[DeeVee]

OK, this is a new one to me. But, perhaps districts are doing this nowdays? I thought our tax dollars paid for public education? And frankly, tax dollars are a LOT here. And this is supposed to be a good district.

I got a letter that obviously is going out to all households in the district. It says "Due to state funding decisions made 30 years ago, WA state is not able to fund the XXXX school district at the level needed to ensure our children can compete in a global economy. The school district needs our help!" And it goes on. Then you have the option of checking off how much you want to give ($250, $500, or other -- I'm not kdding, it's big bucks!) and if you'll be enclosing a check or a credit card number. AND the high school students will be telemarketing every night this week asking for donations!

Am I wrong to be flabbergasted by this?

Perhaps I am just out of the public education loop? My oldest goes to a private Christian school, and yes, they do a big fundraiser (an auction) every year. (At least you get a gourmet meal and a fun night out.) And I understand, it's my choice to give him a private education; I have to pay for his education and I have an obligation to support the school. Even so, the most the students have to do is sell cookies or wrapping paper or whatnot, not cold call!

Jesse receives special education through the district. Again, it's supposed to be a good district, but honestly I have not made up my mind yet if I am happy with the services he is receiving. My choices are limited, though, as he would not be able to function well in or benefit from the private pre-schools around here - they just don't have the services he needs.

Thanks for letting me vent. And please enlighten me if this is normal nowadays.

[Singlemom619]

Is it normal - no - but times are different.

Class sizes are increasing - next year we'll have 10 more kids in each class (middle school.)

Schools no longer provide basic supplies - I have purchased over 400 pencils this year... you think it's just pencils but it adds up. I also purchase prizes and incentives, paper, kleenex, card stock for different activities, games, flash cards, index cards, binders (because the kids can't always afford them), pens, the list goes on. I'm a single mom and a teacher and every year a huge chunk of my incomes goes to my classroom (and away from my own kids) in order to have a decent room.

I admit that I don't put in as much as I used to and therefore the classroom isn't as "amazing" as it was the first few years that I taught.

That's not to say that your district doesn't spend on stupid stuff - ours does all the time.

I'm also guessing that this cold calling means the school gets 100% whereas with the wrapping paper and other silly things the school only gets 50% and typically those are PTA fundraisers and the PTA decides what the money goes to (field trips, grants for teachers to buy games, ect.)

[DPline]

Well, that is a new one to me. Our PTA and individual schools do fundraise throughout the year. But not the school district as a whole.

But I can tell you that with three children in public school (one in fourth grade, one in Young 5's, and one in 4 year old preschool) our tax dollars don't even begin to cover the schools basic needs any more. It is only going to get worse in my district in the coming years and from taking with my BIL and two SILs who are teachers in different districts it is a sad fact everywhere, at least in my state.

We live in a good school district but each year class sizes get bigger (32 in my son's 4th grade class), parents need to provide more basic supplies, and specials (art, gym, music, etc.) are decreased because there is just no money.

[Happywife]

It's absolutely frightening how much school districts have to cut from their budgets. In our state, they are cutting billions from the state education budget. Schools are really in a crunch. Teachers are expected to do more with less resources. The expectations keep getting higher and higher (thanks to No Child Left Behind) and there simply aren't the resources. Our state doesn't have a teacher's union, so teacher salaries are frozen (no cost of living raise, even). Teachers are spread thin, as schools cut back to only the "necessary" staff. Fine Arts is getting lost in the shuffle, as that's the first thing a district will cut. Same goes with advanced placement classes, foreign language, and other courses. Students are asked to give more in fees for class books, music classes, and sports. Yes, public school is public, but there is just no way that schools can continue to provide everything needed with the current budget cuts. It's really quite scary.

[amyfk]

I dont have any kids in the public school system yet, but that is new on me. I dont know what goes on in the public schools but we pay very high property taxes here in our town in NJ.
Amy K NJ

[DeeVee]

Originally Posted by Singlemom619

Is it normal - no - but times are different.

Schools no longer provide basic supplies - I have purchased over 400 pencils this year... you think it's just pencils but it adds up. I also purchase prizes and incentives, paper, kleenex, card stock for different activities, games, flash cards, index cards, binders (because the kids can't always afford them), pens, the list goes on. I'm a single mom and a teacher and every year a huge chunk of my incomes goes to my classroom (and away from my own kids) in order to have a decent room.

I understand about providing pencils, kleenex, clorox wipes, crayons, etc. Both the public schools and the private schools around here all have lists they give out several weeks before school starts and the parents all go out and get what we need to. I really hate to see the teachers have to buy all that stuff o their fairly small salaries.

This fundraiser is for big-ticket stuff though. They are talking about improving the science curriculum, among other things. So we're talking lab equipment, etc etc. And the class sizes are getting bigger. And taxes are not low here. I'm just amazed at the differences district-to-district and state-to-state. We moved here from a state that doesn't have the greatest education reputation, and yet our public schools were gorgeous, our taxes were not outrageous, test scores in our distict were good, many kids went on to 4-year colleges, and the teachers had quite a bit of money to spend on their classrooms (I only know because a friend of mine taught in the district). Here, the school district supposedly has a great reputation, and yet the buildings are falling apart -- Jesse's classes are all held in portables that look like they have been planted there for years. And our taxes are MUCH higher.

Interested to read some more responses.

[mommytoEli]

i don't know that it is a whole lot different than what happens in tn....after i sent school supplies, the teacher donation, participated in the fundraisers, and sent in weekly requested supplies, stocked the shelves with books, and sent in other items, i easily spent $500 this year before pulling my son out. not to say that what is happening in your district is ok. i think it is even tackier than requesting supplies, but i hate them both. i really can not imagine a family, ESPECIALLY in this economy, just writing a check for 500 bucks. as it is, my dh said that many people this year did not even send in the school supplies they request here. i spent a TON of money for my son's schooling this year, but i think the difference was i knew that what i sent in went to MY son's class....not a black whole at the district where they'd use the funds for something that maybe didn't benefit my kid directly. i don't mind contributing, but i really need to know that what i contribute helps my child.

[DPline]

But that is the thing Dee. There is not only no money for basic supplies (paper, pencils, etc.) but also not any money for building maintenance, lab equipment, and updated books and curriculums. At least where I live.

[DeeVee]

Originally Posted by DPline

But that is the thing Dee. There is not only no money for basic supplies (paper, pencils, etc.) but also not any money for building maintenance, lab equipment, and updated books and curriculums. At least where I live.

Well, my eyes are certainly being opened by all this. And Debbie, 32 kids in your son's 4th grade class?! Wow. How do the teachers do it?

A columnist in the paper today wrote about how throwing money at the "education problem" isn't going to fix it. Maybe so, but we sure can't do without the money either.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by DeeVee

And Debbie, 32 kids in your son's 4th grade class?! Wow. How do the teachers do it?

LOL! I am the room mom so I have been in the room for 3 parties so far in addition to coming in on occasion to talk to the teacher for planning, etc. and I have NO idea how his teacher does it! An hour in that room even on a non-party day and I feel the need to lie down!

There are currently 28 kids in the kindergarten classes. That scares the crud out of me for Lauren and Daniel next year.

Originally Posted by DeeVee

A columnist in the paper today wrote about how throwing money at the "education problem" isn't going to fix it. Maybe so, but we sure can't do without the money either.

Amen! No, money doesn't solve everything, but as you said, you can't do it without money either.

[Singlemom619]

Originally Posted by DeeVee

Well, my eyes are certainly being opened by all this. And Debbie, 32 kids in your son's 4th grade class?! Wow. How do the teachers do it?

A columnist in the paper today wrote about how throwing money at the "education problem" isn't going to fix it. Maybe so, but we sure can't do without the money either.

When I taught in CA my last year... I had a combination class (5th and 6th) and was told that since I had 2 grade levels to teach I'd have the smallest class out of the other 6th grade classes...

I had 32-34 kids throughout the year - and I was NOT the smallest class EVER during that school year - I was always the largest.

That was elementary school and my son was in a 2nd grade class and I believe he had 29 in his class.

Where I teach now - middle school - the 7-8th grade classes have 27-25 kids per class and the 6th grade had 12-18.... They kept the 6th grade low since they were just transitioning into middle and because their test scores dropped drastically from elementary school - the tests change that year...

Next year the 6th grade will have 18-28 kids per class.

(And when I mentioned the things I bought - don't forget that I have kids and I too am expected to send in all those supplies to my son's class AND I didn't mention big ticket items that I bought/buy.... I bought complete classroom supplies for my son and for two boys that I drive to the same school that go to my younger son's daycare before and after school... (markers, white board markers, graph paper, binders, pencil pouches, the list goes on...) Plus a 60 dollar pencil sharpener for my classes, 100 dollars worth of these business card things you can print on to make flash cards and game cards.... This year I didn't purchase as much as I normally do.

[MamaS]

Originally Posted by DPline

There is not only no money for basic supplies (paper, pencils, etc.) but also not any money for building maintenance, lab equipment, and updated books and curriculum.

I worked 30 years in public school and kept all 3 of my children in private school. My grandson is in a K-5 class with 11 students. He gets weekly music, art, computer, library and religious instruction. The public school he would attend has 25 per class. They have no art, no music, computer labs with no instructor, and no access to library because there are not enough books for the older students.

The teachers were "asked" to give up their planning time to clean their own classrooms because the maintainance staff was cut and they can only do the main halls and cafeteria.

In one county the teachers were asked to "give back" their cost of living raises so that some of the teacher aides and maintainance people could keep their jobs.
However, that request was declared illegal by the courts.

It will get worse before it gets better. Kids don't vote and the children of congressmen and senators don't go to public schools.

[keirasmom]

In our neighboring district they are trying to have parents pay for their children to participate in school sports in order to lessen the burden the district is facing. It's going to be a huge controversy.

I'm for it. While children learn lots from participating in team sports and other after school activities, I'd rather the district focus on providing quality education and services during the regular school day.

I'm also teaching in public school, but have my daughter in a charter school (k-12) because it's just better in so many ways....her charter school gets public funding and their class sizes are capped at 25 kids, they have lots of activities for the kids during and after school, and excellent performance scores on state testing.

What don't they have? A large athletic department

[crick]

I've not been asked anything like this DeeVee. I know they have made budget cuts but they've not asked people to pay more money than we already do. My kids' schools have asked for more supplies (copier paper, cleaning supplies, etc.) but nothing from the district itself.

Keirasmom - Our middle & highschools have required fees for athletics for decades, so I'm surprised to hear that some schools don't do that! Our elementary schools do not have team sports so we don't have that cost.

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by crick

Keirasmom - Our middle & highschools have required fees for athletics for decades, so I'm surprised to hear that some schools don't do that! Our elementary schools do not have team sports so we don't have that cost.

where we live now, it is required as well. i just paid all my son's fees for his sport. the thing that killed me was, i had to pay a fee for him to participate, but that didn't include transportation. how will my son get to all his events you ask? i must DRIVE HIM!!! lol...man, if i had known that, i would not have encouraged him to try out!