tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post1928879769213691013..comments2024-03-22T02:15:56.280-07:00Comments on Jersey Jazzman: We Don't Need a NJ Version of Race To The TopDukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535645107179796099noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-61942422291287461702013-11-20T09:30:41.476-08:002013-11-20T09:30:41.476-08:00Why do we need 'innovation funds' when sch...Why do we need 'innovation funds' when schools are rationing things like copy paper & toner? Or when we don't have enough textbooks or supplies? Or when class sizes have ballooned because.teachers have been laid off? What good is innovation when we don't have the proper supplies to do our everyday jobs? Don't believe me? Cme to my school district. Hunterdon County... One of the wealthiest in the nation. Unbelievable.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13611419024284307883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-60534410521017370032013-11-17T07:09:59.933-08:002013-11-17T07:09:59.933-08:00Not for nothing, but the $$$$$$ of SIG money award...Not for nothing, but the $$$$$$ of SIG money awarded to Cramer School in Camden funded Extended Snacks, and Extended Basketball for three years - and it was NOT a concession to teachers, many who volunteered NOT to participate in this waste of money. This was a concession to bldg level admins and their friends/relatives on the BOE, union or no.<br /><br />As you've mentioned before, this group gets peanuts compared to what charter vendors are ranking in - but either way, thinking outside the box might include following the money. For realsies this time.Mrs. King's music studentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05211235832988015448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-41146359084264881882013-11-15T08:17:31.750-08:002013-11-15T08:17:31.750-08:00Central High School in Newark was budgeted as $40 ...Central High School in Newark was budgeted as $40 million facility and cost $100 million plus. There is no way you could build 'more than one new school from the foundation up' with a $5 million budget, full stop. That would maybe cover land acquisition costs.<br />almhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420465709926105665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-29918445358442422552013-11-14T17:59:46.987-08:002013-11-14T17:59:46.987-08:00Hmmm interesting. For $5 million they could build ...Hmmm interesting. For $5 million they could build more than one new school from the foundation up (they did it in my district). So sorry for assuming that $5 million is more than a drop in a bucket. Also, I believe that $5 million is the budget for the FIRST year with a total suggested expenditure of $45 million. WOW how many schools could we repair and rebuild with $45 million. We also have to take into consideration who would be the recipients for this "Slush Fund". This situation seems to be a blatant opportunity for cronyism. Will this be another opportunity for competition between schools and districts? As a parent whose district has been underfunded by the state for nearly a decade, according to the State School Funding Formula, I call FOUL! I want equitable funding for my kids. Not some cockamamie "innovation" scheme. After all, research on motivation and innovation proves that the best way to inspire professionals to innovate, is by giving them autonomy and the freedom to do it. Money is actually a very poor motivator for passionate professionals. A concept completely lost on people obsessed with the all-mighty dollar. Teacher Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17023044658046241555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-64263139824755017142013-11-14T17:52:51.558-08:002013-11-14T17:52:51.558-08:00Let's try this for innovation: get politicians...Let's try this for innovation: get politicians out of the education "reform" business. This would save tons of money on unneeded tests. More innovation: end the useless, time-wasting SGO process. This would save time, and the money it would save in paper alone would make it worthwhile. Let educators have a say in evaluation, and eliminate the many excessive administrative positions in NJ school districts. Further innovation: require charter schools to pay their own way, not using public funds, and require them to play by the same rules that public schools have to follow. Now with all this innovation, spend the money saved on all of this to feed students, clothe them, give them adequate health and dental care and a safe place for them and their families to live. Help their families find jobs. And to alm, calling it a "slush find" is kind considering the situation in the schools pictured above: that's the real incivility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-64352427572555052982013-11-14T09:50:08.710-08:002013-11-14T09:50:08.710-08:00$5 million dollars is one-half of one percent of t...$5 million dollars is one-half of one percent of the operating budget of the Newark Public Schools. <br /><br />The SDA's last authorization was ~ $4 billion. Ruiz's innovation fund represents 0.1% of the SDA's budget.<br /><br />Ruiz's money would let the SDA do 0.1% more than it currently does. The reason that you put some money aside for innovation -- a very small amount of money, frankly, relative to the $9 billion in the budget for state aid to schools -- is that it might be 'higher leverage' - it has the chance of funding a project with really outsize student achievement results - maybe an innovative program for helping students with special needs, for instance, or providing online PD that teachers across the state could use.<br /><br />Calling it a 'slush fund' is way out of line, and borderline uncivil.almhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07420465709926105665noreply@blogger.com