Wednesday, school officials put in place new policies they estimate will turn that $400,000 deficit into a $1.5 million surplus. And it’s all because of the very provisions that union leaders predicted would be disastrous.

…

But wait, there’s more: With those savings, the school district plans to hire more teachers!

If Gov. Pawlenty did this in Minnesota when he “took on the unions and won”, he needs to ‘splain this in his ads.

This is how you win people over to these reforms–show results, like more young teachers being hired, smaller class sizes, better education. And who knows, if this school district runs a surplus, they might even lower property taxes!

And we look at this as a victory?
Just balancing our budgets?
We are sad.
faraway on July 5, 2011 at 6:40 PM

faraway – that’s correct – it IS a victory. Spending unwisely is immoral – it leaves us with less resources to help those that need it. In fact, re-read this post and you’ll see that the savings is allowing them to hire more teachers. So, kids are going to get more because they are spending wisely and balancing the budget.

Fellow Conservatives are too busy attacking teachers to really be concerned with the fact that American families have steadily been disintegrating and that school is the last thing on the list of priorities for many of these kids.

Get rid of the thugs/juvenile delinquents and those who don’t want to be there and who are old enough to work and these public schools will naturally improve. It is not fair to compare those students whose parents bring them up with goals, morals, and expectations and send them off to private schools with the vast majority that are a captive audience brought into this world by parents who themselves have little use for education.

Why is ‘class size’ the golden calf for the progs? At one time American K-12 schools performed very well, and class sizes didn’t seem to be a problem.

slickwillie2001 on July 5, 2011 at 7:50 PM

Yeah, and at one time the entire K-12 class was about thirty students total or less. These days teachers could be seeing that many kids in a single hour.

The long and short of it is that it gets exponentially harder to teach as you get “farther from a group and closer to a crowd” as one teacher put it. It’s harder to keep order and answer questions the more students you’re trying to teach.

The school has one employee for every 10 students and they are hiring more teachers to decrease the classrooms to 26 students. Who are all these other employees?

Rose on July 5, 2011 at 6:47 PM

I attend my church’s school from K-6th grade. It was the BEST elementary school in my home town and there was a waiting list to get in (church members had priority). About 25 kids per class. We had a principal, her secretary, 7 teachers, 1 nurse, 2 custodians and 1 bus driver for a total of 13 adult employees for 175 or so children.

Why is ‘class size’ the golden calf for the progs? At one time American K-12 schools performed very well, and class sizes didn’t seem to be a problem.

But wait, there’s more: With those savings, the school district plans to hire more teachers!

Yet, the foolish NEA is supporting Obama for re-election.

Schadenfreude on July 5, 2011 at 7:14 PM

Maybe just trying to get it out there before the Union Members and Teachers realize that Walker actually helped them out and the NEA and Unions hurt them long term.

Limits on collective bargaining will also lead to smaller class sizes, a boon for students.

Sorry, “smaller class sizes = better grades” is a liberal myth.

But wait, there’s more: With those savings, the school district plans to hire more teachers!

Yet, the foolish NEA is supporting Obama for re-election.

This was one of the under-reported issues in the debate, but one the union was very upset at losing. Heh.

nurses, counselors, psychologists . . .

Who are all these other employees?

Rose

Principals, vice-Principals, multiple secretaries to both of these positions, janitors, lawyers, gardeners, crossing guards, school bus drivers, etc., etc.

But isn’t the point to save money? I’m sorry but I am a bit unclear. I thought the budget was being busted by overspending…

Blaise on July 5, 2011 at 6:42 PM

That’s the state budget.

…and the NEA today announced their support and backing for Obama for President, without knowing if there is any other choice.

They aren’t even trying to hide it anymore…

right2bright on July 5, 2011 at 6:42 PM

They’re having a bad day today, what with that Atlanta school cheating scandal…

And we look at this as a victory?

faraway on July 5, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Yes, in Wisconsin? This is most definitely a victory.

But wait, there’s more: With those savings, the school district plans to hire more teachers!

But isn’t the point to save money? I’m sorry but I am a bit unclear. I thought the budget was being busted by overspending…isn’t the idea to save money and cut spending rather than redirecting it? Shouldn’t that $1.2 million be saved and applied to deficits or to next year’s budget?