Thursday, May 28, 2009

MDUSD Is class size reduction gone?

Well, due to the budget crisis, it does seem one of the realities of this budget crisis will come true.

Rumors are that Principals have been told not to place the students yet for next year in the elementary levels as class sizes will likely change and increase.

Then, if they change , what happens to teachers? I guess even the site administrators are just waiting for word. Certainly they'll need less teachers if class sizes are larger. So, stay tuned, the hurt is just beginning.

Watch what happens at next Tuesday's board meeting, that is when the list of possible reductions will be announced.

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17 comments:

  1. I am an elementary teacher in the district and the word from my principal is that it isn't officially gone, but will be by July. It is not on the agenda to be cut at the June 2 board meeting because the district is waiting for something from the state. I am not clear as to what they are waiting for. Judging from our current condition, it doesn't look like there is going to be more money, but July 15th was the date that the district is waiting for. If nothing comes down from the state, then my understanding was that they will cut class size K-3 across the district. So sad... both for students, teachers, and parents....

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  2. It is highly likely that class size reduction will be cut. We need to cut an additional $9 million per year from our budget. CSR is included within the layoff notices we have already provided. Although we had not previously cut that specifically, it was part of the cut of particular kinds of service. We were hoping that we would not have to go this far, but unless something drastic happens with the state budget, we will have no choice.

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  3. What time tomorrow will the proposed cut list be posted on the website?

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  4. Two questions:

    Is shortening the school year a REAL possibility?


    Interested in MDUSD

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  5. Oops....that was just one question....sorry... I sent it before I finished.

    Is going to a 4 day school week a REALISTIC possibility?

    Interested in MDUSD

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  6. Just talked to a teacher from Brentwood Unified. They are talking about getting rid of CSR too. Districts are dangling at the end of their ropes with no where to go. Sad and tough times.

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  7. Would this have happened if I had voted yes for measure D?

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  8. 8:24, you figure it out. They have to cut 9 million, Measure D would have brought in over 7 million...so my guess is if people like you would have voted YES on Measure D then we wouldn't be discussing getting rid of class size reduction.

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  9. Rumor has it that WCSD is considering dropping the K-3rd CSR too.

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  10. Did people actually vote no on D without understanding that class size reduction was at stake? Didn't they understand that the horrific number of lay-off notices issued laid the groundwork for 30 to 1? We had all better hope surrounding districts do lose CSR too, or our currently "declining enrollment" will seem like a mere leak preceding the dam bursting entirely as families flee MDUSD. The impact on our already depressed property values will be significant, and not even test scores in the Northgate feeder pattern will buoy us.

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  11. Wow Anon 8:24. Did you even think about the consequences? There was a lot of information out about the significance of passing Measure D. I took the time to read it all, attend meetings and ask questions. These possible cuts are only the tip of the ice berg. I know parents of Athlete's that voted No, they did not have any concrete reasons why other than they did not want more taxes. Well, guess what to those parents. You won't have the $99 but it will cost you at least $300 for a sport, if you won't pay then there will be no sports.

    Sadly people did not educate themselves and were stuck in their own little world. Now the children are going to be very affected. I feel bad for the elementary and middle school students, lucky for us we are on our last student who graduates soon. But we voted Yes on D because we did our homework.

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  12. Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I didn't understand CSR was at stake. I even convinced my enitre neighborhood to vote No, telling them that the board would find another way to fund athletics. I feel so bad now. Please forgive me and my neighbors.

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  13. 5:45,
    if other districts hang on to CSR, it will only be for another year. It won't last past that. I wouldn't worry about people fleeing the district....at least not for that reason.

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  14. Oh no! CSR is gone? THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING!

    -said Gary Eberhart and the other chicken littles

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  15. I grew up in southern Louisiana (49th in the nation at that time, with only Mississippi being worse in education), in rooms without A/C - only fans - and with always more than 30 kids in a class (usually 32-34).

    Still, my running buddies and I went on to be lawyers, doctors, chemical engineers, or other careers that mandated a good fundamental education.

    AND we had PE, band, drama, sports, art classes, and other extras.

    What has failed us between then and now?

    How has the educational system (not the teachers, not the classrooms, but the surrounding system and methodologies) gone on to be so crippled? Don't we have more electronic aids, more educational research and understanding into teaching methods, and more (I think) parent concern about what kids are learning?

    Is the answer really throwing more money at it? I don't think so. I think that the answer is partly in the administration, partly in the classroom, and partly in our homes.

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  16. 5:45 PM
    You are funny, if your kidding, and stupid if you are telling the truth.

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  17. The state mandates the number of days/hours that children must be in school.

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