Comments on: Stimulus and Schools http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:29:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Harry http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30725 Harry Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:54:57 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30725 The SAB in portable buildings?? Surely you jest, Trina... I just could'nt resist that one... Sorry!!! The SAB in portable buildings?? Surely you jest, Trina…

I just could’nt resist that one… Sorry!!!

]]> By: Trina http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30717 Trina Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:30:38 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30717 What about the portable buildings at the high school? Are they not now vacant? What about the portable buildings at the high school? Are they not now vacant?

]]> By: Netmom http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30715 Netmom Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:44:12 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30715 Harry, the rationale for that is that we have to move the administration out of the building in order to make the necessary renovations for the preschool. That doesn't necessarily mean a new admin building, but moving them somewhere just to get them out of the way. Harry, the rationale for that is that we have to move the administration out of the building in order to make the necessary renovations for the preschool. That doesn’t necessarily mean a new admin building, but moving them somewhere just to get them out of the way.

]]> By: Harry http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30714 Harry Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:35:21 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30714 The school board has indicated several times through the past years that improvement to the SAB facilities will be done before improvement to the preschool facilities. Go figure that one out. The school board has indicated several times through the past years that improvement to the SAB facilities will be done before improvement to the preschool facilities. Go figure that one out.

]]> By: Netmom http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30712 Netmom Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:43:39 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30712 There will be "pots" of money allocated for different things -- buildings, special ed, Title I, etc. Naturally, the funds in each grouping can only be spent for that purpose, so it's not a question of whether to spend on the preschool facility OR Title I, but what to do with the funds <i>within</i> each category. There will be “pots” of money allocated for different things — buildings, special ed, Title I, etc. Naturally, the funds in each grouping can only be spent for that purpose, so it’s not a question of whether to spend on the preschool facility OR Title I, but what to do with the funds within each category.

]]> By: Trina http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30711 Trina Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:12:54 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30711 I understood, at least at some point during the revisions of the bill, that some of the school-allocated funds were intended for building improvements. Given that a firm was paid to assess our facilities and those findings estimated needs approaching $50 million, it would make more sense to assign non-recurring dollars to these already-identified needs. No one knows how long the economy will remain in the tank - it took more than a couple of years to get into this mess and it will likely take more than a couple to get out of it. Keeping that in mind, basic needs would be best addressed first. Kids can’t attend school in buildings that are condemned. Would not the preschool (which primarily services economically-disadvantaged and special education students) be the best place to start? I understood, at least at some point during the revisions of the bill, that some of the school-allocated funds were intended for building improvements. Given that a firm was paid to assess our facilities and those findings estimated needs approaching $50 million, it would make more sense to assign non-recurring dollars to these already-identified needs. No one knows how long the economy will remain in the tank – it took more than a couple of years to get into this mess and it will likely take more than a couple to get out of it. Keeping that in mind, basic needs would be best addressed first. Kids can’t attend school in buildings that are condemned. Would not the preschool (which primarily services economically-disadvantaged and special education students) be the best place to start?

]]> By: Mike http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30702 Mike Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:17:14 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30702 The entire context of the Brooks story was not reported here. The context of the story centers on the conditions (not yet totally known) of how the funds can be used. In fact, it is not clear that personnel can even be paid for through the "stimulus" funds other than teachers in Title 1 programs or programs for "homeless" however that could still permit some teachers to be retained. It appears that funds may be available to install/enhance technology in schools which would be good and for building renovation but not for new construction. If the story is correct, it will not be up to Brooks and other representatives to decide how the funds are spent. From the story: "It is up to the state Department of Education to allocate the money to individual school districts." Just wanted to put the story in total context. The entire context of the Brooks story was not reported here. The context of the story centers on the conditions (not yet totally known) of how the funds can be used. In fact, it is not clear that personnel can even be paid for through the “stimulus” funds other than teachers in Title 1 programs or programs for “homeless” however that could still permit some teachers to be retained.

It appears that funds may be available to install/enhance technology in schools which would be good and for building renovation but not for new construction.

If the story is correct, it will not be up to Brooks and other representatives to decide how the funds are spent. From the story: “It is up to the state Department of Education to allocate the money to individual school districts.”

Just wanted to put the story in total context.

]]> By: Mike http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30701 Mike Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:07:48 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30701 No bloviating here. We have to learn to live on less when lean times come. Families do so why shouldn't government? With that said I believe keeping teachers using the current "spending program" funds does make sense. We can worry about what happens two years from now in two years. The money is going to be spent for something (and I do not believe republicans will turn it down). No bloviating here. We have to learn to live on less when lean times come. Families do so why shouldn’t government? With that said I believe keeping teachers using the current “spending program” funds does make sense. We can worry about what happens two years from now in two years. The money is going to be spent for something (and I do not believe republicans will turn it down).

]]> By: TrainyBrainy » Blog Archive » Posts about Special Education as of February 21, 2009 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30694 TrainyBrainy » Blog Archive » Posts about Special Education as of February 21, 2009 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:15:31 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30694 [...] superior education. Charter schools are publicly funded, but they are run by independent boards Stimulus and Schools - citizennetmom.com 02/21/2009 State Rep. Harry Brooks, Chairman of the House Education Committee , [...] [...] superior education. Charter schools are publicly funded, but they are run by independent boards Stimulus and Schools – citizennetmom.com 02/21/2009 State Rep. Harry Brooks, Chairman of the House Education Committee , [...]

]]> By: Jacket http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733&cpage=1#comment-30693 Jacket Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:10:51 +0000 http://www.citizennetmom.com/?p=733#comment-30693 NM, One must consider on the counterside of your argument that if you give this extra monies to personnel, will it be enough to fund the things you discussed above, the so called big ticket items? Probably not, and if it is enough the money would run out in two years. Most cars are financed much longer than that period. The most likely scenario, like tax rebates is some would spend it on big tickets, most would most likely just pay down debt. Either way, it doesn't address another time bomb, lack of savings by citizens. The real stimulus will be in the form of road construction and other infrastructure needs where jobs will be created. They too will be short run but it might free up other monies at the State level to move some around to other areas near and dear to our hearts in the long run. NM, One must consider on the counterside of your argument that if you give this extra monies to personnel, will it be enough to fund the things you discussed above, the so called big ticket items? Probably not, and if it is enough the money would run out in two years. Most cars are financed much longer than that period. The most likely scenario, like tax rebates is some would spend it on big tickets, most would most likely just pay down debt. Either way, it doesn’t address another time bomb, lack of savings by citizens.

The real stimulus will be in the form of road construction and other infrastructure needs where jobs will be created. They too will be short run but it might free up other monies at the State level to move some around to other areas near and dear to our hearts in the long run.

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