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George Neely suggests solutions to the Lodi Unified School District's $25 million budget shortfall
Monday, March 30, 2009 6:17 AM PDT
In the last months, dozens of teachers and other speakers at board meetings have recommended various cuts that can be taken to close Lodi Unified's $25 million budget deficit.
But few have actually taken the time to not only write them down and present them to the district, but produce as detailed a cost-savings analysis as George Neely.
George Neely
The Creekside Elementary sixth-grade teacher has proposed that a four-day school schedule be examined, and laid out his recommendations in a three-page summary and spreadsheet. He presented the idea at last month's school board meeting in McNair High School's theater. It was the same night the board approved laying off nearly 400 teachers to save money.
A similar idea of instruction reduction has been discussed at the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District. Although nothing has been brought to the voting table, trustees there seem interested in looking at cutting the school year by five days to save on salaries and utilities, among other things.
Not only would reducing the number of days in the school week require union and school board approval, it would require a change in state law and a local legislator to take it through the process, according to Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer. Still, Neely, a Lodi Unified graduate himself, is in favor of such a change. He recently discussed his four-day week idea with News-Sentinel staff writer Jennifer Bonnett.
Q: Where did you come up with this idea? Is it new?
A: I have been through and seen others go through budget problems. Some companies take the easy way out and just lay off people, while others try to find more innovative solutions, including things like a four-day week. The idea is not new, as about 100 school districts nationwide, including a few in California, currently have a four-day week.
Q: As I understand it, your proposal would basically add close to an hour of instruction time each day. How?
George Neely at a glance
High school: Lodi High School Class of 1970College: Left North Stockton in 1971 to go into the U.S. Army and earn a college degree.
Family: Wife is an attorney; oldest son finishing up doctorate degree at
Purdue University; youngest became a paramedic after the military; and stepson works for a company that provides social services.
Occupation: Sixth-grade teacher at Creekside Elementary in North Stockton.
A: For elementary schools, it is very simple: You just add 55 minutes to the end of the day.
Currently, our day at Creekside starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:20 p.m. on a normal day. Minimum days start at the same time and end at 12:15 p.m.
This results in a total of 311 instructional minutes for a standard day and 205 minutes for a minimum day.
One proposal I want the district to consider would have all (schools) start at 8:15 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. This would result in 366 instructional minutes per day. By making this one change, we could cut the number of school days from 180 (161 standard days and 19 minimum days) to 148.
Q: I've heard some educators say that with the state's stringent "No Child Left Behind" mandates, there's no way students can spend less time in school. What do you have to say to them?
A: The four-day week actually generates more instructional minutes in one year than does the current schedule. Additionally, since there would not be as many interruptions to instruction such as taking attendance, getting ready for instruction and putting things away after instruction, the teacher actually gets additional quality instruction time. Also, both teachers and students can make appointments for medical or other reasons during the scheduled off day instead of during school time. The net result of going to the four-day week would be increased quality instruction time.
Q: How would this save money?
A: Keep in mind that we will have 32 (fewer) days of school. Two major savings will come from utilities and buses. We will also save on the cost of substitutes, as teachers will be able to schedule appointments on their day off. Personnel cost would also be reduced.
Q: Would some employees have to take pay cuts?
A: Employees should not have to take pay cuts, but it looks like many are going to be forced to because of the budget crisis anyway. It makes more sense that if we ask people to take a pay cut, we also ask them to work fewer days.
Q: Who else might this affect, if it were adopted?
A: Working parents will be affected to some extent. However, we need to remember that they are already affected by the 19 minimum days we have.
Q: A lot of people praised your idea when you spoke at last month's contentious meeting at McNair. Were you nervous? Do you speak often in front of large groups?
A: I've been speaking in front of large groups of people for many years. I don't often get nervous. And on the subjects of our schools and our students, I become more angry than nervous when we don't give them everything they need.
Q: Speaking of being in front of groups, what have you found to be the hardest thing about teaching pre-teens?
A: Honestly, I love this job. My wife and I don't have kids at home anymore, so these kids become like my own. Probably the hardest thing is to see what some of them have to go through. Some of our parents have had a tough time of things, and many times that comes out in the kids. I have had kids living with the grandparents because the parents are in jail, or deserted them. I have also had parents that are working three jobs and still can barely afford anything for their child. Those are hardest things.
Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.
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Jerry wrote on Apr 9, 2009 7:37 PM:
Idiotic palavers wedded to the notion of popular noise and communism want you to think that L.U.S.D. monies should be shared equally among the kleptocrats and the teachers. They should not. At best it's an improbable fiction perpetuated and pushed by stupidity and greed and to fill the klepto's silk-lined pockets.
There is enough money to pay each and every teacher, period. There is absolutely no reason that the teachers need to be convinced to canniblize each other; that's a red herring my friends more misdirection from the klepto's.
Futher, there is no eathly reason that any quality teaching/learning program need be cut. In fact, if someone down at Oz had "brain one" they would reinstitute science camp and ditch Senior projects. Does someone's uncle need something to do?
It comes down to choice. Do we choose to fully fund the kleptocrats at crook-central or do we fully fund teachers (therefore students)? Sounds like an easy one to me. Don't be bamboozled by the teacher cannibal committee.
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" Isn't that it? No wizards here. Oz "
science8c wrote on Apr 8, 2009 1:57 PM:
Jerry wrote on Apr 8, 2009 5:29 AM:
It was just announced by the Lodi News-Sentinel that Cathy Nichols-Washer (L.U.S.D's) Superintendent that she "is voluntarily taking a 6.63% cut in pay" or (a pay reduction of $15,245). Wow! sounds noble and generous until you figure out that she would still "pull-down" a hefty $214,750. She was silent however on her $700 per month car allowance, free cell phone, free lunches, free travel, free blackberry...have I missed anything?
However, boys and girls look closely at her quote immediately following her magnanimous gesture: "She said, 'I want to give back also," he said before directing his comments to union members. "As Dr. Washer stepped forward...we expect that to happen with all of our (bargaining)groups."
Translation: Our bargaining group (CTA)is going to present you with the absurd notion that all teachers need to take a cut in pay. My answer is %$^& *&; how about you?
P.S. Nichol-Washer will still make about two grand more per year than the Governor of California...and he doesn't get a car allowance. "
contrapasso wrote on Apr 7, 2009 7:29 PM:
Jerry wrote on Apr 7, 2009 9:34 AM:
As I have said before, everyone better fasten their seatbelts, put their tray tables up and put their seats in the upright and locked positions...all this budget $&!) will begin all over again very soon.
Yes dear friends, as we bask in the warm comfort of ignorance (of this on-going fraud) "they" are already plotting and planning for the 2009-2010 budget.
The reigning orthodoxy of these egomaniacal dummies is "your money is really our money." If all the teachers out there think we have "dodged a bullet" this year, I've got news...next year starts in four months.
They even have a new slogan for 2010: No Bad Administrator Left Behind...and they won't. Get ready everyone, right after they announce their genius for not cutting teachers as much as once thought they will be planning their next move. Sadly, there next move is to get rid of you. "
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 6:36 PM:
edumacation wrote on Apr 6, 2009 6:07 PM:
Most prisoners have no high school diploma, so edumacators incorrectly conclude that they can save society, by "graduating" more high school students.
There has NEVER been a demonstrated cause and effect relationship between these two variables. Yet, billions of dollars is spent by edumacators to support Alternative schools, community schools, and jail/prison schools hoping that if the graduation rates increase, incarceration rates MUST also decrease.
There is also an ethnic bias about these studies. Look at the ethnicity of those incarcerated. I see no cause- effect relationship between race and incarceration. But there IS a correlation. What we are producing is criminals with faux high school diplomas. Today, a high school diploma means NOTHING to employers. If a failing student waits long enough, edumcators will find a way to GIVE them a diploma or GED. Is the senior project REAL? NO!! "
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 5:08 PM:
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 5:01 PM:
Oh and by the way - did you know the District is laying off 28 HS English Teachers? How does 35-40 students to the class sound? I did not hear any "Administrators" taking pay cuts. Call them and ask - or go down there and ask:
District Office:
James Areida "Education Support??" Center
(aka Taj Majal)
1305 E. Vine Street
Lodi, CA 95240
Information:
(209) 331-7000
(209) 953-8111 "
edumacation wrote on Apr 6, 2009 1:59 PM:
Why do we force our children to be near these school bullies. As adults we would never want to get near these child criminals, yet we force our own children to endure the antics, behavior and threats from delinquents and the future robbers, thieves and rapists that they represent. We must draw a line by removing the Board members who salute criminality and show no sensitivity for INNOCENT children. "
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 12:29 PM:
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 12:26 PM:
reading wrote on Apr 6, 2009 9:47 AM:
edumacation wrote on Apr 6, 2009 8:00 AM:
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 6:26 AM:
jbhiker wrote on Apr 6, 2009 6:24 AM:
Contrapasso wrote on Apr 5, 2009 8:19 PM:
I have had a violent student transferred into my class mid-semester with no notification of the student's criminal history, and no knowledge of that same student's violent proclivities. I guess that it would have invaded his privacy to inform me that he had a prior history of violent behavior against authority figures. "
Contrapasso wrote on Apr 5, 2009 8:13 PM:
What the heck??!! "
jbhiker wrote on Apr 5, 2009 7:43 PM:
Apparently we do. TV, Movies, Music, MP3 Players, on and on..@! Just go to the nearest High School Campus. These bullies are everywhere, running in packs. Ask your Kids if you do not believe me. Bullying is good for the School Board. Turmoil on the campus makes us rely on the experts at the District (or so they want us to believe). But the solution is to kick these little bums out of school and give them a choice of prison or trade school. Speaking of which, this is the #1 problem - we are graduating our kids from HS with not a whit of critical thinking skills - nothing like what you and I got. Get your heads out of the sand. Do something good with your life and tell this district you have had enough! "
edumacation wrote on Apr 5, 2009 12:48 PM:
As parents, do you really want your child to sit next to a person who robbed or assualted another? But thats exactly what you get in public school.
What you see is an attempt to make EVERYONE the same and at the same LOW level of achievement. There are intelligent children pretending they are special ed so they get easy work and also help the spec ed program by showing "good" results. It's time that children who are incorrigible and/or lawbreakers be isolated from normal behaving children. What ever happened to accountability or responsibility? What ever happemd to the so the so-called "lifeskills" program? Is bullying a lifeskill we want to teach? "
Jerry wrote on Apr 5, 2009 12:44 PM:
Up until just recently, most teachers, parents, students (and some lower end administrators) have been afraid to stand up to these academic thugs for fear of retaliation. Yes, these wonderful people will target your child, you or a teacher who has the audacity to stand for what's right, good and proper.
Things have changed. "The people are as mad as hell and they're not going to take it anymore" (Network) So, let's communicate, let's organize and then let's vote these "politicians" out of office and out of our lives.
The Board is a cancer on the school system they must be removed. First, we will attempt to make it a clean sweep (all 7 via recall) if that doesn't work we will at least throw-out the 4 that are up for re-election in 2010.
Ever think about running for the Board?
Think about it. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 5, 2009 12:31 PM:
Nobody can trust these people they have no honesty or integrity so they have no respect or credibility. You can literally feel it when you go on to most of our District's campuses.
I recently asked a highly placed administrator why they allow our children to use the F-word as a noun, verb, preposition or just as a filler word when they can't think of another...the administrator told me it is "policy" to not do anything about it unless the F-word is directed at a teacher. Leadership is like gravity it starts at the top and moves to the bottom. All these folks (our leaders) are morally bankrupt and totally incompetent. Any questions? "
science8c wrote on Apr 5, 2009 12:00 PM:
jbhiker wrote on Apr 5, 2009 10:18 AM:
A couple of points. #1 - it is not free. That is what we are talking about. #2 - It is not Daycare. The Teachers care and what you say is offensive. #3 - The problem is Leadership. The Kids are emulating the Adults. Look in the Paper at all the corruption in Politics - city, state and federal. A paradigm shift is in order and it starts with changing the rules of discipline. Teachers are powerless against the school bullies. Other students cannot speak up for fear of retaliation. Principals will not do anything more than suspend the kids because the "Leadership" (and I use that term loosely) cares more about their useless job than the children. That is obvious by where the cuts in this district occurred. You are all Sheep being led down a path that will ultimately destroy America. It started with Education as Imperial Power controls the common sense of those we count on most to carry our future. As you can see, Imperial Power has destroyed our dollar and given us our first Ethnic President. Is this not enough? "
Jerry wrote on Apr 5, 2009 9:42 AM:
The number we should work with is the total number of students in the District; that would be somewhere north of 28,500 and somewhere south of 29,350.
If you read the District's propaganda (and I do) they don't even know (within 300 students) how many they have.
The important thing is, 25% of all these students are failing and the District doesn't have a plan nor a plan to get a plan to fix it. I think for our 275 million bucks we should expect more.
Let's tie the administrators salaries to their own goals; lots of failure less money. The way things are going, they'd owe us. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Apr 4, 2009 8:49 PM:
edumacation wrote on Apr 4, 2009 11:27 AM:
The law allows the local district to have authority over homeschoolers to "protect" the children from their, in this case, credentialed parent.
You see, the agenda of this district is two fold: Power and self-aggrandizememnt for the kleptocrats and poliical indoctrination instead of education.
I think these kleptocrats are really starting to believe their own lies.
It's called HUBRIS.
I am just a parent trying my best to help my family. But the LUSD attempts to hamper, control, and destroy any type of education going on at home.
Its the LUSD kleptocratic "My way or t
he highway" attitude that smothers public education.
Where do these kleptocrats learn this "kindergarten-speak"? Not all parents have room temoeraturte IQ.
Parents are NOT the enemy of public education, but Kleptocrats are. Lets kick them out by recalling the board. "
Dirt Claude wrote on Apr 4, 2009 8:47 AM:
Jerry wrote on Apr 4, 2009 8:40 AM:
Beware: We are going to be starting this whole budget process again very shortly. The 2009-2010 budget is due by July. We will hear the same rhetoric, the same scare tactics, the same divide and conquer strategies.
We will hear Davis and Jones talk about how "children, parents and teachers are going to be disrupted." We are going to here the same rumors about three or four different schools that need to closed and shuttered.
In short same s^&$ different day. Teachers call your unions; make sure they get off their dead butts and get in someone's face. You parents show up at the meetings and scream and yell; students, demand that your important learning experiences are not abandoned because we need to pay our kleptocrats their wages of sin.
Keep the blogs up and tell everyone with two ears on their head what a corrupt bunch of s.o.b's we have and how to get rid of them. Let's get busy because the same bunch of %^7$%&^* is on its way. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 4, 2009 8:23 AM:
Stantaves: Your post broke my heart. Clearly, your thoughts and feelings are sad, true and heartfelt. Like you I am sicken by what I see, what I hear and what I experience both from big business and big government.
However, don't dispair, don't give up and don't give in. We can beat these bastards if we all support each other and fight the right and good fight.
This District has become a microcosim of the larger world. Graft, special favors, special relationships, hidden agendas and sometimes outright theft. Why did these idiots my Len Castenega an extra million bucks for 100-days work? Why did they agree to pay the Superintendent 230K per year or Odie Douglas 168K per year? Why did all and I mean all these folks get a 1% raise last July (in the last budget) when they knew or should of known about the pending financial crisis. Sorry to say, we may never know.
However, we can spread the word about these kleptocrats and vote them out of office then fire the administrators. "
edumacation wrote on Apr 4, 2009 8:02 AM:
stantaves wrote on Apr 3, 2009 10:13 PM:
edumacation wrote on Apr 3, 2009 7:27 PM:
MY favorite part is:
"... when you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors-when you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you- when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice-you may know that your society is doomed"
It's like reading the daily financial news. Most of us have lost 30% or more of our hard earned pension money and savings to chicanery and deceit by the real estate, mortgage, and banking cartel, but we HAND OUT TRILLIONS of our future tax dollars to those villains who subjugate us. It looks like the local LUSD kleptocrats want to get "theirs" too.
How many small town public school superintendents receive million dollar golden handshakes for 100 days of "work"?
Did we have one who bellied up to the trough to devour cash from our porcine trough? oink oink! "
Jerry wrote on Apr 3, 2009 5:47 PM:
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)
Ayn was spot-on. What do you think she would say about our administrators? "When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing." Does any of this ring a bell?
However, we are not doomed we will be empowered by the vote. These are our children, our schools, our money and we will assert ourselves soon.
By the way, Tenure has been given to us for a reason. We need to always protect the kids from these idiots. We need our voices heard. Speak. Speak loudly. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 3, 2009 5:34 PM:
Just so everyone knows, I am not blowing blue smoke up anyone's skirt here. A group of business people (folks a lot smarter than me) are going to organize a full recall of all 7 members of the Board by the end of the year.
We have 161-days to get 11,000 registered voters and these guys are as good as gone. They need to be gone; they have no ethics, no class, they are constantly lying and at least one of them appears to have his hand in the cookie-jar. After the new Board is constituted, the so-called top administrators better start polishing their resumes. Their big butts are going to be out on the street.
When I use the term KLEPTOCRAT(a word coined in England) I mean to imply that the Board, and the administrators who advise them, are deliberately moving precious resources (money) from where it should be (to pay for teachers) to where it shouldn't be, to overpay know nothing administrators.
There is no earthly reason that even one teacher needed to be fired this year. "
edumacation wrote on Apr 3, 2009 5:08 PM:
science8c wrote on Apr 3, 2009 3:52 PM:
Vickster wrote on Apr 3, 2009 2:36 PM:
edumacation wrote on Apr 3, 2009 2:12 PM:
they just aren't smart enough to figure it out. The word "kleptocrat" implies they know they are stealing. They are "smart' enough to defend themselves and set up smoke screens and doubletalk to justify the use of millions tax dollars to PAY THEMSELVES FIRST.
A kleptomaniac knows what they are doing but can't stop the compulsion to steal.
Therefore, they are much more dangerous than the simpletons who have a similar problem but aren't smart enough to figure it out. The word "kleptocrats" is more descriptive than educrats. However the edumacators really explains the know-it-all pretend teacher types. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 3, 2009 2:05 PM:
If 25% of the swimming class couldn't swim would you consider their swimming system a success or a failure?
Yet, we have a Superintendent (the person who runs our swim school called L.U.S.D.) who makes $230,000 per year (more than the Governor, more than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and more than the Vice President of the United States. Really!
Do you think running our (Can't Swim School)in which 25% fail,can justify paying this kind of exotic salary? Well, evidently the Board does. They've got another 40 people who help run the (Can't Swim School) making in excess of $120,000.
Like many of our so-called institutions we need to take a hard look at who gets what for doing what. We need to start here and now, yes?
I say we recall the entire Board in 2010, fire our high priced administrators and save our kids from drowning. Let's hold these high priced superstars to a standard. Success. "
edumacation wrote on Apr 3, 2009 1:54 PM:
edumacation wrote on Apr 3, 2009 1:50 PM:
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 3, 2009 1:50 PM:
I thought they were talking about an administrative assistant position making 120K....but thanks for clarifying. "
edumacation wrote on Apr 3, 2009 1:43 PM:
The $120 k/ year amount to "count books" under the Williams Act was given to me by the PERSON IN THE JOB. All at the ESC know the name. It was one of those "plum" do-nothing positions that the Ed code requires. I was advised that it WAS a "do-nothing" position, but it was a promotion, so why not join the other oinkers in the pig sty? "
Jerry wrote on Apr 3, 2009 1:40 PM:
First, L.U.S.D. has but eight (28) schools, less than half of what you quoted. However, that's of no moment, what counts is the total number of students....L.U.S.D. has approximately 28,500 students.
However, the number of students is not the issue either the issue is what these people are being paid and what they are doing for that pay.
If you read their Mission, Vision and Goal statements you will find that the District has failed, is failing and will continue to fail because there is no plan to do anything different; appearently they're satisfied. Why? nobody seems to know. They are being paid lots of money to fail; that's unacceptable.
25% of our children who go through their system never receive a diploma (the clearest form of failure). The reason we are celebrating George Neely's simple suggestion here is because he has made the effort to get a plan that will solve a problem. That's new, that's different.
The District continues to give us failure at a cost of $275,000,000 per year. Should we try something else? Recall the Board. Fire some more administrators. "
Bob Loblaw wrote on Apr 3, 2009 11:40 AM:
Ed Code says all employees of the 4 former districts have a right to their jobs this year. But even with an overstaffed district office and multiple staff doing the same job, there are less employees in our DO than in LUSD's DO. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 3, 2009 7:41 AM:
Let's try it again. First, and foremost, I am not a negative person. Keep in mind, just because you have one opinion and I have another that doesn't make me negative and you positive. Reasonable minds can differ. The question is are you a reasonable person. It sounds like you want to take your ball and go home, true.
We had a difference of opinion, do not take that personally. Hey, I love my wife dearly. Yet, and still, we have "differences of opinions" all the time; an argument here or there is not remarkable either. However, I still love her and respect her opinion "even if she is completely wrong" LOL :)
As for you, I still like you I am glad you participate in these written conversations, as more than most, you help me make my point or force me to explore new ways of influencing you.
I think your problem here is, you are like a drunk who stops at the corner lamp post more for stabilization rather than illumination. My positions are meant to shed more light than heat. Are you with me so far? "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 10:15 PM:
It seems that you are just a negative person who is against the District in every way. I am sorry you feel the way you do.
Back to the focus of the article....It just nice to hear a Teacher with a good idea instead of complaining about everything. "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 10:03 PM:
I am glad you don't think your job is miserable. That's how Jerry made it sound, or at least how I took it. But If you go back and read my posting you will see that I did not say "personal", I simply said from my experience. I don't have to currently be working for LUSD to have had contact with LUSD Teachers, or any Teacher for that matter. However, you can think what you want to think. I know what I know.
I can tell you that the people who work at the DO work hard just like you. Do they have room to cut...sure they do. Do they room for improvement..sure they do. But I really don't think the the DO can cut all of the positions that jbhiker mentioned. Thats all...... "
karensays wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:50 PM:
Jerry is right on the money. Teachers teach because we love working with the kids; it's the grown-ups that make us crazy with one thing after another that makes it harder and harder to do what we LOVE. "
karensays wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:44 PM:
Momoftwo; again, friend and family of LUSD doesn't constitute "personal experience" - just hearsay. And, if you reread the post, I wasn't complaining about less time, but thankful that THIS plan didn't propose cuts to class time, as other have in the past. But, you would know that if you truly had "personal experience" in LUSD... "
Jerry wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:34 PM:
However, they might be "happier" if they had better facilities to work from as well as the supplies that they shouldn't beg for or come out of pocket.
Hey, tell me...how many top administrators could tell you how many children they helped in the last month. How many administrators actually know any of the students or their families or have the slightest notion how these people struggle. Answer: None. Why? They don't give a damn. In point of fact, many of the administrators have taken on the habits of their bosses. Many have gone from good people trying to help students, teachers and parents to academic thugs who carry out orders from crook-central.
Teachers' morale is at an all time low and it's not because of the kids or the hard work. Many of the administrators under the guise of "I want to keep my job" have gone over to the dark side."
Good people have been compromised. How sad. "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:12 PM:
Jerry wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:10 PM:
Everybody, ask yourself this question...and let's be honest. If the Superintendent, the Assoc. Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendents (yes, there are two)left the planet for 6-months would anyone know, would anyone care?
Cruel to say, most of what goes on in education could go on without any administrators. In my view, a few good secretaries and the "little people" that actually do the work could run all 28 schools without anymore help from the kleptocrats.
In fact, in my opinion, the teachers would have more time to teach because they wouldn't have to read or respond to useless e-mails, attend worthless meetings or listen to administrators drone-on about much to do about next to nothing.
Could the schools run without any administration at all...I don't know, but I'd like to see someone try it. On the other hand, what would happen to the overall pedogogy if teachers took the next six months off. See, this one's easy. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 2, 2009 4:00 PM:
There is little doubt that teachers are expected to do way too much. All the while, fat-cat administrators are being paid six-figure salaries for holding meetings, writing memos and making speeches about how teachers should be more effective, efficient, sensitive, kind, forceful, diligent...you've got the picture.
Where do these teachers work, in a Class A building like most administrators? No, they are forced to teach and spend the lion's share of their day in a portable (with a shelf life of 10-years that happens to be 20-years old)and must brave the high probability that those portables are clearly environmental hazards. Sounds inviting, yes?
I will tell you what every teacher knows is true: The stress is so high, the working conditions are so low and nearly all teachers count the days until they get time off.
There are only three populations that I know of who can tell you the day when they "get out".... those that serve in the military, those who are in prison and those who teach school.
Why is that? Because it is damn hard to be a good teacher. "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 3:50 PM:
That is excatly my point. But..jbhikier thinks that the job duties of the higher-up's at the DO should be delegated out to the teachers.
Don't you think Teachers already have enough to do for the pay they receive? Like I said before...I don't really thing LEA would like the delegating idea for the same amount of pay. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 2, 2009 3:43 PM:
Increasingly, as in everyday, teachers are being asked to do more with less. By statute law, teachers are expected to execute instructional planning; prepare meaningful lessons (that match the State's curricula standards). Teachers must select and prepare instructional materials; review and evaluate students' work; communicate and conference with students,parents, staff, and administrators; maintain appropriate records; provide leadership and supervise student activities, just to name a few.
Teachers (legal obligations don't stop here however). Teachers are required by statute to report any suspected child abuse. Teachers must report all forms of prejudice, discrimination or suspected hate crimes. There is little doubt in most (educated peoples minds) that teachers are responsible for far too much while being paid far too little. Unlike most administrators!
See above for some timely comment; yes, there's more "
science8c wrote on Apr 2, 2009 3:24 PM:
momoftwo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 1:38 PM:
Well how was lunch??
No one ever said you were a prisioner chained to your desk. But if you have students in your room it is obvious that they should be your focus. If you are on your prep period you should be making lesson plans, making copies or perhaps grading papers so you don't have to take them home with you.
The only reason I brought up you blogging on district time is because you were complaining about not having enough time in the class room. I think it makes logical sense?
As far as me being a DO employee, I am not....I do have a family member that works at the DO and has held prior positions, not to mention I have friends that work there as well. "
blossom wrote on Apr 2, 2009 1:17 PM:
If teachers have periods 1,2 as preps, they don't come to work until 10:30 ish and if they have 5,6, prep they leave at lunch for the Day.I have seen this first hand.
If they have prep,lunch,prep they leave for three hours snd do their grocery shopping.
As soon as the bell rings and most of the kids gone, they are GONE!! If hey actually worked on their preps then they would not have to bring work home. Isnt that the whole idea of a "prep period"???? They really should be watched more carefully to make sure that THEY put in theor time as well because the DO NOT!Waste happens all over NOT just exclusive to the D.O. it is a District wide problem!Teachers need to be watched they are wasting alot of time. "
karensays wrote on Apr 2, 2009 12:28 PM:
And, when you say "From my expereince most Teachers can not turn paper work in on time.... Teachers and Principals want the Secretaries to do everything for them." then say you are not an LUSD employee, your point is mute because you are not truly speaking from any true experience within the district.
Excuse me while I finish my lunch now... "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 2, 2009 9:37 AM:
Lets set the record straight, I am not a LUSD employee!! Now that you have mentioned you are a teacher, how is it that you find time to blog when you should be educating our students.
As far as the Williams Act...you can thank a sue happy parent in L.A. for that one. Now the district needs to stay in complaince with the state on their mandates.
I will say it again: most (not all) Teachers want the Custodians and Secretaries to do everything for them. I wonder what the Teachers could actually get done on their prep periods? I have seen so many Teachers skip out on their prep periods because they have 1st, 4 or 6th period prep, then complain they have not enough time to do this, that or the other.
Perhaps, you should try blogging after 3pm, so you have more than enough time to teach our children. "
karensays wrote on Apr 2, 2009 9:07 AM:
And I don't know 1 teacher that wants things done FOR them. The problem is that there are too many chiefs constantly changing the rules, or the tests, or the textbooks, or whatever the latest "emergency" is determinded to be, and the teaachers are left jumping through hoops instead of TEACHING. You have no idea how much of my class time is taken up with erroneous district mandates like the Williams act. Not all high schools have lockers and now we don't have class sets either. ThanksLUSD "
Jerry wrote on Apr 2, 2009 6:54 AM:
Please look into it, inquiring minds want to know.
Good Morning....got to go. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 2, 2009 6:50 AM:
People just don't sue for no reason at all. First, and foremost, suits filed (deliberately without merit) are usually thrown out of Court. Litigation is not for the faint of heart and requires hundreds of hours of attorney time as well as their client's time. The Bar does not allow attorneys to file meritless claims, period. These suits have merit.
L.U.S.D. is a lawyer's wet-dream, they are big, dumb, rich (have deep pockets meaning "us") and they are almost always on the paying end of the suit; they lose.
Most of the time, like the vast majority of the 40 suits the District is currently named in are brought for a cause of action called Negligence. Almost always, the District is found to have a duty that they breached to a parent or a student, they knew or should have known, by doing a certain thing they would breach that duty and that damage was a certainty.
This District gets sued (sucessfully) because the administrators are as negligent as they are arrogant; a bad combo.
How many teachers could we hire back "but for" L.U.S.D's negligence? "
blossom wrote on Apr 1, 2009 9:04 PM:
She counts books for the Williams act.
This was a created position just for her: ) "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 1, 2009 8:55 PM:
I am sure that if a problem is brought to the District it is handled. Situations are brought to my department all the time. Just because the situation is not handled the way you think it should have been, does not mean it goes ignored. It really dosen't matter how hard the DO tries, they will never satisfy everyone.
I am sure that most business' budget for legal matters because everyone is so sue happy these days.
jbhiker:
Like I said in one my pervious postings, "if you worked at the District Office you would have a better understanding on what actually goes on and you probably wouldn't have the attitude you have. Not all positions are a "fill-a-slot position at the District Office." You never did answer my question, why weren't you allowed to speak at the last gathering?
I am still waiting for someone to tell me what position at the DO counts books. "
jbhiker wrote on Apr 1, 2009 8:36 PM:
I am not crazy. Most if not all "Successful" school districts DO delegate these duties to their most intelligent teachers. Like in Business - if you want to aspire to better things, you have to work for it. But you have stumbled upon the precise problem here in Lodi - that of the Work Ethic - conspicuously absent in this district because of the Top-Down control of the District office. I have to hire these kids and I want them educated - not churned out. This district wants everyone to have a do-nothing job - paid for 40 hours and only have to work 4! "
reading wrote on Apr 1, 2009 7:59 PM:
I, (among thousands of local voters) was all for splitting the district back in the 90's when they were screaming for us to pass their school bonds to build more schools in North Stockton.
So, yeah...bring it up again. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 1, 2009 7:25 PM:
That said, Karen I think "we the people" should break the District into 29 pieces or back to the 29 schools. Lodi Un-Unified...it has a certain ring to it, does it not? "
Jerry wrote on Apr 1, 2009 6:12 PM:
These top administrators are a sleep at the switch or have themselves become a part of discriminatory, retaliatory, and harassing acts that end up costing our District hundreds of thousands if not millions to defend and indemnify.
How many teachers could we hire back if these top administrators would have been doing their jobs? The hope that these top administrators are really watching the store cannot be supported with facts. In many cases, we'd be better off if they didn't show for work at all.
Sadly, Karen you are right, (but may not in the way you think)... gross negligence and breach of fiducary duty does impact our kids. These kleptocrats insure that precious resources (like money) get diverted from teaching to paying plaintiffs. This is completely avoidable. "
karensays wrote on Apr 1, 2009 5:31 PM:
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 1, 2009 3:17 PM:
Whether you want to think so or not.
Who is going to make sure the Principals are doing things they need to be doing, such as evualuating the teachers teaching the students, who is going to apply for funds at the state level for facility repairs, let alone make sure the facilities are safe and who is going to make sure all the special ed requirements are being met-there are a bunch. Believe me...these things take time.
When you have declining enrollement like LUSD is facing...I am sorry, but you do not need as many Teachers, Counselors or Principals.
Are their positions that the District Office could do away with in a time that we are in? Yes, and I believe that the Sup and the BOE have cut 45 positions at the DO. "
reading wrote on Apr 1, 2009 2:31 PM:
You are correct on your overhead percentages (around 5%), which also as a matter of fact, fall into private industry levels, as well as other public agencies.
Can you imagine a private, for profit business, running at 12% overhead? "
Contrapasso wrote on Apr 1, 2009 1:44 PM:
You said: "Isn't Teachers and Principals Supposed to be there for the students? I would think all of the other job duties would take away from their purpose. "
I think that is exactly jbhiker's point.....the teachers and principals have contact with the students and are the LAST ones who should be cut. Many of the administrators at the district level are doing jobs that do not contribute to the students in any way. They seem to create confusion and chaos by making ridiculous and contradictory mandates like the one that put all high school kids in college prep classes. "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 1, 2009 11:45 AM:
Would you please tell me the position that counts books? Rest assured....there is not an administrative position at the district office that makes 120K.
jbhiker: Just out of curiosity, why weren't you allowed to speak at the last gathering? "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 1, 2009 10:36 AM:
I would think that it would be one of the Risk Manger's (that we no longer have due to last years budget cuts ) job duties to follow up and make sure that all defibrillators are in working condition?? If so....were was this delegated out to someone else or perhaps the Plant Supervisor at the High School? "
MomofTwo wrote on Apr 1, 2009 10:27 AM:
You have to be insane if you think Teachers and Principals can take on all of the job duties of the positions you listed.
From my expereince most Teachers can not turn paper work in on time, such as timecards (then they wonder why they didn't get paid), IEP's and State Mandated Tests. Teachers and Principals want the Secretaries to do everything for them.
I still don't understand how the District can justify cutting Dr. Catherine Conrado, Administrative Director Special Services/SELPA position. She takes care of things COUNTY wide and has been recognized for her outstanding work.
I don't think that Principals or Teaches would have the knowledge or expererience that Mr. Art Hand, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Planning has w/the Division of State Architect or The Office of Public School Construction.
Isn't Teachers and Principals Supposed to be there for the students? I would think all of the other job duties would take away from their purpose. "
Jerry wrote on Apr 1, 2009 10:26 AM:
Have the kleptocrats taken over. How much does it cost to maintain these idiots and what do they produce for all that money? Is anyone going to give us their job descriptions? Are they meeting and exceeding their goals? What's the deal? "
jbhiker wrote on Apr 1, 2009 6:18 AM:
jbhiker wrote on Apr 1, 2009 5:13 AM:
Dr. Odie Douglas,
Associate Superintendent
Mr. Mike McKilligan,
Assistant Superintendent Personnel
Mr. Art Hand, Assistant Superintendent
Facilities and Planning
Mr. Doug Barge, Chief Business Officer
Dr. Barbara Johnston, Assistant Superintendent Secondary Education
Ms. Catherine Pennington, Assistant Superintendent Elementary Education
Ms. Lisa Kotowoski, Administrative Director Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment
Dr. Catherine Conrado, Administrative Director Special Services/SELPA "
edumacation wrote on Mar 31, 2009 5:04 PM:
I see lots of needless "make work" jobs at the ESC that did not exist 15 years ago. But 15 years ago, school test scores were higher, graduation rates were higher, SAT scores were higher.
The correlation seem to be, as the bloat from educrats increases, school performance decreases. Maybe we need a few educrats to study that? LOL "
EducationFirst wrote on Mar 31, 2009 10:59 AM:
science8c wrote on Mar 31, 2009 10:43 AM:
MomofTwo wrote on Mar 31, 2009 8:46 AM:
I can tell you that if you worked at the District Office you would have a better understanding on what actually goes on and you probably wouldn't have the attitude you have. Not all positions are a "fill a slot" position at the District Office. Some of us actually work hard and earn every penny we make. "
jbhiker wrote on Mar 30, 2009 8:34 PM:
EducationFirst wrote on Mar 30, 2009 7:10 PM:
edumacation wrote on Mar 30, 2009 7:05 PM:
edumacation wrote on Mar 30, 2009 7:02 PM:
When I was a child, we had much more serious economic issues. So many in fact that we didn't have money to pay for the administrative bloat that hides within the bowels of the ESC.
I experienced three years of 1/2 day school, so that another school under construction could share our facilities. The lack of instructional hours didn't ssem to hurt the students, since in those days the SAT was the REAL DEAL. There were no prep classes, and remedial classes. The losers were always able to join the military to keep off the streets. Police actually arrested criminals, and we all worked together. But the key was NO FAT SLOTHFUL edumacators telling each other how great they were. Very few students couldnt read, write or do Algebra. I wonder why that is? Oh...and we had homework 7 days per week, and during every break. No excuses for failure were allowed. "
science8c wrote on Mar 30, 2009 6:37 PM:
With the arrival of our most recent Principal last year, the Kansas Model reading period was dropped; however, an additional period of an elective was assigned to each teacher. This elective program continues this year with every teacher teaching 5 periods of their core academic subject, plus their assigned elective for a total of six classes with approximately 180 students every day. ( Hence the much shorter class periods) "
jbhiker wrote on Mar 30, 2009 6:09 PM:
science8c wrote on Mar 30, 2009 5:08 PM:
The 70 minute class period of 1994 now is only 48 minutes long, and the teachers prep is just 45 minutes. Overall instructional time has been decreased even further because students are released 3 hours early ( Minimum Day) for 11 days when teachers meet for Common Planning Time (CPT) meetings throughout the year, and an additional 4 Minimum Days when Progress Reports are completed. By my calculations the students have lost 45 hours (2,700 minutes) of instructional time for these meetings, and additionally the equivalent of 1 class period per week for each class because of the shortened class periods. Ironically, in spite of the addition of 17 days to the school calendar when we moved to the Modified Traditional schedule, students have significantly less instructional time than when we were on the Concept 6-year round schedule. (160 days x 68 minutes=10,880 minutes per subject versus 178 days x 48 minutes=8,599 minutes per subject, less another 2,700 minutes lost due to C.P.T. and other minimum days.) "
blossom wrote on Mar 30, 2009 3:41 PM:
I use my OWN personal cell phone for business calls EVERY day.
I pay for it and I make a heck of alot less money then the ones who have District paid cell phones.
It is just really sad.
Someone HAS to make the tough decisions and this whole thing hasen't even been planned at all!
VERY SAD TIMES FOR LUSD AND ALL STAFF MEMBERS. "
karensays wrote on Mar 30, 2009 3:35 PM:
karensays wrote on Mar 30, 2009 3:31 PM:
And personally, I LOVE "MODIFIED TRADITIONAL"! It's the only schedule I've ever taught and it's fabulous! A 3-month summer would seem WAY too long now and the 2 weeks inbetween quarters keeps everyone sane! "
moose_indian wrote on Mar 30, 2009 3:28 PM:
blossom wrote on Mar 30, 2009 11:05 AM:
Sorry won't happen besides, we are still too top heavy and we wont be able to save every job anyway.Especially not by July 1 no way will that happen if ever.
Sorry to be a bummer but that is the moral of LUSD these days : ( "
Jerry wrote on Mar 30, 2009 10:47 AM:
There are lots of ways to impart knowledge; 5 days a week, 185 a year, 7 hours a day is just one. This is basically the same 19th Century solution to our once agricultural economy. A great idea if you live in North Dakota and you need to get the wheat harvest in, less so if you don't.
If you think about it, the bus system really "drives" the school day (pun intended). How dumb is that. Our children start and stop because it fits the bus schedule.
For right now, there is no time to move this rather large stone back up the hill. For right now, lets just get rid of the dead wood at crook-central and hire back some teachers.
Again, teaching and learning should be our focus not make-work for overpaid kleptocrats who try desparately to look busy doing next to nothing. "
MomofTwo wrote on Mar 30, 2009 9:12 AM:
It is really nice to see a teacher come up with a solution and actually put it on paper and present it to the BOE instead of just complaining.
Nice job George Neely!! "
EducationFirst wrote on Mar 30, 2009 8:55 AM:
We have to address the budget shortfall while keeping our eyes firmly focused on the end goal PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN THE BEST EDUCATION THAT WE CAN with the resources that we have. If we don't start implementing creative solutions like this, we will end up with larger class sizes, unjustif1ably strained teachers and district employees, and students who are unprepared to move on and become productive members of our community. We all have an interest in supporting the students in our community. It will be much easier to develop activities, enrichment programs and even co-op child care resources for the "5th day" that it will be to deal with thousand of young adults entering the community in the coming years who are unprepared. If the schools in a community succeed, the community will succeed and flourish. Let's find our way, for all of our sakes. Let's respond more like George Neely: When we identify a problems, identify some solutions. "
sam wrote on Mar 30, 2009 8:50 AM:
instructional minutes.
In a 24 hour period there are 1440 instructional minutes..
If we cut back to 1 school day a week.. 24 hours would provide 1440 instructional minutes per week as opposed to George's proposed 1244 weekly minutes.
Wow, think of the money we will save AND how much smarter our kids will be by increasing their weekly instructional minutes by almost 16% per school year.
This is a WIN WIN solution to our education problems. "
moose_indian wrote on Mar 30, 2009 8:17 AM:
fawn lebowitz wrote on Mar 30, 2009 7:44 AM:
Not again wrote on Mar 30, 2009 7:15 AM:
moose_indian wrote on Mar 30, 2009 7:08 AM:
What a joke! wrote on Mar 30, 2009 6:33 AM:
commonsense wrote on Mar 30, 2009 6:08 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.