Thursday, March 25, 2010

Supervisors Emphasizing Teachers?

Author:
Something has been puzzling me this week. Members of the Board of Supervisors have repeatedly berated the School Board and Superintendent for proposing to cut personnel, and for spending money on classroom technology. Please note that there's no new classroom technology in this year's budget, there wasn't any in last year's budget. Yes, I'm talking about whiteboards.

I chafe a little when I hear the criticism of technology in the classroom. (Okay, more than a little). But I'm not going to debate whiteboards today. As I said, they aren't in the budget, though some Supervisors are still using them as justification to cut the budget.

So with that in mind, consider the first vote last week that the Supervisors used to cut into the money that the state sent to Loudoun to be spent on education. It was a vote to cut $5.5 Million dollars specifically to pressure the School Board to eliminate the 1% cost of living increase for all LCPS employees. It was a unanimous vote.

I'm sorry, what was that you were saying about how important the teachers are?

Supervisors Vote Against Raises for School Employees (Loudoun Times Mirror)
Supervisors Cut Money Earmarked for Teacher Raises (Loudoun Independent)
Loudoun Next to Last in Teacher Salaries (Our Loudoun Schools)
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31 comments:

  1. John,

    The Option #1 cutlist that is out there now - who actually came up with the list - the Board of Supervisors or the School Board?

    What does the sports player fee go towards? Does it go towards activity bus costs, or something else?

    Do other extracurricular activities have fees? ie band, chorus, debate team, etc.

    What was the $20 million really for? I've heard it was for one time purchases and now it's supposed to go towards employees. Which is it?
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  2. Those option 1 cuts are HATRICKS-- make no mistake about it the BOS has NOT told him what to cut just to make some cuts. It is ALL Hatrick that has decided that Spanish teachers in the elementary school are more important than reading teachers and we get new technology yet no technology teachers and assistants to actually TEACH it to our kids. Who knows what the sports fee goes to, kind of like the $200 parking fee, only $25 goes to the school, the rest--- in the general fund.( I consider this a tax on those students who drive) Yes, band does have a fee, but it is used directly for the kids, (well marching band anyway, not band class) Chorus does have fees, but again to support their activities- this is not a fee charged to them pass on to the general fund. This year for band and chorus we had to pay $5 for busses needed to go to various events. There are things that can be cut that WILL not impact the students in such a negative way. Maybe start in the great big admin building, do we REALLY need all those employees. And did you know that there is a rather LARGE nursing staff??(and I am NOT talking about individual schools, these are supervisior nurses that work in the admin building.) Do we really need ALL those nurses to supervise the nurses and assistants in the schools? Maybe some cuts there can be made. There are bus routes that can and should be cut... some kids can and should walk to school. Especially at the high school level.
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  3. @Anonymous#2-I may not know enough about the budget cuts but I do know that the nursing staff is VERY MUCH NEEDED. The elementary level only have clinic aids (not RN's) during school therefore each cluster of schools are assigned a "Resource Nurse" to help assist the clinic aids in new medical treatments etc...middle and high schools have RNs. "All the nursing staff" you speak assist the clinic aids. Can you imagine being one nurse assisting all of Loudoun's elementary school clinic aids??! Nightmare!


    Considering the many children with health needs (and there is a rise), you may want to restate your opinion about getting rid of the nursing staff.


    As for the admin building, I've been there on several occasions attending board and committee meetings and I don't see "all those employees" you speak of. Maybe it's the time of day I attend but I see the nice, front desk officer who is always pleasant and helpful. Then all the rest of the key personnel. Although I've been there during the day and during the evening so I'm not sure what I'm missing! Have you been there? Where am I not looking?


    I sincerely hope that there are no budget cuts on special education. It's bad enough there are cuts on counselors. :( More and more kids are in need of assistance and are already not getting the support they desperately need. I'm curious about @anonymous#1's questions as well.
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  4. Thanita-- I am an RN and there does NOT need to be as many RN admins on staff, I have subbed in the clinics at schools. I am acutely aware of the many health needs of the children. Yes, the clinic aides do need supervised but there do not need to be as many chiefs.If there are serious health issues at a particular school, then a RN is hired for that elementary school. AND are you aware that MANY of the aides are either RNs or LPNs anyway. They are licensed and trained. An RN in a middle or high school does not need daily supervision- as a licensed professional they really should have to answer to one supervisor.(and by the way, in other jurisdictions the clinics are staffed by the health department, not the school system) As far as special education goes, thankfully we have state and federal laws that protect those kids.
    With regard to counselors, their jobs should remain, they deal with MANY issues that most people are not even aware of. Things such as children who go home to empty homes, have no money to eat lunch, have no breakfast, are bullied or tormented by others-- and these are ALL things that happen in ALL schools-not just the "poor" schools. Sometimes a kid just has no one else to go to. Kids who don't succeed because of their environments are at risk for becoming "bad" kids- early intervention can and does prevent some of this.
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  5. I agree with early intervention. So I hope budget cuts don't affect this.


    With regards to RN, my kids have SEVERAL health needs. 2 of my kids have life threatening medical needs. We do NOT have an RN issued at our schools (2 different schools). It's a nice thought but it doesn't happen. That's the reality. It does not happen.


    There are 6 resource nurses helping a cluster of about 6 elementary schools each. I cannot imagine 1 person helping 36 elementary schools.


    http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/50910061112842/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=90869&50910061112842Nav=|&NodeID=3896


    The middle and high school nurses are overseen by 1 supervisor:

    http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/50910061112842/site/default.asp?50910061112842Nav=|&NodeID=3870


    Correct my sources if I'm wrong but that's the way it reads to me.


    And yes I am aware that many of the elementary school clinic aids are such because they are continuing their education to become RN's. IMO we need to leave the nurses alone.

    I agree with the counselors jobs. They are very much needed.
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  6. Oh forgot to mention that while special ed is protected by state/fed. law the programs that help the special ed department are not. The Stetson Inclusive Practices program, PBS and RTI are all part of this and could be cut. This directly effects the special ed student. Really hope it's safe.
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  7. I have to disagree with you about the RNs but that is a matter of opinion. Since I have worked in the schools, I see directly what they do and really- there does not need to be so many--( I NEVER said leave it at 1)I am surprised that you don't have a RN at your school- because when I was hired to sub, I was told that certain schools that have kids with certain health issues (not severe allergy issues though) had to have RNs- the schools that my kids have gone to do have RNs or an LPN
    As far as special ed goes, I have 2 children in special ed programs- those minutes MUST be covered by law-so, even if they attempt to cut something- it won't happen because the minutes are what matters. NOW-- the problem does lie with WHO is covering. They can easily take teachers away and cover those minutes with assistants and give the special ed case managers more kids- thus making the teachers paper pushers and not teachers.
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  8. I am glad the BOS cut the LCPS budget. Hey Dr. Hatrick- your scare tactics didn't work this year! Maybe the BOS finally got tired of being pushed around by the school bully.
    Like anonymous said- the proposed cuts are from Hatrick. He puts the teachers on the front lines. I wish the teachers would see that he really isn't on their side. While teachers may be let go, Hatrick can be comfortable in his four year contract with a yet-to-be-determined salary.
    I wish the school board would apply some critical analysis to every program and keep those that work and eliminate what isn't. We really need to start over and analyze everything from the school lunch program to individual school operating costs to guidance counselors.
    There are 186 guidance counselors employed by the LCPS. That is outrageous! The fact that one of them comes for 30 minutes each week to teach my kindergartener about the world being in harmony is riduculous.
    I would also look at whether parents really want the foreign language programs in elementary school. Seriously, 30 minutes a week is not going to do any more than an episode of Dora the Explorer.
    I hope the next school board will take bold action and ask Hatrick to defend every program. It should also develop a strategic plans for future budget years.
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  9. I would be willing to see the FLES program go as well as some of the other cuts. Cutting guidance counselors really bothers me, though especially at the high school level.
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  10. It's also quite bothersome to me that elementary reading specialists are on the cutting block! With class sizes rising - the need for extra reading support is crucial in the elementary school!!
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  11. Hatrick has been all over the planet what this 20 million is for he has lost all credibility and so has the school board. Anybody can run a school system as long as they have unlimited funds. A idiot could do it, with the kind of money Loudoun schools have gotten.And the BS that Hatrick being compared to A fortune 500 CEO is BS. Hatrick and the School board's end product """children""""" has come to believe there will be endless funds every year. What CEO of any corporation has that opportunity??? So again Hatrick is Noooo first class CEO he would be torn to pieces in the real corporate world. Also shown here is the amount of education one has relates to how smart one is in running a school system under all conditions. And Hatrick and the over educated school board proves that. Hatrick and this board are disgusting how when they first lie about what the 20 million is for, they resort to inciting mob riots with the parents and teachers. All of sudden no twenty million and now they need to let teachers go to incite mob rioting. In some countries they would go to jail for that. And even in this country if inciting a riot leads to violence or obstruction would lead to the arrests to the inciters. Yes I am making powerful statements because that will filter down to the children this is how adults get their way. Well Stevens you and Hatrick and the rest of the board are lousy examples to our childern. ANd just what are you going to do next year, because the budget crisi will get worse. And many in this county are hurting. So what do you and hatrick want just education for the few and drive the rest out of this county that cannot afford higher taxes???? ha ha ha ha I have a saying for you. """"" Education for the many in Loudoun not just the few that can afford it."""" Because if you all continue not living on a budget, that is will happen. Loudoun will be know then as """"' Education for the few not the many"""" Hatrick and this board wants to run the people that are struggling that cannot afford YOUR schools only for the rich to move out of Loudoun and go elsewhere. What would impress me if Hatrick and the board take over a struggling school system and trun it around and do it receiving no compensation for yourselves including Hatricks bloated salary and perks. It won't happen because you all have gotten fat and spoiled by the BOS throwing money at you all. You all are not good examples for our children you are the generation of greed and spoiled like you trying to turn our children into. You are NOT teaching our children to survive whatever is thrown at them like the worst recession since the depression we are in now. ANd what is Hatrick's new wall street style greedy salary???? Are you all way to scared to tell us????? What a bunch of power crazy over educated little babies and liars that are running this school system. Get a backbone in you all and stop the threats it does not work anymore and the financial state of Loudoun will be much worse then, Then what are you going to do?????
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  12. Anonymous brings up a good question...why hasn't Dr. Hatrick's salary been released to the public???
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  13. Guess what - county government employees aren't getting raises, so LCPS employees shouldn't expect them either. I also know of very few private sector employees who are getting raises the last few years. This once again proves how mind-blowingly out of touch the School Board is.
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  14. My experience regarding the clinic at the local middle school has been that the RN there is incredibly over-worked! There is one nurse to 1200ish students. These students go to her with a multitude of issues, from headaches, flu, asthma attacks, and injuries to the daily dispense of medication. Can you imagine the liability involved if qualified individuals are not in the schools taking care of these needs AND over-seeing them, keeping up with the latest requirements protocols, etc? In addition, there are state mandates for proper paperwork and procedures for these clinics. Some may call this red tape, but in reality, it is another measure to ensure that procedures are followed for the protection of the student and the nursing personnel.
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  15. How many administrators are needed for licensed and professional personnel? Not that many. Hatricks new salary should be released. and NO he does NOT need a car allowance. How many of us get a car allowance for our jobs? no we pay for our own cars and gas to get to where we need to go. When I have to go to some other part of the county for inservice or training, I don't get gas money or any sort of compensation other than my normal pay. He needs to go and we need someone who really cares about the CHILDREN of Loudoun county and not what looks good on paper.
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  16. Why haven't the details of Hatrick's compensation package been made public? The taxpayers have a right to know.

    Something tells me that you're going to hold out until someone FOIA's it. If we had any real local journalists left, they'd be all over it.

    Who ever signs a contract with a salary of TBD?
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  17. It seems to me that the school board should be looking at all possible cuts- what is necessary and what can go instead of leaving it all for Hatrick who will chose the things closest to the hearts of parents- (think reading specialists) and increasing fees. Thus causing a big problem. What is troubling to me is that NO one goes to these meetings to make a stink about him. Only a few show up to actually talk about something constructive. Then there are still those who chose to whine about which high school their darling has to go to..... I hope the school board concerns itself with more pressing issues!
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  18. Until I see otherwise, I am of the firm opinion that Hatrick leads the School Board around by the nose. They certainly seem to be powerless over him. And they wonder why so few peoiple take them seriously? Hatrick has spayed and neutered his pets!
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  19. The sad thing is Hatrick and Stevens and the school board are not listening. Otherwise we would of seen changes in spending. These people are liars and hiders and down right dishonest. That is why we have heard many different reasons for the twenty million but now they want to hurt the kids in their cuts, to prove their points as inciters and terrorist tactics. That is why they don't want anyone to know Hatricks salary. Again like I said above they are over educated bureaucrats that that most have never used their own money to run a successful business just like most of the BOS over the years. That is because most are not capable. They incite the parents and teachers like the scholl house bullies which are chickens in real life. They rather in-sense rather then teach. in-sense rather then find real solutions to the budget shortfalls in-sense to cover up their lack of judgment. It is everybody's fault but the school board and hatricks. Hatrick laughs all the way to the bank. He and his board just only know how to throw money at the schools at any costs. That is not leadership in these tough economic times. It shows these people are in way over their heads. And send horrible messages to our kids on how to act in tough economic times. Hatrick is laughing at all of us with his huge salary and perks. He and the board have shown their colors and it is almost like gang mentality. Is that what we want these chicken bullies to teach our kids. Hatrick step down you are fooling nobody these days. Be a real man and leader which you are not and you and the board tell. us your new salary. Or are you not educated to do that????? We the taxpayers have been waiting for a long long time. We don't work for you you all work for us. So man up and come clean. I bet you can't just like the school house bully. So there is your first challenge!!!!!
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  20. My experience with reading specialists is excellent, however they do much more than assist in reading. We have 3 at the elementary school my son attends. I'm not sure if they are filling in because they are there, or is it because there is a huge need? There have been times I've gone into volunteer and some of the kids are always with the reading specialist, almost as if the teachers doesn't want to deal with them. They aren't a holding bin for poorly behaved students.

    Again, my experience with the RN on staff has been excellent and she is overworked. She is not full-time at our school. My question is, how much time is spent on dispensing mid-day ADHD medication vs treating true illnesses and injuries, and can't a technician do both? Unfortunately I know too many parents that send their kids to school sick hoping they make it through the day, it's really sad. I'm not sure how to address this issue, but it is creating work for the RN and/or technician for the convenience of the parents - on top of exposing other kids to germs!

    Elementary Guidance Teachers are unnecessary. Ours is wonderful, but having 1st and 2nd graders holding small groups on "how to deal with divorce" and "making and keeping friends" is completely crazy. That is called parenting. I know it feels good to have these people on staff to take care of these issues, but it not the role of the school system. Further, the Futura Program seems to have little value in elementary and a good portion of 1, 2 and 3rd grade is screening kids for Futura via Search. I know everyone thinks their kid is gifted and talented, and it is really great for these kids to being doing something "different and new" one day a week - but the resources far outweigh the benefits. Ask the parents of the Futura students if they really think it is worth the money spent and an overwhelming majority will be honest and say - no.

    Suffice it to say, the school system is doing too much parenting and kids are being sent to school unprepared. It's been this way for years, decades even. We have to get the social services out of our schools and stick to the teaching. Parents need to stop relying on the schools for everything, even if it offered!
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  21. I did go speak at one of the school board working sessions. I did ask for cuts, I did complain about the total lack of oversight on Dr. Hatrick's proposals, I did argue against elementary guidance counselors and they looked at me like I had three heads! The people who write on these blogs and in the op eds need to actually go down there and do it in person. The more they hear it, the more chance we can effect change. That said, I think the real goal is to get a new school board elected next cycle- and only candidates ready to make cuts should run.
    I think we all agree that guidance counselors in upper grades and RNs are important but the numbers should be trimmed back.
    Every program should get the same scrutiny.
    And every program should be analyzed as to whether it contributes to or is necessary to give our children an excellent education. This is the mission- nothing else.
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  22. What makes a teacher great? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032602232.html

    I don't think Hatrick and our School Board do much in the way of inspiring our teachers, when they threatened to fire them first, when Hatrick and the school board throw childish tantrums when they don't get their way with the BOS. And then use mob rule to get the parents and teachers to throw sissy fits against our BOS. Way to go Hatrick and School board to be the worst examples to our children and teachers and parents. Big deal who cares Hatrick at times reads to the kids, how does that solve the budget, as far as I am concerned that is fake PR for to make Hatrick look good . Hatrick and our school board are losing the respect of the children and teachers and parents look at the Loudoun Independent poll. While not the best poll in the world but it does say something, that 3 to 1 people in this county feel there should be even more cuts in the school budget. OK hatrick and SB go out and stuff the ballot box Like Millers camp did in the last poll when he was losing. Now lets see what happens to it now the cat is out of the bag. ha ha ha ;-)
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  23. Where are the central office cuts on the Option 1 list? They were originally there in November when the document was in Tiers format. Now they have vanished. 57 central office staff reduction for a 3 million saving. John, if we have to cut, I think everyone would would agree that is the place to start and not start in the classroom.
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  24. I don't know what, if any, control the School Board has over Hatrick. Hatrick wants to cut essential programs, essential programs get cut (that'll teach us to question his budgets). What role does the School Board have in his oversight?
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  25. I don't know how anyone can support the cuts of reading specialists over central office employees. I'm a lhogj school teacher with a central office supervisor and a specialist and they are worthless to me. The only one who has provided me with any real help is their secretary. There are all kinds of ridiculous positions there such as " library media technology specialist" - huh?

    Hatrick had hung us teachers out to dry with his budget and option 1 cuts. Raising class sizes? Many already at the high school level are over 30. Getting rid of the measely 500 tuition reimbursement? That amount had been the same for at least 8 years and it used to almost cover the cost of one class at GMU and now it doesn't even cover half. No more National Board stipends? Hatrick doesn't care about professional development. I'm in grad classes with Ffx teachers and in Ffx they seem to value their teachers much more.

    I've said it before and I'm saying it again Spanish in elementary school and SAMS is a waste of money! The students are not better prepared for a language class after being a part of these programs. Moreover, if anyone needs to be let go it needs to be these FOREIGN NATIONALS who are here for three years, many of whom are FLES teachers. They should not be allowed to keep their jobs if citizens of this country are losing their jobs.

    Profe
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  26. and as we are on spring break, my child's school is getting promethean boards installed- and the teachers must take training to learn how to use them...ONE THE COMPUTER!(not even real practice with the boards) Teachers are expected to show up Monday morning with all new lesson plans ready to go on these new boards.. some have little or no experience with these boards. This could not wait til summer? What bad timing as we all sit here and complain about how we have no money and yet we get new technology installed at the same time. Now I do realize that the money came from a grant for such a purchase but it is sending a very bad message to the public who may not be aware of where the money came from.. and do we REALLY know the full story about this money? I doubt it.
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  27. Of all the programs slated under the Option #1 list, the most essential to student achievement is summer school yet no one has mentioned it.

    While I agree that reading support and counseling services are equally important in terms of student needs and achievement, and am appalled they appear on the list, summer school extends beyond this, reaching students who are struggling academically and require something more than classroom support to improve their subject/skill competency. Consider summer school's effect on students who need to take a class to graduate, improve their grade, or those who need it to reach grade level in any elementary, middle, or high school in LC. Losing this program literally leaves children behind and affects their future achievement. Additionally, summer school is a causative factor in decreasing the number of drop-outs among high school students in various socio-economic groups.

    Is this what we want for Loudoun’s children? No!

    Further, summer school courses are fee-based and financial assistance is available (as with the lunch program) so the program can't be labeled as only serving “certain” students. Summer school is a valuable resource for our students - along with other school-based academic programs – and we can’t afford to lose it.
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  28. Here we go again with the School Board trying to make the BOS look like the bad guys. Cutting $5.5 million, which happens to be the amount a 1% COLA would cost, was simply an issue of fairness. Why should school employees get a raise and not county employees? Is it fair that LCPS librarians make a lot more money than county librarians? But fairness is not something Hatrick and the School Board have ever been concerned with. It's all about them. They feel they are entitled to more and more of our money.

    Last time I checked, Mr. Stevens, you can still give the teachers a raise, regardless of $5.5 million less funding. You don't have to raise student fees. There is all kinds of evidence of wasteful and inappropriate spending that could be cut to free up more money for teachers. Why is it that Prince William County spends a lot less per pupil, yet can pay their teachers more? Maybe because they have cut the fat out of their budget?
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  29. What good is the technology if there are no teachers to use it? And no technology assistants to help those teachers who are techno-phobic... Because, despite the requirement that teachers meet technology standards, many teachers remain ignorant of how to integrate technology into their classroom lessons.
    But hey, I'm told that since I chose to be a teacher, I should suck it up and deal. The only other place I know that furloughs employees to balance a budget was the former Soviet Union; their factory workers were always "donating time" to make gifts for Stalin and other Politburo members. You see how well that plan worked for them... Who is Stalin in this picture?
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  30. @Anonymous about the cutlist questions:

    The items on the list were decided by Dr. Hatrick. I'm told, although I don't know for sure, that all sports and marching band members pay a fee. Most clubs have a fee, but its usually nominal, like $5 or so. Clubs use that to pay for things within the club itself. Some clubs, like the one I run, focus on community service and don't require dues. This means that things like club shirts aren't subsidized by the students, and each student pays the full fee. My club officers have been creative the last few years, between soliciting larger donations from local businesses to attend leadership training trips, and writing grants to bring leadership training to us. The cuts mean that clubs like mine won't have access to a bus: not just because we typically can't pay for the bus, but because the bus & drivers won't be available due to employees being laid off.
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  31. @Anonymous to Thanita:
    Your special ed minutes may need to be covered, but how is that going to happen when they furlough teachers? How is that going to happen when they cut teaching assistants? I'm hearing that there are plans to work to keep things off that Option 1 list by furloughing teachers up to 8 days. That's nearly $1000 for me.
    I guarantee that, as much as I care about the students I teach, on the day I'm furloughed I will NOT be doing schoolwork. And this is a unique thing for me: I've never been one to hold with "work to the minute" protests, because the people who need to see it don't, the people who do are the ones who already thing teachers have it too soft... and the only people that wind up getting the message are the kids who lose their teachers. I've always sponsored a club, in every school I've been in, usually an intensive club like newspaper, yearbook or community service. I'm never paid for those services... and often spend a lot of my money on these things. After all, the school district doesn't pay my way to those leadership conferences (they don't pay the student's way either, but when my students work so hard to raise the funds, I don't feel right taking it from them to pay for my transportation and fees!).
    I even do schoolwork from home when I'm sick, and I spent both winter break, the blizzard, and spring break writing IEPs.
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