182 replies to this topic

[rightwingknot]

I agree, but I also hate to see Teachers use the children (and their parents, really) as pawns every time they strike because boo-hoo, they didn't get a COL raise this year.

I DIDN'T EITHER and oh yeah, my job got reorgged to Florida, too.

As th any business, there are always self-interested individuals. I am sure that teachers in general did not use the studetns as pawns and would never do so. If you are referring to two years ago, then you must know that the teachers were concered at the very real prospect of losing 1 out of every 4 teachers in the next few years due to attrition and that the districts' total compensation package simply was inadequate to attract good nwe teachers to replace.

That is a distrcit/Board level decision that parents can and should be concerned with. It was and is bewildering how a board can find it acceptable to be dead last in salary/benefits out of all the surround similar districts. Even after the comprosmise, FCUSD is still in the bottom quarter.

This shows me a lack of forward thinking by some in the board who give direction to the administration. Sure, it's fine to follow the letter of the law as 'stevethedad' says. But that's not what we need. We need creative thinkers who are open minded to solving the communities needs. We need transparency. I am sure this board had other option than cutting CSR. What were they?

Ms. Stanley had her turn, why would we want four more year of that?

The candidates need to have experience beyond simply volunteerism in the school. I am confident that when JoAnne Reinking officially launches her campaign the difference will become clear and voting for her will be obvious.

[stacycam]

It's late. I'm tired, but can't sleep. Started reading myfolsom, and ran across this rather lengthy thread.

We have a great school system here, with very nice facilities, some excellent teachers, lots of parent involvement, and high test scores.

From this and other threads, it seems that despite all of this, many parent are still unhappy.

So, we want smaller class sizes. That would mean hiring more teachers and building more schools, or classrooms in existing schools. Where's that money gonna come from? Are you all ready to pay higher taxes? Are our kids failing because the classrooms are too crowded? We would not be hiring new teachers - we would have been retaining the ones we had. They CUT the smaller class sizes. Our schools get SO much money already. Something is drastically wrong with the system - locally and nationally. The issue is not the funding, it is how the funding is spent. We should not pay any more into the schools than we already do. I also don't understand why other nearby school districts did not make similar cuts. They found ways to keep the smaller class sizes AND a library. What kind of school doesn't have a library for the kids?!!?!?!? They can go in there, but there is no librarian available and they cannot check out books to take home. I question a board that cuts our libraries. Thanks to the PARENTS (aka PTA) there may be some relief.

As for Teresa, I know her to be a reasonable, sane, caring person who follows the letter of the law and wants to do what's right for our kids and our community. I don't know anything about Teresa, personally, but she is a member of the board. My complaints are with the board as a whole. Unless I find that she voted against CSR elimination, and library cuts, and came with some great ideas on how to make the schools better, I will lump her in with the board. I, in no way, intend to single her out (I have seen others name her, but not me). She may feel singled out because she is probably the only board member on here. I just think we need some drastic changes and the only way to see that is to have new board members. One board member I will single out is Godwin. I have no respect for that guy - and that's only AFTER I heard him talk.

I'm always amazed that folks move her because of the great school district, and the city amenities, then we start complaining about the elected officials who help us grow and maintain the things that attracted us. FWIW, over 10 years ago, we moved her because it was prettier than Roseville/Rocklin, and not as crowded. I planned on sending my kids to Catholic School from day one. However, I was talked into public schools by many people who stated that our schools are great. Again and again I have asked what makes them "great" and no one has been able to identify how our district is better. Yes, the teachers are awesome, and the parents are invaluable. But, my daughter still cannot check a book out from the school library.

My issue is that our kids deserve better. I'm not hung up on only CSR. I have a 3rd grader, so it affects her, but I'm not worried. She's fine. I'm just angry that the board couldn't find better ways to handle the budget cuts. I wish I fully understood what they were up against, but I know there is an enormous reserve fund that the other districts don't have. And, I know that I have friends in SJUSD that have 20 kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. I don't believe in settling when it comes to our kids. This generation is stumbling. The kids who have graduated are probably lost. US test scores used to be the highest in the world, and that is no longer the case. Look around - peopled don't know how to spell, use apostrophes correctly, use correct grammar. I'm not talking about message boards. I'm talking about signs at restaurants, stores, magazines, etc.

I know, I know, I can always move away. That is a ridiculous comment. Just because things are going downhill doesn't mean I should bail. We should try to make things better!

[bordercolliefan]

Ok, this may be stream of consciousness, but I'm trying to understand different impressions that don't all seem to fit together.

1. I know what Stacy is saying about kids who can't spell/write, etc., but aren't kids today actually smarter than we were? In my day, only 40 kids out of a graduating class of 500 took any calculus in high school. These days, don't nearly all the kids get calculus??

2. Nowadays, we all just take as a given that parents have a huge responsibility for teaching their kids at home. (That's what everyone told me when I complained about the class size). It's accepted as a norm that a large percentage of parents need to be in the school volunteering, too. But this is really a radical change in how we think about schools! In my day, parents' only involvement with the schools was to chaperone field trips and provide cupcakes for parties. There was no homework in the early elementary grades, and no parent that I recall was sitting at the table teaching carrying, borrowing, etc. I'm not saying it's worse to have parents involved (though it is a heavy burden on working parents and parents who may themselves be uneducated), but we've really moved away from the concept that schools are responsible for educating our kids. To a significant extent, we are ALL homeschoolers.

Ok, those are my thoughts. I'd be interested to hear if others have the same memories/impressions I do...

[stacycam]

I'm saying ADULTS can't spell, etc. Bill and Melinda Gates are trying to improve our public school system. Our country is ranked 34th in Math throughout the world. 34! That is unbelieveable. How can we, at the same time, be getting smarter and stupider?

This is why I am so crazy on this subject. The standards seem higher for kids (I distinctly remember doing multiplication tables in 4th grade - now they must have them mastered at the end of 3rd). I look at what my daugther is learning and it's much more advanced than what I was doing at that age - and I skipped a grade. This is why I think something is wrong. Kid are supposedly learning more, and there is a lot of parent involvement, yet we are not competing with other countries. Obviously, Folsom is in better shape than the lower socioeconomic areas, but I still see the flyers coming home in the Weds folder with glaring errors.

I don't know. I'm just tired of hearing the same old story - the schools need more money. I don't think they do. I think someone needs to come in and clean it up. If the state doesn't do it, maybe we should locally. Let's get a forward-thinking board in there who is willing to stir things up.

I guess I'm just rambling now. I am just feeling so frustrated and disheartened. I feel extremely fortunate for what I have. I grew up in the hood, so I definitely know how much better my family has it compared to what I had growing up. But, as ghetto as my school was - we had a librarian.

[tessieca]

I think Revolutionist pointed out earlier that 85% of the district budget goes directly to salaries and benefits, both of which have cost increases from year to year (even without a COLA). So when that amount increases greatly, and funding decreases at the same time, it is people who are affected and any significant budget reductions require cutting staff.

You might have missed the discussion about schools putting their library technicians back in to a certain extent. A small amount of funding was retained in the budget for libraries, and that will be divided amongst the schools to provide a few hours a week. Since that reinstates district personnel, PTAs are stepping in and adding additional hours for their own school.

Our board can't help with national math and science rankings. We can only do our share for our students, and we tend to do that better than most.

[Clay]

Teresa Stanley needs to go - I have been to many board meetings - I find her self serving and rude. I will continue to watch this thread -- Reinking will be a good choice

[tessieca]

Creating a new name and trolling perhaps? There are very few people who come to "many board meetings." Your comments look nearly exactly the same as abcdmom and sandyk.

[Mennabear]

Teresa Stanley needs to go - I have been to many board meetings - I find her self serving and rude. I will continue to watch this thread -- Reinking will be a good choice

I too have been to a few board meetings and I don't find this to be the case at all. I may not have always agreed with their decisions, but I have dealt with Teresa and some of the other members and I have never found them to be rude.

Maybe we should stick to the issues and stop attacking character. Just MHO....

[rightwingknot]

I think Revolutionist pointed out earlier that 85% of the district budget goes directly to salaries and benefits, both of which have cost increases from year to year (even without a COLA). So when that amount increases greatly, and funding decreases at the same time, it is people who are affected and any significant budget reductions require cutting staff.

Even assuming the 85% is correct, isn't our district a growing district? Doesn't that mean that our funding would, at the very least, be constant (of course, when the state pulls the trigger)? Further, the issue is more that when parents attend board meetings, all they hear is x,y, and z have to be cut. True transparency would have the board explain in the simplest terms possible, this is how much we have, these are our priorities, and this is where the money goes. The outcry over CSR is rooted in a suspicion by parents that the money is there and the board discounted the parents' concerns.

Has anyone ever looked at our district budget? It takes a CPA to decipher it. Take a look at it here:

Current Adopted Budget
Account Actuals from 2007-2008

Transparency and better communication is what parents should be looking for in this election. On this point, the incumbent does not have a passing grade.

[Revolutionist]

Even assuming the 85% is correct, isn't our district a growing district? Doesn't that mean that our funding would, at the very least, be constant (of course, when the state pulls the trigger)? Further, the issue is more that when parents attend board meetings, all they hear is x,y, and z have to be cut. True transparency would have the board explain in the simplest terms possible, this is how much we have, these are our priorities, and this is where the money goes. The outcry over CSR is rooted in a suspicion by parents that the money is there and the board discounted the parents' concerns.

Has anyone ever looked at our district budget? It takes a CPA to decipher it. Take a look at it here:

Current Adopted Budget
Account Actuals from 2007-2008

Transparency and better communication is what parents should be looking for in this election. On this point, the incumbent does not have a passing grade.

So, let me get this straight
you are attacking a single board member because you can't read a budget?

The information is public, easily available, in a standard format, is painstakingly complete, and somehow the incumbent gets the failing grade?

There is no "simple" way to present full financial records. The only way you can simplify financial records is to group many items into broad categories, and then you get called out for "broad brush strokes" and "obscuring the truth".

[tessieca]

Even assuming the 85% is correct, isn't our district a growing district?

Check out page 41 (p.33 of the document) which shows the projected growth to be a total of 3 students. Also keep in mind that when new students come so do new costs (more teachers, more books, more classrooms, more custodial staff, etc.). It's not a for-profit game we're talking about. That extra couple of thousand dollars for the new kids won't even begin to offset the increases in salaries that are built in, the increases in utilities, the increases in gasoline, the increases in health benefits, the increase in number of special education student needs (3/4 of staff increases over the last year were due to special education programs mandated by state and federal law, but never fully funded)>

Transparency and better communication is what parents should be looking for in this election. On this point, the incumbent does not have a passing grade.

I might point out that the state of the budget and all of these reductions have been on the district's website since January, letters were sent out to parents on a regular basis, and it was on the agenda for most of the board meetings from January to June. Transparency is great, but you can't haul someone out of their home and force their eyes open while you show them the picture.

[rightwingknot]

So, let me get this straight
you are attacking a single board member because you can't read a budget?

The information is public, easily available, in a standard format, is painstakingly complete, and somehow the incumbent gets the failing grade?

There is no "simple" way to present full financial records. The only way you can simplify financial records is to group many items into broad categories, and then you get called out for "broad brush strokes" and "obscuring the truth".

I disagree, respectfully. You or I are probably fully capable of reading the budget (I know I am). Most people are not. If the information is so, why then such discontent in our community regarding CSR, librarians, budget choices?

[rightwingknot]

I might point out that the state of the budget and all of these reductions have been on the district's website since January, letters were sent out to parents on a regular basis, and it was on the agenda for most of the board meetings from January to June. Transparency is great, but you can't haul someone out of their home and force their eyes open while you show them the picture.

Point taken, and I visit the district budget website regularly, but I think you are making my point. If what you are saying is true and the transparency is great, why then is the public still upset? The only reasonable conclusion is that they (the public) have done their homework and have conlcuded that the decision making process is not in line with their values/wishes or that the transparency isn't as clear as you assert.

[Revolutionist]

I disagree, respectfully. You or I are probably fully capable of reading the budget (I know I am). Most people are not. If the information is so, why then such discontent in our community regarding CSR, librarians, budget choices?

A couple of reasons.

1) People don't tune in until late in the process. And even then, only if it directly affects them. Which means that by the time they start paying attention, 90% of the research and discussion and tough choices have already been made. Then they get upset because the "board just doesn't listen to parents".

2) People are narrowly focused. Which means they only care about that single issue that affect them, and choose not to consider the totality of the complex issue. Then when a decision is made, it is easy to become upset about the single issue and completely ignore the myriad related issues and contributing factors.

3) People distrust government (this is healthy) but at the same time, it causes a disconnect such that when a body such as the school board attempts to negotiate a contract or explain a decision, anything and everything they present is immediately dismissed as falsehood or at the very least spin. That creates nearly impenetrable filters on the public's part. So even though the board has been dispensing information regularly, inviting attendance and participation, and even posting here on these forums, it is not only easy but almost "required" that the information be immediately discarded. Then we're back at "but we need more information".

Very few people are interested in actual honest discussion. We are almost completely agenda driven. Just look at the silliness going on with the Obama and McCain threads here on this board.

We sometimes forget that here in local politics, especially for lowly school boards, that those who run and serve are members of this very community, with jobs here, kids in school, and all want the best education possible. They get involved because they think they can make it better. Sometimes they can. Often times they have to make tough decisions, not because they are right, but because circumstances dictate, or law or contract mandate.

Point taken, and I visit the district budget website regularly, but I think you are making my point. If what you are saying is true and the transparency is great, why then is the public still upset? The only reasonable conclusion is that they (the public) have done their homework and have conlcuded that the decision making process is not in line with their values/wishes or that the transparency isn't as clear as you assert.

I disagree on the conclusion that the public have done their homework and come to a different conclusion. The public (in general) has only researched the issues as far as how it makes them feel about CSR reduction or library staff cutbacks.

Take CSR for example. The data is nowhere near conclusive that CSR is beneficial for any but a small portion of very disadvantaged communities. In fact, most of it points to little or no effect. So, when times are lean like this, there is only so much "Fat" to cut. Eventually you get down to muscle. And when there is a program that costs much more than is funded, and there is no conclusive evidence that it provides a substantial benefit, it is going to end up on the block.

Does anyone really want to cut it? No, teachers love it, parents think its great. But what else are you going to cut? AP Chemistry?

[fosterchic]

I disagree, respectfully. You or I are probably fully capable of reading the budget (I know I am). Most people are not. If the information is so, why then such discontent in our community regarding CSR, librarians, budget choices?

I'm not so good at reading the budget, I'll admit it-you found me out! I agree that most people are not capable of reading it (or don't want to admit so). I personally didn't understand any of it when I went to board meetings. This coming from a person who successfully manages my monthly budget at home- so I'm not that much of a dummy. I found the presentations addressing the budget and cutting CSR last year to be confusing, at best. Then Wapow! Cut. Done. I think there is discontent in our community towards those decisions because maybe they...were...the...wrong...decisions! Just a thought.