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by Dan S. Martin
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Posts 1 - 16 of 16
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Saturday, April 23, 2011 In The News: Praying For Rain Instead Of School Finance And Funding Solutions Just about every time I read about the Governor of the 'Great State of Texas', I am amazed at the double-speak and disingenuous nature of his dialogue. It reminds me of a catch phrase on ESPN for athletes who do bone-headed things: "COME ON MAN!" The LA Times op-ed piece below exposes his double-speak of anti-federalism versus his tendency to take federal funds as readily as any other politician. Not addressed in this article---but something most of us educators recognize--- is his double-speak about supporting education but doing little to prove it. Please lead and pray for us on education financing. It is now raining some in Texas...and I'm sure it will rain a bunch more here before school finance is fundamentally addressed. Here are a few quotes from the article you can access in its entirety by clicking the image below: ..."You'll recall that Texas' governor has, on more than one occasion in recent years, flirted with the notion that the state should secede from the Union. Speaking to a Texas "tea party" rally in 2009, for example, Perry said: "We've got a great Union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're pretty independent to boot." ..."A lot of it is in his book, "Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America From Washington."..."Turns out, though, that Perry is -– as they say in Texas -– all hat and no cattle."
Where's the beef?!?!
Posted at 10:24 AM (permalink)
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Thursday, April 14, 2011 In The News: Big City Problems Can Invite Big City SolutionsThis is an interesting study of local politics...if nothing else. But it is much more. In previous posts I've covered varied responses by local school districts to drastic cuts in Texas school funding. This is yet another very unique case. This detailed, fairly lengthy article sheds light on internal communications (and just a few of the prickly issues) raised by some ideas floated between Austin ISD and the city of Austin. This article is a good read. A few quotes: ..."Such a degree of formal collaboration would be unusual between the city and school district. Unlike some states, nearly all Texas school districts are set up to operate independently of city and county governments. School districts set their own taxes, spending and policies. ..."early proposal to close schools. Such a move, he said, would seem to run counter to the city's efforts to reduce suburban sprawl and encourage growth in the urban core." ..."Other ideas tossed around City Hall included what one person described as a "tax trade-off."..."described the trade-off as an arrangement in which the city would raise taxes while the district lowered taxes. The plan wouldn't cost taxpayers any more money, according to the speculation, but it would raise more money for the district, which is forced to hand over a portion of revenue it raises to the state under school finance law." This is just a sampling of the ideas being floated regarding Austin ISD's shortfall. Some are much more controversial than others. The article is worth a read...and you may even know a social studies teacher who could use it in instruction on local politics! If so, please... Check It Out! Pass It On!  Click the photo above to access the complete story from The Austin American-Statesman
Posted at 12:05 PM (permalink)
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Saturday, March 19, 2011 In The News: As If Draconian State Budget Cuts Weren't Enough, They Are Triggering Federal Cuts For Some DistrictsVision and planning are good things. Austin ISD had a vision, did a tremendous amount of planning, applied for & won a federal grant of $62.3 million dollars from a "highly competitive, five-year Teacher Incentive Fund grant." Sounds great. Austin ISD had a vision to attract and retain top-notch teachers and administrators to their more challenging "east side" schools. The federal government vetted and bought into the plan. The problem is, the grant is contingent upon local money that Austin ISD had allocated before the budget slash. With looming state budget cuts of 15-25%, Austin must re-allocate those funds. Now, the feds say if the local matching funds are not there, there will be no federal funds. And...they seem to mean it. So, Austin ISD will take a State budget slash triggering a complimentary federal cut in funds. Good times for Texas school districts. Posted at 3:00 PM (permalink)
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Friday, March 11, 2011 In The News: Texas Governor Rick Perry Places Blame For Teacher Layoffs On 'Locals'Is there an educator left in Texas who supports Governor Rick Perry? Feel free to comment...pro or con. If you are still on the fence, here are a few quotes from the much more lengthy article below... "We're baffled by Governor Perry's comments," said Dax Gonzalez, spokesman for the Texas Association of School Boards. "Let there be no mistake that the decisions being made in school districts across the state regarding budget cuts and teacher layoffs are the direct results of decisions ... at the state Capitol." School district officials in Tarrant County collectively shook their heads at Perry's remarks. "It causes me much consternation that he would say something like that," said Cindy Lotton, the Keller district's school board president. "There are problems with funding from the state, and the districts have been tasked with cleaning up the mess."  A rally on the south steps of the state Capitol on Saturday is being
organized by a coalition called
Save Texas Schools. Planners say they expect as many as 10,000 participants. Posted at 12:21 PM (permalink)
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Monday, March 7, 2011 Trends: Tight Budgets---->Tight ClassroomsClass size matters. Does it matter more than the quality of the teacher in the room? In states across our country, class sizes are once again rising, reversing a several-decade trend of lowered average (even maximum) class sizes. For an interesting story on this trend, click the New York Times article picture below, or catch a couple of quotes here: "The increases are reversing a trend toward smaller classes that stretches back decades. Since the 1980s, teachers and many other educators have embraced research finding that smaller classes foster higher achievement.... BUT ....Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who last Sunday told governors gathered in Washington to consider paying bonuses to the best teachers to take on extra students. Mr. Duncan said he would prefer to put his own school-age children in a classroom with 28 students led by a “fantastic teacher” than in one with 23 and a “mediocre” teacher."  Posted at 5:12 PM (permalink)
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Monday, February 28, 2011 Trends: Somewhat-Unique Responses To Projected Texas State Budget SlashIt is interesting to see how each of the districts in Texas are somewhat-uniquely responding to budget cuts projected in the coming two-year budget. One of my former districts, Decatur ISD, will reduce its budget by $4-5 million.  Click the image above for the full Wise County Messenger article. This district was already operating on the margins in terms of staffing and maintenance. Further onto the margin it and so many other Texas districts move. Posted at 10:01 AM (permalink)
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 Trends: New Technology High Schools.........And Other Magnet SchoolsMagnet schools---and other 'track-specific' campuses---have been making rapid progress towards establishing relevance and a sharper focus for students who already have a strong sense of what career field they'd like to be in after schooling. These schools are in very high demand, where they exist at all. Budget woes across the country are threatening to slow this trend. Dallas ISD, for instance, is considering cutting 50-80% of the faculty and staff at their award winning magnet schools. The superintendent is proposing that staff levels at all schools in the district should be equitable in such tight times. Since magnet schools tend to have lower student:teacher ratios, cuts based upon establishing equity of staffing will disproportionally affect the magnet campuses. As previously mentioned, demand for spots in these schools is high: "In Coppell, some parents are spending days camping out in line, vying for a spot at the district's New Tech High. The school is part of the New Tech Network, which includes 62 schools nationwide. It will feature a new technology curriculum pioneered by New Tech High School in California." The entire WFAA.com video story is here. Below is an image of the New Tech Network web site. It has valuable technology best-practices information, plus information about how to bring a New Tech campus to your district! 
Posted at 12:22 PM (permalink)
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011 In The News: Rainy Days Are Here For Texas School Districts...Where Are The Funds?Some momentum seems to be picking up for use of State "Rainy Day" funds to lessen the impact of budget cuts on Texas school districts. There are, of course, those hoping to hold back the tide...like Governor Rick Perry. One argument those of a like mind advance is probably solid. Specifically, dipping into the fund would only be a short-term infusion that will not fundamentally solve school budget woes in Texas schools (until school finance reform is enacted). O.K., they often fail to acknowledge the part about school finance reform...or at least any viable solutions. That is where we need to get to. Below find a few quotes from the WFAA.com story, followed by an embedded video of the entire story: "...In the worst-case scenario, Dallas (ISD) would lose $253 million in state funds, and that could result in nearly 4,000 jobs lost. One way to ease the pain would be to tap the state's Rainy Day Fund for public education. But as schools across Texas brace for the pain of unprecedented budget cuts, Gov. Rick Perry's office told News 8 his stance remains the same: The Rainy Day Fund should go untouched." Posted at 12:41 PM (permalink)
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Sunday, February 20, 2011 Communication: A Group Of Leading Teachers Is Planning To Communicate A Message To Wash. D.C.This march on D.C. is being organized by a large group of National Board Certified teachers -- teachers from many states who have passed rigorous examinations by an independent national board. July 28-31 sure is a nice time for a visit to our nation's capital! Perhaps we should join our educator friends there!  Posted at 4:47 PM (permalink)
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Sunday, February 20, 2011 In The News: Parents Are Beginning To Band Together Against Proposed Draconian Cuts In Texas EducationPeople power seems to be a theme of 2011. Are the people of Texas about to demand adequate public school funding? A few quotes from WFAA.com are below and the longer video story is embedded as well! "The push is on for Texas lawmakers to consider all resources to deal with the budget crisis — including diving into the state's $9.4 billion "rainy day" fund." ..."I keep on getting the feeling that they all want us to meekly accept that there is going to be cuts," said Susan Schuerger of the Woodrow Wilson Community Council. "It hurts my feelings. It insults me as a parent and as a concerned citizen." ..."We are already at the bottom, and we don't need to race to be last," said Cochran. "We understand there's a budget shortfall, but you cannot cut the school funding for our children." ..."The grim picture across the state is pushing parents to recruit others. They want their voices to reach the state Capitol one way or another. "We've got a ton of people sending letters to their legislators, meeting with their legislators, planning rallies in Austin," Cochran said. "We've got a long battle ahead of us. I think more and more parents are going to come out and be heard." I love parents who support their local schools!
Posted at 9:32 AM (permalink)
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Saturday, February 19, 2011 In The News: School Board Meetings Into The Wee HoursArlington ISD (Texas) was already facing a budget shortfall of $13 million. Add on up to an additional $35 million of state budget cuts and you have yet another district in a deep, deep hole. So deep, in fact, that demands from parents like the one below are basically absurd: "Parents said the district needs to come up with a way to cut costs that does not affect students and teachers." No district can cut $48 million dollars and not have a dramatic impact on the students and teachers. Let's be somewhat realistic. Posted at 7:55 AM (permalink)
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Sunday, February 13, 2011 In The News: As Most Texas School Districts Prepare To RIF Employees (Or At Least Not Hire New Ones), The Question In Some Becomes---->Who Are The Best Teachers???It is clear that Texas is undergoing a major contraction in public education, as all thousand-plus Texas districts prepare for major budget cuts. The story below raises an important question for those districts that must go through the "RIF" process (Reduction In Force). Once a district like Dallas ISD must cut 3,100 teachers from its force--as the story below represents--the question becomes: on what basis should districts determine whose careers will be interrupted by this financial calamity? Which teachers and support personnel must go? The criteria used will vary from district to district. What do you think?
A few quotes from the WFAA.com reports are highlighted below. A video and print version of the story can be accessed below these quotes: "The Dallas Independent School District discussed the possibilities of some very serious cuts within the district Thursday, including the elimination of 4,000 positions, 3,100 of which would be teachers. It's now a concern weighing on many teachers and parents in the district. District policy when looking at cutting back teacher looks at four areas: teacher certification, performance in the classroom, seniority and their professional background. On paper, it can seem simple enough, but translating that into people is tough. While the district says it has not put together a list, it has already taken some employees off the table, including fine arts teachers and workers who are considered the "best teachers." But, who and who isn't a "best" likely won't be an easy question to answer." Posted at 8:37 AM (permalink)
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011 In The News: Texas Superintendents Converge On Austin To Implore Legislators To Search For FundsIs your district preparing to slash 20-25% from their next two-year budget? If so, your Superintendent was probably in Austin today. Most of them missed some serious ice in their neck of the woods. Hopefully they can thaw the funding freeze. Posted at 7:43 PM (permalink)
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Sunday, January 30, 2011 In The News: Hiring Freeze Will Likely Not Be Enough In Many Texas School DistrictsA district very close to my heart--->Denton ISD could face a 20% budget cut. That will come with a side order of more students and increased testing accountability. Posted at 1:00 AM (permalink)
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 In The News: Less To Do More--- Except In The Governor's OfficeTexas education will not be sparred in the intense belt-tightening to come. Here are some quotes from WFAA.com coverage...and the entire article link and embedded video can be found below that: "Public education in Texas is facing billions in proposed budget cuts that would include slashing arts education, pre-kindergarten programs and teacher incentive pay as lawmakers take on a massive deficit with the promise of no new taxes. School board members in the Plano Independent School District have already foreseen problems and have begun to take action. Wednesday night, the board voted to go ahead with layoffs of clerical and administrative workers to help shave $10 million off the budget. So far, there are no plans for teacher layoffs. Lawmakers got their first glimpse of what the next state budget might look like late Tuesday, including the $5 billion cut to public schools, as Republican Gov. Rick Perry and his supporters were dancing at an inaugural celebration.""....Some analysts say the true shortfall could be much higher than $15 billion — closer to $27 billion — to account for enrollment growth in public schools and on Medicaid rolls, cost increases and other variables. That figure amounts to almost a third of discretionary state spending in the current budget. The proposal would make public school finance reform legislation almost inevitable. It also would mean about 100,000 children would no longer have access to pre-kindergarten, schools won't get help building new science labs and would end a program that helps students earn promotion to the next grade. "...The state's contributions to the state employee retirement fund would be reduced from 6.95 percent to 6 percent, less than what is needed to maintain the fund, according the Legislative Budget Board. The base budget proposes a similar cut in contributions to the Teacher Retirement Fund. While almost every other state agency would see a reduction in employees, the average number of full-time employees in Perry's office over the next two fiscal years would go to 132 from an average of 120." Posted at 12:00 PM (permalink)
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Saturday, January 8, 2011 In The News: Elementary Class Sizes May IncreaseTight budgets have forced many states to take controversial budget cutting measures, including one in Arizona that has denied funding for one-hundred previously approved organ transplants for patients who need them to prolong life. Two of those one-hundred patients have already died. Many bio-ethicists have expressed concern over this decision, including comments like "unprecedented" and "unimaginable". Talk about death panels. Well, Texas is also considering one very controversial measure to save funds. See the article highlights below and/or the WFAA.com video.
"...Since 1984, the state has required schools to limit kindergarten to fourth grade classes to 22 students unless a school gets a waiver." "...But, Luce, the chief of staff of the Texas Select Committee of Public Education who was one of the top proponents of the limit that was part of a massive school reform law back then, says the strict 22-1 ratio is no longer needed." “...I think given the budget problems that we have today, you have to consider giving more flexibility to elementary schools," he said. “...It was supported by research that existed at the time in a couple
of other states that had actually studied that and said that smaller
class size makes a difference..." "...But, the state comptroller said scrapping the limit would save $558 million a year if it were replaced with a requirement for schools to just average 22 students per class. Luce thinks that would work, unlike the '80s, when no achievement and benchmark tests existed." "...Teacher groups oppose relaxing the 22-1 law, claiming it has improved learning and 12,000 teacher jobs would be cut."
Posted at 11:25 AM (permalink)
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