DCPS Central Services Budget Cuts

[Anonymous]

Agree on Early Childhood Division - $7m and 100 people left over from when DCPS had the Head Start school-wide model. No need for all those positions at central now - give the money to schools and let them decide what positions they want need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree on Early Childhood Division - $7m and 100 people left over from when DCPS had the Head Start school-wide model. No need for all those positions at central now - give the money to schools and let them decide what positions they want need.

The bulk of those leftover are from Early Stages. Those folks do referrals. The remaining 40 or so are early childhood instructional specialists for all elementary school and early childhood family services workers for Title I schools.

[Anonymous]

I just heard that an additional $50 million has been cut from the Central Office budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree on Early Childhood Division - $7m and 100 people left over from when DCPS had the Head Start school-wide model. No need for all those positions at central now - give the money to schools and let them decide what positions they want need.

The bulk of those leftover are from Early Stages. Those folks do referrals. The remaining 40 or so are early childhood instructional specialists for all elementary school and early childhood family services workers for Title I schools.

Early Stages needs the whole place cleared out. They are awful and do a terrible job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just heard that an additional $50 million has been cut from the Central Office budget.

Was this through the second council vote? Would this mean it’s at over $100 million now?

[Anonymous]

If the strategy is to rely on cutting the central office budget in order to put money back in the schools--once that is all gone--then what? It's not like you can keep cutting $50 million per year forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all suck. You're talking about real people. I know a few of the folks in Central that have been cut. Their positions are valuable and they are doing meaningful work. The issue is not that cuts need to be made, it is which cuts. And to be honest, there are some Divisions and Offices at Central that provide very little service. And the same can be said for some positions at some schools which have bloated budgets, too. DCPS schools have an incredible amount of resources compared to the rest of the nation... and for what? Where's the data showing that any of it is working?

I’m sorry they are losing their jobs. But if they would like to stay employed in DC, they can certainly apply for a teaching position.

This is factually inaccurate. The issue is cutting the administrative support for already struggling teachers. The schools will be very hurt by the Central Offices cut. It is the wrong move.

Our teachers constantly complain that they get no admin support from DCPS Central. Leave requests never approved. Paychecks that are wrong or don't come.

So...definitely a good thing that there will be less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all suck. You're talking about real people. I know a few of the folks in Central that have been cut. Their positions are valuable and they are doing meaningful work. The issue is not that cuts need to be made, it is which cuts. And to be honest, there are some Divisions and Offices at Central that provide very little service. And the same can be said for some positions at some schools which have bloated budgets, too. DCPS schools have an incredible amount of resources compared to the rest of the nation... and for what? Where's the data showing that any of it is working?

You say we suck, but then you say yes of course DCPS Central should be cut... just different people. Presumably the ones that aren't your friends? Give me a break. I'm not even saying you're wrong (how would I know when DCPS isn't transparent about who is getting cut at all?)... It's just ridiculous for you to say we suck for saying DCPS is bloated and has room for cuts... when you *agree* in the next sentence.

VERY few schools have bloated budgets. Maybe some schools have 1-2 teachers that aren't essential? Probably all Title 1s? And, in those cases, it's probably just that some other position that is essential doesn't exist and you don't agree with how they've allocated the money.

FWIW DCPS' per student spending is NOT higher than other places if you eliminate CENTRAL OFFICE FUNDING and adjust for teacher salaries. The real, school-based spending is actually slightly below average. It's the Central Office spending that drives up the spending.

This, there is a huge discrepancy in the per student spending in DC - something like 40k/student and what schools are receiving - which is like 1/2 to 1/3 that. There is lots of easy fat. People who directly teach students aren't that. Librarians and principals aren't that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all suck. You're talking about real people. I know a few of the folks in Central that have been cut. Their positions are valuable and they are doing meaningful work. The issue is not that cuts need to be made, it is which cuts. And to be honest, there are some Divisions and Offices at Central that provide very little service. And the same can be said for some positions at some schools which have bloated budgets, too. DCPS schools have an incredible amount of resources compared to the rest of the nation... and for what? Where's the data showing that any of it is working?

I’m sorry they are losing their jobs. But if they would like to stay employed in DC, they can certainly apply for a teaching position.

This is factually inaccurate. The issue is cutting the administrative support for already struggling teachers. The schools will be very hurt by the Central Offices cut. It is the wrong move.

Our teachers constantly complain that they get no admin support from DCPS Central. Leave requests never approved. Paychecks that are wrong or don't come.

So...definitely a good thing that there will be less.

Well it is already zero support. So it'll still be zero. Basically no difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all suck. You're talking about real people. I know a few of the folks in Central that have been cut. Their positions are valuable and they are doing meaningful work. The issue is not that cuts need to be made, it is which cuts. And to be honest, there are some Divisions and Offices at Central that provide very little service. And the same can be said for some positions at some schools which have bloated budgets, too. DCPS schools have an incredible amount of resources compared to the rest of the nation... and for what? Where's the data showing that any of it is working?

I’m sorry they are losing their jobs. But if they would like to stay employed in DC, they can certainly apply for a teaching position.

This is factually inaccurate. The issue is cutting the administrative support for already struggling teachers. The schools will be very hurt by the Central Offices cut. It is the wrong move.

Our teachers constantly complain that they get no admin support from DCPS Central. Leave requests never approved. Paychecks that are wrong or don't come.

So...definitely a good thing that there will be less.

Well it is already zero support. So it'll still be zero. Basically no difference.

This is not true. I’m sorry not all divisions have been doing their job. I know many hardworking central services staff who bend over backwards to support teachers. They take calls at all hours of the day, respond to emails immediately, are flexible to support in person when asked, sub in challenging classes, etc. Of course, those people were cut from the budget.

[Anonymous]

Special education division needs a complete overhaul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all suck. You're talking about real people. I know a few of the folks in Central that have been cut. Their positions are valuable and they are doing meaningful work. The issue is not that cuts need to be made, it is which cuts. And to be honest, there are some Divisions and Offices at Central that provide very little service. And the same can be said for some positions at some schools which have bloated budgets, too. DCPS schools have an incredible amount of resources compared to the rest of the nation... and for what? Where's the data showing that any of it is working?

I’m sorry they are losing their jobs. But if they would like to stay employed in DC, they can certainly apply for a teaching position.

This is factually inaccurate. The issue is cutting the administrative support for already struggling teachers. The schools will be very hurt by the Central Offices cut. It is the wrong move.

Our teachers constantly complain that they get no admin support from DCPS Central. Leave requests never approved. Paychecks that are wrong or don't come.

So...definitely a good thing that there will be less.

Well it is already zero support. So it'll still be zero. Basically no difference.

This is not true. I’m sorry not all divisions have been doing their job. I know many hardworking central services staff who bend over backwards to support teachers. They take calls at all hours of the day, respond to emails immediately, are flexible to support in person when asked, sub in challenging classes, etc. Of course, those people were cut from the budget.

So because Ferebee can't manage, we should spend millions of excess funds on Central?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all suck. You're talking about real people. I know a few of the folks in Central that have been cut. Their positions are valuable and they are doing meaningful work. The issue is not that cuts need to be made, it is which cuts. And to be honest, there are some Divisions and Offices at Central that provide very little service. And the same can be said for some positions at some schools which have bloated budgets, too. DCPS schools have an incredible amount of resources compared to the rest of the nation... and for what? Where's the data showing that any of it is working?

I’m sorry they are losing their jobs. But if they would like to stay employed in DC, they can certainly apply for a teaching position.

This is factually inaccurate. The issue is cutting the administrative support for already struggling teachers. The schools will be very hurt by the Central Offices cut. It is the wrong move.

Our teachers constantly complain that they get no admin support from DCPS Central. Leave requests never approved. Paychecks that are wrong or don't come.

So...definitely a good thing that there will be less.

Well it is already zero support. So it'll still be zero. Basically no difference.

And this is what teachers want? Why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree on Early Childhood Division - $7m and 100 people left over from when DCPS had the Head Start school-wide model. No need for all those positions at central now - give the money to schools and let them decide what positions they want need.

The Early Childhood Education Division only has about 50 people left serving non-Head Start Schools. This is about 20 Family Services Specialists to support Title I schools, 20 Instructional Specialists and 10 other positions.

[Anonymous]

Drain the swamp.
But don't fool yourselves that the $$$ is going to the schools. Its not