Cuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

The budget already included cuts of 56.6 FTE central office positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

Not at all I was saying all positions could be evaluated but not to assume without knowing that other roles aren't important before we start cutting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

The budget already included cuts of 56.6 FTE central office positions.

I wonder which ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

The budget already included cuts of 56.6 FTE central office positions.

Can you please list them? I know that the ridiculous central math content coaches are still around next year, so I’m very suspicious of what they are cutting. But if this is true, I really hope they made sound choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

The budget already included cuts of 56.6 FTE central office positions.

Can you please list them? I know that the ridiculous central math content coaches are still around next year, so I’m very suspicious of what they are cutting. But if this is true, I really hope they made sound choices.

This is what it said in the budget book. You'll have to look through it to see specifics.

• In Chapter 1, Schools, there is a reduction of 1.0 FTE position and $2,451,044.
• In Chapter 2, School Support and Well-Being, there is a reduction of 12.0 FTE positions
and $1,570,063.
• In Chapter 4, Curriculum and Instructional Programs, the reductions total 10.9 FTE
and $1,181,403.
• In Chapter 6, Strategic Initiatives and Technology, the reductions total 8.0 FTE positions
and $2,471,936.
• In Chapter 7, District Operations, the reductions total 8.0 FTE positions and $1,577,309.
• In Chapter 8, Facilities Management, the reductions total 4.0 FTE positions
and $1,493,908.
• In Chapter 9, Human Capital Management, the reductions total 5.0 FTE positions
and $716,631.
• In Chapter 10, Finance, the reductions total 5.2 FTE positions and $2,288,241.
• In Chapter 11, Administration and Oversight, the reductions total 2.5 FTE positions
and $407,540.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

The budget already included cuts of 56.6 FTE central office positions.

Can you please list them? I know that the ridiculous central math content coaches are still around next year, so I’m very suspicious of what they are cutting. But if this is true, I really hope they made sound choices.

This is what it said in the budget book. You'll have to look through it to see specifics.

• In Chapter 1, Schools, there is a reduction of 1.0 FTE position and $2,451,044.
• In Chapter 2, School Support and Well-Being, there is a reduction of 12.0 FTE positions
and $1,570,063.
• In Chapter 4, Curriculum and Instructional Programs, the reductions total 10.9 FTE
and $1,181,403.
• In Chapter 6, Strategic Initiatives and Technology, the reductions total 8.0 FTE positions
and $2,471,936.
• In Chapter 7, District Operations, the reductions total 8.0 FTE positions and $1,577,309.
• In Chapter 8, Facilities Management, the reductions total 4.0 FTE positions
and $1,493,908.
• In Chapter 9, Human Capital Management, the reductions total 5.0 FTE positions
and $716,631.
• In Chapter 10, Finance, the reductions total 5.2 FTE positions and $2,288,241.
• In Chapter 11, Administration and Oversight, the reductions total 2.5 FTE positions
and $407,540.

Looks like they cut 4.8 12-month instructional/evaluation specialists, 7 Secretarial/Clerical/Data Support, I see 43 cuts to "Teacher" not sure what that is...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

MS teacher here. +100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

Not at all I was saying all positions could be evaluated but not to assume without knowing that other roles aren't important before we start cutting them.

I agree with this sentiment. Cuts have to be made somewhere and assuming that something that isn’t of value to you isn’t of value to others isn’t helpful. Maybe the compromise here is to cut SDT’s at the HS secondary level and give them first look at open teaching positions.

Central office did I believe a 8%% cut at the start of the budget. Now that’s not to say there aren’t specific areas where cuts could be made there, but we also shouldn’t assume they can just make deeper and deeper cuts and everything continue to run and more importantly improve in the district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

Not at all I was saying all positions could be evaluated but not to assume without knowing that other roles aren't important before we start cutting them.

I agree with this sentiment. Cuts have to be made somewhere and assuming that something that isn’t of value to you isn’t of value to others isn’t helpful. Maybe the compromise here is to cut SDT’s at the HS secondary level and give them first look at open teaching positions.

Central office did I believe a 8%% cut at the start of the budget. Now that’s not to say there aren’t specific areas where cuts could be made there, but we also shouldn’t assume they can just make deeper and deeper cuts and everything continue to run and more importantly improve in the district.

Definitely!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been in MCPS for 15 years. Only worked at Middle and high schools, but from my experience, Staff Development is not a vital position at all. Also, these are supposed to be teachers who are well-versed in instruction, classroom management, etc. They should be working in a classroom-based position.

They should be transitioned into being the Math Coaches or New teacher trainers, or intervention support. They could also e with CO on curriculum implementation plans and rollout so that is improved.

Elem SDT need to stay (we have zero security, RTSE’s, and only 2 admin do when one is out, it is a mess), but it sounds like secondary can go. That said, the LAST thing this county needs is more central office math staff. Why has that department grown so much? The central office math content coaches are the biggest joke and need to be cut immediately. These are all highly trained staff that should be working with students.

They need to look at all staff not working directly with students (in schools and central office) and make some cuts. But not SDT’s in elem schools!

I teach elementary school and echo the comments about the vital role SDTs play in central. My SDT told me yesterday that there are 25 Learning and Achievement specialists whose job is a giant mystery. My SDT said the specialist is supposed to be her coach but my SDT has been doing the job longer than her specialist! I'm so sick of the bloat at central office. Those are the redundant positions that should be cut before you touch school based positions. The only time I've seen my SDT's specialist is when she came with her to do classroom walk throughs. What is she doing with the rest of her days aside from a couple class visits each year?

I can't speak for everyone or say there isn't redundancy but a lot of these comments are basically, "I didn't need them so no one else does". When I was a leader in ESOL, our specialist came and helped me with testing, screening and others came to do training in our department meetings. I met with them frequently and I know I wasn't the only one. We were a high needs school and needed their support. We can't just cut people left and right because WE don't understand what they do.

So your idea instead is to go with the plan of cutting SDT positions that multiple elem school staff have said are needed? My point was to evaluate ALL staff who are not working directly with students. Why does central get to have no cuts while a vital role gets cut?

The budget already included cuts of 56.6 FTE central office positions.

Can you please list them? I know that the ridiculous central math content coaches are still around next year, so I’m very suspicious of what they are cutting. But if this is true, I really hope they made sound choices.

This is what it said in the budget book. You'll have to look through it to see specifics.

• In Chapter 1, Schools, there is a reduction of 1.0 FTE position and $2,451,044.
• In Chapter 2, School Support and Well-Being, there is a reduction of 12.0 FTE positions
and $1,570,063.
• In Chapter 4, Curriculum and Instructional Programs, the reductions total 10.9 FTE
and $1,181,403.
• In Chapter 6, Strategic Initiatives and Technology, the reductions total 8.0 FTE positions
and $2,471,936.
• In Chapter 7, District Operations, the reductions total 8.0 FTE positions and $1,577,309.
• In Chapter 8, Facilities Management, the reductions total 4.0 FTE positions
and $1,493,908.
• In Chapter 9, Human Capital Management, the reductions total 5.0 FTE positions
and $716,631.
• In Chapter 10, Finance, the reductions total 5.2 FTE positions and $2,288,241.
• In Chapter 11, Administration and Oversight, the reductions total 2.5 FTE positions
and $407,540.

Looks like they cut 4.8 12-month instructional/evaluation specialists, 7 Secretarial/Clerical/Data Support, I see 43 cuts to "Teacher" not sure what that is...

Near the beginning of each section of the budget book is a page that talks about the changes in that sections budget. Review the part for Efficiencies to see what they cut.

Also keep in mind there were things in ESSR that now have to become part of the regular budget if they are to stay.