Innovative Reform = Avoiding Layoffs
That’s the conclusion of a new survey by the American Association of School Administrators.
“When asked how their districts are using ARRA funds to bring about education innovation and reform, more than two-thirds of respondents replied that the stimulus dollars are either filling funding gaps or represent only marginal growth in funding levels.
School districts across the country, following one of the major goals of the stimulus dollars, are using the one-time funds to save teaching and staff positions. However, less than half of respondents reported being able to save core subject teaching positions as a result of ARRA dollars. A majority of districts were also unable to save librarian positions, school nursing positions, maintenance/cafeteria/transportation staff positions, foreign language teaching positions, art/music/physical education teaching positions, and teaching aide/assistant positions.”
Let’s see. The money went to save jobs, but most districts didn’t save the jobs of core subject teaching positions, librarians, nurses, support staff, foreign language teachers, art, music or PE teachers, or teachers’ aides. Who’s left? District payroll officers? Curriculum coordinators? File clerks? In related news, 79 school districts in Oklahoma don’t have a web site, even though 59 of them employ a “technology director.”
Anyway, we were tipped off to the AASA study by Education Week‘s District Dossier, yet another new education blog. Welcome to the Internet tubes!
