Saturday, October 01, 2016

DOE Continues Their Destructive Fair Student Funding At The Expense Of The Students.



















Back in 2005, when Randi Weingarten allowed Chancellor Joel Klein to give principals complete control of their budget, one of the most destructive aspects of this new policy was the "Fair Student Funding" (FSF) that was imposed on the schools in 2007 as part of the budget process.  The fsf in conjunction with the elimination of seniority bumping rights and closing schools (162 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg) caused an explosion of excessed teachers.  At last count there are still 1,162 teachers without a classroom, which does not include ATRs who are provisionally appointed or covering a long-term leave. By contrast, this year the schools hired over 5,700 "newbies" who have no classroom experience rather than hiring an experienced classroom teacher.

Why would principals rather hire a "newbie" who must learn classroom management, curriculum, and the culture of the New York City classroom over a teacher who has mastered these skills?  The answer is the fsf.   You see the fsf penalizes schools who hire experienced teachers as the higher a teacher's salary the less money the school has to supply the resources to give to the staff.  The DOE will claim that many school districts nationwide use fsf and that is correct but only New York City makes it school based rather than district based as the rest of the country does.  The result is that principals are forced to "hire the cheapest and not the best teachers" for their school.

To exacerbate the problem, after the 2008 recession, Mayor Bloomberg cut the school budget and the average school received only 86 % of their fsf..  Some of the large comprehensive schools were cut even more as one school in Queens, slated for eventual closing but did not received only 78% of their fsf.  By contrast the new Bloomberg small schools, to ensure they succeed, received 100% of their fsf and the newest schools even more than 100%  (one school received 160% according to the IBO report).  Eight year later, Mayor Bill de Blasio has a 6 billion dollar surplus, yet this year's budget is still only 89% of the fsf and is only expected to increase to 92% of the fsf.  The good news is not only is the school budget increasing, but the schools should all be getting the same percentage of the fsf, no more winners (Bloomberg small schools) and losers (large comprehensive schools). However, the fsf still hurts the schools and the students by penalizing principals who hire veteran teachers.

The blame lies with Mayor Bill de Blasio and his Chancellor, Carmen Farina, who has retained 80% of the Bloomberg policymakers at the DOE and allowed the bloated Central Bureaucracy to continue to suck up funds that could be better spent on school based student services or lower class sizes.  However, at the DOE its still ideology first and children last...always.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is like a fish eating its tail.

Anonymous said...

4 day weekend. Next week, another couple of days off. Halloween, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving then 3 weeks till Xmas. January regents, a week in February ..................... Fair Student Funding? What???? See you in March, right around the corner.

Anonymous said...

It is called systemic age discrimination.

Anonymous said...

The exposed lonely troll returns at 5:17...more gems to come from mom's basement like this pair"

The Lonely troll fantasizes a teachers workday:

"Anonymous said...

Agreed...108k & summer off!!!

Anonymous"

Followed by the lonely troll's California surfer dude self- contradiction of his fantasy:

"Anonymous said...

Dude, it's 108 + 12 (6th assignment) + 15 per session + 4 summers = 139K. It's a great salary in today's society. Cmon man."

Mom's walls are closing in and confusing the story (I dont work summers the same time I work summers) of this poor and jealous non-teacher.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=20674128&postID=6255722187715525696

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:45

Forget the exuberant fake teacher troll. He is obviously lonely. And loves the attention.

I'm focused on surviving six more years in the wacky system while stretching my small paycheck to cover NYC expenses.

Anonymous said...

I bet that the teachers who incessantly complain about their jobs probably NEVER EVER had a job outside this school system!And I am not talking about the newspaper job you had when you were 12 or when you worked at that big chain supermarket in HS and then Starbucks in college. I am talking about a real adult job. Because if you actually had worked outside of this system you would understand that the job you relentlessly complain about offers a competitive salary and benefits for a teachers' skill set in today's economy. Do not misunderstand: This is a ridiculously difficult job. The working conditions are terrible.But i actually appreciate the teacher that you critics call a "troll". This person reminds me not to take this so seriously and to appreciate what is good about this job: a guaranteed salary with health benefits starting at 55.

Anonymous said...

Hi Chaz. I plan on retiring in 10 years when I reach 25 years. I will not be 55 but i dont care. Can I use some of my tda money then???

Anonymous said...

Hey 1:26, appreciate the shout out. The morons think I'm a troll. In fact, I'm at 22+ year veteran who is happy. See the problem on here 1:26 is that plenty of teachers are miserable. They don't know what it's like out there. They think everyone is at 6 figures with Summer's off, a TDA that is guaranteed at 7% fixed, and all the other crap that they think is meaningless. I'm laughing at this 4 day weekend with the 4 broken up next week. It's beautiful to feel so comfortable and watch others be so miserable. 1:26, trust me there's so many of us that are happy. I love reading the same ol comments on this blog. It's like watching the evening news, depressing! Actually I feel better when I read the comments on here. Keep making your $$ because the complainers will always be in here. In fact, you can sign on a year from now and read the same articles and comments as if you never left. Misery loves company. Yours truly, the basement guy. LOLOL!!!! If you only knew. Haaaaaa!!!!!!! So funny. 1:26, read the comments that follow. They think I'm s troll. LOLOL!!!!!! I actually work with one of these loser ATR's.

Anonymous said...

1:26 and 5:30 are the same (lonely troll) person. Convincing himself he is a happy teacher making big bucks (LOL) in fantasy land by having a faux conversation with himself.

Anonymous said...

5:55 just solidified how incorrect most individuals are on here. We are not the same person. Anyway, see you guys in a year. All the best. Sad.

Anonymous said...

C'mon dude. It is lonely but I imagine it would be so easy if I were a real teacher. I read that ATR and per-session stuff and know the summers are off (unless you work summers and I get got tripped up on that, LOL). And nights and weekends and holidays. 108K sounded really great to me and I forgot about taxes and stuff dude. So I changed it to 138K. If you live with mom like I do you can save a lot of that 138K. Is there taxes in 138K? If so I'll change my income again. So I continue to pretend to be a happy and rich teacher and if nobody responds or agrees - I just make 'em up. And answer 'em. Cool beans. Otherwise I am very. Sad.