Comments on: Thomas To Recommend Cutting 50 Bus Drivers, Associate Superintendent, Dozens More Jobs; 200 Teachers Could Be Next

By: AER

AER — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:40:21 +0000

Ok, I made my point. Like I said after reading the comments, how can cutting the budget for Education be justified a budget which would include the bus drivers. My hat’s off to you. No, I could not drive a bus. Yes, teachers are suppose to have a planning period, sometimes they don’t get one. I know several teachers who have gone an entire year without one let alone two.

By: froggy

froggy — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:57:34 +0000

Well just to let you know, that bus drivers, have a very hard job. We are closed up on a bus with some time 62 elementary students and know one there but you. We don’t have a rest room down the hall way. I have been driving for 21 years and I love my children. I wouldn’t want to give up my job. I would n’t want to teach school but there is people that likes to do that, My hat is off to them. But I know , they can leave the class and go to the rest room and most of them at the high school level have 2 planning periods. Sometimes you are right– there might be 10 or less students on the buses but we travel from Bratt to Bay Sping or Nokomis or even Dogwood Park and also Bogia and also almost to 29 out Roach Rd, oh yes and if you haven’t ever went on these roads, then you should travel down Pine View road, worring about the log trucks. Going slow enough for the safety of the children. YOU can also drive a school bus. I can give you the number just right back. But , it was also stated that the secreary for the superienent make 92 thousand, cut that. You also need to know that elementary and High schoolers ride together, sometimes it can be very crowed- Afternoon elementary by there selfs. We try to kept our students safe, we drive throught the bad weather.

By: AER

AER — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:45:09 +0000

After reading some of these comments with misspelled words and incorrect grammar usage, I wonder how cutting education and teachers can be justified. As I enter college to become a teacher and married to one of those teachers who will loose their job June 30th, I can only ask myself one question. Why do I want to teach children when their parents and society does not care about the quality of education they receive. I bet most of you who complain about teachers salaries have never known a teacher. I bet you don’t know how much teachers spend of their own money on their students and classrooms. Or that those teachers have to continue their education at their own expense. When a teacher gets a degree that is not the end of their education requirements, they have to continue taking classes to continue teaching. So before you complain about paying a teacher $46,000 a year, ask yourself, would you do it for any less pay? Consider Mr. Thomas’ job and all his responsibilities why should he make any less than a mayor or County Administrator? His job is extremely important. Would any of you spend 6 hours a day closed up in a room with 25 kids? Could you go all day sometimes with out even a bathroom break?

By: Seriously...

Seriously... — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:30:42 +0000

If you think the lottery is a waste, how about asking the many students that are going to college all thanks to Bright Futures scholarships–like myself. Although the money isn’t going where you think it should be, don’t feel as if it is a total drain.

By: Beegee

Beegee — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:34:19 +0000

To Kim……I think we should be saying shame on the voters of Florida that voted the lottery in.Even under the guise of “helping education woes”,the public was,once again,duped.That does not mean that we get to blame anyone but ourselves,because as of today,it’s still our right and privilege to vote our conscience.For the record,my husband and I did vote our conscience….we voted against.

By: dbg

dbg — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:32:26 +0000

‘Thomas will recommend that the yearly contract positions not be renewed, including that of Associate Superintendent for Public and Interagency Affairs Ronnie Arnold. The elimination of the associate superintendent’s position will save the district $103,930.”
Call me dumb, but is this saying that this man was making $103,930 a year?
Does that mean that the “Superintendent” is making more than that?
No wonder schools are closing.

By: Tax Payer

Tax Payer — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:31:19 +0000

I think Mr. Thomas was dealt a bad hand by the economy. I do not know him, but I am sure he has lost countless nights of sleep over all of the budget cuts he has faced. Teacher cuts and school closings are very big decisions , but if you watch the news you will see that Escambia County is NOT the only place closing schools and cutting corners. If my employer told me I had to take a 40% pay cut I would have to trim my budget somewhere. That is the equivilent of what Mr. Thomas is facing.

By: Escambia County Citizen

Escambia County Citizen — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:26:17 +0000

You people DO NOT read!!! Mr. Thomas has said 1000 times that the FTE which means students will decrease by 800 students this year and 900 next year. That is something he CAN NOT controll. If you take that figure and the closures of the schools you get teacher cuts which he said most would happen through RETIREMENT meaning very few if any teachers would lose thier jobs all which would be annual contract teachers. In addition, all first 3 year teachers have no contracts and some are released each and every year.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:51:56 +0000

Way to go ab, the cuts needs to start in house. But I bet we will never see that. I believe that every administrator that is hollering to cut pay or cut jobs to save money, needs to start with their own. Cutting teachers is stupid!!! Who does that help, surely not the students. This means doubling up in classrooms where our children aren’t getting the one on one help they might need to understand what they are being taught, yet they want to raise the roof, when our student dont do well on FCAT which is a joke in itself.

By: ?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:18:27 +0000

I have an idea. Can we start the layoffs with the teacher who used the “n” word?? Or how about the teacher who constantly degrades her students & talks down to them like they are dogs?? I witnessed this myself a couple of weeks ago at an extracirricular activity! How about the coaches who curse at their players in an attempt to “motivate” them to win a game??

This sounds like an opportunity to trim off some extra fat & do away with some of the people who don’t pull their weight. Or those who have no values & don’t truly care for the students.

But we all know that’s not the way it will happen–all of these people have rights, tenure & seniority. It’s sad that some good, honest people will probably lose their jobs. This is sad indeed but apparently necessary.

Oh–and whoever recommended Mr. Thomas take a 50% pay cut is way off base. No educated person who is competent enough to perform the duties of superintendent will work for $60k/year. Take a long hard look at the decisions he’s already been faced with this year, whether you agree with them or not. Also take a look at how his name has been slandered because of that–even here on this website. Besides, the man looks like he’s aged 10 years since he took the position. It is extremely stressful to work under budget constraints & shortages! I certainly wouldn’t do the job for $60k but that’s just me—an educated, competent Christian person who has worked in Corporate America for many years. The term “you get what you pay for” is ringing in my ear right now. If you want that caliber of person making the decisions, go ahead & write him a letter & suggest that. You obviously have no clue about managing a budget to make an organization run at optimal performance.