August 5, 2008
Kanawha schools cutting arts field trips
Fuel costs to blame; no-idling policy planned for buses
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County public school students can forget about going to "The Nutcracker" ballet during the school day this year.
They can forget about going to Children's Theatre of Charleston performances during the school day, too.
Faced with sharply higher diesel fuel prices, Superintendent Ron Duerring is cutting down drastically on field trips, said Jane Roberts, assistant superintendent for elementary education.
Post a Comment
YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE RULES TO POST A COMMENT:
Keep it clean. Comments that are obscene, sexually explicit, racist or offensive will be removed. If you wouldn’t say it to your mother, don’t post it here.
Be civil. Don’t threaten to hurt anyone. Personal attacks, insults or harassment of any kind are subject to removal.
Be truthful. Don’t lie about a situation or person.
Keep it brief. Keep your comment to one post. Redundant or multiple posts in a row aren’t allowed.
Stay on task. Stick to the topics relevant to the story and discussion.
Let us know about offensive comments. Click the “Report Abuse” button if you think a comment is against the rules.
According to No Child Left Behind, the arts ARE core curriculum. This current mindset is what is killing arts programs in WV and indeed across the country. Yet, the most popular programs on TV and in our area are arts related. The 21st Century curriculum relies heavily on arts education...even emphasizes its importance. What is going on????
I personally want my child to feel comfortable with a classic in hand, an opera in his ears and a hum on his lips. I guess I want refinement, not brutishness.
And, I do not believe more money makes teachers better. Either they love to teach or they ride the tide to retirement.
Additionally, it's really, really obvious the administration is top-heavy, some schools are given financial preference and decision-making on the part of the BOE is reactive not proactive. ("The sky is falling, the sky is falling. Let's do something, now, now, now!")
So, we might as well forget quality culture and build more jails.
There are many events staged by professional performing groups (such as the WV Ballet or JADCO or Theater WV) that have special daytime performances for students in professional surroundings (Clay Center, Cultural Center). The effect of those field trips on young people can't be measured in gallons of gasoline, and for many, that will be their only real exposure to the arts outside of TV or a movie theater.
BUT they want to cart kids to their school's football games where they'll sit around bored, where drug using is more prevalent ("Wanna go behind the bleachers?").
They want to hire more administrators than they need (13 attendance directors and 17 assistants? Please.)
BUT there are never enough teachers for our schools.
They want to give teachers incentives for coming to work (I thought that was called a paycheck and ethics?).
BUT there's not enough money to let our children see the symphony.
Oh, we definitely have our priorities in line.
And Giles, I would LOVE for you to prove me wrong.
2. Consider drug-testing of students (not Kanawha County - yet!), but not teachers or administrators.
3. Give teachers a monetary incentive to show up for work regularly. (I thought that was called a paycheck)
Have we screwed up our priorities in education?
The program was originally instated to keep children off the streets, out of gangs and drugs. And you know what? Its working.
My point, art programs can do more than teach a child how to draw a pretty picture.
I was introduced to arts and theater during high school in Kanawha County, 40 years ago. It became my career choice, my income and livelihood. I don't know of any football, basketball or baseball players still playing 40 years after high school.
Next BOE Regular Meeting: Wednesday, August 20, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Note: The meetings of the Kanawha County Board of Education, unless otherwise indicated, will be held in the Board of Education Building, 200 Elizabeth Street, Charleston, WV.
Now compair that to:
-6 total employees for Child Nutrition
-7 in Dept of Deputy Superintendant (all have other jobs, like teacher)
-4 in Dept of Elementary Assistant
-3 in Finance
-24 TOTAL employees for Weimer Elementary
-17 Assistant Attendance Directors (2 with other duties)
-8 Accountants
-132 Bus Operators
-5 Custodians for Human Resources, out of 17 total employees (compared to 3 for HMMS or 4 for Hoover)
-14 Carpenters, 8 Painters, 8 Heating&AC Mechanics, 14 Plumbers, 14 Electricians for Maintenance
-13 Attendance Directors and a Secretary for the entire Social Services
-50 Speech Pathologists
-Duerring makes $100,000.00
-Vickers, $88,878.33
-Jane H. Roberts is listed twice with two salaries, $67,249.85 and $79,638.93 (could be clerical error)
-Milam, $85,028.58
-5 Warehouse Clerks in Supply Management
-7 Supervisors of Transportation
Other states have taken control of their budgets by hiring transportation companies to manage similar services. When are we going to privatize these services at a more reasonable price?
The levey that was passed two or threes years back was suposed to keep arts program going. What happened hear did the new bleechers drain that money?
Until our school system puts priority emphasis on ACADEMICS and NOT on SPORTS, I will continue to NOT VOTE for any excess levy and will encourage others to do the same. There are a multitude of items that can be reduced or completely cut out of the current schools budget that do not relate to or impact the ACADEMIC subjects. Dr Duering and the other overpaid "education professionals" on Elizabeth Street need to all see if WVU can provide them with degrees in COMMON SENSE.
Cutting the field trips is not a good or a creative idea.
Please try to come up with a better way to cut costs.