Please read this. Similar dilemmas are being faced across Kansas. The time for sitting on the sidelines is long over. From Amy Martin, Olathe School Board, introducing and then quoting a letter from Olathe Superintendent Marlin Berry: Real people, people who have been valued members of our team and live in our community, will be hurt by the loss or reduction of their job. Those who remain will be expected to take on more. More responsibility, more stress, more uncertainty. Again. Students will know the effects of larger class sizes, less attention, and less opportunity. Our ability to...
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Olathe legislators supported block grant now causing cuts in district
Our friends at Johnson County Educators nailed this one. Quoting them, “Olathe representative Ron Ryckman was the co-author of the block grant school funding bill. [Thursday night] the Olathe school district announced deep budget cuts necessitated by the actual decreased funding of the block grants. We’re sharing this news story from March to refresh everyone’s memory. Olathe teachers and parents, you’ve been duped. Let Rep. Ryckman know how you feel about his statement that the block grants would provide ‘a way for more money to get into the classroom.’ While you’re at it, make sure the following Olathe...
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Leave a Comment Olathe to cut $2 million, eliminate staff and programs
This is not acceptable. Kansas, are you fed up yet? “The [Olathe school] board, three of whom were just elected, got the news that the district has a $2 million deficit and up to 80 layoffs may be needed to close the gap…The district is proposing to leave a handful of open administrative unfilled, but the bulk of the savings will come from layoffs and program cuts. “The plan calls for the elimination of middle school library aids, paraprofessionals hours will be cut, some custodians will be laid off and the district will end its Spanish program for...
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Leave a Comment Parents and others concerned about hostile environment for teachers
“Classroom spending cuts, uncertain school financing, low pay and eroding tenure protections all play into a hostile climate in Kansas that teachers and school administrators say is spurring a surge of teacher departures and retirements. “At least 3,720 Kansas teachers have left the state, retired or taken jobs outside of education after this past school year, a huge jump from the 2,150 who did so just a couple of years ago, according to a newly released data by Kansas State Department of Education. “Parent Judith Deedy, who has two 11-year-olds and one 13-year-old in the Shawnee Mission school...
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