Comments on: California Teachers Association celebrates passage of Prop. 30 and defeat of Prop. 32

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:52:46 +0000

Here’s some good news for schools: Sacramento won’t defer payments as long as originally anticipated, thanks to passage of Prop. 30: http://www.contracostatimes.com/twitter/ci_22102413/sacramento-will-be-less-late-paying-schools-colleges

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:32:28 +0000

The “fiscal cliff” will impact local school districts too — the Steven Lawrence talk of “no furlough days” appears to be premature. Sequestration cuts in Federal programs would negatively impact MDUSD budget and schools. If Congress and the President fail to reach a compromise, Jan 2 could bring significant cuts despite passage of Prop 30. “Sequestration is a plan to cut about $1.2 trillion from the federal budget in an even split across the board among education, national defense and Social Security, according to the National School Board Association. Sequestration would impact public education by cutting funds 8.2 percent or more and could result in larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, cutbacks in extracurricular student activities, teacher and staff layoffs, less access to intervention programs and the loss of instructional time, according to the Sacramento County Office of Education.” http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_938161aa-516d-5f0e-bffe-3d10dee2067a.html#user-comment-area

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:59:21 +0000

Got to add in Pete Pedersen’s “in house” costs too.

By: Wait a Minute

Wait a Minute — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:50:42 +0000

I would like to know what the total costs in materials and labor including design fees that we were charged for this solar. Does anyone know the correct figure?

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:34:50 +0000

What is the projected property tax costs over 40 years for the district to save $220 million over 30 years ? Wait — the panels only have a lifespan of 20 years — how can the savings be projected over 30 years ? Someone should file a complaint for false advertising against SunPower.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:20:29 +0000

SunPower is promoting MDUSD as a “case study” in solar savings: http://bit.ly/SbV1Ij

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:53:29 +0000

Barnidge compares the fiscal prudency of Antioch USD with MDUSD’s spend like a drunken sailor then slash and burn financial policy. Another chapter in “A tale of two school districts”. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_22068445/barnidge-salary-hikes-antioch-teachers-are-tough-sell

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:45:04 +0000

Here is why only 4 of 17 California Districts are in the final round for the Race to the Top federal funds — clearly their local CTA bargaining units were enlightened and weren’t bound by the disasterous political restrictions of CTA. http://www.edsource.org/today/2012/four-ca-districts-make-race-to-the-top-finals/23353#.ULSHGod9IVR

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:09:26 +0000

Here’s another look at how the US stacks up against other countries: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20498356#TWEET395882

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:45:36 +0000

Maybe now is a good time to remind MDUSD residents of how our students stack up in academic achievement viz other advanced countries:

http://globalreportcard.org/map.html#bottom-results

(If the link doesn’t work, go to globalreportcard.org > “View District Map” > Calif. > Contra Costa > MDUSD > “View More Results”.)

True, the data is from 2007, but you can use the slider on that page to see rankings back to 2004. They were going down EVERY year through 2007, so I doubt that recent budget troubles have improved the picture.

Forget national and CA comparisons. Compared with students in the other developed nations that we compete with, our local students rank in the 29th percentile in math and the 43rd percentile in reading.

If this big ongoing recession becomes “the new normal” these data may have something to do with it.