$: 7/29/2009
The majority of the deficit IS from cuts. Less than 30% is from insurance increases, which is determined by the state insurance plan, not the teachers union, and the insurance is not just for the teachers. Teachers are taking cuts. With every program they cut, a teacher's pay is cut. When summer school was cut, several teachers lost pay. When department chairs are eliminated, teachers lose pay. The union did NOT create this deficit with "demands". Teachers received no additional money, and in fact several will make less due to cuts in programs. These teachers will in 3 weeks be faced with many more students in the classroom, and they will do their best to give them the same level of education as they have been receiving. Instead of people critisizing these teachers, it would be nice if they did something to help. The finance situation is bad, and the teachers are going to be living it every day for the next 9 months. The next time elections roll around, maybe people ought to look at the candidates voting record on public school issues.
(Posted by: a teacher)

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Let's Get Real and Realistic: 7/28/2009
The HUGE Majority of the district's fiscal deficiit is NOT state funding cuts, but rather increases in insurance costs to meet the demands of the teachers' union. Let's get real, where is the teachers' union and the insurance brokers (including those insurence brokers on the shood board) in giving a bit to making this work out? They have not shared the pain of the REAL problem, and have blamed the state. Local teachers are paid FAR MORE than comprable positions with Bachelor's or even Maters Degrees. It i time for sacrifice by the teachers' union, teachers, administration and insurance companies; not the state or local kids!
(Posted by: Parent, Professional and Owner of government serivces )

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get the facts Bert!: 7/28/2009
" I have NO sympathy for the BOE, Unions, or Board" "Bert Wilek" What do you have against the Unions Bert? Maybe if you had enough courage to find out the truth and stop listening to the crap this idiot Schwartz keeps feeding the public, you might learn something and you will learn the Unions aren't the ones getting rich here bub, in fact the custodial union on average makes less then most places in town such as the battery plant, adronics, the scafolding plant ect. Don't blame the Unions!!! ask Schwartz why he don't send his kids to 489!
(Posted by: feed up)

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Isn't 2/3 of public monies enought?: 7/28/2009
Isn't 2/3 of public monies enough to give? Most state funded activities, have been cut more than 10 fold more than education. Fair is fair. But unfair is unfair. Schools need to accept cuts on par with other cuts in state funded functions. The Legislature and local people have spoken. Let's move on. Schools have yet to accept their fair share of cuts.
(Posted by: Cappy Wiere)

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A Call To Action : 7/28/2009
It's time to stop pointing fingers at each other and start pointing to solutions. We need to be PROACTIVE not REACTIVE! If we can receive recognition for our academic achievements, then surely we can work together to solve the problems presented by the budget crunch. This is a call to action to every member of the community. The Board must continue to confront administrators re: their budgets. Administrators must present a prioritized list for their individual schools. No one says this will be easy, but that is why they are paid the big salaries. They, like everyone and everything else, must justify their a worth. Parents need to support the educational process. I'm not talking monetary support here. Learning does not take place in a vaccum. Don't under estimate the value of everyday activities. Even the simple act of cooking a meal with your child affords you the opportunity to incorporate Language Arts and Math along with engaging in family time. Money may be in short supply but the value of volunteerism is immeasurable. Listen to a child read. Walk one across the street. Assist a kindergartener in carrying his tray during lunch. Supervise recess and reinforce the social rules of good sportsmanship. You can make a difference. Our students can be enriched by an educational process that includes curricular AND extracurricular activities. But, we must ALL be ready to give in order for our children to receive this. We need to protect their interest and spend less time protecting our own.
(Posted by: Refusing to Give Up!)

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Education and other budget cuts: 7/28/2009
Education has NOT been cut nearly as much as many other parts of state government. Many of the agencies that have been cut much more by state government than schools, compalin less and make do with what they have, and do NOT have the ability to raise local taxes, and do NOT have the very large administrative costs and Union driven cost that the local education system has. I have NO sympathy for the BOE, Unions, or Board. The voters have spoke as has the legislature, and the administration and school board have NOT focused on the basics as have many other parts of government who have had larger cuts in funding, for just as important functions.
(Posted by: Bert Wilek)

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fast to blame: 7/28/2009
I think it is somewhat comical that everyone wants to lay the blame on the local administration. The district is in this situation because the state doesn't think our children's future is important enough to fund. People are too lazy to research their representatives on a local and state level and vote. They would rather sit at the computer and complain about the aftermath. Voting for the president isn't the only thing to vote for. Nothing will change until people make an effort to change it.
(Posted by: grateful for my right to vote)

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Increase: 7/28/2009
How can a school board claim that a school district is in need of money without realizing that the families of the students are in the same situation? The recent economic struggle does not fall only on institutions, but on residents as well. USD 489 should be prepared for parents to be unable to afford the cost of enrollment this year.
(Posted by: Peeved)

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Run for election: 7/28/2009
To all the complainers out there "Have you ever considered running for school board?" It is a thankless job and a hard job when the superintendant of our school district really has no set plans on what will happen when the next wave of cuts come in. At least there are 2 people on the board who are not afraid of speaking out and voicing their opinion and voting against things even though their ideas hardly have a chance to pass when there are 4 people on the board who only answer YES to whatever Fred suggests! I wish the board would start thinking for themselves and act like the governing board to which they were elected.
(Posted by: voicing an opinion)

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Problem: 7/28/2009
I agree, the BOE does have some very difficult decisions to make. I also agree with members of the board saying that there are no "great" solutions to these problems. I do have a problem with the comment from Rich Kraemer. He told the voters/citizens of Hays, "Shame on you", for not passing the LOB in April. He was elected to serve on the board by those same people, and I think that he should be a little more grateful. Does he realize that people have lost their jobs in this community, and more are facing the possibility of unemployment? Does he realize that everything has gone up in price? We are already paying for a sports complex. No one has a lot of extra money to spend, and times are tough for EVERYONE. If you do not have money, or a job for that matter, you cannot willing vote for additional taxes. All I am saying is that there have to be other ways of dealing with the problems constructively, rather than blaming the community for voting no.
(Posted by: Voter/Citizen of Hays)

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Administration did step up!!: 7/28/2009
They stepped up and looked out for themselves when they pushed their new contracts through!! I agree with too many administrators at the HS. Maybe if they had to do more they wouldn't have time to go work out at the gym during the day!
(Posted by: Parent)

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Reality: 7/28/2009
If you all really knew what the administration did and you had to put in their hours you would realize they don't earn near enough. They do perform all the "extra duty" tasks such as lunch room supervision, activity supervision, hall supervision, etc. in addition to the IEP meetings, discipline, paperwork, scheduling and much more that is not noted by the public eye. That is a job that most would not even want to undertake! Oh, would any of the board members take a pay cut when their businesses were in need of funds don't think Greg or Darren would go for that!
(Posted by: Get Real)

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Administration: 7/28/2009
"I feel like the administration has stepped up," Alan Moore said. "They have paid their dues. I think they're all doing a great job." ------------- How have they stepped up? Have they taken a pay cut? Volunteered for extra duties without pay? What are they doing
(Posted by: Fed Up)

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: 7/28/2009
I want to know what happens if we cannot afford to pay the increase. Are they not going to allow my child to go to school? HHS has way too many asst principals that collect a pay check for doing absolutely nothing. I say get rid of one of them and actually make the others work for a change. I also don't think everyone should have to pay extra to have all day kindergarten when it is not mandated. If you as a parent want your child to attend all day kindergarten then you should be footing the bill not the rest of us.
(Posted by: HHS Parent)

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Cutting OUt Sub Teachers: 7/28/2009
It is a shame that the district is going to budget on the back of kids having substitutes, especially long term subs. It will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to sign up for long term sub positions and what luck the district will have even getting short term subs. How much were administrators' salaries cut?
(Posted by: Bert Wilke)

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$350,000 for Assistant Coaches?: 7/28/2009
A 15% reduction in assistant coaches line item resulting in a $56,000 cut, means we are paying still over $300,000 for assistant coaches....that $300,000 would cover the cuts to subsittues and the 6 teacher positions that were cut. Oh yeah, we need to also budget for janitorial and other supports for the new weight room too, probably. Where are our priorities. The state Constitution provides the state provide and education, not extrcurricular sports! (Posted by: Bert Wilke)
(Posted by: Bert Wilke)

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Administration: 7/28/2009
The administration is of course looking out for themselves. That is why they pushed their new contracts through so fast. I don't see why some of them can't go out and do the crossing guard jobs after school and before school. I know other small schools that have administrators that fill in like that when they need to. I guess when you have the status of an administrator in a big school like Hays High you are too good to stoop so low.
(Posted by: Parent)

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school trips- response: 7/28/2009
To a "teacher/a tax payer/ parent" .... the out of district trips being cancelled ... I bet it doesn't apply to athletics ... Liberal, Garden City, etc., etc.,
(Posted by: Disgusted)

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Time to Step Up: 7/28/2009
Its time the citizens of Hays put their volunteer foot forward. Every grade school need play ground monitors, cross guards, lunch room cleanup helpers, library aids, and teachers helpers. Volunteers need to be prepared to commit to a defined time and day for at least a semester, so that building adminstrators can cover all of the gaps. Thanks.
(Posted by: Grandfather of 5)

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: 7/28/2009
I guess as a parent with 3 children in the district my biggest problem isnt the increase in fees. Its the notice we had. A couple of weeks to come up with an extra $300 plus school supplies. I guess we wont be getting any groceries this month.
(Posted by: scott)

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In support: 7/28/2009
To 'increased fees': All field trips already have been cut. That happened back in June. To 'stupid': I've been directly involved with the local schools, both as a parent and a teacher, for more than 25 years. My experience has been that every one of the administrators and every one of the board members truly does care deeply about children and school. It's a thankless job, particularly in tight times, and they sure wouldn't be doing it if they didn't care. To 'good planning, administrators': Our district was way ahead of the state and national trend when they started offering all day kindergarten for everyone, largely thanks to Mr. Kaufman's efforts. This is only one example of their commitment to services and excellence for children. Now that things have gotten tight, you think they should take a pay cut? Don't we owe them a little loyalty? To 'frustrated mother': There will be a list in the Tuesday paper of other cuts. There were also numerous cuts made in June. Every teacher in the district will be affected in some way, either by having more students in a class, or having more extra responsibilities, or less pay for extra duties. Plus, many of us are also parents and share your frustration at the extra charges. We've gotten used to having it pretty good for many years, and now, unfortunately, the national and state economy are hurting everyone. Our board members and administrators are doing the best they can with the hand they've been dealt, and are trying to spread the burden as evenly as possible. They've been warning us this type of thing was coming. How many of you who are complaining about the higher fees voted against the local option issue in the spring? If that would have passed, they wouldn't have had to raise the workbook fee OR charge for all day kindergarten, and it would have probably cost you around $10-$12 a year.
(Posted by: A teacher/parent/tax payer)

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Rising Costs: 7/28/2009
Just look at what Wichita had to cut! Look at what Ellis also cut, etc., etc. Folks, the ones to blame are the state legislators who fail to do their jobs by not properly funding schools as our Constitution states then pass it on to local governments (schools). We do have one board memeber simply trying to get the superintendent removed and cut administrators, and his one puppet as a previous post mentioned. Cutting those won't solve the problem created under NCLB mandates, but neither will cutting teachers. Kansas had abundant revenue when Bill Graves was governor but he threw it all away (with legislative approval)with refund checks to taxpayers instead of saving it and accumulating intrest money. I bet you can't remember what you did with that money back then, but you're paying for it now with increased cost in textbook fees and cutting teachers. For federal programs such as Title I schools, you have Congress and former President Bush to blame. Unfunded mandates for education; Penalties for failure without funding for success. Don't blame the board (the majority of them).
(Posted by: Be Reasonable)

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Thanks: 7/28/2009
Thanks to ONE board member for trying to make the RIGHT decisions - the HARD decisions. He is the ONLY one looking at what is good for the kids. The rest of you just don't want to stay on the good side of the administration. It takes tough decisions in tough times - the rest of you BOE memebers need to step up and YOU guys need to quit being the puppet.
(Posted by: THANKS)

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CHOICES. . .: 7/28/2009
This is a tough time, there's no doubt about that. So my first thought goes to all things "extra". Yes it is proven that kids all seem to do better with their extracurricluar activities but "extra" is the operative word. Until we get through this I would think we have to concentrate on our basic needs. I'm not sure the real hard choices are being made here. Alot of us had to take a cut, etc. We have paid our dues as well in our career choices and choose to stay or go. It is also a proven moment that many many adminstrators or upperlevel mgmt make a pile of money and not always warranted. It is also an established fact that our society places more value on sports than education. Look at what society pumps into that venue. We've had our cake and ate it too for along time now. When the frosting becomes a little hard to spread, it's the things that we profess to care about the most that takes the beating.
(Posted by: Tired and Broke)

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Stupid: 7/28/2009
If they really care about the kids (which they dont) and the schools (again, no) they would stop paying the board members for the 2 hour lunches where they 'sharpen their oldguy basketball skillz' and stop paying Fred so damn much to talk like an uneducated Walter Matthau. For what he does, does he REALLY earn those 6 figures?
(Posted by: The BOE sucks)

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good planning, administrators: 7/28/2009
Our board rewards the administrators with keeping their contracts intact but make all of the parents pay (all within less than 10 days) a whopping 500%+ more in fees. Good job, Board, way to hang with your administrators and screw the taxpayers (who already shell out a chunk in property taxes)
(Posted by: Disgusted)

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BOE thankless job: 7/28/2009
Appreciative of most of the board's efforts to try and do what is best for students. I think one board member only has one agenda and that is to get rid of the Superintendent. I wish his puppet would do what he has shown he can do in the past and that is to vote with his conscious versus being strung by one person. The one board member is not a professional guy, classes when it comes to dealing with people on a professional level. If he doesn't like how things go why doesn't he just resign and go on to his court room antics in the court room. Thanks to the rest of the BOE for trying to do the right thing for kids without a hidden agenda in very, very difficult times.
(Posted by: Tired of the unprofessionalism)

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Either way I pay the difference: 7/28/2009
My youngest will be in Kindergarten next year and I would have figured out how to pay for a full day of Kindergarten. Now I will find a way to pay for my oldest two and the extra work book fees. Like so many others we do not qualify for reduced or free lunches, but we don't have anything extra, either. But now I still have to pay more for the other 2, with the threat of paying for all day Kindergarten as well, next year.
(Posted by: Tired)

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New Fee!: 7/28/2009
So tell me what happens to my child if I can't pay the extra $85? I figure I can either pay that or send my kid over to a board members house for lunch! Wonder if they will pick-up and deliver?
(Posted by: Frustrated)

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increased fees: 7/28/2009
Why not cut some of the field trips out of town, such as taking the students to Wakeeney to bowl,taking the beg bus to haul around one or two students, the bus drivers are paid to set and wait while the students attend the activity. Cut some of the travel expenses for Mr. Hester and his staff. Match fundinfor the organizations or classrooms who do some of their own fund raising. This would teach children how to urvive in tough times. Create a program to get suggestions from other paarents or other schools. Go to longer school days to save on energy costs, increase family time.
(Posted by: concerned for youth)

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: 7/28/2009
I get to pay an extra $255 that i dont have for the kids to go to school thats great
(Posted by: stan)

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$100 Fee: 7/28/2009
Wow - $85 per student is a LOT of money. And if you have 3 kids in the school district that is an extra $255. This doesn't even include all the other fees we have to pay to enroll our children. And we are stuck in the middle - we don't qualify for "free" lunches - but also don't make a ton of extra money either.
(Posted by: Concered Parent)

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: 7/28/2009
Yes, Lame, that is right! They can't budget their pocket books when times get tough, but the rest of us have and will continue to do so. We all have our 'suggestions' on how to deal with this, I guess I was not prepared to pay 6 times last years enrollment fee to make up for the deficit. So, please, someone tell me what areas/things HAS the district 'cut' to make up for the deficit (besides enrollment fees/substitute teacher reduced pay)?
(Posted by: Frustrated mother in Hays)

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Thanks!: 7/28/2009
Thank you so much for keeping all day kindergarten! The academic benefit will be wonderful for all those students. No it is not mandatory - but it does help academically. Kids these days are doing things in Kindergarten and 1st grade what we did in 2nd & 3rd grade thanks to testing standards. You also realize you still don’t have to send your child all day to kindergarten right? If you want them to go half day only send them half day! I choose to send my now 3rd grader and will choose all day (if still available) my preschooler in 2 years. The $100 (from $15) textbook/materials fee is a steep! That will be a hard one to swallow along with the increase in Lunch prices come enrollment next week! Not something we had planned for. I wish this could have been decided much earlier so parents could save up! Education is very important to us and we will make it work. I AM GLAD I DON'T HAVE YOUR JOB - and I AM VER APPERCIATIEVE OF ALL YOU DO! If you don't like the way the BOE works then run for the position or shut your mouth, please!
(Posted by: Mom of 2)

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LAME: 7/28/2009
So since the state of KS, County of Ellis and City of Hays can't budget and handle their own checkbook, they are now going to dip into the parent's checkbooks... god I love government.
(Posted by: P.O'd)

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$100 fee!!: 7/28/2009
So in other words, everyone is going to pay so that we keep all day kindergarten. All day is not mandated by the state. I paid for my children to attend pre-school, which was also not required. That was my choice to increase their education. It would have been my choice also to pay for all day kindergarten. Instead, we now get to all pay $85 more per child to attend school as the state mandates. Not all of us have the extra money, yet we don't qualify for assistance. Another brilliant one BOE.
(Posted by: what are they thinking?)

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school board meeting: 7/28/2009
Dear Board Members, As elected officials,you are responsible for making constructive decisions about our childrens future education. However, your actions in last nights meeting made excellent reality show tv which will probably make you-tube. Maybe if you performed your job like professionals, you could accomplish what's right for our children instead of your own individual agendas.
(Posted by: concerned parent)

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reduction: 7/28/2009
? for the inside~! What deal are you talking about?
(Posted by: just wondering....)

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REDUCTION: 7/28/2009
The over paid over staffed Principles at Hays High need to come to the table. Hester after the deal with Randy over Paid Pfanstiel. You out of all need to look around at your and your buddies pay Checks and maybe cut out one of them, that there would give 489 the room to keep everything that you are trying so hard to take away from our children.
(Posted by: THE INSIDE ~!)

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