Zia MS Rocks. With all the turmoil we have been through this past year, we still found a way to pull together and make the best of it. We even were able to have an end of year function, totally funded by staff members and way after contract hours ended, and we all realized that despite all the moaning and groaning from everyone else, we like our job and we will continue to do our job to the best of our ability. We realized that we are here for the kids and we put them first every day. I wish everybody else in the district could do the same.
--
After four nightmarish years of central office and administrative abuse, and with faculty and staff morale at the lowest levels ever, now we smugly announce at the school board meeting that we will tell all employees who were hired after the start of school that they may not have a job. These are people who were hired late because another employee was sick, left suddenly, that there was a need for a new position due to enrollment increase, or due to poor planning by the same people who are now making the cuts. To increase morale of the teaching staff and to lend some credibility to a bloated administration which protects itself first, reduce central office staffing. Show the real employees of the district that you will put your money where your mouth is. Also, look at all the new non-teaching positions created in the past four years and phase THOSE out. Cutting the so-called "temporary" positions is an easy-way-out for human resources to reduce staffing, but doesn't address the real problem of paying people to do non-direct instruction jobs. In good times, we could create all these new non-teaching positions AND have enough staffing for teachers and counselors. In tough times, cut the fluff. There's a lot of fluff in that 93% figure quoted at the board meeting, and it is not due to "temp" teaching positions.
--
have never heard so much complaining in my life. If you are so unhappy move on or do something constructive about it. Life is not fair and you can't make everyone happy. If there anyone out there happy? Maybe we need to split LCPS district make it smaller and then maybe it would be easier to take care of
--
The lawsuits are alive and well. They have been moved to federal court. The discovery phase should start soon, which is the point where depositions and sworn statements are taken and evidence presented to both sides.
posted by LCPS1 @ 8:11 AM
4 Comments:
The unhappiness in our district is a cumulative effect. There has always been grumbling, but the huge dissatisfaction expressed on this blog is a result of mismanagement and abuse by the board and central office in the past four years or so. Teachers just want to be able to teach without having to carry out some new lame-brained scheme or be supervised by people who have no idea what good teaching is. With NCLB testing and gross incompetency at the state and local administrative levels, teachers are not allowed to teach any more. In the words of Moses, "Let my people go!"
Administrators... how about focusing on the really important issues? The teachers/support staff need, and deserve, positive support. Cock-eyed ideas and foolish initiatives should be abandoned in favor of plain, solid teaching strategies that have stood the test of time. Too many kids in LCPS are not learning the basics that should enable them to move forward academically. Teach in a manner that assures success, step-by-step, however small each victory may be. Develop pride in learning... focus on reading and readable writing, math essentials, and the basics in other elements of the curriculum. If the basics aren't learned in elementary school, find ways to make sure that the kids become 'basically-proficient' at whatever level his/her deficits are identified... in mid-school, or even high school. Too many 'students?' are graduating from high school with third grade academic skills. Many professionals (teachers, support staff, and administrators...inclusive) in today's schools don't seem to understand that a kid's pride, and sense of accomplishment, must involve more than social approval... ACADEMIC progress is the name of the game. On the subject of pride, some of you administrators have some extra, unearned, pride. How about finding a way to pass some of that on to your deserving teachers? On a personal note... I have a few gripes concerning important specifics that are being ignored in our schools. Here's a big one... Why is penmanship no longer taught? I have an intelligent mid-school child who has never learned to write legibly. Instead of having pride in his work, he's ashamed for anyone to see that work. Do you expect the parents to teach penmanship? Maybe we could, but we're busy earning money to support out kids... and pay the taxes that provide your salaries. Another gripe... we've forgotten that 'drill' is necessary for most kids to learn, so drill, drill, DRILL. Remember, the kid who's kept very busy, in an academic atmosphere, doesn't have time to indulge in negative behavior that destroys his, and his classmates, focus on learning academics.
Blogger: That letter that was posted....doesn't look like a fabrication to me! I'm glad someone finally found the courage to start opening everyone's eyes and let them know what a farce Jeff Harris is. That letter seems to be very clear, he's more concerned about his correct "title" and the possibility of a pay raise, and not to mention trying to find a job for Marcy Oxford! Not once have I seen him in our building, so how would he know what our school needs?
What is going to happen when all the teachers, ea's, custodians, cafeteria workers, and secretaries have been let go? Are the principals going to do all of it themselves? Or are they going to be let go so the superintindent and the central office personnel can do the jobs? Who do we really need more-all the people downtown or the teachers, ea's, custodians, cafeteria workers, and school secretaries?
Post a Comment
<< Home