tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post4551036300985405328..comments2024-03-08T13:49:02.231-08:00Comments on Menifee 24/7: School District Budget Cuts DiscussedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04404091189792961642noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-20437049355440856922008-04-14T11:39:00.000-07:002008-04-14T11:39:00.000-07:00I noticed one topic wasnt brought up and that is s...I noticed one topic wasnt brought up and that is school supplies.. now i'm not sure how much the district would save or if it is even worth it, but when my family moved to this area i noticed that we dont have to purchase school supplies for our children because the district provides them already.. what happened to the days of taking your kids shopping for their supplies, and why rely on the district to supply only certain supplies, then have the teachers turn around and nag parents for what they really need in the classrooms. i'd much rather supply my children with their basic needs then purchase items for the classroom, for which the district could be supplying those items instead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-92072730667788852322008-03-01T09:47:00.000-08:002008-03-01T09:47:00.000-08:00Have you seen the way some of these parents drive ...Have you seen the way some of these parents drive around the schools? Illegal U-turns,pulling out if front of each other and no reguard for anyone else ? And some of you want to count on others to help carpool kids to school? Go to MVMS at 3:00 and watch this fiasco in action...Its easy to sit back and say, "If the kids don't show up turn them in for truancy" because you have a car and someone else doesn't or their car is broken down..It's funny how all the new schools are in new neighborhoods where parents can afford better things in life...I know one neighborhood in Quail Valley has been there years, did they put a new school there, where some parents don't have cars ? NO<BR/>They put it a mile down the street where the new homes were built and parents can afford a car...The people saying its the parents resposibility to get their children to school obviously arn't in that situation ...Maybe they should think of the less fortunate ...I highly doubt they will be the first ones running to offer to carpool the less fortunate kids....The only kids suffering are the ones from older neighborhoods...I'm encouraging those parents to pick up and move out of the district...That will send a very clear message to the board that they should have cut the administration wage increases and put that money towards more transportation for kids farthest away from schools....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-40648129652230987992008-02-28T19:31:00.000-08:002008-02-28T19:31:00.000-08:00Don;t trust Menifee District - they had a bond mea...Don;t trust Menifee District - they had a bond measure to help rejuvinate Menifee Elementary and now they are kicking the staff and kids out and telling the commuinity to pass a bond and two years later close that school down. <BR/><BR/>Pay attention to measure B - who knows what they will do this time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-63666281840144328732008-02-28T19:28:00.000-08:002008-02-28T19:28:00.000-08:00Well, the Menifee Union School District has done i...Well, the Menifee Union School District has done it - Bus drivers get to keep their jobs - from 8 hours a day to 3 1/2 hours a day - boy, that hurts. On top of this, they will lose their health benefits. Have they gotten so cold that they would rather hurt someone that is just making ends meet or cut fat the the district level. They have one superintendent, three assistant superintendents, god knows how many directors, and on top of that every department is flooded with employees (all of which are paid far more than any of the staff at schools, except for maybe some teachers and principals. I attended the meeting on Tuesday and it was obvious they had their mind all made up. Mrs. Peters says she care so much for Quail Valley that she is blinded by the true meaning of a fantastic school - it is not buildings. Menifee Elementary has some old buildings but it has a lot of new buildings too. They also have a huge amount of technology. It doesn't make sense. <BR/><BR/>Anyone ready for new board members - ????????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-43761319707705717392008-02-28T16:30:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:30:00.000-08:00As a parent of one of the 320 students being displ...As a parent of one of the 320 students being displaced at this time....The board just LOST many parents/tax payers respect by<BR/>CLOSING MENIFEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.<BR/>so all of you commenting imagine having to look at your child and saying thatTHEIR SCHOOL IS CLOSING.<BR/>so just remember all of us at MES.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-56969300935360230262008-02-26T19:55:00.000-08:002008-02-26T19:55:00.000-08:00I couldn't make it to the meeting, does anyone hav...I couldn't make it to the meeting, does anyone have any news?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-65560621254662154942008-02-26T13:20:00.000-08:002008-02-26T13:20:00.000-08:00“While there is a genuine concern about attendance...“While there is a genuine concern about attendance dropping with removal of busing, most districts do not offer busing! It is ultimately a parent’s responsibility to get their students to school on time! If they don’t make their children a priority by getting them to school on time then SARB them!! Take them to court.”<BR/><BR/>“Of course children are a parent’s responsibility, but there are also many factors involved with transportation issues. What of the parent has no car? Is disabled and cannot walk the long miles to get the kid to school? Does not know anyone to start a carpool together or if they do, its out of the driver’s way to come pick up their kid? Or both parents work to make ends meet so they have to use the bus? It’s so easy to say the above comments unless you’re in that person’s shoes that relies on bus transportation. JMO”<BR/><BR/>Well, I have walked in the shoes of a single mother who had to be at work (30 minutes from Menifee) at 7am. As you know, Menifee Elementary schools are not open for drop off until about 7:20 at the earliest. So I guess it is easy for me to say that! I barely made ends meet for 4 years by cutting out everything I could in order to afford private childcare with transportation to school for my daughter, because it was my responsibility as her mother to make sure she got to school safely everyday. <BR/><BR/>I realize that the lack of transportation could cause extreme hardship, however so would getting rid of class size reduction. From the figures mentioned by the board transportation costs Menifee a huge amount of money and if we were to let it go we would be better able to afford to keep class size reduction which in my opinion and a great opinion of others is vital to our children’s educational success. <BR/><BR/>Now that we have clarified that I and probably many others out there, have walked in the shoes of someone who struggles to get their children to school, but did whatever it took to get them there, I still say “It is ultimately a parent’s responsibility to get their students to school on time!” It is not our districts responsibility! Save that money for the classroom! <BR/><BR/>I will see you all tonight! I hope we are there loud and strong together!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-66995206323269127162008-02-25T19:29:00.000-08:002008-02-25T19:29:00.000-08:00Delay the opening of the new schools!!!! Why clos...Delay the opening of the new schools!!!! Why close down an awesome school - Menifee Elementary!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-83509739057946210722008-02-25T19:28:00.000-08:002008-02-25T19:28:00.000-08:00Save Menifee Elementary - soon to be a California ...Save Menifee Elementary - soon to be a California Distinguished School! <BR/><BR/>Did you know that Menifee Elementary is in the process of earning "California Distinguished School?" Shut down a California Distinguished School????? Where is the sense in that?????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-82899320673604492432008-02-25T16:37:00.000-08:002008-02-25T16:37:00.000-08:00We have heard that the budget reserve built up was...We have heard that the budget reserve built up was 12% to 15% of this years budget. What happened to this money? <BR/><BR/>If this not a true percentage, how do we find out exactly how much we had in reserve this year and where it went.<BR/><BR/>We need to have the exact amt. before we make any of the suggested cuts.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07186251637698721298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-56217747326527474762008-02-25T15:46:00.000-08:002008-02-25T15:46:00.000-08:00As a younger teacher I really respect our site adm...As a younger teacher I really respect our site administrators and think their job is very difficult with IEP's, lawsuits, keeping staffs together, etc... I think that principals really need to have AP's at their sites and the smaller schools should have one AP to share to deal with discipline and all the loads of things that come up on a daily basis. When I hear cut Administration I think at the D.O., not the school sites. <BR/>Even if the Superintendents raise numbers are not accurate (17% over three years) it is a lot more then the teachers got (4% COLA)most likely with 0% for the next two. How about the Superintendent taking what the teacher's got. That makes sense to me. Does she work four times harder or four times as long as I do????<BR/><BR/>Vandalism at the new schools could be a problem; however, an eight to ten dollar an hour security guard costs a lot less then running A/C at two more sites for the whole summer plus all the other operational costs. Just an idea.<BR/><BR/>Keep them coming Menifee and SHOW UP TOMORROW to voice your opinion, whatever it may be! The most important thing is to keep the cuts away from the classroom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-41078030861480612452008-02-25T15:12:00.000-08:002008-02-25T15:12:00.000-08:00Since the teachers in Menifee that have been aroun...Since the teachers in Menifee that have been around for a while are terribly underpaid and haven't had a raise since their 15th year of teaching. (No, I am not one of them) How about giving them the option of a buyout to eliminate their higher salaries. A cash amount OR how about even giving them some sort of service credit. Maybe five years and then they would definitely have something to consider and it wouldn't be an immediate hit to the district financially. The district would also be helping them out with their retirement. Almost like a "I'm sorry" for not giving you raises at different steps up to 25 years like almost every other district scale in So. Cal. One day left to think outside the box. What else can we think of besides hurting the kids and teachers of this district.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-17432428117783335262008-02-25T12:02:00.000-08:002008-02-25T12:02:00.000-08:00Who would want there children to go to that distri...Who would want there children to go to that district?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-1881090515016003932008-02-25T11:15:00.000-08:002008-02-25T11:15:00.000-08:00I really hope all of the bloggers on this site att...I really hope all of the bloggers on this site attend the meeting tues to help guide our board members in what the community wants. We need to remember that although our growth has slowed, it has not stopped. The growth is down to approx 2% - 3%, but that is still growth. Our schools are too crowded and I, a teacher in the district, hope we continue to open the new schools and keep Menifee Elem. open for those families. I - for the person at the beginning who said teachers like year round - do NOT! We lose atleast 2 days of instructional time packing up and moving in to or out of a new classroom every trimester or for roving teachers - every month. That is not productive to student learning and higher achievement. Why do you think every other district has gone back to traditional schedules? We still need the new schools - we are soooooo crowded. I do agree that onsite childcare should be considered. I know Murrieta has it at all sites and it is not cheap. It could be a way to make money for the district and help our families.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-75466019271009036302008-02-25T09:30:00.000-08:002008-02-25T09:30:00.000-08:00"While there is a genuine concern about attendance..."While there is a genuine concern about attendance dropping with the removal of busing, most districts do not offer busing! It is ultimately a parent’s responsibility to get their students to school on time! If they don't make their children a priority by getting them to school on time then SARB them!! Take them to court"<BR/><BR/> Of course children are a parent's responsibility, but there are also many factors involved with transportation issues. What if the parent has no car? Is disabled and cannot walk the long miles to get the kid to school? Does not know anyone to start a carpool together or if they do, its out of the drivers way to come pick up their kid? Or both parents work to make ends meet so they have to use the bus? It's so easy to say the above comments unless you're in that person's shoes that relies on bus transportation. JMOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-89949148538989485832008-02-24T22:05:00.000-08:002008-02-24T22:05:00.000-08:00It has been said the most important element in a c...It has been said the most important element in a child's educations is his teacher. Recently the superintendent in Los Angeles schools stated that he would not lose a single teacher to the budget crisis. Beyond academic importance, at the elementary level, the teacher is entrusted with the safety of their students. In today's environment, that task has become much more formidable and difficult. Teacher layoffs and increasing teacher/student ratios will only magnify that problem. We realize Menifee is faced with harsh economic realities; however, we urge you to consider all other budgetary avenues before laying off any of the teachers that are the life blood of your district. We believe that the safety of our children as well as their academic potential would be greatly compromised if teacher/student ratios were to be increased.<BR/> <BR/>Many districts are looking at "Golden Handshakes" as a way of reducing expenditures while still maintaining student/teacher ratios in acceptable ranges. The state legislature could enact laws to carry some of the financial burden such as their previous 2+2 plan. Unifying the elementary and high school districts could bring about a greater coordination and articulation between the two groups as well as saving considerable moneys with fewer administrative costs. While music programs are very beneficial, much money could be saved in that area. Teachers who agree to opt out of the districts Health plan should be justly compensated. This would encourage more employees that have double coverage because of their spouses employment to drop their coverage. This could result in huge fiscal savings.<BR/> <BR/>Whatever is decided, the decisions will certainly be difficult. We believe that whatever cuts are made, that the loss of teachers jobs should be the last resort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-33995592785984791252008-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:002008-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:00PLEASE COME TO THE NEXT MEETING! Menifee Valley Mi...PLEASE COME TO THE NEXT MEETING! Menifee Valley Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 26th at 4:00! We need to join together and fight the cuts being aimed at our children's classrooms. To have more than 20 children in a classroom in grades K – 3 should not even be an option! We need to say NO to the removal of CSR (class size reduction). <BR/>I think by delaying the opening of the new schools problems could arise. Vandalism! This would probably also put us further away from a single-track option, which to my understanding would save us money. Our schools are already overcrowded!<BR/>I think we need to closely look at the spending of our district office! They have not proposed any cuts for them! 17% raise...??? Ridiculous! Give it back! This is not the time for that! How many assistant superintendents does our district need? While yes we are growing, we are still on the small side! Eliminating one or more of these positions would save $. <BR/>All cuts considered need to be as far away from the classroom as possible! Teachers are already functioning on almost no budget for their classroom supplies. Teachers spend close to or more $1,000 a year for their classrooms. WOW! They are spending that money out of their own pockets on our children. Only $250 of which is a tax write off. Their copies have been cut tremendously which has affected their teaching and homework. Less decodable books are coming home now that they have a cut off amount to deal with. What happens when they run out of their copies? I know a couple teachers that have gone to Stapples/Kinkos to run their copies. Unbelievable that this is happening. Do teachers really get paid enough to be spending all this on our children? I don't see the district being held to a certain number of copies! We need to see how the districts money is being spent. It is most certainly not being spent in the classroom where it is needed most.<BR/>While there is a genuine concern about attendance dropping with the removal of busing, most districts do not offer busing! It is ultimately a parent’s responsibility to get their students to school on time! If they don't make their children a priority by getting them to school on time then SARB them!! Take them to court. <BR/>While music is very valuable, such a small group of our students are being given the opportunity to have music time. I think that music can be something that parents pay for. My daughter doesn't really want to learn the recorder... she would love to play the piano. I am paying for lessons outside of school! Just like I do for dance and softball. <BR/>Whatever your thoughts may be, it is important that you make your voice heard at the meeting on Tuesday. As parents we need to take a stand and unite to fight for our children’s education! They are the future!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-77147614610668492372008-02-24T10:08:00.000-08:002008-02-24T10:08:00.000-08:00There is a slide show on the district website that...There is a slide show on the district website that details populations at each school now and if we were on a trad. or mod. track system. If 6th graders stay at the el. schools, wouldn't we have very crowded conditions? Have those of you who have suggested this looked at the numbers? I am just wondering if these are well thought out, or educated, proposals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-90521567430769701142008-02-24T09:23:00.000-08:002008-02-24T09:23:00.000-08:001st - Why is it that the district bought 1 series ...1st - Why is it that the district bought 1 series for English Language Learners, than turned around and easily disposed of those materials and bought a whole new curriculum. The current reading series has an English Language Support system, why not use that? Wouldn't it make sense to support the English Learners with the stories, vocabulary and spelling that they already are doing in class instead of exposing them to a totally new story, vocabulary list, etc. If the state requires the text book companies to include this piece, why can't the district allow us to us it?<BR/><BR/>2nd- How can a district cut costs from the classroom? Teachers are expected to maintain test scores, both federally, statewide, and district wide, yet they want to add more students to the classroom. <BR/><BR/>3rd - I don't believe anyone wants to see anyone in the district loose a job, however, you need to look at what is REALLY necessary. Teachers, curriculum, and the materials to get Menifee students to achieve should be the first concern of our board and they need to stay out of the classroom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-37591092738470420932008-02-24T09:20:00.000-08:002008-02-24T09:20:00.000-08:00Another idea for a use for Menifee Elementary if i...Another idea for a use for Menifee Elementary if it is shut down would be move the district office into that building. Then they could get rid of the expense of the buildings they are currently using....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-10881674825304946242008-02-24T09:03:00.000-08:002008-02-24T09:03:00.000-08:00What about shutting down Menifee Elementary for go...What about shutting down Menifee Elementary for good and turning it into something else for the district that would generate money such as before/after school programs for example?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-44851790219806415612008-02-24T07:44:00.000-08:002008-02-24T07:44:00.000-08:00The kids should come FIRST. The classrooms should...The kids should come FIRST. The classrooms should stay smaller. The teachers that are in the lower grades have a hard enough time with 20 kids. We don't pay them enough as it is, now you want to add to their work load? That doesn't sound right. How about the school board and the admin office take the hit. 17% raise? When was the last time the teachers got that sort of raise?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-30697969169272991562008-02-24T07:36:00.000-08:002008-02-24T07:36:00.000-08:00That's not a bad idea. I also like the idea of ha...That's not a bad idea. I also like the idea of having all the elementary schools keep 6th graders at the elementary level and having middle school be for 7th and 8th. Plus moving to a traditional schedule. Those sound like great moves. I would be interested to find out if the savings that would come from moving to a traditional schedule would outweigh the grant the district receives from the state for being on multi track.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-3224468263509270532008-02-23T21:15:00.000-08:002008-02-23T21:15:00.000-08:00I don't think leaving two brand new elementary sch...I don't think leaving two brand new elementary schools empty is a good idea. I think they will be vandalized and start to deteriorate and become eyesores in the community. Why not have the Quail valley school become a K-8 school and eliminate alot of the busing costs? Get rid of free bus passes, pare down the number of administrators and counselors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5181366.post-62154316213727630502008-02-23T17:22:00.000-08:002008-02-23T17:22:00.000-08:00I vote for the delay on the opening of the two new...I vote for the delay on the opening of the two new schools. I do not think that eliminating "class size reduction" is a logical solution to the problem. Children are still being "left behind", and teachers are overwhelmed with no aides other than the parent volunteers. A larger class would only be a detriment to teaching and learning.<BR/>I would like to know what the answer was to that parent who asked about a cut on salary for school officials... How come that was not in the considerations?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com