requiring art, music, library, and PE in elementary schools?

 

[barkley]

one of the districts near our former home had a state audit when a former employee complained that her new health insurance coverage (new employer-non school district) kept getting bounced because the insurance company said she had pre-existing primary coverage under the district (she showed documentation that she had been complaining for several YEARS to the district to no avail).

audit found that employees who had not worked for the district for upwards of 10 years, had died, had retired, were temps who only worked a week years ago....were still on the books and having full insurance, disability, retirement...employer sponsored contributions being made on their behalf

 

[lchadwick]

Instead of cutting so many teaching positions and programs, perhaps they should have canned the treasurer! I'm so sorry! Sounds like a school system with leadership that forgets that CHILDREN should come 1st.

 

[angwill]

OP I am so sorry to hear about all the misfortunate workers in your district. It has to be so disheartening to see that happen. We had similar problems in a town near us and the parents fought it and most were hired back. I can't remember how they did it but hopefully that will happen in your district.

so much depends on how a state determines school funding. in the state we formerly lived in school district funding was very closely tied to student attendance (the schools got a set amount per student per day they attended). if a district had attenndance problems with their population they could see their funding drasticly lower than other districts with better attendance. schools also got lowered funding (or no special funding to supplement their budgets) by virtue of how their students scored on standardized tests. one of the schools in the town we lived in served primarily non english speaking legal immigrant children-although the school served these children primarily in the early grades (school only went k-3) their student's scores on english only standardized tests were held to the same standards as all other k-6 schools and they more often than not were precluded from receiving the funds other schools relied on for their basic budgetary needs.

we had no voucher programs in our state-i and thousands of other parents paid tens of thousands in property taxes to fund the schools while our kids went to private institutions-despite the extra income and reduced student population the schools deteriorated.


honestly, i'm surprised to hear when any school has arts programs left to cut. i graduated from high school in '79 and a huge property tax initiative that passed that year in california (jarvis gann) cut such a hugh swath in funding the public schools that arts of any kind are a rarity. a community theatre i participated in as a highschooler and 20 odd years later served on the board for now provides the only 'arts' education for the entire school district in which it is located (and that's just giving free tickets to special student matinees if the school can come up with the transportation).

i honestly think that the security that used to come with education and other service related jobs is a thing of the past. i retired from social services just a few years ago, and in talking just this week to a former co-worker learned that as much as 40% of the jobs myself and my co-workers held are now either eliminated or being filled by non perm temps. the fiscal consideration is that the temps have no benefit, retirement or union rights-so they can be paid less, worked more-and in time of fiscal need cut loose with no cause (i worked in a state where you had to have cause to fire any employee-union or not, temps are excluded from that provision).

I live in a town with a very high migrant worker population to work the farms in the area. One out of the four elementary schools failed on the no child left behind list for a couple of years. They kept crying about how they had the biggest amount of spanish speaking students and that was the problem. Well someone came in and looked over what was going on and suggested they group the kids on reading level and get parents to volunteer to come in and help the teacher teach the individual groups. In our district there are lots of parents willing to help but our teachers and principals for some reason try to avoid parents in the classroom like the plague. Well the teachers and principal cried that they did not want the parents in but the superintendant told them it was not their decision to make any more. Well here we are 3 years later and that school with the highest spanish speaking population now has the highest scores of all of our schools in reading. They are making the same method of groups depending on ability manditory in all our schools and the other school teachers and principals are now crying how they don't want parents in their classrooms. I don't understand why the people we entrust our children to would fight something that is so helpful to the students and I worked for many years as a teachers aid. I know it is difficult to teach children to speak and read english when that is the main language at home but it is possible. There are now books that are bi-lingual that also help the parents learn along with the students. Our schools make this type of book manditory and our library makes sure they only cary the bilingual books and not spanish only.

Sorry to go so off topic but I just wanted to say that anything is possible if anyone has similar problems in their school district.

 

[RangerPooh]

I know that in Wa state there are a few communities facing simialr budget cuts. One city is closing an entire school and eliminaing other positions city wide in hopes of making up the money. I heard that another is cutting all frshman only sports, some non-necessary staff positions, and a few others jobs. You have to wonder why a decision to close an entire school or to fire a bunch of teacher would be the best way to solve a budget crunch. I personally like the elimination of freshman only sports as JV does the job just as nicely.

 

[gk90]

I'm so sorry, sending good thoughts and sympathy your way. It's terrible the way that priorities are so messed up in school systems.

 

[kydisneyfans]

So sorry to hear about the problems in Lorain.

Ohio's school funding system is an embarassment. It has been declared unconstitutional but nothing has been done to revamp it.

When we lived in Ohio, it seemed that every other year the schools were coming to the voters for another tax levy. Several school systems in Stark County were on the verge of being dissolved due to lack of taxes and failed levies. I believe the one of the more affluent districts is in serious trouble now too.

When we moved to KY we were concerned about the quality of our son's education and facilities. Our area of KY is far superior to what we had in Ohio, the education is more advanced, facilities up to date, and we have yet to see a tax increase in 4 years. Tax levies are unheard of here, they are a way of life just north of the river.

 

[thinkerbell]

That is just horrible!! I can't even imagine.

Here is the link to the newspaper article: http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18472784&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46368&rfi=6

Lorain's school board totally failed its duty to control school finances
06/14/2007
WE'VE heard a lot of contradictory explanations, accusations and frustrations this week about ''what happened'' to cause Lorain's 246-teacher layoff fiasco. But no matter who spins the story whatever way, one inescapable conclusion remains: The Lorain school board failed, miserably, to do its duty of keeping a handle on school finances. And the price of the board's failings is being paid dearly by others. One third of the entire teaching staff has been laid off to avert a $4.75 million deficit, throwing hundreds of teachers' families into financial crisis.

Thousands of children have been shaken by the sudden elimination of teachers they knew and admired. The kids are left to wonder who will teach them in the fall and lead them in extracurricular activities. Lorain's schools can not deliver the same quality of education without the help of all those laid-off teachers.

The community's trust in the school board, administration and public school education in Lorain has been shattered. The effects of this debacle will be felt for years.

Lorain, as a community, has been damaged. The city has been discredited in the eyes of the nation by this educational collapse. Where else do people pick up their morning paper and read that one-third of all the town's teachers have been dumped in one day because of a foul-up by the top school leaders?
SO, what happened?


The school board and superintendent claim a power-hungry former treasurer, Jim Estle, kept them in the dark as he tightly controlled school finances and told them everything would be fine.

Painting an entirely different picture, Estle claimed financial projections are fluid he didn't want to unnecessarily alarm board members. He said he simply did what the board wanted and insists he gave them detailed monthly financial reports. Estle said he voiced concerns that a levy would be needed to prevent a deficit, but said those concerns met resistance from some on the board.

Estle retired in January, and five months later, in mid-May, according to board member Jeanine Donaldson, the board was shocked to hear from Estle's successors that the schools faced a $4.75 million deficit this year. Board members contend Estle had been juggling finances to stay one step ahead of disaster, without telling them, and after he left the disaster struck.

Without making big cutbacks immediately to cure a deficit that threatened to balloon to $15 million, Lorain's schools would quickly fall into fiscal emergency and be taken over by state officials. The state would then oversee deep academic cuts, a levy or whatever it took to put the schools back on a stable financial path, according to the school board.

A school board hires and oversees only two people: the superintendent to handle education and the treasurer to handle finances. The board sets policy and keeps an eye on the work done by the superintendent and treasurer to carry out board policy.

Lorain school board member Keith Lilly said the board was focused intensely on improving students' academic performance and hired Supt. Dee Morgan to throw herself into that task.

But in focusing on academics, Lilly admits the board let slip its oversight of the treasurer. Estle, the board claims, was capable, but apparently wanted to run the school system and took ironclad control of the money.

Lilly said Estle refashioned the financial system in a way that board members couldn't really see the financial big picture until the end of each school year. Morgan and Lilly complained of not getting financial reports from Estle, despite Estle's assertion that he did whatever the board wanted and that he "loved" Morgan as superintendent.

If, as Estle claims, the board was given regular financial reports, then clearly the board wasn't reading them or wasn't understanding what they read. That's not good enough. A board member has the responsibility to educate himself or herself so that they can understand school finances and know where every penny is coming from and going toward.

If, as the board and Morgan claim, Estle was keeping them in the dark about financial matters, then the board failed to exercise its duty and authority to make Estle report to them or else replace him.

Board member Donaldson chalked up Morgan's dissatisfaction with Estle to a personality conflict that the board could overlook because the board thought Estle was doing his job well. What Donaldson should have been hearing in Morgan's frustration was an alarm bell.

Now, many angry voices are calling for the resignation of the school board, or a recall election to oust the board members. We will not join those voices.

Lorain's schools need healing, not an escalation of uncertainty and acrimony that would come with a mass resignation or a recall.

At the same time, we are dismayed at the inept performance of the Lorain school board. They have failed to meet even the minimum financial oversight requirements of their job.

But the board members have been chastened and their eyes have been opened. Now they need to move forward, working to make the Lorain schools the best they can be at this point.

The board members need to work with the new superintendent, Cheryl Atkinson, and the new treasurer, Ryan Ghizzoni, to build up the strengths of the school district, while also maintaining close oversight of the work of Atkinson and Ghizzoni, who are both capable individuals. Three of the five seats on the school board are up for election in November, and voters will decide what is best.

We are confident that the remaining teachers, as always, will do their best for their students.

This newspaper remains committed to the improvement of the Lorain school system and the education of Lorain's children. We look forward to working with the new superintendent and treasurer, and with the school board, in a constructive manner. That includes constructive criticism.

The community needs to do what Lorain residents have done so well after other major shocks to this town's well-being: pick ourselves up and keep moving forward. Badly bruised, but wiser, and determined to not give up hope of better days to come.




©The Morning Journal 2007

 

[snowbunny]

I'm sorry for the workers, but doubly sorry for the children.

Shortchanging education is a recipe for a future population that will not be prepared to compete in the global economy. In 20 years people will be shaking their heads wondering what happened.

The voucher push is just another way to continue long-term defunding of public education for political ends.

 

[disykat]

What I don't get is how they didn't see it coming. This is about WAAAY more than budget shortfalls and debt. I can't even fathom the kind of mismanagement that had to happen for this kind of immediate catastrophe.

My district is in debt and losing money each year. We have been closing schools, hiring on only "non-continuing" contracts, making hard decisions on spending cuts, etc. However, the whole community KNOWS about it. Employees unions have been involved. The staff and community have been kept well informed. It's hard, but these things happen - especially in places like ours where enrollment is going down.

As the baby boomer's children leave school, there will have to be changes made in many districts all over the country. Districts should always be looking at budget and projected enrollment and funding!