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Okay now we get into the specific steps.
1. Restructure teacher positions. There should be 2-3 Master Teachers for each grade K-8, a Master Teacher would an exempt position that would be responsible for providing teaching, coordinating teachers, curriculum development and leadership. A master teacher would a track record of leadership, dedication and performance, accordingly they would be paid a premium salary. Each student in a grade would have a Master Teacher meaning that a Master Teacher would have 50-70 children in their stable. There would still be additional teachers that would be primary educators but they would be positioned under the Master Teacher. At this point an example might be helpful...
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According the Hartley website there are currently 5 Third Grade teachers and about 120 students (again I do not have specific numbers and this serves as an example), this would change to 2 Master Teachers and two standard teachers. The Master Teachers would develop tracks for students based on educational needs and assign them to proper teacher (Master or Standard). So instead of a teacher teaching a broad cross-section of 24 kids the same material that regardless of the students ability (Sally may learn the concept in 12 minutes while Dave needs 32 minutes) a teacher would teach 30 kids that are bunched a little more closely together. The end result is more efficient and individualized education for the children and the net saving of 1 teacher per grade. (Another alternative would be making teachers more vertical you would still have Master Teachers at the grade level but standard teachers might become Math teachers for grades K-3).
This change could net a reduction of 10-12 positions, the Master Teachers would absorb a portion of that savings in increased pay but would be worth the additional salary. The expectation is that these positions would be filled by superior teachers, because they are exempt employees they would not be bound by tenure or seniority. These Master Teachers would be tasked with, and supported in their efforts to, raise the overall level of Core subjects (math, reading and communication).
2. Special Education instructors will be stretched - Special education instructors perform a vital service and by no means do they have an easy job but as the budget is tightened they would be asked to help with mainline student education. This may mean grading papers, helping with curriculum development or other activities to ensure that quality is increasing.
3. Reduce athletic programs - Waseca School District does not have the resources to offer the full slate of sports, even moreso it cannot offer the depth and quality in the full slate as each sport fights each other for scarce resources. The District needs to make a conscious choice to specialize and excel in 3-5 sports. More resources would be available to those sports so that they could accommodate the level of interest and be fully supported. Students wanting to participate in other sports would be allowed the opportunity but they would have to bear the expense.
4. Reduce elective programs - Again the idea here would be to select a small number of programs and do them very well and move out of other areas. As with sports there is value in each of the activities but quantity is the enemy of quality given limited resources.
5. Use Community Education to support the core subjects as well as #3 and #4. Offer courses in Vedic Math, number puzzles, Harry Potter reading workshops, pen pal clubs, etc - take the commitment to excel as far as it can be taken. If the District decides Tennis is one of the sports that they will support Community Education can increase their tennis offerings at younger ages to build skills and interest. If French is the foreign language option that is chosen by the district this can be augmented with French Literature courses, French cooking, etc.
6. Actively recruit involvement and volunteerism - give people the opportunity to help in the school, but more importantly let them know that they are welcomed there and critical to the success of education. Talk with area employers about establishing Blue Jay Booster programs that would allow for flexible scheduling to accommodate for volunteering at the school (for parents and non parents!!!). Commercial property owners pay an amazing amount of any levy that is passed, allowing for flex time that reduces district costs is good for the bottom line.
7. Stretch the non-teaching staff - set aggressive goals for administration and support. There is no doubt that the workload is hard and has gotten tougher over the past few years but that is true in every position out there. We are all running lean but we must be leaner. Reduce non-teaching head count by 3 positions district wide.
8. Resist mandates - if you are not being funded start sending communication to St. Paul and Washington stating that you will no longer be able to comply with specific requirements. Tell them what the costs of those requirements are and a deadline by which you will stop complying. Let them respond with waivers or potential sources for additional funding. Squeak loud and often, copy all elected officials.
If, after considering these cuts and others identified elsewhere, there is a need for an additional levy I offer up the following:
1. Do not ask me to support a levy on election day. I do not know if the levy will pass and I do not know who will be spending it. My vote for school board is dependent on the levy, my vote for the levy is dependent on the school board. I realize that there is an additional cost to running the levy referendum separate from the general election but unknowns lead to conservative votes.
2. Talk with the City and County about their plans for tax increases. If you are asking for $400 per student levy, the City is boosting the tax rate by 3% and the County by 4% guess what the vote will be. Figure out what you need, speak with the City and County and all three entities present their needs together. I would offer this to the Council and County Commissioners - shaving your budgets to offset a levy increase would be a great investment in this community.
3. Do not promise cuts if the referendum fails - deliver cuts and allow taxpayers to invest in additions. To put it another way, plan for the referendum to fail. There should be no reacting after the fact, the voters are not taking money away they are just choosing not to add more. Having a business model that can exist without the levy shows that you are doing what is required.
4. Marketing the levy - make they levy short (3 years max), let the public know that if it fails you are committed to the working without it, let others do the talking for you. The economic climate is too uncertain for long term levy, State and Federal priorities and abilities (both on funding and policy) are in flux, committing to a 6 year levy is unreasonable. Let the voters know that you respect their decision on the referendum and that if they vote no that you will not be coming back in 6 months or a year. Most importantly keep the School Board members out of the marketing. If the taxpayers of this community see value in the referendum they will step forward and market the plan, they have the passion and commitment to sell the levy and the School Board doesn't get mired in the politics.
So there it is, my humble solution. It is not offered lightly, advocating for cutting teachers, staff and programming is not something I just toss out there. I have never met a
teacher that wasn't worth more than what they are paid. Sports do so much to build character, leadership and teach life lessons. I am an administrative person and work with administrative people all day - I understand what they do to provide for the success of an organization. I have 5 children that will be in the Waseca School district, one is hearing impaired and requires additional resources. But at the same time there are printers, waitresses, mechanics, machinists and every other occupation that are being squeezed during this time. That doesn't make it right, or make it better, it is just the times we live in.
I do look at these options as providing a step towards leaner more efficient education, there is a lot of technology that can and should be applied to take it from efficient to robust and first class.
And of course something shiny. And a bonus historical shiny .
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