Is a School Without a Librarian Still a School?
In an interesting turn, the district, facing a budget shortfall, has surplussed, laid–off, or released (pick your euphemism) what remained of the district librarians. Middle school counselors also got whacked. Class size reduction at the elementary grade is next in the district’s line of sight. Of course, according to the numbers, 4 administrators were also let go; however those $90,00 a dollar School Improvement Facilitators (SIF) were free from the budget axe. Close the libraries but keep the administrative pork. The situation is ridiculous and unacceptable.
The heart of the problem seems to be a battle between the SCTA and the SCUSD over the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) that the district received for its teachers. Apparently the district sees the money as a great way to balance its budget. By letting the librarians go, the district has positioned itself to negotiate the return of the librarians for the teachers’ COLA. In other words, the district seems poised to sacrifice our children’s education for their petty political gain. Even better, they can point to a selfish teachers’ union that refused to give up its COLA to fund libraries.
Now how’s that for “Success for Every Student By Name”?
And to add insult to injury, check out this screen shot sent to us from the district’s intranet homepage…
(For a clearer image, click to enlarge)
On a final note, we've started a message board at:
http://scusdwatch.proboards100.com/
We're not completely up and running and not really sure how this will work, but we think this feature will allow more flexibility in posting and discussing topics.
The heart of the problem seems to be a battle between the SCTA and the SCUSD over the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) that the district received for its teachers. Apparently the district sees the money as a great way to balance its budget. By letting the librarians go, the district has positioned itself to negotiate the return of the librarians for the teachers’ COLA. In other words, the district seems poised to sacrifice our children’s education for their petty political gain. Even better, they can point to a selfish teachers’ union that refused to give up its COLA to fund libraries.
Now how’s that for “Success for Every Student By Name”?
And to add insult to injury, check out this screen shot sent to us from the district’s intranet homepage…
(For a clearer image, click to enlarge)
On a final note, we've started a message board at:
http://scusdwatch.proboards100.com/
We're not completely up and running and not really sure how this will work, but we think this feature will allow more flexibility in posting and discussing topics.
posted by All of Us at
6:13 PM
7 Comments:
Just what is it that you want. Depending on who is talking VAPAC isn't part of the district. The soon to be outed De La Cuestas wanted out. What is best? Back at Sac in a few years? Independent charter?...
You're not entirely correct. The yet to be ousted DLCs wanted close ties to the district -- for salary and benefit purposes -- they just never wanted to have to play by the rules of a public institution. I think that VAPAC would make a fine addition at the New/Real Sac High. I also feel that the school's program would make an excellent stand-alone magnet or small school.
Personally, the district's mismanagement of the charters at the high school level makes me bristle at the phrase but not the concept.
The De La Cuestas "wanted out"???? PLEASE! All they wanted was to create positions for themselves where they could get paychecks of over $100,000 each at the expense of students. The only place the De La Cuestas "wanted out" of is the same district that approved their charter, provided employees, and gave them $500,000 to start their school! VAPAC is a part of the district, and until there is another sponsering LEA (who would even want to touch that place now?), everyone needs to realize that contrary to popular belief, VAPAC is a Sac City school, which means that they have to follow the rules of the district!
What' going on with the library
It's not just a library it's all libraries in the district. The librarians have been pink-slipped or surplussed... Whatever, I think that this post states it clearly...
How about vice principals without administrator credentials, and counselors without counselor credentials? Should they still be employed in their uncredentialed positions when the district is handing out pink slips, and is in such a poor financial situation? I don't think so. What about the Bee checking into these positions!??
Sacramento High School
“Why Sac Hi is a Lie”
You have a few weeks to enroll in another high school. Here are some of the reasons why you should:
• Sac High has gone from 6 to 4 small schools and that enrollment is at less then half capacity. 979 as of June 15, 2006.
• The entire East wing will be in portables as the school will be under construction for the entire year for SCUSD’s modernization efforts
• The turn over also applies to staff. Teachers have left and in one case, a whole school including its sponsor has high tailed out from under St. HOPE’s umbrella.
• Currently teachers are now “at will” employees. This means they may be released without cause.
• The original admin team is gone, two superintendents, and a short-lived president are gone. A team of proven and experienced educators has left. In most cases they have been replaced and/or re-orged by well meaning but inexperienced personnel with little or no practical knowledge of how a successful school works. Not a single administrator that opened the school remains working for St. Hope. The entire business office staff has turned over in 3 years, including 3 CFO’s, 3 in house Legal Counsels and 3 HR Directors. Two founding school board members have left their positions and the newly created Chief Academic Officer, which was designed to replace the superintendent position, has changed twice in 6 months. Why all the change? Smart business acumen or is St. HOPE doing the equivalent of rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic?
• The sports teams do well provided they’re Men’s or Women’s Basketball. The Athletic program has withstood 4 AD’s in 3 years despite the fact that one AD earned $108,000 a year. Eligibility rules have been abused and there have been 3 football coaches in 3 years.
• The arts program has also taken a serious hit. Currently there are no band or choir classes being offered. This year, because of construction, the visual arts programs will be greatly limited.
• All English Language (Learners ELL) have been moved to one small school. What happened to choice?
• St. HOPE once served approx 85% of the original Sac High students. That number is now far lower. Many students have been dis-enrolled from the school rather than facing expulsion. Suspensions are not recorded and students are not held accountable for serious violations.
• It’s all about kids right? At Sac High Charter, the CAHSEE scores are declining after 2 years of positive growth and Sac High Charter is now predicted to be a program improvement school, moral is low, and the uniform rule has been bent beyond recognition.
What could have been something so positive is failing. While many still believe the original plan for Sacramento High School as a Charter School housing 6 small schools was an innovative plan the experiment has failed because of the mismanagement and micro-management of CEO and Board President Kevin Johnson. Students in the Sacramento area are feeling the negative effects due to Sac High Charter’s low enrollment. Let St. HOPE continue their experiment elsewhere and return Sac High to SCUSD. Ask questions, review the real results and make a truly informed choice. Sac High Charter may look okay on paper but it is no place to send your child.
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