Comments about ‘Schools worry about budget cuts’

If we are going to cut teacher pay (shich is what cutting the school year REALLY is), I have a suggestion. We could cut days from the school year without cutting class instruction and teacher prep time. How?

Cut parent-teacher conferences. In most districts, four are scheduled throughout the year, for which teachers receive two days of pay. This does trim teacher salaries, which is not a good thing, but it ends a largely ineffective program that was developed when many parents and teachers didn't have access to a phone, much less e-mail or text messages. Some districts around the country have stopped the practice, with no appreciable ill effects. And most teachers despise the PT conferences for being such an unproductive use of time and tax dollars.

Cutting off the last few days of school, because they are not as educationally productive, is like cutting off the end of a rope, you will just create a new unproductive end.

Of the supposed 85% spent on teachers, how much is actually for bloated administrations that don't contribute to the classroom experience.

Good thought Mark. However in my school parent teacher conferences are held after school hours so as not to disrupt learning. Maybe some schools are different-I don't know. And email and text messages are great if the community in which you teach has access to computers (many of the parents where I teach don't) as well as working phone numbers (again, a challenge in a very low income area). Thanks for your input, though!

I am thankful I am an educator in Utah.

There are many citizens who have lost their jobs who make sacrifices everyday.

I am ready to sacrifice whatever the elected representatives of this state deem necessary in order to balance our budget.

I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE.

their salaries should get a trimming down too. I think that would be more than fair...

in the case of NOT ALONE, it's easy to forget about the littler guys. My mother is a music teacher in a Utah County elementary school. If the budgets are cut any higher than that 7.5 percent, she will lose her jobs. When money gets tight, schools are forced to get rid of their specialty teachers which make school worth while. It will be especially hard on our family if the budget is cut because my mom's "secure" teaching job after 15 years at the same school will have nothing.

To Not Alone: Before you give away what little you have, remember that Utah is at the bottom of the nation in per-pupil spending. That didn't improve when Utah was flush with cash a few years back, but now, when money is tight, it's one of the first places they look to cut. I find it strange that Utah places such a low value on it's schools. The LDS Church promotes education, but it frequently seems, in practice, that the GOP ideology is more important than religion to the citizens of the Beehive state.

The Utah education system is already the leanest in the nation. We spend less per child than any other state, with large class sizes, few teachers, few administrators, few support staff, etc. Obviously it will get leaner by cutting bone and muscle (no fat to cut). Service to students will be reduced with any cut. For the sake of the children, I hope that cuts will be shallow and short, not deep and long.

I am a teacher and I currently have a classroom with 28 desks yet my smallest class is 31 students. I have one class that is 35. Utah already treats our teachers poorly and now they are going to make it worse. I love Utah but I am already sending application to Wyoming and Nevada.

Why isn't anyone talking about why this shortfall in revenues is as large as it is?
Our economy has not gone done 15% in the last year. Unemployment is not up more than even 1 point in the last year.
The only thing that has changed dramatically since last year is tax cuts.
Our state Legislators in their desire to give tax cuts at all costs have screwed us.

Now they are concerned about balancing a budget that they have slashed to pieces.
My local representative told me they vote on the dollar amount first and then figure out what to fund. Doesn't that sound backwards in times like these? Why not figure out how much we need to spend to save basic services and not slash and burn every agency and dept. and then set a dollar amount and adjust taxes according to our basic needs?
Utah's Health care and education are already given sub par spending and now it will be worse.
I hope Huntsman stands up to the Crooks on the Hill.

The 85 percent salary issue is correct. In Grantie District administrative costs are less than 5 percent of the total salary budget, and district office administraters about .5 percent of that. Utah is last in the nation in expenditures per student -- the national national average is $174; Utah $60. So stop bleating about high administrative costs -- and no, I am not a school administrator.

What is that the Lousyslature has against providing a high quality education to our Children?

If they need to reduce spending they can suspend giving sweetheart deals to lobbyist, friends, special interests and campaign contributors. Spread the cuts throughout all departments. Even the legislature!

I don't think people are railing on administrative costs. What they are saying is that there are some ineffective administrators in education, why not get rid of them. Additionally, many of them that perform poorly are simply moved to another school or district position and are allowed to coast at a very large salary until retirement.

Most want to get rid of the "bad teachers" well it should go both ways but never does. It is a definite double standard.

Furthermore, teachers are leaving the profession in Utah because of continual loss of funding year in and year out.

It is interesting that so far none of the comments so far mention cutting the most wasteful "educational" expense: Interschool Sports. Thousands of dollars could be saved if money spent on these activities which have absoultely nothing to do with education was put into reducing classroom size, purchasing new textbooks or supplies, etc. If interschool sports were eliminated state wide it would send a message that Utah is really interested in improving education even in tight budget times. Now is the time to send that message.

RE: Jess | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 21, 2009

High school is a time to make friends, get good grades, participate in activities and prepare for the future. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, some schools have opted out of high school sports, believing that money would be better spent on academics. I understand that academics come first, but sacrificing high school sports lessens every child's high school experience, their ability to perform at optimum academic levels and develop into a well-rounded adult.

What many administrators, teachers and parents fail to realize is that high school sports offer teenagers an outlet. Participating in high school sports is important for motor skill development, maintaining a healthy exercise program and provides for a release of anger when the academic stressors become overwhelming. When youth participate in high school sports they release endorphins which helps decrease depression and increases energy. Most high schools, if not all, require at least a C average to participate in these sports, which provides the child with accountability.

Let's get rid of all P.E while were at it.

Honestly, people should think before they post such ridiculous points of view.

I think that the legislature needs to take a real good look at the programs that need to be paid for with education being at the top of the list. Then charge the citizens of Utah the appropriate amount of taxes to cover these expenses. I do not have a problem paying my taxes as long as they are being spent wisely and I can think of nothing that is more important than educating our children.

Please, please, please use some of the rainy day fund and some bonding on roads, etc. to lessen the impact of the cuts on schools! 7.5% and 15% are way too high. These types of cuts will hurt for years to come. Realistically, we should be looking at 4.5% and 9% max.

Midwest Member writes:

"I find it strange that Utah places such a low value on it's schools"

To which I reply:

What on earth are you talking about? Fully 40% of Utah's budget goes to K-12 education. That's a higher percentage than any other state in the Mountain West, and also significantly higher than California. Combine taxes and fees, and Utahns wind up contributing more of their income to the State than residents of virtually any other state in the Union.

The simple truth is, the money isn't there to give these kids the education they deserve.

Thanks for letting everyone know that administrative salaries in Utah are the lowest in the nation. They may seem high to teachers because administrators work 12-month And yes, I am administrator.

Roll back tax cuts for the rich and cut the number of total deductions to 5 max. end of budget shortfall and you will have money left over to keep public safty staff and education staff and pay for their insurance. Why does the Legislature only look at one way, cut, cut, cut? They say how well run and bare bones we already run things in utah. If that is the case, you can't cut anymore and provide for the children and citizens of the state.