Prince George’s school board narrowly approves Maxwell’s budget request

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/prince-georges-school-board-narrowly-approves-maxwells-budget-request/2013/11/22/dadb157c-5393-11e3-a7f0-b790929232e1_story.html

From the Washington Post:

The Prince George’s County Board of Education narrowly voted Thursday to support a request by the schools chief to make significant changes to the district’s $1.7 billion budget.

The 5 to 2 to 2 vote allows Schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell to proceed with his request to transfer $18 million from various accounts in the budget to pay for several executive-level positions, enhancements in the art program, security improvements and other initiatives. The County Council now must approve the request for the proposal to take effect.

It was the first major vote on an initiative proposed by Maxwell since he took the reins of the school system in August. The tense debate was also the first public clash between the board and the new administration since a new governance structure has taken shape.

Maxwell, who didn’t attend the meeting, said Friday that he thinks that the opposition from the board over what is traditionally a “routine” request from a school superintendent is rooted in a continued resentment over the new governance structure.

“This board has had a history; that’s what led to this law change,” he said. “This board has tried to micromanage. I intend to state my priorities. While some people think I have not been clear, this is indeed a statement” about priorities.

Board of Education members Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and Peggy Higgins (District 2) voted against the changes. Zabrina Epps (District 1) and Lyn J. Mundey (District 7) abstained. Verjeana M. Jacobs (District 5) was not present for the vote and Patricia Eubanks (District 4) and Daniel Kaufman did not attend the meeting. The remaining five members voted for the changes.

Burroughs said he opposed the request because the board was asked to approve what appeared to be new budget initiatives before Maxwell had formally introduced his fiscal plan. He said he also had concerns with some of the priorities included in the request.

For example, Burroughs said Maxwell’s plan to spend $778,000 on 10 new art teachers and $130,000 for applied teachers for the Suitland Visual and Performing Arts program was not “data driven,” given the district’s need to improve reading and math scores.

“I’m not saying it’s not a priority,” Burroughs said, referring to the art program. “But we have more urgent priorities.”

Maxwell said Friday that he is committed to improving the district’s art education and environmental literacy programs. His request included $1.1 million for the William Schmidt Center.

“Districts across this country have cut back on art education as they have tried to put more time into reading and math,” Maxwell said. “I believe the balance is very important.”

Maxwell said some students receive art instruction once every nine weeks, adding, “I don’t think that’s enough.”

Board of Education member Curtis Valentine, who voted in favor of the request, said he thought it was important to allow Maxwell to move forward with his initiatives, especially because parents have expressed a desire to see change in the struggling school system.

[Anonymous]

It would be nice if we as parents and tax payers could see the actual proposed budget to examine line by line. How can we hold the school board accountable if we don't know how the money is being spent.

[Anonymous]

While I'm not a fan of the board, I'm not so sure that hiring art teachers should be the priority for PG schools.

For better or for worse, when parents make a decision to move or not to move to PG, they do so by looking at reading and math scores. I really think that should be the area of focus.

And yes, I know how enriching art can be. But you need to address the basics first.

[Anonymous]

Frankly, the basics are taught about 5.5 hours out of the six hour day. You won't convince any families with options (ie money) to send their kids here unless you make the whole curriculum appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, the basics are taught about 5.5 hours out of the six hour day. You won't convince any families with options (ie money) to send their kids here unless you make the whole curriculum appealing.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I'm not a fan of the board, I'm not so sure that hiring art teachers should be the priority for PG schools.

For better or for worse, when parents make a decision to move or not to move to PG, they do so by looking at reading and math scores. I really think that should be the area of focus.

And yes, I know how enriching art can be. But you need to address the basics first.

I consider art a fundamental basic. The rich kids in private schools get art classes. All kids should get art classes. Arts education impacts development of math and other skills.

[Anonymous]

Right, I get that art is important. But we're talking about failing schools, not just mediocre schools. Some of these schools need reading specialists to pull kids out in smaller groups and focus.

Or just smaller class size, because there is also a huge overcrowding issue.

When there are limited budgets, I want to see those things addressed first before they hire more art teachers.

And I say that as someone who does appreciate art.

But look on these forums, when people look at where to live based on schools, they look at the great schools and other sites. They all base their rating on how kids score in math and reading.

Those things need to improve.

And frankly, I think music education is actually preferable over art in regards to helping improve math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I'm not a fan of the board, I'm not so sure that hiring art teachers should be the priority for PG schools.

For better or for worse, when parents make a decision to move or not to move to PG, they do so by looking at reading and math scores. I really think that should be the area of focus.

And yes, I know how enriching art can be. But you need to address the basics first.

I consider art a fundamental basic. The rich kids in private schools get art classes. All kids should get art classes. Arts education impacts development of math and other skills.

I don't consider art a fundamental basic. And the "art" they do in elementary school is actually relatively basic.

It's going to be a long way getting PG County schools even close to what "the rich kids in private schools get." I think we need to start with using funding to get specialists on the basics -- by the basics I mean reading, writing and math.

And I live in PG County. I want to send my kid to PG County schools. And I am realistic enough to know that the rich people in the region won't be sending their kids to PG County schools even if they hire a few art teachers. I don't care what they do.

The budget isn't unlimited.

I'm curious to know if the PPs posting here (1) actually live in PG and (2) actually intend on sending their kid to PG County schools. Because I do for both, and right now, they need to focus the money on things other than hiring art teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, the basics are taught about 5.5 hours out of the six hour day. You won't convince any families with options (ie money) to send their kids here unless you make the whole curriculum appealing.

The problem is that in many cases, the classrooms are too crowded and there aren't enough specialists to give the kids who need it extra attention. That needs to be addressed, and that is a funding/hiring issue.

So while I do think art is important, I'm not sure it's where the resources need to be directed right now.

[Anonymous]

I think the money should be allocated for after school programs throughout the county. Students can attend the program from the time they are let out of school until 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. They can work on homework/review class notes/study, get extra help in math, reading, science, physics, music, art, foreign languages, etc . . . May be the money could be used to subsidize teachers/specialist pay for the after school programs and require the parents to pay a monthly tuition of $50-$100 if they want their child involved in the after school program.

Yes, I understand that an additional $50 - $100 is a lot for some families especially when you are talking about multiple kids but may be their can be a discount or something to help out with the cost. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm curious to know if the PPs posting here (1) actually live in PG and (2) actually intend on sending their kid to PG County schools. Because I do for both, and right now, they need to focus the money on things other than hiring art teachers.

I teach in PG schools and send my kids to PG schools. I think hiring more art teachers is a great idea!

I respectfully disagree with you that PG schools are failing, BTW. I think we are on the right track. You are correct that parent judge schools by test scores which measure reading and math (and will soon measure writing). However, in most schools reading and math are being taught just fine to the majority of the students. The kids who are failing tend to be in the special ed or ESOL subgroups. They need more attention and support; however, this doesn't mean that kids who are able to pass the state tests should also be forced to double down on math and reading instruction to the exclusion of having more opportunities for the arts!

In addition, when elementary kids have art, that creates valuable planning time for teachers as the art teacher is running the class, so the teacher can focus on something else. This planning time benefits students greatly.

[Anonymous]

I am not saying all the schools in PG are failing. We have a few schools that are doing well. However, majority of the schools are not on par with the schools in Howard County, Fairfax County, Arlington City, Montgomery County, and some of the schools in the District of Columbia. This is based on the numbers: college readiness, statewide test scores, overcrowding, graduation rate, and teacher turnover rate.

As a parent in PG, I cannot act like the schools are not a problem. It is not okay for majority of our schools to be mediocre/subpar when you have schools districts less than 20 miles away that are consider some of the best in the nation. We don't have the luxury to say move to this neighborhood or town to go this cluster of schools that feed into this great middle school, then this outstanding high school.

[Anonymous]

Former teacher in PGCPS. No child should be forced to spend the entire day just doing math and reading test prep. Once kids move from learning to read to reading to learn, they need to be exposed to a variety of subjects in order to understand the vocabulary necessary for reading comprehension. This is especially important to ESOL, Title 1, and special education students. Middle class families have the money to provide those experiences outside of the classroom or in summer camps. Many schools with active and well-funded PTAs do this out of there own pocket.

A couple of points as to the above comments,
1. Research on decreasing class sizes doesn't point to it being terribly effective. I'd rather the money went for high quality universal pre-k or an extended (possibly year round) school schedule.
2. To the above pgcps teacher, even if it's that we're only failing the special ed or ESOL or Title 1groups, first off some of those children constitute the majority of those schools so those schools aren't doing well and second, kids we're obviously not doing right by those kids using the model we have.

One could make the argument that money should go for art teachers or language instruction or increased time for science and history, but it is absolutely necessary that kids have something besides math and reading prep to be successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm curious to know if the PPs posting here (1) actually live in PG and (2) actually intend on sending their kid to PG County schools. Because I do for both, and right now, they need to focus the money on things other than hiring art teachers.

I teach in PG schools and send my kids to PG schools. I think hiring more art teachers is a great idea!

I respectfully disagree with you that PG schools are failing, BTW. I think we are on the right track. You are correct that parent judge schools by test scores which measure reading and math (and will soon measure writing). However, in most schools reading and math are being taught just fine to the majority of the students. The kids who are failing tend to be in the special ed or ESOL subgroups. They need more attention and support; however, this doesn't mean that kids who are able to pass the state tests should also be forced to double down on math and reading instruction to the exclusion of having more opportunities for the arts!

In addition, when elementary kids have art, that creates valuable planning time for teachers as the art teacher is running the class, so the teacher can focus on something else. This planning time benefits students greatly.

I disagree. I'm not saying ALL day needs to be spent on math and reading. I think kids should have art and gym.

BUT I think that part of the problem is that classrooms are too big in the elementary schools. And there aren't enough subject matter teachers in the middle and high schools. So, yes, when there are precious few dollars to spend, I'm opting for expanding the resources to address these issue first before hiring more art teachers. And I want to stress the "more" part, because I am not saying eliminate the art programs already in place. I'm talking about creating new positions, adding positions to the budget.