- Schools districts join the state health insurance plan.
- All employees contribute equally and equitably to insurance plans.
- Limit school board member benefits.
- Share services between school corporations.
- Close or sell underutilized buildings.
- Reduce or eliminate travel expenses, association dues and fees.
- Administrative hiring freeze.
- Salary freeze for all school personnel.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Cost Cutting
If you haven't heard, here are the recommendations by the State Board of Education on how schools can save money to meet the $300 million cuts.
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I think they can't afford to have Charter Schools any more. Also, eliminate ISTEP...it has to cost way too much. And how about all those little school buses traveling from long distances to Indianapolis?
ReplyDeleteEven if you oppose charter schools and ISTEP, not only would it be political suicide to stop them (voters like them) but it would COST money, not save it, because so much federal funding and stimulus money is tied to them.
ReplyDeleteIf they do all eight of the recommendations, then I won't complain about a salary freeze for one year. Desperate times, desperate measures and all that. Fine. But I really hope this doesn't turn into only teachers taking a hit, so that everything else can run as normal.
What about the $14 million IPS received from the government for PD and developing a "Cadre" (i.e. glorified subs)? That money could surely be utilized in a better way. That woudl go a long way to paying some teachers.
ReplyDeleteBut in answer to the question: A job is better than no job. Freeze my salary if I can keep making it. Just don't freeze my salary and then "RIF" me in June.
From a 'Letter to the Editor' in today's Indy Star. The writer attended a recent IPS School Board meeting and reports his perceptions.
ReplyDeleteThe Board does not support the community who elects them; the Board supports the Superintendent. ________________________________________________
I also attended the IPS board meeting a couple of weeks ago where Superintendent Eugene White threatened the board that he would quit if he was not allowed to eliminate football programs at some Indianapolis high schools. There was no effort to ask the broader community for assistance. The physical layout of the meeting room had the board and the superintendent on a raised dais with some 100 feet of cleared space between the board and the public seating. Uniformed police officers were between the public and the board. Two board members read prepared comments about how uninformed the audience was about contemporary school problems. The communication from the board to the public who cared enough to attend the meeting was a negative communication. At meeting's end, most of the board members and the superintendent exited through a back door guarded by uniformed police, apparently fearful of meeting with a caring public.
In defense of the Cadre, the stimulus money used to pay the Cadre is designated for use only for Professional Development. Forming the Cadre initially saved many 'riffed' IPS teachers their jobs. Rather than dumping them, they were allowed to become Cadre members with their full teacher pay and their benefits protected. Then, as the school year progressed and vacancies became available, IPS had a ready supply of teachers (the Cadre) to place immediately into the vacant positions.
ReplyDeleteThe School Board meetings are for show. From the few I have attended, the Board has made their minds up before stepping up onto their "altar".
ReplyDeleteI wish more people would come and attend. All of the comments made on IPS BS would make much more sense once you see the actual proceedings.
Dr. White is a spoiled, corrupt leader. For him to have the gall to throw a temper tantrum when questioned for his actions is unbelievable to me.
As a taxpayer, I for one am glad to see this blog. Although some of it is childish, you start to get a real sense of how IPS works. Teachers do the most work, and receive the least credit.
We need to wake up and take charge!
The time for an appointed School Board is near!
ReplyDeleteAs an IPS teacher, I'm glad to see that people other than IPS employees are reading this blog. While some of the posts are hateful and childish, many facts regarding Dr. White and the board have been presented here. I really hope the public wakes up and takes an interest in the next school board election. The success or failure of IPS could be decided by the votes.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed reading the many articles about Manuel High School in the Indianapolis Star. It was great to see the public become involved by attending the recent concert there. However, never, ever, did any article mention the attendance of Eugene White. I guess it wasn't important enough for him since it didn't involve sports.
ReplyDeleteNothing is important to Dr. White unless he gains something from it.
ReplyDeleteI was excited in the beginning, falling for the smoke and mirrors that Eugene used to make us all fall for him.
He needs to leave the education realm, and go into politics.
I am thankful that, as an outsider, I can read about the things that go on in IPS from those who are teaching everyday.
Who were the School Board members who attended the Manual HS Christmas Concert? I did not read any of their names in Tully's article.
ReplyDeleteWhatever your thoughts may be about Jeffery White, having him as a School Board member might put an end to the Board's elective mutism at meetings. At least, he would have the courage to speak up and speak out. The status quo of the Board needs to be broken.
ReplyDeleteCopied from a recent post at IndianaBarrister.com
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me.
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Ain’t No Surplus When It’s Gone
by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
Okay, we all know that the state revenue forecast has Indiana in some pretty dire straits and Governor Mitch Daniels is calling for $300 million in cuts from education. Now while some people may argue that the dark clouds have finally hit, I maintain there is a ray of sunshine in all this.
Maybe, just maybe, we can use this opportunity to talk about consolidating the ADMINISTRATIVE, NON-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION functions of schools. I put that in all caps so there is no confusion as to what I’m talking about. How many human resources, janitorial services, lunchroom cafeteria, supply purchase people does a school district need? Couldn’t some of that be consolidated or outsourced?
And instead of laying off teachers, how about school districts share them to teach classes which they could not afford on their own? And how about using the latest technology to teach multiple students in multiple districts.
This financial crisis is the perfect opportunity for educators to unlock their creative potential and deliver education in an effective and efficient manner.
Think of this as a teaching opportunity.
None of the School Board members or Dr. White and his Cabinet members were able to attend the concert at Manual because there was a school board meeting that same night at 7 p.m.
ReplyDeleteJeff White for school board? He already badmouthed his teachers at John Marshall. What makes you think it would be any different? He just has different cronies.
ReplyDeleteWho are Jeff White's cronies? Not Dr. White or the current crop of Ed Center groupies, for sure.
ReplyDeleteHe's perfect for a political job. He could get elected with little trouble by the IPS constituents. He makes them feel good, he doesn't act pompous around regular people, he's electable.
Yes, Jeff White is so electable, he got himself elected to Congress, lol!
ReplyDeleteThe problem is no trust. If teachers agreed to no pay raise in order to save teaching jobs, Eugene White would give himself a huge raise, hire dozens of new administrators and relatives and continue the wasteful consultant contracts that have been documented on this blog. So hell no, to a salary freeze!
ReplyDeleteThe School Board again bears the blame in anything that happens.
ReplyDeleteIf Eugene White wants a huge raise or to hire more of his relatives and/or cronies or to hire more administrators, then the School Board ultimately has to either approve or disapprove his requests.
As mentioned before on this blog, the buck stops with the School Board. Who's to blame Eugene for asking for the 'moon and stars' if he thinks the School Board will approve it?
Our School Board lacks courage and is weak!
These proposals are for one and only one reason...
ReplyDelete...to break the teacher's union.
That's it. That is the list.
Who ever told you that there was federal stimulus money and federal money for Charter Schools? They are funded by money taken from IPS or other public school systems. They are parasites on the taxpayer and fail to meet most of their goals even after they screen their students and force many others to return to the public school system.
ReplyDeleteStimulus funding would be withheld if states did anything to prevent, resrict or cap charter schools. http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/charter_school_movement_gains_under_stimulus_law This is common knowledge to anyone who is the least bit aware of current events. Also, it is nothing but foolishness to insinuate that charter schools are not really growing and that they are secretly shuffling 10,000 students back to IPS every year without getting caught. If you can't talk with the grownups then go back to the kiddie table with your crayons.
ReplyDeleteIt's just like all of the BS about how the government can't afford real health care reform (and I'm not talking about this joke of a bill in the Senate). Stop these stupid wars and bring the troops home. Stop the pork barrel projects including those like the "bridge going to nowhere" in Alaska, etc., etc., and there would be plenty of money to support meaningful health care reform that would go into effect before 2098.
ReplyDeleteIPS can afford to make all kids of cuts from current wasteful spending in order to to avoid freezing teacher wages; teacher layoffs; building closures, etc.
And many of those major cuts can take place right downtown in the administrative office building.
But will it happen? Hello....school board members....are you listening?
Signed, a fed up taxpayer
Who remembers the two years of no increase in wages in the early 1980's, during Adam's tenure?
ReplyDelete(Of course, we were given a "stipend" that didn't show in our pay scale).
That put usand has kept us firmly at the bottom of all Marion County's educators' salaries.
Yes, that was tied to the desegregation ruling, so the monies followed the students to the townships. Since desegregation has waned, one would think our salaries would even out. That's not the case.
On another note.......today's (Sunday's) Indy Star front page article revealing central Indiana Superintendent perks rather ignored King White and his court. Wonder why?
Sure wish I could have the system pay my TSA (along with that of my spouse), and health insurance until Medicare.
Best Line in "Holy Grail"...."You can tell that's the king, 'cause he ain't got no shit on 'im."
I can't believed that Tully totally ignored Eugene White and all of his perks. I wonder if Tully has made some deal with Eugene to not report his perks and benefits.
ReplyDeleteRe: Charter Schools and the Stimulus Package
ReplyDeleteThe Obama Stimulus Package has strings attached. If states did not make provisions to maintain Charter Schools, among other things, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan would with hold Stimulus Funds from those states. This is no secret. President Obama is on record as supporting the growth of Charter Schools.
For some strange reason, many IPS people do not realize that Obama supports Charter Schools and has never attempted to hide his support. Bart Peterson, former Mayor and a Democrat, began the Charter Schools initiative here in Indy, again no secret and on record.
"For some strange reason, many IPS people do not realize that Obama supports Charter Schools and has never attempted to hide his support. Bart Peterson, former Mayor and a Democrat, began the Charter Schools initiative here in Indy, again no secret and on record."
ReplyDeleteYeah, no saviors are these, the Republo-crats (Republicans in Democrat clothing).
We really have no real choices. It's either right wing, most of current Democrats; or right-right wing, most of Republicans.
Tully is in Dr. White's pocket.
ReplyDeletehe must be a small man?
ReplyDeleteCharter schools are not going anywhere. The best we can do is learn to work with them.
ReplyDeleteI am distubed and surprised to hear negative posts about Jeff White. He is a great guy who stood up to the school district (the very people most of the posts here complain about). He puts kids first and especially focused on their safety. He turned around John Marshall Communuity High School and paid for it with embarassment and demotion. Another IPS "way to go".
ReplyDeleteIPS has the legal ability to start their own charter schools. This would enable them to receive start up funding from the state. Local political leaders and ISTA support local school systems from initiating their own charter schools. Eugene White has fought this and refues to consider it even though it would have brought more money into IPS. Many of our new magnets would have qualified. For example, Shortridge Law and Government Magnet, The Broad Ripple Performing Arts Magnet, New Tech at Arsenal, and many of the alternative schools. Again Eugene White's ego would stood in the way. When will this board or the public wake up to thie inept bully?
ReplyDeleteThe "Bobble-Headed Board" needs to hire twenty more adminstrators at $120,000 each to look into the matter of budget cuts, while firing sixty teachers, thus increasing classroom size to thrity-five students. It just makes sense that you have to spend money to make money. IPS's Board Members have no idea about running a school system.
ReplyDelete"IPS's Board Members have no idea about running a school system."
ReplyDeleteOur School Board collectively has no business acumen or experience. By that I mean, their work backgrounds do not lend themselves to working with large budgets. One is a preacher, one is retired, one is a university employee, and a couple of others work with non-profits.
At Jeffrey White comment:
ReplyDeletePlease read the attached weblink. Jeffrey never said anything bad about his teachers. Downtown hated him because he exposed the wrongdoing. Two board members speak openly about him being superintendent. One board members wants the taped conversation between Jeffrey, Prudence Bridgwaters, and Jane Kendricks talking about enrolling students who faced expulsion in other school districts.
JEFFREY, we know you are reading this blog. IN THE BEST INTEREST OF KIDS, release the tape to the media. We know you have the evidence. Your blessings may not come from IPS Central Office. But you will be blessed for releasing the tape.
http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2009/01/jeffery-white-out-as-john-marshall.html
The recorded conversation is at Indiana Barrister.com:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uslaw.com/library/Indiana/White_Fight.php?item=440297
I am confused. I read in the paper about the city councilor and the missing 1.3 million dollars from the non for profit redevelopment organization. Can you tell me if some of those people involved with that scam were the same ones involved with Prudence Bridgewaters on the near northside redevelopment group. I could be wrong but some of the names appear to be the same.
ReplyDelete@barrister
ReplyDeletevery interesting, thanks.
Bridgwaters and Kendricks are bush league administrators who could never get similar positions, at this time, in any other school district in Indiana or the Mid West. They both have skeletons in their professional closets; hence, they were good hires for IPS administration because they will readily do the 'dirty work' to keep their jobs.
ReplyDeleteWillie Giles is also one of those bush league players who would never be hired any where but IPS. His professional baggage from Kansas City would fill a steamer trunk. Why do you think he's such a toadie?
ReplyDeleteAgain, the School Board approved the Superintendent's recommendation to hire them. Bridgwaters had been fired from IPS previously, yet the School Board voted 'yes' to rehire her. Surely, they must have had questions about this recommendation.
They rehired Prudie because she must have had some dirt of the higher-ups.
ReplyDelete