Funding Woes Coincide with Increased Accountability for Schools May 20, 2008
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It is disheartening when the teachers in Loudon County who are making great strides towards achieving No Child Left Behind (unfunded) mandates must beg for a 2% pay raise. On top of this, one of our great resources and motivators, Secondary Supervisor, Dr. Ramona Best, has now accepted a position with Maryville City Schools. While we continue to bicker over the budget, other counties are taking notice and hiring away some of our best educators. It is a sad time to be a teacher in Loudon County.
This is the headline story on MSNBC May 20
WASHINGTON - Pink slips for principals and teachers. School-funded tutoring for poor kids. Schools are increasingly looking at those kind of consequences for failing to raise math and reading scores.
The federal No Child Left Behind law says that by the 2013-14 school year all students must pass state tests in these subjects.
About half of the states have steady annual goals for increasing the percentage of students passing, or working at their proper grade level. But the other half set the bar very low early on, and starting about now expect big annual achievement gains, according to a report being released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Center on Education Policy.
Educators liken the latter strategy to a balloon payment mortgage, in which home owners have a final payment that is much larger than previous ones.
It’s unlikely that states that took that approach can make the kind of gains expected, said Jack Jennings, the center’s president.
Schools face consequences
Schools that don’t hit testing benchmarks for two years in a row or longer must do things like provide tutoring, transport kids to better-performing schools or replace staff thought to be a part of a school’s problems.
Nearly 11,000 schools, or a little more than 10 percent of all public schools — from elementary to high school — have missed their state-set progress goals and are taking corrective steps, according to the Education Department.
That number has been rising slowly and is expected to grow at a faster clip over the next few years.
Ellen Forte, who consults with states on education issues, said she worries that states and school districts are going to have trouble finding the money and personnel to make the required changes. School budgets nationwide are facing cuts because of the downturn in the economy.
“We’re going to tap out the resources states have to serve schools, especially if we’re identifying so many,” Forte said.
Ohio is among the states that set very incremental gains early on but now is hoping for big increases in the percent of students passing the tests.
Mitchell Chester, Ohio’s former senior associate superintendent who is now Massachusetts’ education commissioner, explained what officials there were thinking when they set about complying with the 2002 federal education law.
“Our best hypothesis at the time was that it would take Ohio schools a while to adjust their approach to instruction and improve curriculum,” he said. “That was the reason we adopted an approach that looked for more incremental progress in the early years of the 12-year trajectory and steeper progress in the later years.”
Goal seen as unrealistic
Chester said he worries that the pressure states face to get all kids passing the tests by 2013-14 is keeping state education officials from making those tests harder.
“I think that the 100-percent proficiency target actually becomes a disincentive for states to raise academic standards,” he said.
Jennings said many state officials saw the 2013-14 goal as unrealistic and likely to be changed, so they just put off the law’s effects.
Efforts to revise the No Child Left Behind failed in Congress this year, and the 2013-14 goal remains in place. That means, eventually, that even states that expect schools to make gradual gains will find a lot of schools falling short of the 100-percent mark in six years, Jennings said.
However, he added that scores are up on state tests across the country, and having an end goal is probably part of the reason. “Unless you have a deadline, people put things off so there is some purpose in having a goal,” Jennings said.
But it should be more realistic, says Michael Petrilli, vice president at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a Washington-based education think tank.
“To say 100 percent is just silly, and it creates frustration in the education system. Educators look at that goal and say, ‘These people must be kidding,”’ Petrilli said.
Parents want results now
Even if educators have that view, parents don’t, says Kerri Briggs, the Education Department’s assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education.
“They would like their kids to be on grade level now and not 50 years from now, not 20 years from now, but this year,” Briggs said.
Briggs also noted that the law had reasonable exceptions.
For example, the reading scores of newly arrived immigrants don’t count. Schools also are allowed to exclude test scores when a racial group is too small to be statistically significant, and when students’ privacy could be jeopardized. In addition, students with disabilities may be given easier tests than those given to other students.
There is one other way schools can avoid the penalties associated with missing benchmarks under No Child Left Behind: If schools miss annual testing goals but show they have reduced the number of kids failing by 10 percent from the previous year, they can avoid penalties. They also must make progress in another area, often attendance.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24713807/
Letter to Parents from School Board Chairman May 16, 2008
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Comparison of Education Spending Per Pupil in Loudon County versus Surrounding Counties
Teachers, Staff Members, Parents and Concerned Citizens:
The Loudon County School System is facing a tough budget this year and could be facing major budget cuts. The school board is waiting to see what state funding we will receive before we can make any decisions on the budget.
Many of you may not know how the budget process works. County Commission is the funding body, not the school board. No matter what the school board believes is needed County Commission controls the money. If Commission does not give us the funding, we cannot fund the budget. With that being said, I am asking for your help.
Please contact the County Commission, County Mayor and the School Board to let them know how you feel. Tell them your concerns. The school board does not want to make these drastic cuts but without funding, we will have to do so. We know, as a board, if this happens, we will crush morale and set our school system back ten years. I do not believe this will be good for our system, our children or our employees. Education must become more important in Loudon County.
Thank you,
Bobby Johnson, Jr., Chairman
Loudon County School Board
Scheduled MeetingsCounty Commission Workshop May 19th
6:00 p.m. County Office Building (at this time) - location may change -
County Commission Regular Meeting June 2nd 6:00 p.m. Courthouse Annex
Loudon County Board of Education June 12th 7:00 p.m.
PTO Letter to Eaton Parents May 16, 2008
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Comparison of County Budget Growth versus School Budget Growth
TO: ALL PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION IN LOUDON COUNTY
FM: PTO
As you may have heard, our Loudon County school system is facing a pretty serious budget crisis. Our school board members have been asked by County Commission to cut the budgets substantially. It is EXTREMELY important that you let our school board members, county commissioners, and Mayor Arp know how you feel before final decisions are made. Below are just some of the things that will happen if these budget cuts are mandated:
*No pay increases for teachers *Loss of technology positions
*Loss of technology funds increase *Loss of some special classes (music/visual arts)
*Reduction in maintenance funds *Loss of school nurse positions
*Loss of police officers on campus *No new social studies books for new curriculum
*Loss of some classroom teachers causing increased class sizes
This is not a scare tactic! This is real! If you are concerned about education in our county, you must speak up. Loudon County spends less per student than any other county in our area, $649 less per student than the state average, and $424 less per student than our very own Lenoir City Schools! It’s time to make some changes and give our kids the tools they need to excel. Please contact our school board, county commissioners, and Mayor Arp via email or phone to let them know your opinions. Urge our elected County Commissioners to support education in Loudon County with the funds we need to build a quality education for our children. Make your opinions heard and your vote count.
There is also a very important County Commission workshop meeting currently scheduled to meet in the County Office Building (100 River Road in Loudon) this Monday, May 19, at 6pm. Attendance at this meeting will help show our support for education. Go to www.loudoncounty-tn.gov for more information.
County Commissioners: County Executive Office 865-458-4664
Nancy Marcus – kens300@aol.com
David Meers – dmeers2414@charter.net
Harold Duff – superhbd@aol.com
Shirley Reno – s_reno@bellsouth.net
Chris Park – cwpark@cvs.com
Earlena Maples – emaples@lcub1.com
Wayne Gardin – wgardin@aol.com
Bob Franke – rdfranke@msn.com
Don Miller – tvdrmiller@aol.com
Roy Bledsoe
Mayor Doyle Arp – darp@loudoncounty-tn.gov
School Board: Central Office 865-458-5411
Nancy Paule – nancypaule001@charter.net
Bill Marcus – marcusb@loudoncounty.org
Scott Newman – slenewman@charter.net
Larry Bass – lbass10074@aol.com
Leroy Tate – Leroy.Tate@TateandLyle.com
June Klinstiver – klinstiverj@loudoncounty.org
Steve Harrelson – harrelsons@loudoncounty.org
Freddie Walker – fgwalder@loudoncounty.org
Bobby Johnson Jr. – johnsonb@loudoncounty.org
Larry Proaps – proapsl@loudoncounty.org
News-Herald Editorial — Getting Ready for a Tax Hike May 13, 2008
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Comparison of School Report Card Information Interesting Loudon County Demographic Data
This editorial appeared in the Loudon County News-Herald on May 11, 2008.
Most people have been proud to point out Loudon County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. It proves we’re progressive to have business, industry, and new residents to locate here.
We have maintained a low unemployment rate and although construction on new homes fluctuates; it remains constant. Officials like to brag about our growth and the fact so many business leaders, retirees and young families are drawn to the beauty of our county and the many benefits life in this areas offers.
Most people are also proud to point out Loudon County has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state. Landowners are required to pay less than $2 for every $100 worth of taxable property within our county borders.
Low taxes have been a drawing card for many of the new businesses and residents who contribute to our growth rate. Those of us who have lived here a long time also reap the rewards of living in a thriving area without having to feel too much pain at tax paying time.
We’ve ridden on the coat tails of growth until that financial cloth is ragged. The cost associated with providing services to our growing population has outpaced the new revenue it generates.
We’ve seen the writing on the wall for more than a year now. Loudon County property owners will undoubtedly face a tax increase this year.
Members of the Loudon County Commission serving on the budget committee decided to recommend a 7-cent tax hike this year. That would move our $1.84 tax rate up to $1.91 for every $100 worth of taxable property, still below the $2 mark many other counties have surpassed.
According to the Loudon County Economic Development Agency, our county boasts the third lowest property tax rate in the East Tennessee region. The only county close to us with a tax rate below $2 is McMinn, which charges its property owners $1.90 for every $100 worth of taxable property. Rates in other nearby counties are: Monroe, $2.03; Blount, $2.23; Roan, $2.63; Knox, $2.69; and Anderson, $2.82.
Even with this proposed Loudon County tax increase, county school officials are still struggling to cut millions of dollars off their annual budget proposal to meet limits imposed by commissioners.
From our observances, these cuts aren’t all fluff. They involve reducing annual pay raises for teachers, many of whom have settled for lower salaries than their peers in other counties. They involve a reduced number of new positions education officials deem necessary to meet the needs of the growing student population.
There has even been talk of slashing the plan to purchase new social studies textbooks in order to meet the proposed bare bones budget figure.
In their efforts to make the multi-million dollar cuts asked of them, our elected school board members have offered to eliminate their own monthly pay for serving on the board. That’s a noble move county commissioners should also consider if budget cuts mean local students won’t get the books they need for a proper education.
Since commissioners appear to have already resigned themselves to a tax increase this year, why can’t they make the increase adequate to meet the needs of the school system? We certainly don’t expect commissioners to write a blank check for school needs, but we don’t expect them to allow students to suffer from budgetary constraints, either.
We’ve seen evidence of many of the same school needs county school board members have cited. We’re convinced school needs are very real and numerous, too.
Now it’s up to county commission to provide adequate funding for the 2008-2009 school year.
We fear the 7-cent tax hike proposal won’t be enough to meet school needs unless commission makes cuts elsewhere to take up the budgetary slack.
As we have pointed out before, commissioners have been given a clear picture of many of the problems faced by the county school system. It’s time for commission to step up to the plate and provide the funding to fix them.
Teacher Appreciation Week May 5, 2008
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It is Teacher Appreciation Week May 5-9, and students and parents throughout Loudon County are sending in treats and notes of thanks to local educators. It is ironic this week falls at the very time County Commission is asking the Loudon County Board of Education to trim some $3.4 million from the school budget. It is almost certain that our teachers will not receive any sort of pay raise this year. From comments and faces at a recent budget meeting, it is obvious our teachers do not believe they are appreciated.
There has been talk that there are too many teachers in our schools. I challenge anyone who believes that to come spend a day with us. Just try to find one person in a school not working hard each and every day. Unfunded federal legislation (No Child Left Behind) demands that local school systems show equal academic gains among all subgroups of their student populations. This is a lofty goal and well-intended. No one in this profession wants to short change a child when it comes to education. With little federal monies forthcoming, this lofty goal has placed an enormous economic burden at the local level. School systems across the country are wrestling with the same issues as Loudon County, but many of these systems have a “leg up” because they have been incrementally increasing the school funding stream over an extended period of time. Not so in Loudon County.
It is quite depressing to those of us who spend 10-12 hours every day in our schools to hear some local pundits and politicians say we are overstaffed and undeserving of the money needed to run our school system. Yes, every budget has room to trim, and each year we do this. That is why most schools do not have art and music, why air conditioning systems have been put on hold, and why all student subgroups are not performing at the same levels. We have cut our budget. Can the same be said for the County?
For those of you interested, take a comparative look at per pupil expenditures across East Tennessee. Loudon County spends $7,145/per student in a state where the average is $7,794. Remember, that the state average ranks in the bottom 10% of funding on a national level. Lenoir City spends $7,569, Blount County $7,336, Anderson County $7,724, Monroe County $7,246, Roane County $7,578, Sevier County $7,787, and Knox County $7,732. Even Hancock County spends $8,599 on students! We would be thrilled to just receive the average per pupil expenditures! How about this — can we just have funding equal to Lenoir City?
As a Loudon County resident, I sympathize at the thought of higher property taxes; however, I also know we have had it much better than the majority of Tennesseans over the past several years. It is time for us to pay our fair share. Our educators are working long hours and getting remarkable results. Based on test scores (www.education-consumers.org) Eaton is ranked 17th in the state and Highland Park is 32nd. Taxpayers and students are getting A+ results for D funding.
Our students are our greatest resource. Our teachers help our students develop into responsible, learned citizens. We need to show both groups we recognize their value and adequately fund our school system.
Importance of the Arts to Public School Education April 11, 2008
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Is it really important to offer art and music in the public schools? That question was answered with a resounding “YES” by North Middle School students who presented at the April Loudon County School Board meeting. Mrs. Rebecca Aronowitz and her art students presented a video depicting art projects tied to academic themes. All eight students mentioned that art is one class where they can be creative and truly let their imaginations soar.
I had the opportunity to attend the National Elementary School Principals Association national conference in Nashville April 4-7. One of the keynote speakers, Daniel Pink who authored A Whole New Mind, expounds on the theory that the world economy is moving from the Information Age to a new Conceptual Age. We are moving from a society that rewards pure knowledge to one that requires knowledge in addition to creative right-brain thinking. He told the story of the GM CEO addressing shareholders and leading with this statement — “We are in the design business.” Not the car business, not the engineering business — the DESIGN BUSINESS.
What better way for students to develop and hone their inate creativity than through art and music classes? We are fortunate at Eaton to have wonderful art and music teachers. They take classrroom content and weave strands of art and music. These teachers have the ability to bring out the best in even our most reluctant classroom learners.
Eaton qualifies for art and music teachers because of our size. This begs the question — don’t all students deserve a chance to showcase their creativity through art and music no matter the size of the school? I’m interested to hear parent comments on this issue.
Principal’s Night In March 7, 2008
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Mrs. Malone’s April Principal’s Night In focused on achievement tests and the implications for students. You can check out this presention by clicking on the PowerPoint slideshow on the Eaton web site at www.eatonschool.org. Comments and questions about TCAP testing are welcome.
It’s Almost TCAP Time in Tennessee! March 7, 2008
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Some of you may have April 15th marked on your calendars for the tax implications. Educators have that date marked because it signals the beginning of Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). Several of you indicated on a recent parent survey that were unsure about this testing program. What does it mean for your children and the school? Why do schools place so much emphasis on testing. The reason is — It’s the law!
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation enacted in 2002 changed the face of education. Despite a lack of federal funding, this law requires states to establish stringent curriculum standards for reading/language, math, science, and social studies to be tested annually. The goal of NCLB is that all students are academically proficient in these subjects by 2014. School districts are measured on their ability to move toward that goal by showing each year a greater percentage of its students meet proficiency standards. Each state must use the same standards for all school districts, and all public school students are required to take the annual tests. Yearly state report cards will separate achievement data into subgroups. Consequently, each subgroup must show the same gains as required for groups as a whole. For instance, students who are economically disadvantaged must make the same gains as their non-economically disadvantaged peers. This holds true for different genders, ethnicity, English langauge learners, and special education students.
NCLB requires states to establish stringent annual improvements for each school. This measurement is called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). AYP is determined by each state, and again, all subgroups must reach these expectations.
Schools who fail to make AYP for two or more consecutive years in the same subject or subgroup face consequences which include school choice, supplemental educational services (to be paid for at the local level), and restructuring.
To meet AYP 95% of all students must take TCAP, students in all subgroups must show proficiency in math, reading/language, science, and social studies, and the school must maintain a 93% attendance rate (thus the new emphasis on attendance and the increase in truancy referrals).
Here at Eaton we test all students in grades 1-4; however, for state report card purposes, only the results from grades 3-4 are used. The state uses two different types of tests depending on the grade level of the child.
Students in grades 1-2 take what is called a “Norm Referenced Test” (NRT). This instrument gives a comparison of student performance in five content areas agains a national norm group. The expectation is that the average score for a school or school system will be at the national average.
Students in grades 3-8 take “Criterion Referenced Tests” (CRT). CRTs measure an individual student’s performance against a predetermined set of standards which are established based on the curriculum. The state determines “cut scores” that put children into three different groups — advanced, proficient, or not proficient.
How has NCLB changed education and what does it mean for Eaton and my child? Having been in this business for 17 years, I think the greatest change is that the state curriculum standards absolutely drive all instruction. Teachers no longer have the time or freedom to teach topics that fall outside the grade level curriculum. Time also becomes a factor because of the sheer number of the curriculum standards required for each grade level. Curriculum continues to get tougher at each grade level with more expected at a younger age. Data analysis now drives School Improvement Planning as we look at all subgroups to make sure all our students are making the same gains. We have had to “toughen up” on absenteeism and there has been an increase in truacy referrals due to the 93% attendance rule of NCLB. Even if a school meets all academic benchmarks but fails to reach attendance rate, they do not make AYP.
If you are not dizzy from all this information, I would be happy to answer any questions or clear up any misunderstandings. Just post a comment.
Eaton Technology Fair February 20, 2008
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2008 Technology FairThis year we are hosting our fifth annual Technology Fair for students. We encourage parent feedback to help us tweek the categories and produce a fair that best benefits student learning. Any ideas? Projects are due by 9:00 AM Tuesday, February 26. Awards will be presented at the PTO Meeting, 7:00, February 28.
Promethean Board Initiative November 9, 2007
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Our teachers, through professional development opportunities, research, school visits, and actual trial demonstrations have become convinced that adding Active Board technology into all Eaton classrooms will help us engage our students and motivate them to learn content that can be quite difficult. We have infused technology into our teaching, but we continue to lag behind our students who are true “digital natives.” Learners today are accustomed to being entertained through interactive games, television, DVD videos, iPods, and computers. If we are to compete for their attention and add richness to the curriculum, we must embrace how they learn best. Perhaps you had the opportunity on Parent Conference night to witness a lesson on the Promethean Active Boards in Rooms 301 and 108. If you did, I’m sure you discovered what we have – this tool engages the learner and makes even the most unexciting curriculum content come to life. Thanks to your generosity through Rocket Romp, we have committed to buy seven Promethean Active Boards for Eaton classrooms. While this is exciting, that means 32 classrooms will have to wait to utilize this technology. Several staff members are busy writing technology grants, but the results are uncertain, and the wait is long. We have developed a four year plan to make our dream a reality, but we also know many of our students will be “across the road” at North Middle School by the time we have full implementation. This leads us to make an unusual request. As we approach the end of the year, we know individuals and businesses are looking ahead to tax time. Many find they lack the deductions to reduce this tax burden. If this is the case for you, we are seeking business and individual sponsors to outfit classrooms with the Promethean active boards. A donation to the school would result in a sponsorship plaque being placed outside the classroom door acknowledging the generous gift. In addition, we will write a letter certifying this donation for tax deduction purposes. We plan to make this sponsorship a year round event. While we will not sell items or conduct a true fundraiser, we will apply all school donations to this technology initiative. In cases where an entire class works together to obtain an active board, we will acknowledge this with a plaque stating the class of 2007-2008 made the donation. Through the Loudon County bid process, we can purchase a 78” Promethean Active Board, 25 active vote “clickers”, a LCD projector, unlimited teacher training, installation and 5 yr. warranty for right at $4,000/classroom. We realize this is expensive, and if we were not absolutely convinced of the merits of this tool, we would not be asking. If you have questions, need more information, or would like to see a demonstration, please contact the school at 986-2420. As always we appreciate the support you give us to help our Eaton Rockets Soar!
