Comments on: Guest post from Greg Land: Voter information and links

By: Peggy

Peggy — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:23:44 +0000

I recieved a flyer from HUSD in the mail announcing some of the new district level employees. I see that there is a need to create additional jobs at that level because of all the additional students moving into the district. (And I hope to see better practices with all of these new minds.)
However, I have not seen any additional staffing at my children’s school. The front office is like a zoo in the mornings and after school, and I wonder how some of these ladies can put in so much effort. They must really love the kids, because we all know they are not in it for the paycheck- just like the teachers are not there for the money.

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:15:28 +0000

All very good points Katie. These are the sort of messy things I would like to see cleaned up by the new board.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:56:33 +0000

I have several friends that work for the district in both a school setting as well as there district office. I must say that in the last year or so they have seen major changes that I, as a parent as well as a taxpayer, question and have asked them over and over. If the district is in such a financial bind, how is it that they have the money to bring in so many new people at a director level? I have real concerns with the fact that there seem to be more people at a director level than administrative level and the salaries that seem to accompany the new directors leave little for the hourly employees that are working their fingers to the bone day after day without recognition. What is the morale like you ask? It is horrible. People walk around the district on eggshells knowing that if they speak up or question anything they are quickly harrassed or walk around with a target on their back. The teachers have a group that represents them when it comes to issues but my understanding is there is nobody for the support staff to turn to. This should be addressed as well. I am all for a change and hope to see one with the new elections coming up.

As for the current panel, the governing board, it is upsetting to me that many seem to have very little intrest in the schools themselves. Am I correct that one of the current members that is seeking reelection does not even feel the public schools are good enough for her children and has chosen to homeschool them? Who is she to sit on a panel representing our district? What can she bring forth if she felt it was best to teach her children in a different enviorment?

By: Greg Land

Greg Land — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:40:37 +0000

Peggy,

Thank you for your comment. I share your concerns and questions of “Are we spending every dollar as wisely as we should be”? The sound system may be a good idea but we have overcrowded classrooms and some classes do not have enough books & desks, where are our priorities?

In an article by Howard Fischer in the East Valley Tribune on 10/9/08 Higley is shown below the national and state average in percent of each dollar spent in on classroom instruction. We were 3rd from the bottom, only above Apache Junction and Tempe Elementary. This is another example of the importance of placing students as the priority in all decisions and spending our very limited resources wisely.

Thank you,

Greg Land

By: Peggy

Peggy — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:14:49 +0000

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/127537

Speaking of school monies and voting to keep the funding in HUSD, did anyone else flinch when they read that HUSD just spent 25K (yes, $25,000) on a sound system for the Arts Center?

…”The new sound system is being paid for using money slated for building and maintenance issues…”

Do our current board members ever get to look at the budget or get told what HUSD is spending our tax money for?