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Albert Lea teachers on chopping block
Could a pay freeze be solution to shortfall?
Published Monday, April 6, 2009
The Albert Lea School District anticipates a shortfall of $698,000 in next year’s budget as a result of an expected zero increase in state funding. Normally, school districts can count on an annual increase of 2 or 3 percent.
“A zero is a cut,” said Superintendent Dave Prescott.
This year, many teachers are on the chopping block.
Some of the expected deficit can be offset with $150,000 in cuts, such as reductions in support staff, athletics, technology, a freeze in administrative pay and a freeze in administrative training, Prescott said. To be sure, these ideas have been considered but not approved by the board.
He said after those cuts and because the school district has had to cut so many areas outside of the classroom in past years, what’s left is education.
The Albert Lea school board faces a loss of the full-time equivalent of 15 1/2 teachers — a move that would impact 21 people on July 1. The proposal places six on an unrequested leave of absence for part of their hours, equaling 2 1/2 full-time equivalents, and the rest would have been terminated.
However, teachers in the district on March 20 approved a $94,000 reduction to professional development and approved continuing the existing merit-pay system — which benefits the district’s coffers with $98,000 in state assistance. As a result, the school board on Monday is expected to reinstate some teachers who could have been losing jobs or part of their jobs.
The math works out to leave the equivalent of about nine full-time teachers on the table. An exact figure will available at the board meeting.
There is talk of another solution for the remaining amount: Asking the teachers to take a pay freeze for one year.
That alone would save $500,000 and more than solve the shortfall problem, Prescott said.
Jim Munyer, a counselor at Southwest Middle School and president of the Albert Lea Education Association, said the question of a pay freeze will be resolved during collective bargaining this spring.
“That’s where any discussion of pay would be brought up,” he said.
He said it is frustrating for teachers when both parties at the state Legislature are looking at cuts to education. Teachers understand the state of the economy, he said, and he feels there needs to be more confidence in the economy by putting more dollars into circulation.
At the same time, Munyer said, he understands the freeze idea and would like to keep the district healthy. He spoke about possibilities with the district’s reserves and said perhaps Mike Funk, who starts as superintendent June 1, could have a role in the negotiations. Prescott retires June 30.
Prescott echoed Munyer’s concerns about the Legislature, particularly a proposal by Senate Democrats to cut public education by 7 percent. He said such a move will drain reserves of school districts statewide and leave many in statutory debt. Even if it is merely a political ploy, it leaves district officials worried about a reduction in funding.
“Could we actually have something worse than zero? It’s possible,” he said.
In such a case, the district would need its reserves to get through the year, Prescott said.
Prescott said the amount requested in the referendum levy that passed in November 2007 was calculated based on 2 to 3 percent annual increases in state funding as a result of increased cost of living. With the likelihood of not receiving that increase and still having to meet the annual demands of increased costs, the district ends up with a deficit.
“This is not a problem for Albert Lea alone,” Prescott said. “This is a problem across Minnesota, across the United States.”
He said he has spoken with Funk, who is superintendent at Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian School District for the rest of the year, and both agree a one-year teacher-pay freeze is a short-term solution for Albert Lea. Prescott said they wish to hold onto the talent in the local teacher pool and hope the economy is in better shape next year.
Funk has agreed to a two-year pay freeze.
“There are some things we can control and some things we cannot control,” Prescott said. “I’m asking the district to consider what we can control.”
He said losing teachers would put people out of job at a time when jobs are sparse and the housing market is down. Some teachers bought houses in Albert Lea after the referendum passed.
The teachers are one bargaining unit in the district, albeit the largest one. The school board also negotiates with support staff, custodians and para-educators. The board faces similar questions of cuts and freezes during bargaining.
Another factor into the funding is stimulus funding for special education. Districts statewide expect additional funding from the stimulus package, but hope dollars already slated for special ed then can cross over to the general funding. Prescott and other superintendents are waiting on an answer from St. Paul.
Prescott added that Albert Lea School District voters deserve thanks for their support of the local levy in 2007.
“They did their part; they stepped up and did their part,” he said. “This is not about a community shortfall, it’s about a state shortfall and national shortfall.”
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Comments
Posted by nisperos (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Another factor into the funding is stimulus funding for special education. Districts statewide expect additional funding from the stimulus package, but hope dollars already slated for special ed then can cross over to the general funding. Prescott and other superintendents are waiting on an answer from St. Paul."
NO to cross over of special education funds!
Most targeted federal education funds have a "non-supplant" provision and a "maintenance of effort" provision.
For example, the Federal Special Education law is called IDEA and its non-supplant provision is found at 34 CFR §300.202 which you can read here: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/j...
Basically, what the regulation says is that you cannot use targeted funds to replace funds you are already using, but must use these funds to increase and/or provide services which you are currently not providing.
Another provision generally attached to targeted funds is called "maintenance of effort" and this provision can be read at 34 CFR § 300.203 (same link as before).
Under maintenance of effort, targeted funds must not be used to reduce the level of expenditures for the education of children with disabilities below the level of those expenditures (locally paid) for the preceding fiscal year.
Parents of children enrolled in special education (IDEA programs) or Title I programs should watch closely what happens here, demand transparency, and speak out! If it's true that with the stimulus funding special education is still not fully funded, there is no moral or ethical justification for diverting it to other purposes.
"It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." Hubert H. Humphrey
Posted by nisperos (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NO to cross-subsidation of targeted education funds! It's like saying that since special education and Title 1 are getting more extra funding, we will use some of that money to subsidize other education programs. It's a case of outrageous smoke and mirrors, because if the targeted programs are not yet fully funded, it defeats the purpose of adding funds to their budget and implies that since we made them do with less before, we should continue to make them do with less than they need to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), because those in other education programs matter more (as they always have).
The law already allows targeted funds to be used for programs which benefit not only Special Education and Title I but incidentally benefit other students. For example, you could put lifts on regular school buses if it allowed both disabled and non-disabled kids to ride together. But, a cross-subsidation model directly takes part of the funds from one program and uses them to reduce the costs to another program. Don't fall for this nonsense! Why not just have some teachers move to special ed programs or to helping provide more inclusion or mainstreaming in regular classrooms?
And, for any teachers who are unwilling to take a pay freeze, don't expect any sympathy when your class size increases. Why does the union have to wait until Spring? Can't they call a meeting at any time?
Posted by JayJ (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why keep looking for hand outs when there is a potential long term way out.
I don't know what the actual figure is, but I'm sure the district's utility bill is enormous. Develop wind energy.
Utilize the equipment and students abilities to generate income to fund school related programs.
Teach the students capitalism in contrast to socialism.
How long will our leaders continue to depend on state and federal aid?
Wake up! The treasure chest is empty!
Time to apply your intelligence, mix in some initiative, and earn those paychecks by making something happen.
Lead by demonstrating a "Can do" approach. What I'm hearing sounds like defeat, surrender, and begging for scraps from the conquerer. Higher taxes aren't the answer either. There you are trying to extract blood from rocks.
Posted by crzy_mama2mny (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How much do we spend on ESL type classes and curriculum? The district should get rid of that. Why should we have to pay extra because someone chooses to speak a different language at home? Is that our problem? NO! Also these are the same students who repeatedly bring down the scores in the No child left behind testing which directly affects funding. Make people pay for this. If their students do not do well on the test then make them make up the difference for what the district would have received. My kid repeatedly scores in the 98% so he does his share for the funding. Many of the ESL kids do not. Make them pay, not everyone else. That expense is created by choice, unlike special ed students.
Posted by crzy_mama2mny (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Also, a freeze in administrative pay and training sounds like a good idea to me. They are not the ones who are in the classroom every day teaching our kids so they do not deserve any raises. Why shouldn't that be the first thing to go since they get paid more than the teachers?
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys sound ignorant. Most everyone at one time or another has to "rob peter to pay paul". If you think you have the perfect answers then run for the school board and make your stands known there.
Posted by nisperos (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nativist thinking will not get people very far in a global economy. Any kid who is getting high marks should already be studying a second or third language since the younger they start, the easier it is to pick up new languages, try Chinese or one of the Arabic languages, for example. I grew up speaking 2 languages and it did not keep my from making top marks in an English curriculum. One of my grandparents attended Sunday school in German and the family still has the cards with the Bible stories in German.
I was once down in the Caribbean in Aruba, which is an island that is part of the kingdom of the Netherlands and which is located near the coast of Venezuela. The home language spoken by all classes of society is Papiamento. When kids start school, they begin instruction in Dutch (or Flemish) which is the official language. In 4th grade they start taking English. In 5th grade they take Spanish. In HS, they can take another 4 languages as electives. The tour bus driver who drove us around the island claimed to speak 8 languages. The docent or person who narrated the submarine tour claimed an astonishing 28 languages...
Posted by nisperos (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most everyone at one time or another has to "rob peter to pay paul".
If targeted special education funds are crossed over without a change or exception to the law being legislated but merely snatched by an under the table rationalization, then it is called BREAKING THE LAW and reason for a section 504 and/or ADA complaint. There is, I believe, a bit of history, of taking special education funds (which have never been adequate) for other purposes. This is why "non-supplant" and a "maintenance of effort" provisions were enacted. The reason there are targeted stimulus funds for special education and Title I is because of prior deficits in special education funding.
Why has AIG gotten or been promised a total amount which exceeds the total amount of stimulus funds for the entire country? The most help should go to those at the top (of whatever pile we are talking about) and anything considered for those at the bottom should be taken away? Now that's what sounds ignorant to me!
Posted by allake (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And if the Union wins the arbitration case, the district is going to have to pony up another $400,000 grand. I find it hard to believe the younger teachers are not up in arms on this one.
Posted by JayJ (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Headscratcher I think the current board members are already aware of the opinions posted here. I don't have time to sit on a board. I'm busy earning a living in a tough economy with no government assistance. There's nothing special about me but if I can do it by myself what is the potential for all those highly educated persons with access to multi-million dollar equipment?
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think the board members are highly paid for their position on the school board. They are trying to do the best they can with what they have to work with. They are a group of people that believe they can make a difference. They are looking beyond what they have or don't have for the betterment of the schools in our district. It's people the that sit around and judge the work of others without knowing all of the elements involved that irritate and condemn those that do.
Posted by JayJ (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want the schools to be better too. What I don't understand is why the resources that are already there are not used to generate $$$ to make things better than they already are. Computer labs, industrial shops, photography labs, cooking facilities. Even the library in this age of information. Explain to me why this can not be happening and I'll shut up. Otherwise please explore the idea. If we are going to send the kids out to raise funds by selling things, why not have them crafted in our schools? We have a wealth of talent here in our teachers and students and plenty of tools to work with. I don't want to see cuts, I'd like to see money come from within. As I said in my prior post I do not have the time to commit to serve on a board. I would prepare a formal presentation of my ideas if the board wanted to hear them. For free.
Posted by tallyman (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JayJ:
The saying goes: If you want something done, give it to someone who already is busy. The school board members don't get paid at all, but many of them are busy folks as it is. I dislike when people they don't have time to give back to the community because they are too busy.
http://albertlea.k12.mn.us/schoolboard/d...
Posted by crzy_mama2mny (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
that is great to learn multiple languages. I'm simply saying that we (taxpayers) should not have to pay for one group (non English speaking, test failing kids) to be able to learn a second language free. (from early childhood on). English speaking students do not get the opportunity to learn a second language though the school system until they are in high school. If the non English speaking students were not treated with favoritism them it would save us all money.
Posted by JayJ (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a challenge Tallyman. I accept. I will petition the board to extend me a few moments of their time. If they grant that request I will prepare for a presentation. Depending on how that is received, assist in planning and execution of the plan.
I do give back to the community and help others. I attent fundraisers, and do alot of automotive and other repair work (free) for those who otherwise could not afford it. The majority of my job duties require me to work between 3pm and 8:30 pm 6-7 days per week. That's why I said I didn't have time to commit to being a board member.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How big is the school's budget? 1 million? 2 million? How many members are on the school board? Now explain why if the buget is more than a millon + is run by people who may or may not have the knowledge of how to run a budget of this size.I just wonder if we are just getting what we asked for? Also it is a lot harder to run for school board than just putting your hat in the ring. Election laws apply to anyone who runs for public office. The paper work alone may keep some from running.
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Running for school board in entirely voluntary. If someone wants that position they should be able to put up with the workload that comes with it. Why can't the district hire an impartial auditor to go through the budget ,line by line, to decide what stays and what goes. Those in charge of different aspects of the budget should be able to present why they need that amount of funding. I seem to remember a couple of years ago a referendum that passed. I was under the impression that we needed it to pass in order to bring employers, keep our doctors etc. How has that turned out for Albert Lea? Personally, I think the school board and administration might stretch the truth to suit their own agendas. We have been promised much to get us to vote yes and I haven't seen those promised results yet. Also, something I remember from my high school days in Albert Lea. There a good teachers and there are those teachers that give assignments and then proceed to take naps at their desks. The newer teachers were usually the better teachers, or at least they were engaged with the students. For the most part all teachers are doing a great job but the worst teachers that I have encountered while I attended school and when my children were students are the ones that have been their longer and evidentley don't worry about losing their position because of poor job perfomance. The majority of the rest of us don't have that luxury.
Posted by canarybird (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
crazy_mama2many- So you think we should not help students learn to be fluent in English so they can excel in school and live productive lives, pay taxes, etc. You would rather they live their lives receiving welfare, medical aassistance etc because due to their poor language skills they are unable to get good jobs? This makes more sense to you? Besides this is probably a small part of the budget. PS Your bigotry is showing.
Posted by newyankee (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$6.9 BILLION a year in State money. 39.1% of the budget. It is not now, nor will it be enough with the current system. 6.9 Billion dollars a year for K-12. That works out to about $8,700 bucks a head.
And I am supposed to be upset by AIG?
Posted by wonder (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One thing to keep in mind is that metro schools receive twice the amount of money per pupil unit as greater Minnesota districts do...ie if Albert Lea gets 3,500 for a student, a Minneapolis school will receive 7,000 dollars for the same kid...
China's country's budget....80% goes to education.
We've got GREAT people doing what they can with what they've got....When was the last time you said thank you to the school board or to your children's teachers.....
Posted by alhsgrad90 (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder please remember this when comparing outstate schools to the metro schools. They do get more but many of these schools, the Minneapolis district is one, are in or have joined with other suburban districts to intergrate schools more. So some of that money is used to send the kid from Minneapolis to a suburban school. However, Minneapolis is thinking about pulling out of these types of agreements because that money now goes to the school that the student is attending. There are many other factors that go into the dollar per pupil to list here so I will stop with the little nugget of info.
Posted by newyankee (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Education Budget in 2008: 56.2 Billion yuan RMB (about US$ 8.11 billion), this figure is a 45% increase over the year of 2007.
China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow by 10.2 percent to reach 27.93 trillion yuan (US$3.88 trillion) in 2008.
80% ?
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