tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post2201491208751013692..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Crazy Education BudgetingDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-6519791784326576842011-07-08T14:41:32.935-07:002011-07-08T14:41:32.935-07:00At some point those checks will bounce. What will ...At some point those checks will bounce. What will the unions do then? They will turn to and possibly on the politicians that led them down this path. Promises are nothing but empty words without action. If, in February or March, schools in California suddenly can't afford hot lunches or ESL or transportation, what gets cut? Federally mandated programs cannot be cut or district risk the wrath of the Feds. So that means that average kids in middle class schools will see their classes larger, their opportunities limited in order to continue serving an agenda that has raised unemployment once again. I hope that teachers find the CTA leaderships' homes and picket when this happens. And it's going to happen because while Obama and Pelosi may think in the back of their minds that the federal government can bail California out, I promise you that will not happen. There is no money. We are broke.Ellen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845981491726296767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-40716767038974174772011-07-08T12:25:45.187-07:002011-07-08T12:25:45.187-07:00The problem is that when the mid-year budget comes...The problem is that when the mid-year budget comes out, if education is cut, districts won't be able to cut staff (consolidate classes, drop low-enrollment ones, etc). This isn't about March 15th layoff notices for the end of the school year, this is about tying district hands if mid-year cuts need to be made.<br /><br />I guess it's like getting a pay cut at home, but not being allowed to change your food, gasoline, entertainment, or savings budgets.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-67606440776032058622011-07-08T09:46:46.949-07:002011-07-08T09:46:46.949-07:00Darren: "Given what the law says, though--wha...Darren: <i>"Given what the law says, though--what are districts to cut if they have to cut something, and their biggest expense, staffing, is off the table?"</i><br /><br />Maybe the districts can just issue checks that bounce?<br /><br />But I'd like to try again with my question.<br /><br />My understanding is that part of the end of school ritual in California is lots of layoff notices to teachers. We do this because years ago California passed a law that required that teachers (and other employees? I don't know the details) be given 60 days notice before being laid off. Since the schools often got their budgets less than 60 days before the school year began, the layoffs went out early ... and the idea was that many/most of the teachers would be re-hired.<br /><br />So, I'm assuming that we did the same thing this year (because of articles like this: http://www.mercurynews.com/california-budget/ci_18241483?nclick_check=1).<br /><br />So, can't the districts just re-hire based on worst case assumptions about the budget? If they don't hire the teachers in the first place, they won't have to lay them off.<br /><br />If they can't do this, why not?<br /><br />[NOTE: I'm not arguing for or against such a strategy, just wondering if/why it isn't the logical result of the legislation in question.]<br /><br />-Mark RouloAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-51967778229586642312011-07-07T13:20:57.861-07:002011-07-07T13:20:57.861-07:00In my district, at least, principals don't get...In my district, at least, principals don't get any say on staffing levels--that's all decided by the district.<br /><br />Given what the law says, though--what are districts to cut if they have to cut something, and their biggest expense, <i>staffing</i>, is off the table?Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-61564224561947136002011-07-07T13:00:23.335-07:002011-07-07T13:00:23.335-07:00The obvious thing for a principal to do is to budg...The obvious thing for a principal to do is to budget assuming that the cuts will occur, and staff at that level. If the cuts *DON'T* occur, you have some extra money (to spend or to roll over to the next year). If the cuts *DO* occur, you aren't scrambling because you already planned for them.<br /><br />What this would mean, though, is that you lay off the teachers before the school year begins.<br /><br />Is this not possible?<br /><br />If it is possible, why won't it happen?<br /><br />-Mark RouloAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com