School budget cuts

[DizBelle]

Did you check the FY11 Budget Submittal? Details about that funding may have been included there.

Ultimately the point is, there may have been other obligations regarding the purchase of the laptops that not everyone is aware of...it happens all the time. I have several projects that have been funded for years with federal grants...people will question why we are doing certain improvements and assume the City is paying for these costs when in fact the City is essentially getting the improvements for 'free'.

My guess is you simply have not been given all the information.

Budget cuts suck and many many communities are dealing with the same kinds of tough decisions.

I find it hard to believe that all board members but one were privy to such information.

 

[daughtersrus]

I guess that part of what is making so many people mad is that many school district administrators make a lot of money with generous bonuses and raises (again one got a raise of almost 100% over 5 years) while the services to the students are being cut because there isn't enough money to cover the costs.

 

[hiwaygal]

I find it hard to believe that all board members but one were privy to such information.

I don't. How often are school board elections held? It's possible the one was not a member at the time the FY11 Budget was approved. It's possible they didn't read all the information given to them at the time. It's possible they forgot that part.

As I said before, it's not impossible that there were other obligations requiring the purchase of the laptops that not everyone at the meeting (or on the board) was necessarily aware of. It happens. Quite frequently. People are not perfect, no matter how much we want them to be.

I feel for the OP's frustration. I hope this School Board can resolve its issues. Many around the country are facing the same challenges.

 

[DizBelle]

I don't. How often are school board elections held? It's possible the one was not a member at the time the FY11 Budget was approved. It's possible they didn't read all the information given to them at the time. It's possible they forgot that part.

As I said before, it's not impossible that there were other obligations requiring the purchase of the laptops that not everyone at the meeting (or on the board) was necessarily aware of. It happens. Quite frequently. People are not perfect, no matter how much we want them to be.

I feel for the OP's frustration. I hope this School Board can resolve its issues. Many around the country are facing the same challenges.

If the vote was done at a meeting that anyone can attend, then, when the questions were asked, the ones who knew there were certain restrictions "forcing" the purchase of the laptops should have made them known to everyone in attendance. At the very least, they should have said "There are reasons we have to spend this money on the laptops. We can't discuss them, but the exist." And, if they HAD to spend them on laptops, why was there a vote at all? What was there to vote on?

 

[hiwaygal]

If the vote was done at a meeting that anyone can attend, then, when the questions were asked, the ones who knew there were certain restrictions "forcing" the purchase of the laptops should have made them known to everyone in attendance. At the very least, they should have said "There are reasons we have to spend this money on the laptops. We can't discuss them, but the exist." And, if they HAD to spend them on laptops, why was there a vote at all? What was there to vote on?

I am not a part of this school board so I didn't see what was submitted in the FY11 budget proposal regarding the purchases of smart boards and laptops.

I am merely offering an alternate explanation on WHY that money was spent the way it was.

 

[merryweather20]

I don't. How often are school board elections held? It's possible the one was not a member at the time the FY11 Budget was approved. It's possible they didn't read all the information given to them at the time. It's possible they forgot that part.

As I said before, it's not impossible that there were other obligations requiring the purchase of the laptops that not everyone at the meeting (or on the board) was necessarily aware of. It happens. Quite frequently. People are not perfect, no matter how much we want them to be.

I feel for the OP's frustration. I hope this School Board can resolve its issues. Many around the country are facing the same challenges.

If that were the case they would have advised the board member before the vote.

 

[hiwaygal]

If that were the case they would have advised the board member before the vote.

Fine.

The school board is lying to you OP. Of course that money was just totally wasted and there can be absolutely no other reason for it.

Hope you figure out how to get it back.

 

[DizBelle]

Fine.

The school board is lying to you OP. Of course that money was just totally wasted and there can be absolutely no other reason for it.

Hope you figure out how to get it back.

Of course there could be reason. What there is no reason for is them not sharing that reason or not even stating that there IS a reason.

 

[luvthatdisney]

I agree with the pp's as I am a financial secretary at a middle school. In our district, the school purchases its own computers. We are given state funds and local (district) funds that are alloted to us based on our number of enrolled students. We have money specifically designated for certain things. If we want to purchase something other than its intended use, we have to get approval from the county office. Sometimes that is granted and sometimes it is not.

If we do not use that money by a certain deadline - we lose it. So this year we have purchased about 8 smartboards ($2000 each) along with 3 desktop computers and many projectors and cameras. But we are looking at losing custodial and secretarial positions next year and who knows about teachers??? Which means more work for me and no more pay (not that I get paid much anyways

It is very sad to see how the state/county has us spend this money. Not saying we could not use this technology, but we need real teachers and staff to make sure the kids learn what they should be. I fear our future generations will suffer greatly due to the inept financial polices of today.

 

[vettechick99]

One of the things that you should know is that in school budgets, the money isn't all in one big pot to spend as the school board/superintendent sees fit. There are different categories, each with different funding sources. The monies being spent on technology might come from a source stating that they have to be spent on educational supplies. Supplies are not salaries, and believe it or not, are not textbooks either.

Exactly. We spent a small fortune (like in the $20k range) on a speaker at the beginning of the year. Those funds fell under school improvement and had to be used.

On the other hand, we've lost 6 days to furlough because there isn't enough state money to pay us. That's just how it goes!

 

[carj]

I went to our district website and looked up the specific information that was included by the tech department in the packet presented to the board. The computers that they are replacing are 3 year old desktop models that are primarily used by the teachers. (there are other computers in the classroom for the students). The reason that they are being replaced is because are also purchasing smart boards, document cameras and projectors. The report said that it will be easier to use these other devices with a laptop instead of a desktop. I'm not sure how much these other devices are going to be.

I understand technology is important. The problem that I have right now is that sure, we all want the best of the best but what good is it to have the latest gadgets when you don't have the staff to work with the students to use it?

Again, remember that they are letting go 42 Para Pros and RIFing all non-tenured teachers. I'm sure that some of the teachers RIFed will be rehired but they're not saying how many.

I am a teacher and I completely sympathize. In Texas school budgets are very complex and money is designated for certain categories. The local school has no control over the amount in the category and has to spend the money on items in that category or lose it. Certain budget categories have to be spent a certain way, especially if it is federal money. I know that many schools go technology money under the stimulus last year. I hope that is the case there.

In Texas, at least, the problem is much bigger than just the local school administration.

 

[golfgal]

We are also experiencing budget cuts but not to the levels of most. Our district is very financially healthy in it's own right however our abysmal governor had decided in his tenure to never raise taxes-which includes the time with all the gas price increases, etc. and school districts are hurting because of that. Our district is cutting 15 million (which sounds like a lot but we are a large district). With the number of households in our district it would cost each household $200/year to make up that shortfall, however, because of another stupid rule put forth by our governed, we can't increase our levy because it would put us out of his "ratio". That ratio is the most levy a school can have in comparison to the 'poor' districts in the state-it is there to 'equalize' schools--nevermind that the 'poor' schools spend DOUBLE per student that we do. Basically he is cutting our funding by $15 million and not giving us any option to raise the funds to counteract that. It is really, really sad. Oh, and that $200/year/household doesn't include any of the businesses in the area so that would probably cut that number in half. Our community would pass that levy in a heartbeat but we don't even have that option.

Fortunately the "cuts" are mostly being handled through early retirement, raising class sizes by 2-3 kids and eliminating some duplication in some programs-mainly some middle school sports that have active club teams. They are cutting back on some busing, within 6 blocks for early elementary schools but are offering families the option of paying for that bus. Now, the next go round might be different.