Comments on: A crash diet for Oakland schools

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:23:58 +0000

I was able to open it now, thanks.

It’s a pretty depressing read, although I’m not saying the cuts are unfairly distributed.

However, it only really gives insight into how cuts will affect certain classified staff service areas — custodians, security, tech support and buildings/grounds — and not how the site-based budgeting cuts will affect teachers, aides and other specialists covered by SBB.

Katy, or anybody: Can you explain what the $350 million in restricted funds does? I assume that is set asides for new construction, liability, rainy day funds? Seems like a lot to be untouchable in a time of crisis…

Remember, folks, these cuts are not from the fat on a thickly marbled slice of Kobe beef — this is from a budget that was already lean and gamy…

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:28:58 +0000

I’ve posted a new version of the budget cuts presentation, courtesy of our tech guru. It takes a minute or so to load, though, since the file is so large.

By: Gordon Danning

Gordon Danning — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:03:43 +0000

David:

Teachers do not pay into Social Security; we (and the District) pay into the State Teachers Retirement System instead. Any change would have to be made at the state level, and I dont think it would make a difference to the District bottom line.

As for curriculum development, it is very valuable (though much is not as good as it might be). I, and my students, have benefited greatly from professional development that I have attended re: reading and writing. For example, a reading inservice that we had (using an outside consultant) gave me a strategy that I use to help students understand complex materials. Without it, I’m not sure how I could ask students who are do speak English at home to analyze the ideas of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau.

By: David

David — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:58:47 +0000

How about an even better suggestion–capping pension benefits and retiree health care benefits. Social Security and Medicare are “good enough” for the rest of us, how about government workers too?

Curriculum development? My Lord, how much money has been wasted on that? How about just teaching the students to, I don’t know, READ? Maybe some simple math. We’re not asking much, and heaven knows we’re not getting jack.

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:36:48 +0000

Ah, that explains it! I’m afraid I can’t help. While I was able to add the link from my home computer, I can’t actually open it at home or at work. The board secretary faxed me a hard copy. I’ll ask if it can be saved as an earlier version of Office and re-posted.

By: Gordon Danning

Gordon Danning — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:42:02 +0000

katy:

The powerpoint on the agenda appears to be a Microsoft Office 2007 file — the extension ends in “x” I think you need the 2007 version of Office to open it – I know that our computers at school cannot open Word 2007 files. Can you post a copy that has been saved as an earlier version of Word?

PS: Here’s a suggestion for OUSD to save money: stop spending money on Microsoft Office products, and use Open Office instead; it is free, and is fully compatible with pre-2007 Microsoft Office, as well as WordPerfect. We have Open Office on our school’s computers, so why doesn’t downtown use it?