We are reprinting this with permission from Shari Webster of Nampa. This was originally a letter to the editor and appeared this past week in the Idaho Statesman:
National estimates reveal that one-third of all new teachers leave the profession after three years. 46% depart within five. What day-to-day experiences have so many headed for the door?
- In the midst of crisis, Nampa's dedicated teachers (equipped with personal funds) formed a line at an office supply's self serve photocopier.
- Report cards were printed on the blank side of used paper.
- A first-year teacher received access to a long neglected classroom 13 days before opening day. After expending 12-16 hours a day and $1,500.00, she transformed the space into one suitable for instruction.
- District policy mandated that designated employee complete all laminating processes. Because the sole worker became contractually available four days prior to opening day, a trip to a local office supply became necessary--as did another out-of-pocket expense.
- A non-working printer accompanied by a technician's growing waitlist necessitated documents being emailed to teachers' personal accounts for home printing.
- Utilizing a single workbook, teachers awaited turns at a solitary photocopies to produce student copies. Added frustration? A limit on pages!
- Traditional classrooms became occupied by 35 plus students, some void of English speaking ability.
Shari Webster, President on behalf of Chi Chapter
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
I seem to remember Nampa School District shutting down one or more schools. Surely that saved a significant amount of money. Property tax collections are up and still we get asked to approve more money in an override election. It used to be these override elections were for M&O but now it is for funding an unknown in school districts.
ReplyDeleteI am all for giving kids a good shot at gaining the knowledge for a place in society but are we really preparing kids for today's work environments? I think not after seeing the segment on "WORK KEYS" on PBS this past week. There needs to be a broad based set of changes to what schools teach. Most people would agree our schools are not producing kids with the tools they need to be employable. Work Keys is just a start in this process.
So is the point that we should just blindly give more money to a district that has proven itself unworthy of the public's trust or should we hold them accountable by voting no on the latest levy request and force them to dig deeper into their real estate holdings?
ReplyDeleteIf Nampa School District has a school building they called "obsolete" when they shuttered it, why don't they put it on the market and sell it to the highest bidder. The money generated could be used as needed to offset monetary needs. Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?
ReplyDeleteThe public still has not received a clear explanation on what happened to the five million shortfall. One would have to be half-witted and stupid to vote in favor of this levy.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately many of the voting populace is just that, half-witted and stupid. Suzy homemaker is more than willing to vote yes in order to give her 5 kids more of our money. I have no children in the public school system, yet I pay the same as she does. How is this fair and equitable?
DeleteHas anyone figured out yet how much tax money originally intended for schools got redistributed or shifted away from them because of Urban Renewal? I'd be interested to know how much has been siphoned away versus what their revenue shortfalls are. Is it caused partly by Urban Renewal, fiscal mismanagement or a little of both? Things tthat make me go hmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteSee my comment below on the matter of schools in Nampa getting their cut from NDC.
DeletePaul
I have to agree .It seems the school district thinks we should just accept their explanation that they have the problem fixed and just trust them with yet more money. That is not what I'm hearing from people that work in the district.
ReplyDelete$125,000 /year at current tax rates and valuations are siphoned off by Nampa Urban Renewal from the Nampa School District. Since UR will not sunset until 2031 in Nampa at current rates some $3 million will have been diverted from the Nampa School District. Another The 3 million grossly understates what will actually be left on the table if inflation or new buildings are built in Nampa. Another big loser is College of Western Idaho, but I digress
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding Vallivue and Nampa receive their pound of flesh from the current URA in Nampa. It took a law suit to get it done but Team Tom Dale caved in and agreed to pass the school tax receipts to school districts.
DeletePaul
I just hope that Mayor Henry has enough brass, to purge every bit of Team Tom Dale's influence that has infected The City of Nampa for the past decade and a half.
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