Homework

I believe co-author John Buell  is the spark which has initiated this rethinking of homework and its role in public education. In his book The End of Homework…… he effectively establishes a case that homework burdens families and students and contributes to failure rather than improve a students academic performance. There are many reasons he claims that homework is prescribed and these are politically and corporately ordained. He also reports on the many reasons students don’t do homework with socioeconomic status being the major contributing factor.

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May 2008 from Joe Berry, COCAL

 

The Cuts Begin

On Tuesday, February 9 the first series of cuts for the 2010-2011 school year were voted on by the school board.  About $600,000 in non-negotiable items were slashed. Another $1.6 million needs to be cut.  Here is an overview of some of the cuts:

  • Flexibility Transfer--IMF Textbook= $70,000
  • Routine Repair and maintenance (reduce) = $75,000
  • Summer school downsize for 2011= $75,000
  • Lottery Funds --Replace General Fund= $50,000
  • Eliminate travel/conf. for Admin/Board = $14,710
  • Athletic/Sports Cuts (in total) = approx $23,000
  • Deferred Maintenance--State Portion moved to Gen. Fund= $85,000
  • 15% cut in supplies for maintenance, school sites, Admin/board= $32,000
  • Travel/Conference for school sites (unless req. by grant)= $9,114
  • Freshman Honors English and Math increased to 28:1 class size= apprx $160,000

The District claims that the District Budget Advisory Committee made this "recommendation" to the Board.  It should be made clear that there was no detailed discussion by the participant's of this budget committee to analyze the pros and cons of these cuts.  The committee spent one meeting brainstorming ideas (there is no bad ideas when one brainstorms!) and spent the next meeting voting via secret ballot for the cuts each members wanted to see.  This can hardly be called a recommendation.  The next round of cuts, including jobs and services, will probably also be called a "recommendation" despite the lack of detailed analysis.

It is also interesting that it took 90 minutes and ten teachers to convince the Board not to increase Freshmen math and English class sizes at the September board meeting.  At the most recent  board meeting all it took was a brief statement by the new superintendent supporting freshman class sizes and the deal was done.  I suppose this is another example of how unimportant teacher input is to the district on some of these critical issues. 

Be prepared for the next round of cuts.  They will take place on Monday, February 22 at LRHS.

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