Author |
Topic  |
card
Senior Member
   
 117 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2012 : 06:14:51 AM
|
The city of Everett is cutting $3m from the school budget and firing 96 teachers... Please come to the city meeting on Tuesday, January 17th at 7pm at the high school...
|
|
Tails
Administrator
    

2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2012 : 10:54:10 AM
|
Wow. This is the first I heard of it. That’s bull****. This state really sucks.
Are these temporary layoffs or permanent? We need every single one of those teachers. Class sizes will increase…. enrollment is on the rise… and we will have “less” education for our students?? Makes no sense. Cutting across the board like that is just the lazy way. I’m not sure how the school department budget works…. but if any areas have an excess of money, do they give it back? Why are other options not being explored other than layoffs?
I say raise the sales tax by a point.
Create a tax cut initiative to business that donate a certain set amount to the school budget. That’s a win-win for everybody.
We are getting $25,000.00 anonymous donations to pretty up the square and rotaries that are STATE OWNED… but we are cutting teachers? Where are the priorities?
What about large scale fundraising? Do schools do that anymore?
Transportation - Stop the free rides from all over the state. That’s one thing that has to stop. That alone costs the state millions. If we didnt pay for that and kids went to school in the city they reside (like it used to be) there would not be any layoffs. I know it's state mandate and I'll write to Deval about that. The city and elected officials should show support and get moving to change that.
The schools really need to investigate the kids that do not live in Everett...especially the ones receiving Special Ed. That’s costing teacher jobs too.
Schools offer free programs……I hate to say it, but start charging for programs. We have too.
How about looking into stimulus money? Has that option been explored? On the city's side..how about lottery money? Last January the city received $5,843,460 and it clearly stated - Lottery funds are not earmarked for any specific programs, allowing cities and towns to choose how they would like to spend the funds. If the city is doing so well like we are told, why cant they transfer some of that money?
I wonder if there will be any support from elected officials? Look online at net-school spending and Everett is the bottom of the barrel. Melrose gives 2 million....but what does Everett do, spends millions on artificial turf for the football players. When are people going to wake up. |
 |
|
tetris
Moderator
    

2040 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2012 : 9:24:55 PM
|
Are we talking about this year's budget or next year's? I'm sure that the school committee wouldn't cut their budget unless part of their funding was also cut. So any ideas which funding is being cut?
Yes, it is a shame that the city can't afford to make more than the minimum contribution to the schools as required by law but I don't have any good ideas how you fix that without putting added burden on the property tax payers. |
 |
|
justme
Advanced Member
    

1428 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2012 : 06:50:28 AM
|
Maybe someone could get Freddie to stop spending so much of his budget on advertising. I bet what he spends to put his face in the newspaper regulary would cover at least one teachers salary! |
 |
|
Tails
Administrator
    

2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2012 : 4:03:02 PM
|
quote: Originally posted by tetris
Are we talking about this year's budget or next year's? I'm sure that the school committee wouldn't cut their budget unless part of their funding was also cut. So any ideas which funding is being cut?
Yes, it is a shame that the city can't afford to make more than the minimum contribution to the schools as required by law but I don't have any good ideas how you fix that without putting added burden on the property tax payers.
My assumption was it's for FY13. I'm sure those numbers are coming in from the state. I cant see cutting 96 teachers mid-year. |
 |
|
cathyk
Member
  

97 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2012 : 09:37:52 AM
|
I can tell you for a fact it's not the city, Freddy screwed up and now it's going to get put on them.
THIS IS FROM FACEBOOK NAME BLOCK OUT CAUSE IT'S A TEACHER. IF YOU KNOW TEACHERS IT'S A HOT TOPIC. |
 |
|
Tails
Administrator
    

2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2012 : 10:14:30 AM
|
If it wasn't for social networking, a lot of people probably would not have heard. I have no doubt that the school department overspent but there's a difference now. Now, it's about 96 people being told they might be out of a job in two weeks. These are people that teach our kids and I find that unacceptable. Doesn't all school spending go through city hall? I say that because no one is innocent. A lot of mistakes were made all around. Now is the time to work together and correct the problem and it's NOT about laying off 96 people and playing the blame game.
There are other ways to make up for the deficit. I hope the state comes through and it would be cheaper to hire an investigator to track down all the non residents attending Everett Public School's for all the free services. I know Everett Schools take pride in their students, and do not want to hurt the children..... but in essence, they are hurting the kids that actually live in Everett by ignoring the soaring enrollment numbers. I think if they tackle that obstacle the budget problem would cure itself. |
 |
|
massdee
Moderator
    

5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2012 : 11:22:37 PM
|
Anyone know what happened at the meeting? |
 |
|
Tails
Administrator
    

2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2012 : 08:37:10 AM
|
Someone posted a good synopsis on Topix about it but for some reason those posts got deleted. I actually saw them last night and they did not say anything derogatory. There's only one person that comes to mind that would be in the position to delete that kind of post that mentions "the mayor" I think it's evident now that someone who works for him is moderating that board. |
 |
|
Tails
Administrator
    

2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2012 : 11:31:12 AM
|
quote: Originally posted by cathyk
I can tell you for a fact it's not the city, Freddy screwed up and now it's going to get put on them.
THIS IS FROM FACEBOOK NAME BLOCK OUT CAUSE IT'S A TEACHER. IF YOU KNOW TEACHERS IT'S A HOT TOPIC.
I actually saw this post. She's not a teacher she's a girlfriend of a councilor who's family has been instrumental in trying to oust the superintendent. Now is not the time to play up personal vendettas and throw sticks and stones. |
 |
|
just wondering
Senior Member
   

387 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2012 : 1:17:55 PM
|
quote: Originally posted by Tails
Someone posted a good synopsis on Topix about it but for some reason those posts got deleted. I actually saw them last night and they did not say anything derogatory. There's only one person that comes to mind that would be in the position to delete that kind of post that mentions "the mayor" I think it's evident now that someone who works for him is moderating that board.
This is from the FAQ section on the Topix corporate site:
Can I become a moderator for the forums? Unfortunately, no you may not. Topix has several moderators for our forums, and all moderators are paid, full-time Topix employees. To most easily have content reviewed, send us a direct link through to the content through the Feedback system.
|
 |
|
Tails
Administrator
    

2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2012 : 2:56:12 PM
|
I'm not defending anyone but people should not be saying that without getting the facts first.... especially biting the hand that feeds them in public. Not smart.
Just Wondering - Topix is owned by Gannett and McClatchy. These social news media outlets all know each other. You know the old saying...if it walks like a duck, it's a duck. I'm calling it a duck.
|
 |
|
just wondering
Senior Member
   

387 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2012 : 3:52:36 PM
|
[/quote] Just Wondering - Topix is owned by Gannett and McClatchy. These social news media outlets all know each other. You know the old saying...if it walks like a duck, it's a duck. I'm calling it a duck.
[/quote]
Sorry, I'm not following you. How are you connecting the dots (or ducks) between Gannett/McClatchy and city hall? |
 |
|
justme
Advanced Member
    

1428 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2012 : 7:08:48 PM
|
Are you insane?
Stop trying to stir things up when you obviously don't know what you're talking about! Yes, the schools need money but the city isn't cutting anything.
If personnel cuts need to be made, they'll work it out but they certainly don't need you running around like chicken little yelling that the sky is falling! |
 |
|
scamore
Senior Member
   

105 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2012 : 12:25:42 AM
|
justme that post was taken from social media on twitter and facebook so I am not insane. People who are posting on the social media sites are insane, and one of the posters is related to a city councilor. |
 |
|
justme
Advanced Member
    

1428 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2012 : 05:50:27 AM
|
scamore,
Please accept my apology for jumping all over you! It isn't clear that the post was taken from another source. I don't read the other blog because of junk like that........... Seems that posters elsewhere only want to cause trouble, & don't care about truth. |
 |
|
Topic  |
|