Get Schooled

By Reader

April 25, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

School libraries, without a doubt. They provide resources to ALL the programs within the school, to ALL the students.

I need to find the author of this paraphrased quote: You can measure how much a school values education by how much it values its library.

By Ernest

April 25, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

Maybe one of the teachers can clarify this but wouldn’t DeKalb’s situation only affect teachers with less than 20 years of service? I thought they no longer got step increases after that point.

Nonetheless with this slowing economy and increases in fuel, food, and insurance prices, the effective ‘purchasing power’ of teachers will go down. DeKalb is already dealing with a request to increase property taxes so that additional police officers can be added. I wouldn’t mind a ‘slight’ increase in taxes as long as there were ‘reasonable’ cuts in the budget to go along with that. I realize it may mean doing without some services we may have become accustomed to but that is what ‘tightening our belts’ is all about.

By Old School

April 25, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

I agree with the library post AND would add monies to update relevant CTAE labs. With 80% of the jobs requiring technical training, our students need a chance to learn job skills that can take them to work or to technical colleges for enhancing those skills. I would also take a real hard look at the money spent in SpecEd and develop programs that ACTUALLY introduce the skills those kids will need in life after high school.

By Dr. Craig Spinks

April 25, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

To pay the salary(ies)of at least one deputy sheriff for every 500 kids in middle and high schools with a 2-deputy-minimum per building, I’ll pay higher taxes in a Columbia County where we have the strongest sheriff and strongest DA’s office in the state. You folks in urbanized counties with weaker sheriffs and DAs will need more law enforcement protection for your kids than I’ve outlined above.

By LOLO

April 25, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Salary increases for teachers. You will see an exodus of good teachers already stressed out from overcrowded classrooms and make their way to easier jobs with comprable pay. When it costs teachers more, thanks to high gas prices, to go to work teaching when they can do something else, why not? I am not a teacher but this is basic job economics, particulalrly in the public sector. Speaking of, why do people think that all public employees are not worth their compensation. I proudly admit to be one and I work 60+ hours per week at less than half private sector compensation. Just don’t forget who educates your children and keeps your services running.

Sorry for the rant

By What would the ajc do?

April 25, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

Well in Gwinnett we could start by cutting out a multi million dollar Taj Mahal known as the central offices. then perhaps cut down a little on the number of retiree’s hired to set in it all day with fat salaries. Perhaps trim down a few perks to the super. and give consideration to freezing taxpayer funded trips. I’m confident that would free up several million $’s a year.

Then off course there’s always the non-competitive bidding, unkown real estate fees, and OMG the amounts paid for attorny’s that exceeds the amounts that would be spent to simply comply with laws such as IDEA rather than fighting every issue. Oh, and leave us not forget the lobbyists sent to the dome to try to get more money.

Want to reduce spending? It ain’t that hard!

By jim d

April 25, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

eliminate a great deal of standardized testing.

Allow CHOICE, provided transportation is provided by parents.

By TruthHurts

April 25, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

School budgets are 85% or more for salaries. Teachers are never paid enough and there are incredible demands on school boards to slice the remainder of the revenue pie. The state legislature adds further demands by mandating things — most of the time to curry the favor of voters but don’t enhance learning — that cost money and take time out of the school day. Unfortunately, we expect schools to handle many of the issues that should be dealt with at home. The painful truth is that our communities expect high performing schools but also want low taxes and aren’t willing to expand the school day.

By Teacher, Too

April 25, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

I would cut the “fluffy” staff development, the new and improved curriculum solutions du jour (sp?), and those expensive “feel good” speakers that school districts feel necessary to bring in.

Also, nonessential staff at the central office. Put the nonessential staff into schools where they are most needed!

By Elizabeth Taminskaming

April 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

I am thiningking that public schoolas are much bader then private schools. I think private schoolin is the answre to all our nationsal problems. Teach Unions are destroying Amerika and how they teach our kids. Tenor teacheringers is not fair at all!! Bad teachers should be FIRED. Private schools will help kids!!!

By Elizabeth Taminskaming

April 25, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Also Demi More and Pat Swazy are hot in Gost when they were makin potery love.

By Elizabeth Taminskaming

April 25, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Ther are goin to be bad tuff choices too wehn it come to social socreties. That will be expensive for all the babie bomers!! No school then eh.

By carrie

April 25, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Good to see the trolls are out this morning.

By EDI

April 25, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Kudos to Teacher,Too. I could not agree with you more. Except we could greatly reduce the cost per student as well as the amount of teachers needed if students were FORCED to go to summer school when they fail classes instead of clogging up the system year after year taking the same class. When students tell me they cannot afford to go to summer school, I tell them they could if they did not have to pay for thier cell phones and overpriced clothing.

By EDI

April 25, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Kudos to Teacher,Too. I could not agree with you more. Except we could greatly reduce the cost per student as well as the amount of teachers needed if students were FORCED to go to summer school when they fail classes instead of clogging up the system year after year taking the same class. When students tell me they cannot afford to go to summer school, I tell them they could if they did not have to pay for thier cell phones and overpriced clothing.

By Elizabeth Taminskaming

April 25, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

Carrie— who is you callin a troll you rude sheeter! I was comments on the deproble school sitation and you attack me for no reson at all. Ypu are a troll and a boget!!

By Michelle

April 25, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

I would include a special grammer and spelling tutor for Elizabeth.

By Apples to apples

April 25, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Perhaps someone can clarify this question for me — we continually hear about teacher’s salaries.

Given that, in general, teachers have 3 months off for the summer how does their salary for 9 months compare to an adjusted 9 month salary for other professions??

Thanks.

By grammar_police

April 25, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

Michelle, Before pointing fingers, turn on the spell check: g-r-a-m-m-a-r.

By Been There

April 25, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Apples to Apples Teachers are paid for the 10 months they are at school. Most school systems divide that amount into 12 monthly paychecks.

By HS Teacher

April 25, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

School ends June 04, and I return Aug 04. Last year, I just had 7 1/2 weeks. Yes, I am off for holidays, Christmas and the such but it is WITHOUT pay. I am paid for the days I work. In GA, the school system takes what I earn in 190 days and divides it between 12 months. Otherwise, I would not have a check for June and July.

I have friends in other states that receive all of their pay each month and nothing in the summer. In one state, a friend receives the remainder of their pay with the May check.

As it is, I work all of Aug and Sept before I get the pay raise from the Legislature. This year, it will be 2.5%.

By jim d

April 25, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

HS teach,

I just gotta ask the question that begs to be asked here so badly.

Do teachers have to take a course on “poor me”? So many of these blogs break down to teachers complaining about working conditions and pay. Not that you’re complaining by any stretch of the imaginagine. It’s just that this is the direction I see this blog heading.

By Teach1

April 25, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

Henry County teacher Salary: College Grad -with 3 years experience: $37,527 per year or $197.51 a contract day (190 days per contract. This includes the Henry county supplement -NOT just the state wage. No over time offered at time and a half, no bonus for results, also working any other PT job is extremely difficult because of the required evening hours for PTO, conferences, and on going education requirements (10 units to renew your cetificate every 5 years).

Now what occupation do you compare a teacher to and what is the salary for that occupation?

By L.King

April 25, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Jim I think some teachers get upset and tired of explaining their pay and time off that it seems that we are complaining. I think the general public think we have it made by having summers off and getting paid a decent salary Many private sector workers wished they had the time off and/or the salary teachers make. So when they question our issues on salary, all of our frustrations come out. Only a teacher can truly understand a teacher, just like a parent can truly understand the frustations of a parent.

By Don't Forget

April 25, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Teach 1

Don’t forget all of the supplies that teachers buy out of their own pockets!

By teach1

April 25, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

I just wanted to put the info out one more time. It is available for anyone to see. There is no asking for a raise because your students consistantly achieve more than a years growth. Everyone gets paid exactly what is set by the state and then the county.

Teachers teach for many reasons. I am not the principle money maker in the home. This makes a huge difference. I am able to work in a job that I love. (There are always a few irrating itches but that is life). Sure I would like to get more $ I would be crazy not to want more but there is never a question about what I will be bringing home.

By jim d

April 25, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

Yeah King, That I understand.

But help me out here.

Teachers can retire upon

Completion of 30 years of creditable service - regardless of your age; or

Completion of 10 years of creditable service, and be age 60 or older.

Your retirement benefit is calculated by using the percentage of salary formula. Simply stated, two percent is multiplied by your years of creditable service, including partial years (not to exceed 40 years). This product is then multiplied by your average monthly salary for your two highest consecutive years of membership service.

You also can use unused sick time towards retirement.

So let’s say one turns 55 and decides to retire. Let’s just say for two years you drew a salary of $60,000. Your options are either draw a pension for life of $3147 a month or take the maximum PLOP of $113,000 and then reduce your monthly payments for life to a mere $2313.00.

Assuming you live an average life expectancy of 77.8 year of age you will draw a total of $861,019.00 unless you opt for the PLOP, in which case you will draw the paltry sum of $745,836.00 in retirement. AND you can go back to work for a different school system and continue working?

Not too shabby my friend when compared to people that will retire after say 30 years in the private sector that retired earning $60,000 a year starting at $20,000 with 2% annual increases each of those years (which doesn’t even keep up with inflation rates.) Care to guess their monthly SS income? If you guessed $1642. You’d be real close.

Oh and by the way they must be 66 to draw full benefits.

By clg

April 25, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Raise taxes by not cutting mills with revaluation.

Lengthen school day but reduce to 4 days per week.

By luvs2teach

April 25, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

jim d - please don’t forget that teachers invest in the TRS - it’s not a present that is just given to us - the money is withdrawn from our paychecks, just like (and in lieu of, in some counties) Social Security. Most smart teachers also have 403bs or some other source of retirement income. One nice thing about TRS is we don’t incur the same risk of loss as other security investments.

BTW - I have to be 67 to drawn full SS benefits.

By Lynn

April 25, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

No this isn’t where the blog should be heading, but….WHERE do people come up with 3 months off? The last day of school for students is May 30th. Then we have post-planning. Then we go back for pre-planning the last week of July. School starts for students Aug 4. I’m counting about 7.5 weeks, not 12.

I’m not complaining, because I chose to teach. Been in the military and the business world making lots more money. Still chose to teach. Luckily, like teach1, I’m not the primary breadwinner.

By Lynn

April 25, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

No this isn’t where the blog should be heading, but….WHERE do people come up with 3 months off? The last day of school for students is May 30th. Then we have post-planning. Then we go back for pre-planning the last week of July. School starts for students Aug 4. I’m counting about 7.5 weeks, not 12.

I’m not complaining, because I chose to teach. Been in the military and the business world making lots more money. Still chose to teach. Luckily, like teach1, I’m not the primary breadwinner.

By catlady

April 25, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

For the budget: do away with all cure du jour and their “supervisors”. Cut out all the travel and workshop expenses for said “cures”. Second, do an audit of all teacher workloads (for example, I understand having a teacher and five parapros for five severely handicapped kids. I don’t understand paying a speech teacher for 7+ hours of “planning time”. Nor the football coach, who gets a substantial additional stipend, teaching only 1/4 of the day.) Next, cut down on central office staff. Too many chiefs …. Next, hire qualified staff, not someone who has to learn as they go, who is just related to someone in the system. Then, have buses stop at intervals, instead of in front of each child’s driveway.

These are some of the things that seem real obvious to me.

By catlady

April 25, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

jim d—what’s a PLOP? Sounds like cow-do to me. Perhaps it has another name?

BTW, I doubt most teachers who teach 30 years LIVE to be 77! I can tell you it looks shakier for me by the minute!

By teach1

April 25, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

jim d,

So you are saying: If I can bite my tongue until I am 55- raise my kids and maintain my humble home, and live on the teacher salary for at least 30 years or 10 years if I hit age 60. * That I can live high on the hog after 55 while I continue to work. Oh my!!! *

Top teacher salary for someone with 21+ years experience is 54,038. 10 years $45,470 - a bit less than your quote of $60,000.

By jim d

April 25, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

Teach 1,

funny thing, I personally know teachers making better than $60,000.

cat, check it out. I didn’t make this crap up.

http://www.trsga.com/

By SAMMI

April 25, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

luvs2teach Although teachers are required to contribute each paycheck to the Teachers Retirememnt fund from which they will draw their pensions, few realize that EVERY PENNEY put in, plus interest will be paid out to them within 3 years! After that, the teachers money is all gone, but they keep receiving. Works like Social Security….although it is quite a bit mroe solvent because politicians aren’t borrowing from it . and jimd’s calculations are pretty close about salaries at retirement.

By teach1

April 25, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

Well your friends must have Masters or PhDs because here is the link to the Henry County payscale: http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/attachments/2007-08TeacherSalaryScheduleApproved.pdf or http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/detail.cfm?id=24&sub_id=2

If you can not follow the link go www.henry.k12.ga.us then click the link for employee and then payscale.

Pay rates for teachers are also a matter of public record and there is a way to find them. I just am not sure what it is.

By luvs2teach

April 25, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

SAMMI - I know that (which makes it no different than SSI in that regard) - my point is that it’s not an out and out gift from the taxpayers as jimd makes it sound. Also, it’s an investment, so you have to look at not just what you put in, but also what growth it earned. I may have put in x dollars in my first year of teaching, but it will have grown significantly (I hope) by the time I retire 25 years later (in my case, I turn 60 AND hit 25 the same year).

By College Professor

April 25, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

I believe that at least 10% of all administrative positions in all school systems could be eliminated without affecting the quality of education. I also believe that at least 5% of all non-faculty positions in each individual school could be eliminated without affecting the quality of education.

Athletics should be deemphasized and drastically reduced. My guess is that 50% of the boys on the high school football team never play in a game. Football in middle school should be eliminated altogether. What a waste of taxpayer money!

So, absolutely no tax increases for anything until the appropriate and necessary spending cuts are made.

By sclinton

April 25, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

Teachers are not paid enough.

By jim d

April 25, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

Teach 1,

hope y’all are gettin a kiss with that screwin.

check out Gwinnett salaries (public record). You will need a name.

https://www.audits.state.ga.us/esa/confirm.aud

By jim d

April 25, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Teach 1

Not sure who is jerkin your chain but i went to the site linked above—went to henry county and typed in the teacher name “Smith”—-Y’all got a couple of them making better than than $60,000 a year.

By Cut the number of non-teaching staff

April 25, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this

Grounds maintenance, facilities maintenance, payroll, etc. can all be hired out. Most school systems in the metro area, especially DeKalb Co., City of Atlanta and Fulton Co. are bloated beyond belief with way too many non-teaching personnel.

That’s the problem; there’s too much waste and bloat and non-teaching staff!

By jim d

April 25, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this

Luv,

Sorry, didn’t mean to make it sound like a gift. the point I’m striving to make here is that teachers don’t have it quite as bad as many of them make it seem.

Personally I believe you earn it. I just can’t stand much of the poor mouthing that we constantly hear.

Now on to mor pleasant matters. How the hell ya been? Haven’t seen you lurking here recently! You just staying in the shadows?

By Freaking DeKalb

April 25, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

You know what happens in DeKalb? Every former principal, whether they can’t cut the mustard or don’t want to be a principal anymore, gets a job at headquarters, keeping their principal salary of over $100,000 per. They are put in charge of things they have no expertise in: athletics, facilities maintenance, property acquisition, etc.

It’s sad and pathetic. You would not believ the number of DeKalb Co. School System staff members making over $100k per!!!

By jim d

April 25, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

Yo freak,

care to know exactly what they are making?

click my previous link above, go to the page bottom and click the bar—-click local board of education—go to the drop down and choose dekalb—- then click view entity in pdf 2006 and download the entire School employee list of 529 pages. HAVE FUN!

By luvs2teach

April 25, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

jim d - I’ve been ok - actually laid up with a vicious late-season case of the flu - knocked me on my butt!

Lots of late night lurking, lol - too tired to formulate any decent comments or arguments!

Thanks for asking ;-)

I think what L. King said is right, though - a lot of times if I’m posting about my salary, it’s not a complaint as much as it’s a clarification. I think I’m paid and compensated ok - would I like more? Who wouldn’t?

But I do think some folks forget that some of us could make a lot more doing something else, and could be considered underpaid for our education. I also get a little prickly when trolls come visit and drop the “you’re being paid by taxpayer money, so suck it up” or the “you have the summers off so suck it” bombs - those get under my skin!

Have a good weekend!

By catlady

April 25, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this

jim, please tell me what PLOP stands for. I am sure it is an acronym for something.

I understand your concerns about the complaints on this blog, but it IS an education blog. If you want to hear accountants’ stories and complaints, go to a blog about spreadsheets, or something.

Teachers feel frustrated, I think, because it SEEMS like most everyone disses them, and most everyone has an idea of what they “should” be doing. Some of these ideas are very, very far from reality. Especially unfortunately, some of those holding unrealistic ideas are newly-minted principals and other administrators who seem to have forgotten how the real world of school actually is. Others are the general public who think back fondly on their school days, and have not been in a public school since then except to go to an awards assembly or speak at a career day.

I can tell you, the world of public school is a very different place from how it was when I started in 1973, and from when I started school, it isn’t even on the same planet.

Most teachers I know go into teaching because they think it is what they MUST do. They feel a compelling need to make a difference by passing along information and skills. Then, when they get in the real world, it starts to seem like the deck is stacked against them—that they are not able, through no choice of their own, to impart knowledge. That, in fact, everyone else seems to know what they should do (and what they MUST do), but it is like parallel,mutually-exclusive universes. That everything that these other folks think should be done is just added to what the expectations were last year, and the year before, and the year before, with no limits on how many things are top priority.

Most teachers I know want to TEACH. They know how to teach. But they cannot seem to get it done in a way that satisfies them, because they are busy writing “essential questions” and clicking a dog clicker at students to answer mindless questions in unison.

Example: Our county (thanks to Reading First) defines reading as “saying words” and fluency as “saying words very fast”. Now, you and I know that recognizing words is NOT reading: reading is UNDERSTANDING what those words MEAN. Fluency is not saying words fast; it is reading with expression and understanding and bringing your past experiences to bear on what you understand so that a good reader pauses, goes back, reflects. A good reader interacts, at least in his mind, with the text.

Our kids are getting faster and faster at recognizing and decoding words. But they can never get close to doing well on any test that requires real understanding the meaning of those printed words. We are told we are successful because the kids are recognizing words faster. Then, reality hits. We got back ITBS scores this week, and—lo and behold—the comprehension scores were ABYSMAL. Guess there will be more in-service for us, since OBVIOUSLY WE DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT TEACHING READING.

Like the stuff about the Clayton County BOE—you can’t make this stuff up!

By Lynn II-retired teacher

April 25, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this

July 1, 2007-law went into effect that 65% of the school budget had to be spent on instruction. Many things that we consider “instruction” is not allowed to be considered in that 65%—like libraries, librarians, or counselors. For many very good reasons, some school districts have difficulites meeting that criteria.

By HS Teacher Too

April 25, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

catlady, thank you for that last posting. It is absolutely true, and you said it all so well! Have a fabulous weekend!

By teach1

April 25, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

Obviously, there is great disparity between districts and what some teachers make compared to others. I looked at the first page of “smith” teachers (just teachers) and averaged their salaries and got $46,135. So yes, some are making more and some less. As with every career path, there are highs and lows.

I still find it hard to belive that a regular teacher, not a specialist of any sorts, would be making $60,000. Personally I have been teaching 15 years and have a Master and I am NOT making $60,00 YET. Maybe I need to move up north side.

People often complain but if it were that bad for them they would make a change. (Maybe that is where we are losing some good teachers maybe not.)

For me, I can not see myself doing anything else. I love teaching! I know my students are all making great gains.

As for the budget - I would love to see administrative costs cut, counselors in the Elementary schools, wasted food in the cafeteria, make speech and OT services fall back on the parent, and cut out unneeded paper work - save a tree - save some time!

By catlady

April 25, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

Other than the principal and asst principal, I am the highest paid person at our school (T-7, maximum countable experience). I will make about $80,000 next year (God willing). In the school system, other than administrators and coaches I am probably the highest paid person. I love what I do, when I get to do it, or when I can figure out a way around some of the malarkey (quietly subversive). Do my students get what they need? No. The system has decided that my time will be used in a way that looks good on paper but does not allow me to effectively attack the things my students need.

I feel sad that professionals with years of experience are not called upon to critique what we have been told to do. Instead, decisions come from on-high, frequently made by folks who have not been in a classroom in decades, or who are in charge of something they are unqualified to teach. Those decisions are implemented by folks with limited experience teaching—Georgia allows administrators to be hired with very little classroom experience, and some systems do just that. From their inexperience or out of date-ness, they are sold a bill of goods by every fad that some company can fart out. We bounce here, we bounce there, and we never do good, unbiased data analysis on the efficacy of our programs. We are always on the prowl for the next miracle cure.

By luvs2teach

April 25, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this

cat - two in a row! Well said - sad commentary that you can say it all.

By Lisa B.

April 26, 2008 1:15 AM | Link to this

Catlady, I appreciate your posts and the thoughts you share. I frequently read the blog, and don’t often comment.

By jim d

April 26, 2008 6:55 AM | Link to this

Good mornin cat,

PLOP = Partial lump-sum option plan.

Here’s a bit on it.

http://www.trsga.com/UploadedFiles/radBCBD8820051114449.pdf

By jim d

April 26, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this

Thanks teach 1,

it is teachers like you and several others here that give me hope for future generations of students, regardless of what politians do.

Y’all have a great weekend—chat with y’all next week.

By teacher

April 26, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this

Jim’s right and I don’t understand why people are continuing to argue with him. Everyone knows different counties earn different pay rates.

In Fulton I made $60k by my 6th or 7th year with a Master’s, National Board Certification and an extra position at school.

No one goes into teaching to get rich; but, if you take advantage of educational and professional opportunities you can do pretty well for yourself.

It all comes down to living within your means once you earn that money.

I keep a second job as a tax shelter and means to stay active in Social Security. I work short hours there, make good money and I LOVE it, just like I do teaching.

We have to make choices in life that will make us happy ;)

By WFC

April 26, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

I retired from Fulton Co. schools in 2006 after 31 years of service (with a masters degree) and was making $67,000 a year. Not bad but not getting rich.

Dr. Robert Burke, Fulton’s Assoc. Super for curriculum and instruction pulls down $150,000. If he disappeared on Monday, nobody outside of the county office would notice until Nov. 2010, if then. Lots of guys like that. Do the math.

By MamaS

April 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget many school systems make their salaries look bigger by opting out of Social Security. I taught in Clayton County for fifteen years and was not allowed to have SS deducted from my pay. When I retired after 30 years of teaching all I had to rely on was Teacher Retirement. Another thing — the Teacher Retirement System still has money because we fought to keep it away from the GA. State legislators. About every four years they propose a merger between theirs and ours because theirs is drained by the many legislators who retire with such high benefits. The TRS invests for teachers and pays back teachers who have invested in it. It is not a gift or a handout. Did you know that on average a teacher lives two years after retirement and does not live to withdraw all his/her contributions?

By Tchr too

April 26, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Apples,

Teachers get two months UNPAID summer months though a good number of us actually still have to go in for workshops and to help re-word the curriculum during the summer. Also, when we get home at night, we are NO WHERE NEAR being done with our work. We are required to call parents, grade, write out letters to parents, be creative in our strategies and have it all ready to go every week. And you can’t say that we knew it going in because truly, what they teach you in college is NOTHING like what you do in the real room. A day care gets paid more than we do per week and we teach more children and are held accountable for the students’ results eventhough some of their parents do NOTHING! Thank God for great parents who reinforce and care about their child’s education because the losers out there who do nothing are choking the system!

By Tchr too

April 26, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Apples,

Teachers get two months UNPAID summer months though a good number of us actually still have to go in for workshops and to help re-word the curriculum during the summer. Also, when we get home at night, we are NO WHERE NEAR being done with our work. We are required to call parents, grade, write out letters to parents, be creative in our strategies and have it all ready to go every week. And you can’t say that we knew it going in because truly, what they teach you in college is NOTHING like what you do in the real room. A day care gets paid more than we do per week and we teach more children and are held accountable for the students’ results eventhough some of their parents do NOTHING! Thank God for great parents who reinforce and care about their child’s education because the losers out there who do nothing are choking the system!

By em

April 26, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

If I were in charge of the budget, the first thing I would do is build new football stadiums at our various schools because we all know that students go to school not for an education but for the football games. For the hell of it, I might even throw in some artificial turf to save money on watering (remember, I am in charge of the budget). Then I would hire my family members and my buddies (and their family members) to work in the school system regardless of their qualifications. I would then purchase new office furniture every few years because I am so important and the public needs to see how important I am. I would also be sure to fund a security detail, a driver, and a housing allowance even though I make $200,000 more than the average teacher does in my system. But hey, do I need to remind you that I am so important? Finally, I would budget lots of money to subject the faculty and staff at our various schools to every consultant who came my way so that at least it looks like I am addressing their need to meet AYP. As SET always says, “Brave New World.”

By Lee

April 26, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Cobb County has an “In-school suspension” teacher making $114,000. To pro-rate that to a 12 month “real world” salary, add 25%. Wow, that equates to $142,000.

Not bad for a glorified study hall monitor.

Gwinnett County has 454 ESOL teachers. How much does illegal immigration cost us taxpayers again?

You want to see some real waste though, go to any school about the first week of June when they start throwing stuff away. You know, all those high dollar reading and math programs that they spent thousands of dollars on…. that’s right, in the dumpster they go…

By Bob

April 26, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

The budget would be balanced and no tax raises if the illegals would pay their share.

By Bob

April 26, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

The budget would be balanced and no tax raises if the illegals would pay their share.

By JustMe

April 26, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this

What to cut? Where shall I begin….

Where to add?

By Margaret

April 26, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this

Just a minute - I am trying to cut back on my own expenses to make up for the increases in food, gas, the cost of heat and everything else that’s been going up. Make the cuts within the school system - stop grabbing money out of my wallet! Look at the school taxes in other parts of the country where the grades are significantly better than Georgia’s - throwing money at the school system is NOT the answer.

By Carlton Johnson, LPA, MFP, ABA

April 26, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this

I would first start with the basics: ensuring that operating facilities (the schools themselves) are safe to walk. Safety is first and foremost in the education of our children. Let’s tackle deferred maintenance systematically -ignoring the issue no longer works. Also, let’s partner with our city police to let kids know that their presence doesn’t necessarily mean someone is going to jail - let’s keep everyone accountable on this wise.

The next step would be to address the wasteful spending in schools. Why should we be using paper for intra-system communications when there are computers? A PDF file shouldn’t be a foreign idea when communicating memos, providing planning lessons, and other intra-system, intra-school communications. Also, stop serving food that no one eats. Find appealing, healthy, and economically viable alternatives. Just because lunch is “free”, doesn’t mean it has to be cheap in quality - and for those who pay, why should they settle for less?

As for our teachers, before we give them raises, let’s first try the “freebies”. Form relationships with community banks and credit unions to provide financial advice to our teachers who are already over-worked, under-paid, and are routinely out of time to deal with their finances. Let’s also provide them with better retirement alternatives so that they don’t have to worry about finding another profession to meet their retirement goals. Finally, let’s systemically administer a cost of living adjustment in addition to a merit pay raise. While nothing is truly free, nothing is worse than getting what we pay for in education (no pay for teachers, no real education). Let’s also do the same for those who work in the schools system tirelessly as support staff - maintenance, health, cafeteria workers, and our campus security just to name a few.

Let’s also encourage a spirit of entreprenuership with controlled-risk ventures that can engage students in positive activities while helping them find their true calling. Planning, execution, and assessement are all skills that pay marvelous dividends when taught and modeled. Also, let’s get the parents involved. The school should not only educate the children, but the parents as well as not all parents will have the opportunity to “go back to school”. Investment for future dividends, not expectations for entitlement should be our system’s theme.

In short, let’s not just find “something to do” with the hard earned dollars of taxpayers money. Let’s show those who contribute to our schools that it is a worthwhile investment by providing educated citizens - prepared for the world. Parents will need to engage themselves, be involved and take charge in the education of their children and in the health and well-being of their community schools. Administrators will need to be saavy in finding efficient, effective, and economically-viable ways to bring preimum educational content to our children. Teachers will need to be empowered to control their classrooms and eliminate efficiently and effectively any disruptions to the educational process. Students will need to come hungry - hungry for education, opportunity, affirmation, and of course a good lunch!

By linda

April 27, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

I would hire teachers who are experts in their subject material and are able to impart that knowledge, as well as high quality materials (including better textbooks) that support that teacher. That combination should be worth a lot of money. Why would our focus be anywhere else? We are lucky to actually have some of these teachers now (though they are disappearing) and I can’t understand why the powers that be don’t gather these teachers and have them guide the school system as well as help figure out how to attract and retain more of them. Those teachers are NEVER asked to give their opinion. It is almost as if administrations would prefer to have less intelligent staff! You would be amazed at how little science and math many teachers know. Even in elementary school, how are they able to instill a love for that subject and inspire students simply by presenting the material as it appears in the (increasingly worse) books? Yet administrators continue to hire these people because they are warm, caring people who can be counted on to put up with loads of BS. This quality does not make a good teacher. There is no shortcut - pay for knowledge and teaching ability and improve working conditions. WHY DOES ADMIN HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THIS? Video conference in the good teaching until we can get our staff up to snuff if you have to, but pay whatever is necessary for good teachers and pay whatever is necessary to fix the conditions that make them leave.

By Sarah

April 27, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

To save money we could do away with most of central office; those people are for the most part useless. Forget the parents and let teachers take the schools back then we wouldn’t need officers at school. We could actually have well-behaved children that we can control. Most text books in elementary schools aren’t even used so that’s a good chunk of change. Someone else mentioned hiring competent teachers. We could do that and do away with several days worth of “professional development” and the need for subs. If we had better working conditions I’m pretty sure so many teachers wouldn’t need “mental health days” and that would do away with the need for so many subs as well. We could also NOT buy those stupid tests that prove absolutely nothing and stress us all out. There’s tons we could do but are we really willing? It looks so good to buy EVERY program that comes along to cure all that is wrong. Unless education becomes a priority and “they” start asking the ones that are really doing the work not much will change.

By em

April 27, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Laura, Since my very tongue-in-cheek post, there have been several great suggestions. One thing I have never seen the AJC do is an exposé disclosing the untold millions of dollars of wasteful spending that occurs in public education. We can make suggestions on this blog, but to no avail. Nothing will change until a very public forum brings this to light.

By JustMe

April 27, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Oh, yeah - I forgot the number idea to help by far….. ALLOW A REAL TEACHER UNION in GA (like AFT aka American Federation of Teachers). Real teacher unions insist on solutions to education to help the students. This results in lower over head cost (cost of the pencil pushers in offices), and higher student test scores.

Real teacher unions have shown to improve public education in States such as Indiana, Illinois, and others. Why is GA afraid of them?

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

April 27, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Teachers first and foremost need more $$. It’s the most NOBLE profession one can perform…… why aren’t we paying these people top salaries???? You get what you pay for. How abut cutting out alot of the administration crap on the school board and PAY THE TEACHERS!!!!

By high school teacher

April 27, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

Get rid of Learning Focused Schools, Differentiated Curriculums, GPS, EOCT, CRCT, GHSGT, and consultants/salesmen who are paid thousands of dollars. LET US TEACH AND WE WILL!

By Steve

April 28, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this

First, cut the school week to 4 days and increase to 10 hour days. Fuel costs reduced 20% for busing students. Utility savings for schools is 20%. Put all the coaches and lead teachers back into the classroom: math coaches, science coaches, reading coaches, graduation coaches, English coaches, etc. I keep hearing how this would not have an impact but for the local system with 400 teachers - 10 lead teachers (that handle attendance and lunch duty and don’t mentor new teachers), 6 graduation coaches (that do nothing as far as I can tell), 11 academic ooaches that email a lot but really are just another administrative hurdle, and 7 technology coaches (???). Now, I graduated from a Georgia public school and university but I think that equals 34 certified teachers that are really administrative positions that are supposed to help teachers do their jobs. At 30K per year (lowballing pay check) times 43 is more than 1.2 million per year for people that do nothing (not seen nor do anything according to teachers at 3 schools my kids attend). They now do what teachers have always done but now do less. What about motion detectors in classrooms and bathrooms to save on utility bills? If WalMart can do it why doesn’t a school system? Seems to me the savings would be quick and substantial. What about all the assistant superintendants? They go to lots of conferences with overpriced experts that say a lot about what works but in reality they do not (things like learning focused schools which is repackaging and recycling what teachers have always done (essential question versus putting the objective on the board). How much is spent on that stuff? How much time do kids actually use technology in classrooms? Does this really justify the cost of computers and maintenance? Which would you rather have - a doctor that learned dissection on line (virtual dissection) or one that did hands on? I am sure there is more but who decides what education gets? Teachers - probably not. Probably someone that has never benn in the classrooom or 25 years since they were in the classroom. Barnes put 2 lawyers and a businessmann in charge of fixing education. What is Perdue doing? Not fixing education. Instead of praying for rain maybe he should pray for lower fuel costs.

By J. Mack

April 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

I am tired of the rhetoric about how teachers should earn more, yet we are the first to be put on the chopping block when it comes to balancing the budget. Put the money in the trenches: give the teachers their promised step increase. Step increases are the only way for teachers to increase their earnings. We don’t receive performance-based bonuses. Thus, without the step increase, there is no incentive to remain employed with DCSS. What other industry would expect the employees to work an indefinite number of years without a pay raise? We’ve already lost half of our step increase this year (since we did NOT receive the increase until January 2008). And, to the best of my knowledge, there is no plan to retroactively pay us these contractually guaranteed earnings.

Check the web and see how much the School Board members are making. Read the proposed budget, then tell me there are not other areas from which we can cut some fat in order to honor the DCSS promise to pay us or step increase.