A few thoughts on the school department's override requests at the Select Board.
-ExcellenceThe football team and band are excellent. Our students academic achievement, so-so. Why are we spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for extra curricular activities (sports, band, etc) when our students are not achieving academically and don't have textbooks.
-School Enrollment Reduction The background materials say that up to 600 students will be reassigned to Cushman and Gidley. It also shows 10 teachers reassigned to each school. 600 students/ 2 schools= 300 students/school. 300students/10 teachers=30 students/teacher. Something's not adding up here.
-Bravo for including the benefit costs in the new teaching positions request. Now let's see the costs over the next five years for step increases, COLAS, tuition reimbursement, etc. Can we sustain these new positions within the anticipated revenue?
-Technology 8% of computers worldwide run MacOS, 91% run Windows.Link here School department computers are mostly Macs. We should be buying Windows boxes, not Macs.That may be the plan. I hope so and here's why. Business and industry use Windows, so should our schools. The costs per computer as listed in the override request backup material is nearly $1,000. I can't see why you or I could buy a single laptop for $500 and they are spending twice that when buying 150.
- There are no technology needs listed for either Gidley or Cushman. The re-opening of those schools is included in the override request. Will they get any textbooks or computers?
-Fee Free Initiative From the same report that Dr. Russel cited in his presentation. Link here94 school districts charged transportation fees in 2006, 200 school districts charged fees for athletics. Thousands of our students are not achieving adequately on MCAS. What are our priorities, no sports fees or education for every child?
-School Staffing$325,000 of the priority needs request is for non academic teachers (PE, music) and staff(principal, secretary, Instructional technology).
Once again, the school department's budget has never been reduced. They are going to get $1.4 million more in funding this year than last year, even without an override.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Funding for education
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12 comments:
You make a good point about priorities. MCAS scores vs sports. The kids that need the help with their MCAS scores are not even playing sports because they would need a certain GPA to take part in extra curricular activities. The money should go to MCAS related costs. Also, where are they buying their computers!!!!!!$$$$
The back up material handed out last night itemizes computers at a cost of either $799 or $800 each. They specifically list 5 replacement computers as macs the rest are listed as simply computers. Why assume anything beyond what is printed in the handout? Why list the cost as nearly $1000 instead of simply stating what was printed? Why assume anything when the actual information was printed and distributed for all to see? Why not simply list what was presented and then discuss it?
anonymous,
There are several computers listed at $800. There are many more listed at higher amounts. Under wireless laptop cart the total listed for 30 computers and cart is $35000. By my reckoning that comes to 35000/30 or $1,167 per machine. I didi not link to or reprint the request because it is not available as far as I caould find. I chose not to retype the whole thing
Bill, i dont mind typing a bit, the list includes the following:
25 computers @ $800 each
12 computers @ $799 each
16 computers @ $799 each
5 Mac replacements @ $800
30 computers @ $800
(3) 20 unit mobile learning lab $21,999 x 3
(+- $1,100 each with cost of rolling cart(s) divied up by number of laptops)
(1) wireless 20 unit cart @ $20,000
(+- 1,000 eac with cost of rolling cart(s) divied up by number of laptops)
(1) wireless 30 unit cart @ $35,000
(+- $1,150 per unit with cost of cart(s) divied up by 30)
That works out to about 88 boxes at $799 or $800 each and 110 laptops, some wireless some not (my assumption) with lockable rolling carts @ +- $1,000 - $1,150 each. The rolling carts are primarily for the elementary schools that do not have space for computer labs so these carts get shuttled to different classrooms. Laptops and rolling carts are more money than fixed boxes but they get the job done when space is limited. Only a small few are identified as Mac specific. As you are probably aware any purchases of this type will need to be fully specified and bid out competitively ao actual prices may well be lower than budgeted.
You attended the most recent fin com meeting where Mr Fox discussed the need to purchase quality equipment so the need for future repair and replacement is limited. He strongly suggested the town avoid buying the cheapest computer available as maintenance costs will soon eat up any initial savings. None of these numbers seem that out of line to my eyes.
At the risk of being falsely accussed again of making IT recommendations, here goes. I spoke to someone who was in charge of technology in another school system. In that school system Macs were used for elementary students due to their ease of use. The transition was made to windows in the middle school. Middle school computers were high school hand me downs. Older students had computers that had no hard drives. They were each issued their own stick with RAM and hard drive on the stick. If they crashed it, they crashed their individual stick only. This prevents viruses and has other advantages. You need to be especially alert to little rascals at the higher levels. In his school system, some students installed a program called keystrokes which records keystrokes of previous users. After installing this, they crashed the computer. When the technician came to fix it, his password was subsequently stolen using the keystrokes program. A short time later, grades for certain students mysteriously improved in the school records. I think this happened before the system with individual sticks of RAM and hard drive. Again, this was in another school system.
So we can buy 198 new computers with the money asked for in the first year. Over five years at the same rate of investment, we can buy 990 computers or 440 new computers and 20 mobile labs. Even if these boxes cost $800 to $1000 which they really shouldn't.
I recently bought a Dell laptop with a printer, wireless router and anti-virus software, retail at Circuit City for $400. If we use that price, we could buy 50 mobile labs and 1100 new computers. We would then have 10 mobile labs for every elementary school. There are only 10 classrooms in the plan for Gidley and Cushman.
My point here is that either they are going to be swimming in computers in five years or they are going to divert the money somewhere else.
OK Bill, I give. You win, it's all a big conspiracy and I'm the dupe. You win.
Greg J. If your goal is to pass an override to help the schools, issues such as these need to be addressed. No one has questioned whether you are being duped or said there is a conspiracy. The proponents of overrides seem to feel that those who question the amount or need for spending are somehow to blame for our current situation. They are not, and if these sort of questions had been asked all along we might not be in this crisis.
If you have read my posts you know that I believe we cannot solve this on the revenue side. I believe that we must find ways to reconcile the growth of expenditures with the growth of revenue. To do that we are going to have to carefully consider what we spend, why we are spending it, and the long term consequences of that decision. That is my point in raising questions. I am not trying to undermine the case for an override. I am trying to bolster it. The public has to trust that the money will be judiciously used and they don't at this time. By raising these questions and hopefully getting a reasonable response from the town department administrators, the public can be reassured. You and others seem to think that our questions raise doubts, I think that the doubts are already in the minds of the electorate and the only way to resolve that is to get real answers.
First let me say that I have not had my school tour of their IT equipment yet. One of the tour guides has been out sick, but I am told it will still happen at some point.
Now, Greg, with all due respect to Mr. Fox, he doesn't know what he is talking about on this axis. I agree that one should not buy a mongrel branded computer, but all the brand names are virtually identical inside. They all use the same parts and most get them from the same places.
If one sticks to a brand name, like Dell, they will be buying a quality computer, and as good as anything else sold. Dell has 2 different models that sell for less than $400, without monitors. Some monitors may be needed, but generally speaking there are too may perfectly good monitors being disposed of, so it should not be assumed that a new monitor is needed with every computer.
Most computer problems today are not hardware, it is software. The evolution of the hardware has done wonders for longevity and trouble-free use. The one stipulation I make to anyone that asks me is to buy Intel based systems, not AMD. AMD systems run much hotter and heat is death to electronics in general, and computers in particular.
From what I read of the Dell specs., both for the $349 and the $379 computer, they are more than adequate for general use, and I can't imagine student needs being anything more than general use. I built one very similar for my grandson and it handles anything he has to throw at it with ease.
I would advise replacing the OS from Vista to XP because it is less demanding and more trouble-free because it is more mature, like me. The schools should have the educational equivalent of a "corporate license" so this should be a free move and easily accomplished.
In addition, I agree with Bill on the laptops. While Bill got a great deal on his, I bet it has an AMD processor for that price. I bought a Toshiba laptop about a year ago and got a similar deal, although it was more like $500, and has an Intel processor.
In any case, a "cheap" computer doesn't have to be cheaply made. it is evolution and competition that has brought prices way down. Someone needs to be smarter about any proposed purchases because being able to buy 2 for 1 makes a BIG difference.
Bill T. Speak for yourself. Close to half the voting population showed they don't share your take on things. It all comes down to this, you feel our town must suffer more and struggle more while issues are pending as a means to expedite resolutions. You haven't revealed anything. Haven't raised questions not already raised. Have no grand solutions to offer. Quite the opposite. In fact, in following your blog, I witness the education of Bill T. You're so far behind on the nature of so many of our issues. Your perspective is so limited. Where have you been? There's no reason to trust you, as you continue to breed mistrust in others. Many want issues addressed without diminishing the quality of our collective lifes in the process. Put funds in place while pending issues are being resolved. Stop preaching taking that approach is a guaranteed path to "business as usual". Stop undermining efforts of so many, deserving of our trust, who've made committments to our town not to let that happen.
I am speaking for myself here. I have never represented otherwise, unlike some who claim to speak for "my board", "this board" or Mr Lynam. I also believe that many people in the town agree with me. We will see who agrees or not at the polls. That's why they have elections.
I have read many of the writings of the Dalai Lama. In "The Art of Happiness", he posits that we all seek to avoid suffering and seek happiness. I think that is a universal truth. I live in this town, why would I want it and myself to suffer? Obviously, I do not want that. You saying so does not make it so.
What I have to offer is leadership and problem solving. I do not represent any special interests in the town. The answers have been there all along, the numbers are there to back up what I say. What has been lacking is the leadership to make the tough choices needed to carry out the cure. If you think the town can go back to the status quo, I am afraid you are mistaken. If we don't make changes, drastic changes, we will be back to the voters in a two or three years with another override request. Do you think that one will pass?
I have not bred mistrust. Mistrust has grown because of failed leadership, sweetheart deals made out of the public view, and inability to deal with our problems. If those who made commitments to our town had lived up to them, I wouldn't even be running. They have not. Why have town managers not cut costs this year? Why did the Select Board not deal with the contract issue before it was made public? Why will you not acknowledge that things will not be going back to "business as usual" even if the override passes. I have my answer and it is failed leadership. You can agree or not. The voters will decide. I am not afraid of their verdict. It is not about me or you, it is about what they want. Can you accept that?
Bill T. Reread your post - two posts back - and review your comments speaking for the public at large.
You're missing the point. Too much gets lost in translation. Tell me why we can't make changes - drastic changes - over the course of the next two to three years without gutting our town first with a failed override.
Aren't you worried about the negative outlook status from Moody's?
I think your generalizations regarding failed leadership weaken your own leadership qualities, and you do a great injustice to not only some of our former and present elected and appointed officials but to numerous dedicated citizens and town workers who have accomplished great things for our community - including those who have gone to great lengths to examine and explain our current situation.
Some of your questions with their double negatives are not clear as to what you're asking. Town managers have cut costs. The SB has been dealing with contract issues months before the public fuss you've been making.
You refuse to recognize how the public was mislead by your effort last year regardless of how clearly it is described. You do breed mistrust with your failed leadership claims. That's what I find unacceptable.
Stronger leadership in place of those well-intentioned who are justifiably overwhelmed in our towns throughout the state and beyond are needed.
But, you've demonstrated far too many reasons why I won't be placing my trust in you.
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