Last month, several parents at Harborview Elementary School expressed frustration after the Juneau School District Board of Education voted unanimously not to fund an additional teacher at the school, citing precariously low budget reserves.
So the mood was jovial as the Harborview site council convened for a special meeting Thursday evening, where Principal Dave Stoltenburg announced that JSD Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich had told him that the district has extra funds that could address the school’s staffing concerns after all.
“Glenn informed us that he got the intensive counts, and those intensive counts were up from what they estimated,” said Stoltenburg, referring to intensive special education students, for whom the district receives additional funding. “Money became available.”
The additional funds mean that understaffing at Glacier Valley Elementary School can also be addressed, Stoltenburg said. That school has the highest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the district for intermediate grades, third through fifth.
Harborview has the highest PTR in the school district for primary grades, which are kindergarten through second grade. It has more students than Auke Bay Elementary School, yet one fewer teacher, a fact that has been frequently cited by advocates of a new teacher for the school.
The JSD administration had previously estimated that 89 intensive needs students would be identified this school year. Stoltenburg said that instead, 92 students have qualified for the designation — a drop from last year, and still below the 95 intensive needs students initially assumed by the district’s budget, but enough to provide the district with unanticipated funding that can address the schools’ staffing.
Instructional coach Cherry Eckland told council members that the teachers had unanimously agreed that a new teacher should be hired, and that adding a blended kindergarten and first-grade class would be the best option for Harborview. She said young kids in those early grades benefit from having extra attention.
“If they don’t get a positive start there, there’s going to be a long-term negative impact,” Eckland said. “We felt very strongly that having a certified teacher … will make a long-term impact on these kids.”
Eckland asked the site council to support the staff’s recommendation.
After site council members discussed the option, as well as two other possibilities — one involving a new blended first- and second-grade class, the other doing away with blended classes at the primary level — they voted unanimously in favor of it.
“We can’t lose,” added site council member Kurt Iverson.
Stoltenburg said that, having gathered input from both the site council and staff, he will present the school’s recommendation to the administration and school board. The board could meet as early as next Wednesday to approve additional staffing, he said.
If the board does so, it will be the second mid-school year hiring of the fall. It previously voted in September to add an extra teacher at Riverbend Elementary School, which faced similarly large primary class sizes (http://bit.ly/Tpplwf).
Iverson asked Stoltenburg how positive he is that the board will vote for additional hiring.
“I would have no reason to think it wouldn’t pass,” Stoltenburg replied. “I was very confident that it will.”
Iverson responded, “The reason I ask is that they’ve got a motion out there saying, ‘No, we’re not going to dip into our reserve fund to pay for any new teachers,’” referring to the motion made by Kim Poole last month that was adopted by the board (http://bit.ly/X4Eb2c). He added, “I don’t want them to get hung up on that. That’s what I’m worried about.”
The Harborview site council held a special meeting in September at which it resolved to formally request an additional teacher for Harborview.
Up until the announcement that the JSD has more intensive needs students than expected, the administration and school board has maintained that hiring another teacher for the school would cut into a fund balance that they have worried is already too low.
“Had not the (intensive needs) count gone up, we wouldn’t be here,” said Stoltenburg, underscoring the point. “(Gelbrich) wouldn’t have made that offer, to say that we could get an additional teacher.”
Jennifer LaRoe, a second-year site council member, informed the council at the meeting that she intends to file “or at least” discuss a formal complaint against the school district at a meeting with Gelbrich on Monday over its “lack of looking at a serious solution for Harborview.”
“The school board didn’t offer any solutions,” LaRoe asserted. “The school administration didn’t offer any solutions until this late date, and I have issue with that and I’m going to bring that to the administration.”
The previous site council facilitator, Brian Holst, expressed a different view. He said he wants to thank the school board for its efforts.
“I don’t think we should just complain,” said Holst. “I think when they do the right thing, like they are right now, they deserve our support. That’s how democracy works.”
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (24)
Add commentit's about time
Good for you guys; and even better: good for the kids.
But let's not forget the flaws that allowed this situation to happen in the first place.
Funds are suddenly available.
JSD was backed into the ropes on this one. They have an emergency fund? That's never mentioned when they whine about funding. JSD is too top heavy. Cutting one administrator could fund a couple of teachers. Cut a couple more and get some school nurses to fill the staff positions that are actually needed. The district hoodwinked the voters into thinking that the teacher to pupil ratio would be improved by building new schools. How many educators can be funded for the price of one cost overrun on a building project? Still, it's refreshing to know that JSD has more money than they let on!
Thank You School Board
Thank you school board for keeping your eyes open for things to change. We appreciate what you do for the children of the community. I do not envy your job; it must be very stressful having the weight of the children's future on your shoulders.
Drop the super's salary
By one teacher's starting wage (less than 1/4 his) and presto! You've got another teacher.
Stupid question - Why isn't
Stupid question - Why isn't the intensive needs fund going to fund the education of the intensive needs students?
Yeah, let's not forget, Nic!
The flaw is teachers with stupidly fat compensation arrangements. Nic, why is it that teaches don't pay ANY health insurance premiums for about half of the school year?
Not a stupid question
Intensive students are funded at a 13x multiplier. In plain English, one intensive kid is worth half a classroom. I doubt many parents of intensive students are aware of this and, quite frankly, there are many more parents clamori ng for a couple extra teachers than for a few more paraprofessionals.
The superintendent made a horrible mistake in admitting the district is reappropriating funds away from special education, though. He already got his district sued for inequity in SpecEd when he worked in Salen, Oregon. I guess some people never learn.
Fmast
I'm not sure what you're talking about. I worked as a teacher in this district, and I paid higher insurance premiums there every month than I do now in a job that only requires a HS Diploma. And this wasn't that long ago.
fmast50
What is your issue with teachers having affordable healthcare? You bring it up every time. Teachers receive compensation for very little else.
No issue with affordable health care, Roy
Roy, The school district makes a significant contribution to the monthly premium for health insurance for teachers. The amount of that contribuition can be debated. I dont, conceptually, have a problem with some contribution. BUT, I have a big problem with the District paying health insurance premiums for teachers WHO WAIVE INSURANCE. If a teacher doesnt need insurance the District pays their premiums anyway into a slush fund controlled by the union. That money is then used to offset the health premiums for teachers ON TOP OF the District insurance contribution. The total is more than $600,000 this year. THAT IS ABUSE. That represents at least 6 teaching positions. We should not pay insurance for teachers who dont need it. Period.
Fmast, That does seem odd.
Fmast,
That does seem odd.
Perhaps the JE would like to do some investigative reporting on why and how that is allowed? JE?
My concern is why is the
My concern is why is the intensive needs population growing?
What is happening in our environment that is causing the "intensive needs" population to grow? I
My understanding is that high concentrations of metals can lead to neurological disorders, also loud noise exposure has adverse effects on children's learning, reading and listening skills.
How is our city contributing to this problem?
What environmental hazards can we control, through risk management and prevention strategies, education and research?
Lastly, don't we want healthy teachers and students? I don't see any teachers living in fancy homes. We need teachers. Compensation packages are made up to "attract" and to keep good employees, if this includes helping with health insurance, then so be it! Good grief.
It is very interesting that a
It is very interesting that a special needs student is valued at 13 times a normal student with regards to budget…especially since it seems that those SN dollars don’t have to go only to the SN program.
I hope this is not resulting in more SN diagnoses as to bring in more money.
I checked this out
Some of the teachers have spouses with health insurance and elect to decline the district's health plan. This saves them paying the premium, and the money the district would have contributed to that teacher's health plan helps defray the premiums for those who receive the plan. The insurance plan is not means tested; it's not only for teachers "who need it." It's a negotiated item as part of their salary. Those who decline it should not be seen as a less expensive employee, or it would give the District heavy incentive to hire those with spouses with health insurance already. Maybe when health care is available to everyone and affordable, we'll get out of this mess of "haves" and "have nots" for health care. Too many of those who argue against Obamacare (like Sean Parnell) have government health care for themselves and their families. Lisa M has it times two.
JSD and diagnoses
The school district doesn't diagnose these students. That is an unfounded fear. They do, though, have to provide extensive services for these students so that they have the best shot at a quality adulthood. We'll just say that some of these schools are succeeding and others are not. That's why the money is in place - not as a general education slush fund.
Did I read this correctly?
Was this a public admission of the diversion and misappropriation of federal funding specifically earmarked for special needs students? JSD might want to engage the spin machine and get a retraction in the works asap. If the US Department of Education gets wind of this, it's likely going to be a little problem.
This trumps the petty sniveling over health insurance benefits by a long shot.
Whatever the steering and maneuvering (manipulating) practice...
...It's interesting to me that a sharpening of a pencil suddenly 'finds' the funds for a couple of new teachers when the school district administrators have their feet held to fire. What else can be found out before they are let out of the hotseat?
I'd love to see an article noroad
It is easy to research. The empire just needs to ask for the union agreement, read it, and go from there. I'd love to see the union (read: rainguy above) quoted in the empire as to why it's ok to have money for teachers spent on health insurance for teachers that don't need it.
@fmast50
You do seem down on teachers over this health care thing. So it's only for spouses who are also teachers. How many can that be? A couple dozen? $600,000 in a $97 million budget is not even 1%. Find something else to complain about.
Lots of jobs have perks. Retail stores give a discount to employees, travel agents, pilots and flight attendants get free passes on airlines and in hotels, State of Alaska workers get to keep their mileage for personal travel...relax - it's not abuse.
I am pleased the Harborview kids are getting a teacher.
Health care again
This is another reason we need to fix the health insurance problem in this country. You are damned if you accept the insurance, and damned if you decline. I guarantee you that even though Sean Parnell hates the public option, he's on the state insurance plan!
Health care again
This is another reason we need to fix the health insurance problem in this country. You are damned if you accept the insurance, and damned if you decline. I guarantee you that even though Sean Parnell hates the public option, he's on the state insurance plan! P.S. Anybody can save their employer money. Just agree to a lower wage, or hand the employer back part of your salary when paid. This is the same as declining health insurance and getting nothing for it.
more bodies and more spending does NOT equal better teaching
There are numerous private schools that don't bow to teacher unions and consequently hire the best and get rid of the rest. They're able to take kids from the lowest graduation rate areas and get them almost 100% college bound after graduation.
The only thing more spending does is get us more of the same.
Comparing private schools to
Comparing private schools to public schools is like comparing apples and oranges. Go try and find restrictions for admission, or standards the schools have to meet that are private. You can't because they don't exist. They can pick and choose kids who are accepted. If the public schools had that discretion, they shouldn't, they would all have glowing reports of success. It's like padding the numbers. They don't have to pump money into special programs to fullfill requirements that are put on them.
So stu.. the reason our
So stu.. the reason our public schools cannot adequately educated all of the average student is because of the presence of special needs students? Man, those SN kids must really create havoc.
Right now we pay 17,000$ per kid per year in Juneau. How much more is needed? 2X more..3x more?