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Grier is asking for $375,000+ for a new Office Of Induction and Success. Can someone tell me what this is and how it DIRECTLY relates to educating our children? I think this administration spends too much on number crunchers and "administrators" on not enough on direct EDUCATION. Also why can't Grier just add the "Mission Possible" funds to the budget for next year and not take any money away from any one???

As I understood the plan it was for a supervisor and 6 people to help mentor and 'teach' the new teachers with 1-3 years experience. That is the fastest growing population of teachers and we loose many the first year. Later in the discussion, Dr. Routh said her committe recommended hiring more that Dr. Grier said.

My take on the budget--great that we are getting back 80 TA, lofty idea for 85 spanish teachers for elementary schools, but it will not happen becuase the commissioners will undoubtly not fully fund request. This line is about 3.5 million and it is always easiest to cut positions that haven't been hired.

I'm all for giving money as incentives to teachers in struggling school, but let's not take from the poor to give to the poor.

If our superintendent is sold on this idea, the first pocketbook that the money should come out of is his.

Next it should come out of the pocketbooks of every member of administration including cutting duplicate positions.

Students should be sent to their closest school
which would cut the cost of transportation in half.

Night classes should be formed to address the problem with disruptive students in our classrooms
They should spend time in a jail cell,or in juvenile hall, or in a boot camp, or do community service during the day and have to attend small classes at night. This would also do away with the free time that they have getting in tourble.

A week of this would break 80% of them, the other 10% could just stay in jail where they will probably end up anyway.

Frank,
the new proposal for Mission Possible is for all staff to pay some for the plan, which puts teachers part down to $5 per month instead of $19 per month. Details were not discussed

Life is so complicated. Why didn't Grier just reduce the amount of new money for supplement by the amount he needed for Mission Possible?

Joe,
I totally agree- posted those thoughts on another thread. He stirred up a hornets nest when he could have made the plan so much simplier, however you know there is no way the CC will give us $20 million more than last year-so cuts will be made.

Debora and Joe,

Agree with your comments on how the plan was initially presented. It could have been "marketed" in a more positive way. I believe the $5.00 a month had to do with all certified employees not getting their full raise (see yesterday's newspaper).

After watching some of the budget board meeting last night, I don't see why money should be spent on Western HS and Page to switch from block scheduling at $180,000 for each for new books. The timing is not right. They do not need to do this. As one speaker said, once you do this for one school, the others will follow. Then what happens in a few years when some other "experts" want it switched back to block? These schools have until August, as mentioned, to schedule classes.

If anything, as Darlene mentioned, go to a traditional schedule in a failing school like Smith HS where the new principal is trying to make positive changes to turn this school around. Try it there first - not on schools that aren't failing. Give him the support he needs to make positive changes.

Other unnecessary spending, in my opinion:

- all the UNNECESSARY busing and not taking into consideration the rising cost of fuel - if bussing for diversity in HP then it must be countywide - this is a major waste of money

- paying for busing to keep kids at the 10 most impacted elementary schools in one school for the year. Although initially this sounded like a lofty idea that could help a small percentage of kids, but some move 3-4 times year - and at what distance? and then these same children move out of the county all together. This could be a huge potential cost for busing that proves to be a futile effort in the end

- 1/2 million on racial healing - that won't heal those who don't want to be "healed"

- 1/2 million previously discussed to pay for a STUDY about more minority contracts

- and this one I just heard about from a teacher - not a confirmed source - but 1/2 million used to pay for professional organization fees for GC employees

These are just some examples of where we could get more money that could be used for TA's, tutors, school supplies, etc.

Do we need a diversity officer? Is it better to have a Diversity Office or to train all managers in diversity issues? Does other systems have diversity officers?

With all the excessive admin placed at Grier's disposal, the idea that $1.00 taken from a teacher’s future raise that covers inflation is at the very least disgusting. He has alienated enough teachers and principals aready. We are lucky we are not dealing with a union.

The last place to take a hit should be our teachers. Get rid of a few fat cats and trim the belt, sell a few buses and get rid of as much daily transportation costs as possible. Work with cities for sidewalks and crosswalks for safe pedestrian transport of older students. Get rid of the racial healing and racial contractor items and replace with 24 full time qualified teachers that will do more to help all our children learn instead of some politically connected, overpriced consultants lining their pockets with our hard earned tax dollars!

Then, go to commissioners with tight belts, clean hands and honest requests for teacher support.

There is no justification for taking a cent from our teacher’s, they deserve our total, unconditional loyalty and support, not the back stabbing politics pressured by a misguided overpaid under-qualified job-shopping ...

Another solution for mission "throw more money at the problem" is to provide a discipline policy that keeps schools safe and makes teachers feel like they can teach. Cost -0-.

Provide principals support and job security as well as ability to manage their schools with the support and resources necessary to keep teachers happy. cost -0-

Promote effective community support and involvement in neighborhood schools - cost -0-

We need to find effective, positive solutions that show our schools deserve community support and the best way to do this is effective management of limited resources. Grier is here for but a short time, but we, the taxpayers will be paying for his and the school boards extravagances and ineptitudes for decades!

Barbara Ann,
A teacher at the meeting at Smith brought up the monies used to pay professional dues; it is only for ADMINISTRATORS. Teachers who are struggling to make ends meet must pay their own.

Louise,

My point exactly. That IS what I have been told. Thank you for clarifying.