Kindergarten move-up day cancelled

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I understand that, I really do - but they just sent out letters from the Principal along with name tags for everyone last week - so now all that $ spent on postage and paper and time is wasted. I also put in for 1/2 day at work. Oh well - i'm sure my special snowy will be just fine come September.

I should know better even bringing something like this up, i've been on the DIS for years...

I totally understand how you're frustrated. I would be too. However, your original post made it sound as though you didn't understand how budget cuts could impact something like this, and I felt a need to address that specific issue.

If people don't understand how school budgets can effect a school's ability to program for children, then they aren't going to understand the choices they make at the polls, or give appropriate feedback to their politicians.

 

[krcit]

Could someone explain to me how the budget for next school year(2010-11) could affect this year? I'm not being snarky, I'm curious. Maybe other districts are different but I know that our school budget for this current year was done last year so that all the staffing/events etc are already budgeted for. What I mean is that if our budget didn't pass(it did) wouldn't only next school year be effected b/c all of this years expenses are covered already.

 

[Ceila]

Could someone explain to me how the budget for next school year(2010-11) could affect this year? I'm not being snarky, I'm curious. Maybe other districts are different but I know that our school budget for this current year was done last year so that all the staffing/events etc are already budgeted for. What I mean is that if our budget didn't pass(it did) wouldn't only next school year be effected b/c all of this years expenses are covered already.

As far as actual expenses this year, for many of us the budget crisis started when the state cut part of what had already been promised to districts this year, and they did this well after the school year had started and budgets had been planned.

What I think is more relevant to this thread, though, is the fact that the NJ governor is proposing huge cuts in state funding to all NJ school districts. What this means is that districts are eliminating some teachers and shifting others to different grades, so many schools don't know exactly who will teach what next year. So, in the OP's case, it is possible that they don't know who will be teaching kindergarten next year.

 

[ksjayhawks]

My guess would be is that there is no money to hire subs to cover the teachers during the event. Most subs would get 1/2 day pay, even if they are only covering 1 or 2 hours.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would inquire as to why and how finances figure in this. I don't doubt it is a 'scare tactic' used to get people to reverse their budget votes.

Respectfully, people - aka the general public - don't vote on the budget this directly; nor would any budget vote NOW have ANY effect on a school event/procedure next week. The school's budget/money for this school year was voted on, distributed, assigned, whatever back before the beginning of this fiscal year. In most cases, that would have been some time prior to June 30, 2009.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh well - i'm sure my special snowy will be just fine come September

Respectfully - I'm apparently a lot older than you. I'm from a large family, and "way back when", there was no such thing as "move-up day" from any school or grade level to any other. Heck, I lived in the same house from the time I was one, and went to seven different school buildings! Anyway, all of us did just fine without knowing the layout of the next school until the school year started - and that included the ones who went to nursery (now, I guess, pre-K?) at one school and kindergarten at another and elementary at a third...

 

[swanmom]

My guess would be is that there is no money to hire subs to cover the teachers during the event. Most subs would get 1/2 day pay, even if they are only covering 1 or 2 hours.

I just finished 'subbing' for the kindergarten move-up day in our district. To get 90 kindergarteners out of their classrooms and covered for the afternoon, it took five subs - in the gym, the recess yard, the lunch room, and even the stage in the gym - to break them down into smaller groups to be supervised. Out of class time for the current kindergarteners was 1.5 hours total but subs are paid for a minimum of three hours. This was one school - there are five elementary schools in our district. It does cost money to do the move-up day. I am not arguing that it should have been canceled. I actually think that it is a real shame that the kindergarteners will not get to see their school beforehand. However, they may not be 'playing the budget card.' There are some real costs associated with this.

 

[golfgal]

When our kids were in kindergarten we had kindergarten round-up in Feb/March to "sign-up" for kindergarten. The kids came, met the teachers, etc. It was in the evening so no subs needed. When school started in the fall, kindergarten started a week after everyone else. The kindergartners came in individually through that week to meet their teachers, put their 'stuff" in the classroom, they did testing with the kids to see where they were at (counting, alphabet, colors, shapes, etc.), again, no subs needed. It worked pretty well.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Respectfully - I'm apparently a lot older than you. I'm from a large family, and "way back when", there was no such thing as "move-up day" from any school or grade level to any other. Heck, I lived in the same house from the time I was one, and went to seven different school buildings! Anyway, all of us did just fine without knowing the layout of the next school until the school year started - and that included the ones who went to nursery (now, I guess, pre-K?) at one school and kindergarten at another and elementary at a third...

Same here. I'm in my 40's and remember going to a "round up" in spring to meet my kindergarten teacher, then being walked to school by my Dad in fall and being dropped off at the door with all the other kids. There was no other kind of "prep" that anyone felt needed to be done. We just showed up and went to class like everyone else. During the school year is when we learned about the layout of the buildings, the busses, lunches and all sorts of things that awaited us in 1st grade.

While I'm sure this "move up" thing may seem important, I'm thinking that it may be considered a nicety rather than a necessity. In these unfortunate economic times, sometimes the nicetys need to be cut. If there's no money, there's no money.

By all means say something to the administration if that'll make you feel better. I'm sure the administration is used to parents complaining. But saying something, getting angry, or protesting isn't going to make the dollars magically appear out of thin air.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

OP - I'm sure, as you said, that your child will be fine in the fall without a move-up day. I agree with you that this is some sort of game that the administration is playing because of all the budgets that failed for next year.

And for those not in NJ, there is a huge battle between the governor and the teacher's union. I won't turn this into a political thread because then it will be locked, but it is very possible that this is game playing on the administration's part.

OP - Take your special "snowy" (not that I believe she is one) out for a nice afternoon. Enjoy the nice weather we are having. Treat her to ice cream. Take her to the park. Just enjoy your afternoon off.

 

[agnes!]

I'd be ticked too. Not when I know that the Superintendents and Administration get paid beaucoup bucks... and they can't "afford" a small program like this?? Um, no. Sorry Charlie.

*Especially when I get a phone call from my mother (Elem. teacher) that brand new books are being thrown in the dumpster because they're getting new ones. Her school district is always crying poor and making all these unnecessary cuts because of the "budget." Makes me mad!

PLEASE, please please please PLEASE can someone in the know rescue those books? I'm sure there is a school district somewhere that would love to have them donated or maybe a mentoring program or whatever.

SERIOUSLY - someone else's throw-aways could be another school's saving grace.

agnes!

 

[luvsJack]

I don't understand why some keep mentioning subs? Why are subs necessary? This day is normally put together by the teachers and can be done in the evening or late afternoon (our is done on a day that the teachers would be there anyway) so no reason to touch their pay or to need subs. They are planning to have kindergarten, right? So they do still have K teachers, right?

There is no reason for this day to have anything to do with the budget. The parents bring the kids, they sit in the classroom awhile and may do an activity together and walk around the school. Done. No cost.

As for the snowflake comment, its not costing the school anything (or doesn't have to) so there is no reason to say "to heck with the budget" and most kindergarten students are scared and nervous about school. The first day of school with no parent there with them is not the best time to get used to a new situation.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Could someone explain to me how the budget for next school year(2010-11) could affect this year? I'm not being snarky, I'm curious. Maybe other districts are different but I know that our school budget for this current year was done last year so that all the staffing/events etc are already budgeted for. What I mean is that if our budget didn't pass(it did) wouldn't only next school year be effected b/c all of this years expenses are covered already.

Our budget for next year is very tight, so teachers and administrators are using the budgets that they control to "prepay" for things that they'll need next year.

For example, an teacher who knows that her classroom supply budget will be much smaller next year, might choose to replace the crayons and other art supplies that get used this year, which means less money for other things.

An administrator might stock up on copy paper. In addition, if he knows that he'll be down an office staff next year, he might pay to send other office staff to required training (e.g. food handler, or medication administration or whatever) this year, even if their certs aren't up, because he knows that next year he'll have no way to sub them out.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I don't understand why some keep mentioning subs? Why are subs necessary? This day is normally put together by the teachers and can be done in the evening or late afternoon (our is done on a day that the teachers would be there anyway) so no reason to touch their pay or to need subs. They are planning to have kindergarten, right? So they do still have K teachers, right?

There is no reason for this day to have anything to do with the budget. The parents bring the kids, they sit in the classroom awhile and may do an activity together and walk around the school. Done. No cost.

As for the snowflake comment, its not costing the school anything (or doesn't have to) so there is no reason to say "to heck with the budget" and most kindergarten students are scared and nervous about school. The first day of school with no parent there with them is not the best time to get used to a new situation.

If we're talking about an event that happens outside of school hours, there are significant costs associated with that -- janitors, security guards, office staff are generally hourly employees. Air conditioning the building and keeping the lights on is expensive.

 

[torinsmom]

It sounds like the event was planned on a SCHOOL DAY(mom has to take a 1/2 day from work). If that is the case, then the current kindergarteners would have to have supervision, as well as the incoming kindergarteners. That definitely requires extra manpower, which translates into money.

I teach preK/K and we don't have this kind of day. We have an open house the week before school where the kids meet their teacher and see the class/school. The kids seem to transition nicely.

Marsha

 

[daisyduck123]

Not something I would get my panties in a wad over.

Save that something more frustrating...trust me, you'll find something for that next year.

 

[daisyduck123]

It sounds like the event was planned on a SCHOOL DAY(mom has to take a 1/2 day from work). If that is the case, then the current kindergarteners would have to have supervision, as well as the incoming kindergarteners. That definitely requires extra manpower, which translates into money.



Marsha

And this is EXACTLY how it happens in my school. The only way the four K teachers can meet with the incoming Kindergarteners is if there are subs to watch the current Ks.

1st grade teacher

 

[luvsJack]

If we're talking about an event that happens outside of school hours, there are significant costs associated with that -- janitors, security guards, office staff are generally hourly employees. Air conditioning the building and keeping the lights on is expensive.

Well, ours is during the end of the school day or late afternoon while the teachers are still there anyway (if it is planned for a time when the K kids would be there, they either get out early that day or have the day out of school depending on the time) .

The janitors are not required to stay nor the office staff. We don't have security guards but I certainly think one would be enough. AC and lights for a couple of hours are a drop in the bucket to what they already play. Not sure what the public schools are doing but at my work, they leave the AC on because it would cost a whole lot more to try and cool the building back down than it does to just keep it cool in the first place. Like I said, for our day like this its meet the teachers; walk around and see the campus, find the bathrooms and cafeteria, etc. Mostly meet some new friends.

 

[justhat]

Okay, the OP has another child who is well past K, 3rd or 4th grader. So she's been through the transition to K before and knows what it will be. So I am sure she knows if her younger son will be okay, and knowing him I am sure he will be, but that isn't her point. The point is that this was a planned event that up until, what, a week ago, was going on because they sent out a mailing with info for the event. Now, suddenly, it is cancelled without a postponement. At this point, she has likely told her son about the event and he is probably excited and looking forward to it. Now she has to tell him it is cancelled, which will be a let down. End of the world? No, but she didn't say it would be, just that she was annoyed.


Anyway, Hillbeans, I would be upset too, cause I know if I told Madison about it and it were cancelled, she'd be really bummed. And there is no reason that they couldn't do it at 3pm when the K kids are gone for the day if paying subs is an issue.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, ours is during the end of the school day or late afternoon while the teachers are still there anyway (if it is planned for a time when the K kids would be there, they either get out early that day or have the day out of school depending on the time) .

The janitors are not required to stay nor the office staff. We don't have security guards but I certainly think one would be enough. AC and lights for a couple of hours are a drop in the bucket to what they already play. Not sure what the public schools are doing but at my work, they leave the AC on because it would cost a whole lot more to try and cool the building back down than it does to just keep it cool in the first place. Like I said, for our day like this its meet the teachers; walk around and see the campus, find the bathrooms and cafeteria, etc. Mostly meet some new friends.

So, there is no janitor to clean up the school after the students visit the classrooms, and the bathrooms, etc.? I am just asking because when we have open house, it is a mess after the students and parents leave. And who is at the front of the school, directing parents to where they need to go, answering general questions, etc. while the teachers are meeting the students? We always have the office staff, principal, guidance counselor, basically all hands on deck for those two hours. Every parent seems to think you have 20 minutes to devote to just them, while the kids shred the room(at least that's what we like to call it, LOL) I always greet that day with excitement and dread at the same time!

Marsha