Before the Board Workshop meeting this evening at 7PM there will be a Public Hearing on the Contract for Excellence. The Contract for Excellence is a NYSED funding program, through which NECSD receives about $10 million. The agenda of the meeting lists three items: presentation of the 2011-2012 contract for excellence, public discussion and comment, and adjourn the public hearing.
There are two documents on the district website which provide a little information about the program. They are both linked near the top of this Codes, Policies, & Plans page. The Narratives document says in part:
As a result of closing some schools our strategy of class size reduction has been impacted. Other areas that were impacted were
extended school year programs for K-2, the elimination of math and literacy coaches, the elimination of young parents program
and leadership coaches.
The spreadsheet document lists allocations of funds for individual schools by categories such as "Time on Task", "Class Size Reduction", "HS or MS Restructuring", etc.
HUH?
What "exactly" is this money, ($9.3M) being spent on????and WHY???
If some schools are "in good standing" then why are tax dollars being spent on these schools for class size reduction?....and restructuring?....and what is "$309,202 experimental" at Fostertown?
The taxpayers pay teachers and administrators around $160 Million in salaries and benefits including extra dollars for extra college credits and degrees....Sooo why spend another $2.4 Million for "Teacher/Principal Quality"??...Did we pay for less than Quality staff members to begin with???? HUH??
Huh?
The answer to your question of $309,202 for Fostertown is simple. IT'S FOSTERTOWN! That's all, plain and simple. As far as class reduction size...how's that going to happen with all the teacher and TA cuts that have happened? WHERE DOES ALL THAT MONEY GO?!