RE: Checks on School Spending

I would like to invite Mr. Parsons to "walk a mile in my shoes".  This "We vs. Them" mentality does not help to bring us together to dialogue on the real issues.  Yes, my office is air-conditioned.  Right now that air-conditioning is turned off despite the 100 degree temperature and a room with no windows.  We made over $3 million in cuts this year (4.5% of our total budget) so that we could pay the bills.  We did not cut classroom teachers.  We did cut administrators and classified staff.  We did not cut instructional materials.  I don't have a district car, I use my own '95 Saturn.  I chose teaching as a profession and did not go over to "the Dark Side" as some of my teacher friends state.  I came from the teaching ranks to administration for the ultimate good of the students.  Is a 60 hour week typical for me?  Yes, about 40 weeks out of the year.  During another 11 weeks, I work longer hours, up to 80-90 hours.  I might take a week off each year, but that's when I finally spend time reviewing work related material I didn't have time to do at work.  I'm very thankful that I have the equipment I do, since I spend more of my waking hours at the office than at home.  This is a long winded way to say, get off it already.  Don't accuse district administration as being the problem until you've been there.  I never worked this hard as a teacher and I was a good teacher and have the awards and recognition to prove it.  I'm constantly searching for ways to reduce out-of-classroom expenditures so as to maximixe classroom funding.  Our district spends over 75% of our budget in the classroom.  Over 53% of our budget is to pay teacher salaries and benefits, as it should be.  But that doesn't leave enough in the budget to fund  all the custodians required to clean your room the way you and I would like it to be cleaned.  When was the last time you emptied your wastebaskets?  I emptied mine last night.  Instead of grousing, Mr. Parsons, do something to help.  In the month of June, I must attend 11 evening meetings in 20 weekdays and a high school graduation on Saturday.  I too receive no additional compensation for this, but I attend anyway.  But, if I try to call a teacher meeting at 4:00 p.m., I'll have a grievance filed against me.  I'm not questioning your dedication to the profession, but I am questioning your priorities.  If your not helping to find solutions to the problem, maybe you're part of the problem.  Trust me when I say, we are all overworked; teachers, administrators, custodians, clerical staff.  But if we work together to solve problems, there are solutions out there.