Friday, April 15, 2011

Not Technically a Nazareth Article, but...

The Morning Call has an article on the challenges facing the Easton Area School District (read it here).

Anyone who thinks that eliminating 7 positions, and having 7 retirements, is severe, then do read this post.

Easton is facing a $13 million deficit and outlined $15 million in cuts compared to Nazareth’s $1 or 2.

The proposed budget eliminates all extra-curricular activities, 160 teachers, and…

“Deep downsizing awaits school counselors, math and reading interventionists, tech education, family-consumer science, business, music and art programs. Just four counselors would be left to support the high school's 2,800 students, who would have access to just one art and one music teacher. Spanish would be the only language to survive the deep cuts — but would not be unscathed.

Those budget measures would pull 10 classroom teachers from the elementary schools and, even though the district has made gains in testing, ax Pennsylvania System of School Assessment instructors in the middle schools.”

I’m actually alright with eliminating the interventionists and PSSA teachers. I don’t see educational value in these positions as they are purely designed to help the school meet standards, not to help children succeed.

The big question is how long will Nazareth wait to take measures to get their spending under control before they are faced with these extreme measures?

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

2 comments:

Wayne said...

Ross said,
"The big question is how long will Nazareth wait to take measures to get their spending under control before they are faced with these extreme measures?"

I think a few on the board realize the need. Unfortunately they all should have realized it two years ago like the business manager of the North Penn district did.

The more we kick the can down the road the worse it'll get.

Clem said...

"The big question is how long will Nazareth wait to take measures to get their spending under control before they are faced with these extreme measures?"

You have a better chance of seeing God.