WednesdayFebruary 11, 2009

Agenda• HOMEWORK STRIKE SYSTEM IN EFFECT

[3]: Composition notebook, 1-2 sheets of paper and pen/mechanical pencil

• [3 min] Warm up: Making a Difference• [10 min] PP Notes: Budget Cuts and

YOU• [Remaining Time in Class] Write to your

legislators—demand YOUR right to a good education.

Objective(s):• Evaluate what budget cuts would

do to this school by writing a personal letter to your state legislator.

Important Dates:2/16: NO SCHOOL2/25: Early Release Day/Film Club

meeting2/27: Film Club Viewing

2/11/2009 [3 min]• Back in the 1960’s, President J.F.

Kennedy stated:– “One person can make a difference and

every person should try…Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”

• Do you agree or disagree with J.F. Kennedy’s statement? Explain your answer.

WARM UP

Timer

Today…

• I’ll be showing you what I was shown over a month ago—what is happening right now in our budget and what will happen in the future unless we take action.

• At the end, I’ll ask you to write a letter to your state representative or senator. – This is a participation grade; you may read to yourself

or do work from other classes.

• Questions before we begin?

NO NOTES

How Did This Happen?

• “One system built on another…”– Your dad is fired from his job– Less money for your family.– Family decides to eat out less to save money.– No sales tax collected from your visit to

restaurant.– No sales tax = no money given to the schools– Multiply this by millions of people = millions of

dollars in cuts.

NO NOTES

How Did This Happen?

• “One system built on another…”– Less money given to a restaurant employee

means he/she cannot afford to buy a house– This leads to the real estate market crash we

are experiencing now.

NO NOTES

How Did This Happen?

• In reality, it is no one’s fault; the economy has always had its ups and downs.– 1929: Great Depression/stock market crash– 1970’s: Oil Crisis = high gas prices– Early 2000’s: 9/11 attacks

NO NOTES

The Budget

• $301,000,000 (2007)• $277,000,000 (2008)• ? (2009)NO

NOTES

The Budget

• $301,000,000 (2007)• $277,000,000 (2008)

• From my first year here to this yearabout 27 million dollars in cuts had to be made.

NO NOTES

The Budget

• How are we still here with extra-curricular activities, programs, and teachers?– No new teacher hires– No summer school– Reduce school budget– No new technology purchases– Streamlined bus system– No out of county travel– Reduced substitute budget– Turn off power to computers daily– Turn off AC at 4 pm daily– No field trips by school personnel – Laid off one custodian and one librarian at each school

NO NOTES

The Budget

• The budget has been cut by 27 million; adding up all the stuff I just showed you, saved the county 27 million dollars.

• Ergo, we have a balanced budget.

NO NOTES

The Budget

• Problem is, for 2009-2010 school year, we have to cut the budget by an

• ADDITIONAL 33 million dollarsNO NOTES

The Budget

• What will be cut?

NO NOTES

The Budget

• What will be cut?– Teachers (293 positions)

• First year teachers will not come back• Second year teachers probably will not come back. (Hampton)• Third year teachers may not come back• Fourth year and above will be “Safe.”

– Supplements for Programs• Band, FFA, Anchor, Film, ROTC, etc.

– Buses (<2 miles from school = you walk)– Elementary schools—no art, music, PE– Take away 36 days from the school calendar– Close schools

NO NOTES

What Can I Do?

• One person CAN make a difference, but if we all band together to write letters to our school legislators DEMANDING that some action be taken, then change will happen.

• Look at all the programs and lives that will be affected by this.

• Make your voice heard.

NO NOTES

What Can I Do?

• On sheet of paper, write to:– Steve Oelrich (district 14) [Senator] OR– Chuck Chestnut (district 23) [Representative]

• Tell them what these cuts will mean to YOU and to YOUR SCHOOL. – Talk from the heart.– Give a personal story about me, another teacher, or a

club/program at this school that has affected your life.– Be appropriate and non-threatening.

NO NOTES