Full time kindergarten gets funded
I’m not sure how they pulled it off but full time kindergarten is somehow back. Maybe it was enough arm twisting of state politicians.
In any case I am thrilled because we have a child starting kindergarten next school year.
I’m sure a few teachers will be very pleased to have the jobs as well.
Update: Here is the EVTrib article on the subject. It sounds like the admin just decided to bite the bullet a keep the all day kindergarten in order to stay competitive with surrounding districts.
However, Interim Superintendent Denise Birdwell said Thursday there was no way they can charge for the kindergarten program if surrounding districts are not charging for it. Kindergarten enrollment has already been down and some parents had said they would have to send their children to another district.
“To stay competitive, we are put in this position,” Birdwell said.
I suppose if kids start out of district that is potentially 12 lost years for a student. Regardless of all that — our family is very pleased with the change.
Maria Maria:
Woohoo! Finally some good news! Can’t wait to tell my friends.
April 17, 2009, 5:11 pmLong Time Higley Teacher:
All day K is being funded on the backs of teachers this year. We just came out of a meeting today after school and depending on what cell you are in on the salary schedule then you might be taking a 10% pay cut like me. The district is raising my class size, cutting my pay and I’m losing my prep time for next year. I will be an underpaid and exhusted which equals INEFFECTIVE TEACHER! Why aren’t the overpaid adminstrators taking a pay cut for all day K? Please attend the next Governing board meeting and help us out!
Can hardly pay my mortgage,
May 11, 2009, 9:37 pmHigleyTeacher
Katie:
Long Time Teacher, I, too, have heard that teachers will be taking a pay cut. I am told it has something to do with taking away the amount each teacher would receive in grant funding. This, to me, is disturbing in many ways. Considering we are not only cutting jobs, but most recently have noticed new job postings for jobs with new titles. In addition, the district will not be renewing contracts for first year teachers, but are still going to job fairs, on our dime, to recruit new teachers. The retirement of Fred Stone, which was announced earlier this year, will not be an open position as they are filling that vacancy and several others that we were told would be open are being refilled with bodies as well. NEVER ONCE have any of the directors or above mentioned they will be taking a pay cut, giving up any of the additional “perks” that the previous superintendent passed through unknowingly to the public, or made any sort of effort to show that they care about anyone but themselves. If in fact, it is the teachers that are making the most impact on our students, why is it that they are the ones taking the biggest hits for the least amount?
May 12, 2009, 7:22 amGeoff Johnston:
Dang people. What’s up with incessant drumbeat of whining? Frankly I’m really tired of it.
How about this — do some actual research and find out what the stated reasoning from the district is next time. We get all kind of innuendos of wrong doing by the administration in the comments at this site, but never any actual evidence. Are you too lazy to actually find out why they are making these decisions? (It is much easier to spread unfounded rumors than present evidence of wrongdoing) It sure seems that way to me.
Katie — I’m looking at you.
May 12, 2009, 8:06 amazfam:
Actually, katie is on to something by mentioning that the administrators are not taking any paycuts or reducing their “perks”. There have been no discussions about this in the public board meetings. There has also not been any talk of the administration cutting back on their seemingly outrageous benefits. I say outrageous, because their benefits are so much better than the classified or certified staffs’. I would be in a much better situation if my entire family’s health insurance was covered. I could also sleep better if I knew I had a $200K life insurance policy, and I sure wouldn’t mind a monthly gas allowance.
May 21, 2009, 8:26 pmAlysa:
OMG, Did you know that the directors,administrators just got an increase in pay $$$$?
May 27, 2009, 6:20 pmI can’t belive it!!!!!!
Shame on HUSD!!!!