I thank my parents for moving into the (at the time) 3rd-richest county in the US when I was in 7th-12th grades.

Foreign language one meeting a week? Might as well not meet at all!

I don’t think anyone is faring much better. The federal budget cuts to states have been steep. The state has to pass along the pain to everyone. Inasmuch as this is a fairly wealthy school district, I have a feeling the inner city schools and less affluent communities are really getting reamed. Third world in the making since very few of us can send our kids to a Phillips Exeter or Andover—even with financial aid. Schools are always the first to get whacked and it’s incredibly short sighted.

But hey! We can hire a consultant and then paint bike path lines on the streets and then decide to take them off for an additional $10,000, when the town residents decide they hate them. Bet all that money would have been better spent on a teacher or materials and supplies. Etc.

One of the school districts in the state has even proposed going to a 4 day week because the cost of heating eats up so much of the budget they can’t function. That’s making some waves, let me tell you.

Were there any proposed tax increases to fund the schools? Around here, the school tax increases always get voted down, and then people complain about the quality of the schools. Some things are worth paying taxes for.

Great post. Lots of vinegar in it.

No, no tax increases proposed or passed this year. We’ve had a few in the past half dozen years, but they are neutralized by the cuts in fed funds that are passed along to the communities. We pay more and still barely tread water. After last year’s cuts we already have to pay a $50 activity fee for elective classes and/or clubs. I suspect in coming years, parents will be asked to carry more of the burden rather than keep begging for tax increases. If the cost becomes too dear, then you don’t get to participate. This year the school budget lost $900,000 and that’s on top of the 1.2 million last year. There’s little fat left to trim. I suppose we could just go back to Readin’, Writin’, and ‘Rithmetic—and call it the new well-rounded 21st century education.

Well you know how I feel about the school system here already. Sucks.Sucks.Sucks. When a guidance counselor asks… You took CP Bio sophomore year, what and where do I give you credit for that? I don’t think I can Because we don’t offer it here. Oh and get this one… You took dance? For what subject did you get credit for that? PE? Oh well we can’t give you credit for that cause.......we don’t have that out here, you are going to have to take two more years of PE. Uhgggggggggg. I could go on about a half a dozen other classes that A had to re-take this past year and has to add on for this year.
No I don’t see how they can cut anymore out of the school budget. They need to get with the times and get their shit together or the kids on this side of the country are going to be way, way behind in education. They already are.Ok, rant over lol.