Get on the Bus

By All Is NOT lost

May 31, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this

I think we are overlooking a ceratin point. As the part of the funding follows the student, there are schools in Dayton that will be EXPANDING and are looking for caring, committed, coachable, teachers. There are schools who are committed to and realize the importance of ARTS, SPORTS, STUDENT COUNCIL, CREATIVE WRITING and other enrichment activities for our students. There has been a major shift in the educational landscape. With all of the changes, one thing remains constant—there will ALWAYS be a need for quality teachers such as the Belle Haven group, Stivers and the Music Teacher. Check out this weekend’s DDN classifed. There are schools for which you all would be a perfect fit. I pray that worry and concern don’t consume you because the cream always rises to the top

By deb

May 31, 2007 7:29 PM | Link to this

Oops, SchoolSupporter, I didn’t catch everything the first time….This amendment is to address proposed changes to school funding. It is a beginning and only a beginning at this point. We all know that what starts out in a proposed piece of legislation sometimes is a lot different than what finally gets passed. I couldn’t find the link you were referring to because I think some of it is missing??? If you were to stop in the DEA office, I am sure someone there could answer the other questions.

By deb

May 31, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this

if you want to learn more about the Education Amendment - go to www.rightforohio.org. Yes, I am sure someone at DEA can answer your questions.

By Eric

May 31, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

Cuts in administration? Well monster.com disagrees with you on this http://tinyurl.com/2rqgz9 60-80K/year director of transportation…..Strange but wasn’t bussing one of the things that was proposed on the chopping block?

By laura

May 31, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this

Greener: I’m not sure how returning to a 9 month schedule would save money but it sure would make it possible to teach all year. We really couldn’t do much last August and we sure as heck aren’t doing much now! You are right about other states who tried year-round (Cal. for example) and returned to the traditional schedule. The “powers that be” were given the data on that and didn’t care. It was what they wanted to do, so even though there is no definitive research to support either side, the board did what they wanted. I’d still like to know which administrators they let go- was it assistant principals who work with the kids or were there any assistants to the assistants?

By School Supporter

May 31, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

Deb, If I go to DEA headquarters, can they provide standards-based, high school level materials explaining the pros and cons of the amendment? How will it address “young, dynamic first year teachers who have done more in one year to improve academics than the DPS administration has done in the last five years?” Keep them all? How will the proposed amendment help prevent mismanagement? What was DEA’s role in helping the district set educational priorities while the district spent down reserves? Will you be responding to the concerns already raised that don’t appear to be addressed by the amendment: See: http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/education/entries/2007/05/19/noreallyits_n.html#comment-1260071

By david

May 31, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Those 11 teachers at Dunbar aren’t friends of upper management or tied into a network of buddies who reemploy each other. The reemployment also sucks funds from the State TEachers’ Retirement System that should be there for reserves for protecting all teacher’s retirements. Also many districts make the employee use the health care subsidized partly by STRS instead of giving the employees the district’s healthcare coverage thus saving the district money. But the good old boy system is alive and well, for principals and supervisors, at least.

By Angie

May 31, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this

We must also remember these DPS kids are going to be the ones taking care of us someday. Hasn’t anyone thought of that? These kids are the future caretakers of the sick and elderly. What in the world is this city doing?

By Ellen

May 31, 2007 7:43 AM | Link to this

Yesterday, 11 teachers at Dunbar High School were handed pink slips. The majority of them were young, dynamic first year teachers who have done more in one year to improve academics than the DPS administration has done in the last five years. It breaks our heart to see these outstanding teachers be let go. Meanwhile, administrators who have retired and come back aka “double dippers” are still secure in their positions. Something is truly wrong when the powers that be suddenly discover the district needs $30 million dollars. They should look at themselves first before, their many trips, consultants and fancy luncheons before cutting programs and teachers that benefit our students. Maybe I’m way off base, but I could have sworn that the young people are the reason we’re all here in the first place.

By greener

May 31, 2007 1:48 AM | Link to this

on ways to save money for the school district I believe that we need to go back to a 9mo.schl yr.rather than year round. rather than just giving this a thought look at schl. districts across the country,that use to do year round and changed back.check calif. first

By Mea

May 30, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this

The failure of the levy passing had nothing to do with creating the 30 million dollar deficit. Total mismanagement by the board is the true culprit. It truly is a shame that the students and the teachers have to suffer because of inadequate leadership.

By Shelbi

May 30, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

I am truly and deeply saddened by this whole ordeal. As a student at one of Dayton Public’s best schools, Stivers School for the Arts, I was very shocked to find that one of my magnet teachers would not be returning next year. It is very dissapointing to know that we, the students, have to pay for the mistakes made in the past that we had nothing to do with, or caused in any way. I hope that when returning next year, DPS’s “plan” works and we can go on with our education that is supposed to be valued and not taken away.

By Caroline

May 30, 2007 8:38 PM | Link to this

If the Board thought about what is best for the students, we would never end up in this mess. Instead, the Board only thinks about themselves and keeping their comfortable positions, while the students of Dayton lose.

By deb

May 30, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

People - as they say “It is what it is” We can all sit around and complain, or if you haven’t signed the petition to put the Education Amendment on the Nov ballot, you need to find one from a teacher, your school, and even DEA office on Main Street to sign so that our representatives in Columbus will know that we are serious about wanting change. There isn’t an easy fix, but we’ve got to come together for a positive change.

By Laura

May 30, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this

I am afraid dps teacher is probably correct in thinking the 17 “administrative” positions that are being cut might be the assistant principals. If that is the case, they aren’t really making any true administrative cuts at all. The buildings are going to fall apart. There is no way one principal can handle the chaos that larger classes and no specials will create. I can’t wait to hear the complaints from parents when they find out their kids are coming home almost an hour earlier! That will be priceless. In all truthfulness, I have to say I am impressed that anyone came up with the idea of just sending them home for that 45 minutes or so that they would normally be in school and attending an art, music or PE class. With the cutting of high school busing, I wonder how many kids will drop out now, using the excuse they don’t have transportation. I feel sorry for the teachers with 20-30 years that lost their jobs today. No one can recover from that kind of loss. What the public doesn’t understand is that it is very unlikely that a school district will hire someone with that many years experience. If they did, they would only pay them for 7-10 years. This is literally going to ruin lives.

By Kate

May 30, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this

I find it hard to believe that they are cutting teachers from the the system’s most wonderful school (Stivers) and yet they cannot lay off a few more administrators. While I do go to Stivers, I found out today that my one and only magnet, Creative Writing, was cut. All the teachers and adjuncts were cut from that program. How can you do that to a magnet that has at least 200 kids in it plus 30 more coming in???? Plus some of the kids in that magnet, that is their only magnet!!! I also found out today that where my little brothers go to school, they might not have art, music, or gym. How do you explain to a six year old that one of his favorite teachers might not be coming back??? I really don’t believe that the school board is thinking about what is best for the students. If they were they would have never let this happen. If they were thinking of us they would have passed a smaller levey years before and a small one now. But that didn’t happen and now the students have to pay the price for their mistakes.

By Caroline

May 30, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

We think Dayton schools are bad now, wait until next year with no specials and huge class sizes. I guess the Board has made clear their priorities—football and basketball. I certainly understand why residents voted against the levy. The students at Dayton schools are getting more and more out of control, while the building administrators are encouraged by downtown to do nothing. The students who want to learn, and who are able to leave will do so. The schools will be left with the bullies who are already running the schools. It’s amazing to think that the conditions in the schools could get worse, but I guess they will.

By RIFed DPS Teacher

May 30, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this

I lost my job today as a DPS teacher. I have been teaching 15 years in all, but it was my first year in Dayton. I have an undergraduate education degree and two different master’s degrees in education. Two years ago I made a decision to leave my comfortable, smaller city teaching job so I could work with inner city students, many of which would be from lower income situations. I worked in a nearby urban district for a year, which ended when district money ran out. I was very happy to be hired by DPS in the summer of last year. Now this job, too, has ended after one year because the money has run out. I have worked with some of the best teachers of my career at this school. They have little left to give, but I know they will find a way to make a diference in children’s lives. I have worked with parents who had little money but gave of their time to their children’s education. The level of parental involvement at this school is impressive and, more importantly, impactful.

By Music Teacher

May 30, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

I am one of those cut. Today my principal took me in and said, “I hate to do this. You know this isn’t based on what you do here. If I had my way you wouldn’t be leaving. You’ve really changed things around here. The kids here love you and we’re really gonna miss you.” I’ve only been teaching for two years, I knew it was coming. You can only prep yourself so much until it really happens. Needless to say I was emotional. One of the students today asked me what I was going to take away from being at my school. I said, “You all have taught me so many more things in two years than what five years of college taught me. What you don’t understand is that everyday not only are we teaching you, but we are learning along with you… and I want to thank you for that.” Of course the kids had questions as to if I was possibly getting to come back. They also asked, “Why are they (the district) doing this to us? You were the best thing to happen to us.” Of course hearing these things I again was emotional. These kids are wonderful people and I’ve grown attached to them over the two years. I’ve become a eye opener to new music and music education, a mentor, and have always had my door open for others because I wanted to. If anything I hope the students take away from all of this that although they can’t control what is going on right now they can still take what their teachers have taught them and turn them into positive things. I hope my students learn that they are in control of their destinies and that they matter. I hope my students took away from me being there that there are people out there that care and truly love them. I hope they learned so much from music and learned that music is a form of communication from the soul. I hope they don’t forget me… I hope to be back to that school… and I hope they don’t have to settle for less. They deserve so much. I am just afraid with everything going on that they are going to be the ones that suffer the most and will not get what they truly deserve— a chance at making themselves the most they can be and learn to love who they are. That happens through quality education and quality teachers. I sure am going to miss my students— but I think they understand and although they aren’t happy with the decision by the district to cut me and many other teachers they know life will go on and they will make due with what they have and try to keep a smile on their face… for at one time they did have a quality education… and that sticks for life.

By Rachael

May 30, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this

Scott, how many of those 17 administrative positions will actually be people losing positions, not just unfilled retirements? And of those actual people, how many will lose their jobs like teachers did today, not just be reassigned?

By Barb

May 30, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

Interesting enough Dr. Mack suggested the teachers will need to work hard to pass a levy in November yet so many people are commenting it is a lack of confidence in the Administration.

By The Eng Teacher

May 30, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

Well, the carnage has begun. A friend at Bellehaven tells me that cuts there include: Both first grade teachers, both second grade teachers, both fourth grade teachers, both sixth, both seventh and both eighth grade teachers. A total of 16 in all with possibly SEVEN teachers remaining on staff. Instead of being able to build upon the successes that that staff has had this year (and a new building), the entire group of bright new teachers are now cut, leaving their great principal to answer “the public’s” question— “Howcum dose kids can’t pass them tests?” You get what you pay for.

By dps teacher

May 30, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

I guess I consider building administrators different from the central office administrators. I hope the 17 administrators they’re cutting are central office and not building level. I know the administrative team in my building work their tails off and they are both desperately needed. Rumor has it that some of the central office retire/rehires are being let go, but if that’s all, that’s not enough. Some of Mack’s administrator cuts probably include retirements. Percy will take care of his own and crap on those below him. A new day is dawning indeed.

By Mundale

May 30, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

Scott, I’m pretty sure the Edison school move was already in the schedule so the existing Edison school could be torn down and a new one built in the same location

By charterschoolhater

May 30, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this

I find it compelling that they are only cutting 25% of the administrators. That still places them well above Lakota Schools who have far less administrators and more students. We cut services to students and continue to employ too many administrators. How absurd! Just proves my point. This board of Ed is enthralled with its duplicitous and ballooning administration. No wonder I voted No on the levy. The theme I heard from everyone I talked to that voted No was pretty unanimous. 1) This board has failed to represent us and permitted the schools to deteriorate financially for too long. 2) There are too many administrators who can not manage the resources they have. I will continue to cote No on future levies until these issues are addressed.