In this econcmy everyone has to cut back so I think the school district should as well. Our budget is adjusted at home by what we bring home in the paycheck, If the paycheck is smaller our budget is smalle. The school district needs to get a clue that they need to adjust their budget because the paychecks are smaller! What about those kids that get one on one teaching from a teacher based in the library? They can't behave in the class so they just take them to the library with their own personal teacher and are only there for a few hours in the day.If a child doesn't behave in school don't cater to them, kick them out and let the parents deal with them. But the school has become glorified babysitters now.

****oops That's education ;)

Simon you say this program is a waste of funds all because of a stereotype that people have made about charter schools, when actually there is less fighting, less drama, and more edjucation available at these "Free for all" schools. For instance, we have the ability to make audio and visual clips for credit, can you?
I think you should be able to give me the source of these facts before you post them.

Also because of our unique sectioning of advisories and our new Vision software, goofing off is not tolerated in fact if you dont respond to resonable request you are sent home, for any students caught smoking the police are called and they recieve a ticket. I am sorry that you think this school is a free for all but we dont have it as easy as you think. Dont judge TAGOS because it has charter school in the name, we are better then that and I hope that you can give us that respect.

Thank you,

A student at TAGOS Leadership Academy

simon,
"a few students that have gotten themselves into so much trouble that they cannot function in their perspective schools"?

I am a student at TAGOS.

Most students are here of their own free will, not because we "Couldn't function in our perspective schools"...
Sure, some students are here because they made some mistakes, but they are performing better than ever.

jtmek,

A Free for all?? How on earth are we a free for all? From what I can see at my desk, it certainly is not a free for all.

Time to cut all non-teaching staff with the exception of a bare-bone staff for vital duties like cleaning and maintenance.

I think what some people here are trying to say is spend on necessities, not wants. Seems funny how schools have enough money to spend on rollerblades and such, new computers and new equipment(even though they can still use the ones they already have). It's nice to have extras for the kids at school, but now is the time to buckle down until the economy picks up again and people find jobs. Top priority now is being able to house and feed your family. Alot of people are losing that because of the economy. Don't knock people who can't afford tax hikes and are complaining about it. It may soon happen that you may lose your job, too. No one is safe right now from losing their job or home. It's a sad time, and we ALL need to adjust to it.

Woodsman, if you don't have enough to feed your children tonight what are you doing paying for internet? Where are your prioities?

I question the whole premise of this article. In the last 3 years the district has over budgeted the teachers insurance by a whopping $7.5 MILLION dollars. They then take that money from teachers and sock it in the fund 10 balance which hovers between $25million and $30 million dollars. The teachers have said they would just take that money as their raise. If we owed them that money and they'll take it. I say give it to them and call it good. How can we have a budget shortfall with that $7.5 million socked away?
***
Why is the district saving that money and then complaining they don't have enough money? Let's make sure we make the teachers happy with the working conditions they want and keep the good ones we have. (see article on zero % raise for teachers)

Home school all of them until the economy improves.

I like the suggestion to layoff the kids. Let's just shut the schools down for a couple of years until the local economy improves, then have the kids come back and get their education. ;)

Simon, I agree with you. "The squeaky wheel gets the oil." It seems like the money and programs are directed at those kids who create the biggest hassle. The MANY kids who do not cause problems get the leftovers.

Your property taxes go to other things too. Let's cut funding for those things too if it's going to be fair.

Start laying off the kids.. we obviously don't have enough money to teach them.

I agree about TAGOS. It is looked at as the district joke. A lot of money spent on a few students that have gotten themselves into so much trouble that they cannot function in their perspective schools. Yea, let's give them more and take away from those who do what their supposed to...that makes sense.

tty go ahead and throw up,at least the kids will have a warm supper,it's more then a lot of us have to give our children tonight!! OH i forgot,ALL these people that are payed by us don't have to worry about the next meal.

it is a phoney assumption to think that the crap the powers that be spend our money on will encourage businesses to locate here. that is always their selling point and and i for one don't see it. even if it happens, they will find a way to spend more because now we have more people in the community. it never stops.

the public employee is the key. an increase in wages and benefits when most of janesville is struggling. but the school board will do the selfish thing and spend. they are spend-a-holicks. they are addicted to spending. it comes so casual to them it makes me sick.

John Doe, I am with you on the Chinese. But we need to skip teaching the Mandarin dialect and should teach the Wu, Min and Cantonese dialects. Since we are spending money freely, we also need to teach Hokkien, Crimean Gothic and Mahican. Some day, some student, will need to use these languages.

If I have to read one more post by woodsman I might throw up. I think it is interesting that this person criticizes teachers/administration yet will defend GM and the bailout which also is using tax dollars.

Whoever suggested additional foreign language is correct...especially CHINESE...that's the one we'll need to know in the future to take care of our financial business.
The handwriting is on the wall.

I think it is time to stick to the basics. Let's reconsider the foreign language in the elementary schools. The children in the elementary schools cannot afford to be in classes any larger than are in place already. I don't think teacher cuts are the answer. Let's talk about cutting some administration.

I think education is the best thing Janesville has going for It right now because there are no jobs here. But why a MAXIMUM TAX LEVY on the property tax payer at a time like this. Are we going to end up like the school district's to the east of us because of bad investments. I think the children should get the best education we can give them because they are the ones that are going to have to pay back all the spending that's going on today. I think the school district has to start working more with the tax payer and not looking at them every time they have a GAPING BUDGET HOLE TO FILL. I don't mind paying for good education If that is what we are getting. I just don't know how much more I can spend with out going broke. I also want to say I do not have no children and never have in the Janesville school district but I have payed my fair share over the year's.

Well, there are all sort of cuts that I see, in my opinion, that can be done. I like the idea of expanding the foreign language but in tough times, is it really necessary? And has anyone actually seen how TAGOS runs? It's a free for all. So, just by cutting the foreign language and TAGOS expansion, they would save over $289,000!

Been there....I have to ask, huh??!! Your post makes no sense. Oh, and I well employed and do quite well. You have a lot of nerve claiming all the people that complain about the school district are unemployed. Regarding volunteering, I have already "been there" and have done that.

No wage increases, and fire the ones that aren't grateful they still have a job.

Maybe we could have the unemployed people whose attitude is lets just cut and not raise taxes, volunteer in the schools and the administrative offices and then we could save a lot of money by laying off people. Only one problem, the students may turn out as jaded, bitter and uneducated as you.

I think the school board should add new language classes for the students and also hire staff and teachers to support this. Also, we should hire more administrators, assistant administrators and assistants to the administrators. I also hope that the paperwork required to administer these new programs and staff is not to complicated and cumbersome. Current staff just does not have time to deal with all of this silly paperwork. I suggest just tax the residents of Janesville even more and then let the School Board figure out how to spend the money.

And yes, let the administrators take a pay cut as well. They make even more thatn the teachers!! They make more than alot of us working stiffs! but I doubt you will see that happening. I agree with woodsman and think that they should all have to cut back just like the rest of us who work. Obviously the board is not in touch with reality becuse they don't see that we are in a recession and pretty darn close to depression! CUT BACK!!!!!!

I notice that that there is nothing noted in the 09-10 budget with regards to cutting or reducing. I may be missing it but all I see looking over the 09-10 budget is increase???

GMAB: So the teachers & students shouldn't have to cut back,like us working stiffs! You expect us tax payers & people that don't have a "JOB" to pay you your high wages,& the poor kids might have use the same equipment for a couple of years until things get better. Do any of you know what a depression is? well we are SO close,but none of you richer then most people just don't get it. Like i've said if the teachers can't go through hard times in this community,like the rest of us,then hit the road. Seems to me that less revenue is coming into the city,so less services should be implemented,& all the stupid spending on crap. Well i guess in the eyes of the chosen few,it's job security. Here we go,people with "NO" common scene,at it again.

I personally have never been impressed with the Janesville school system. Poor teachers placed in the wrong classes teaching kids and they don't even want to be there. It is rare these days to find a teacher with the heart to teach instead of college graduates thinking they only have work 9 or 10 months out of the year with pretty good pay and great benefits! I am not for raising my taxes as I just see less and less for my money! Get rid of nonessential classes and teach what is right,such as reading, wrting and math! I know we had a bad experience in this school system, but I would still feel this way because my school taxes are already outragious!!! Afew weeks ago the gazette had an article on teaching forgein languages to elemantary school kids!! they need the essentials not more languages they can't even write in!

Lay off non-teaching staff to levels of the 1970s. The bureaucracy increases too much, and the students pay the burden of this. I'm all for education, but I do think there's some money to be gained from trimming the administration.

Woodsman- Whose arrogance is starting to piss who off? Oh yeah, that's you and your self-proclaimed "Janesville's voice of gloom and doom" pissing the rest of us off. The School Board is being presented with 3 options- one of which is no new programs, no new positions, and just trying to continue with what they already have. Who do you think will suffer if the board cuts $2.6 million worth of teachers and programs in order to avoid raising taxes? Of course the current students will see the immediate adverse impact, but the whole community will be affected. The good teachers will leave for communities willing to invest in education where they have more job security. With School Choice- Students themselves will transfer out to districts that offer more opportunities. Businesses looking to relocate here will think twice before moving their employees families into a fledgling district that will not provide challenges and opportunities for students. In the end, we would be worse off and taxes will increase even more. I don't want my taxes to go up anymore than anyone else does. The reality though is that taxes go up. The School Board that carefully considers all options and comes back with a plan to get the most bang for the buck is the one I support. This school board will do that. You want to do something about it. Then Woodsman for School Board. I'll even be your campaign manager.

By pet projects,I hope you are referring to a tunnel or museum.Im with you on that. Teachers and schools,IMO,need to have the most money! Where would any of us be without them?? I would gladly pay more taxes if the money went to education rather than city spending. I want my kids to have a better life than me and education is the only way!

Here we go,spending money that the tax payer doesn't have,you well to do people never cease to amaze me! I think every one should be froze or take less,until things turn around,are you people blind of what's happening in our world?? But then again these people write their own checks & give themselves raises,what do ya expect. As a tax payer i DEMAND that you put these PET projects to rest,and lay off teachers,and make "NO" improvements for a few years,your arrogance is starting to piss me off!!