Stimulus saved 26,000 school jobs in Florida

So says Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith, in a meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist today. “We've had great success in the rollout in these funds," Smith said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. "One of the things it's done is stabilize our workforce.”

About 18,200 of those jobs were teaching positions, including 6,200 special education teachers. Smith said another 2,700 K-12 jobs were created.

Comments

[terminator]

public ed:
actually you are quite confused.

Pinellas and other large Florida districts have been losing enrollment the past five years while the number of administrators/money directed to the bureaucracies have increased.

Some districts got an increase this year,some stayed the same, some got a decrease.

All got the federal stimulus money and the .25 mills shift
money.

All Florida districts are playing with significantly more money this year then they were last.

Check the final FEFP/stimulus totals with DOE if you don't believe me.

The problem with public education is most people in society are ignorant or don't care as apathy is rampant. This leads to poor quality politicians who just want to milk the system for their own benefit to easily win re-election.

Most Americans believe what they read or see on TV.

Unfortunately, most educators are lemmings and sheep which is the reason why we're in the shape we're in.

Face the facts, the districts lie to protect the hierarchy. If more teachers were in tune with what's going on or had a backbone they'd never get away with it.

[Public Ed]

Hey Termie,
When per student funding gets cut at least two years in a row that hurts the teachers, srp and other hard working employees in the districts. When the Local legislator states that Public Education received more $$ than in previous years they are being duplicitous because the number of students increased and the $$ would naturally increase. The legislature doesn't want to do their job in regards to Public Education!

[terminator]

public ed:
you need to examine all the waste at the local level.
why would legislators want to keep flushing money down a black hole?

[Public Ed]

I was wrong on the percentages according to this article:

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/1143646.html

[Public Ed]

How many jobs gave been lost due the Legislature not appropriatley funding education? 200 teachers alone lost their jobs (contract not renewed, etc.) in Pasco alone! Percent of the budget for education is down from 56% 12 years ago to 36% today, with the local effort funding the rest. Time to restructure the tax system!

[terminator]

what a bunch of hooey!
26,000 jobs my *ss!

Granted, the stimulus money has saved some jobs. Certainly not anywhere close to 26,000!

All the stimulus package has done is allow school districts to continue wasting taxpayer money.

Have they reduced the number of overpaid administrators? (No) Have they gotten rid of top administrators making $100K+ salaries? (No). Have they eliminated double dipping state legislators, board members and administrators? (No).

Thanks to Obama it's business as usual for Florida's wasteful districts. Of course very little of this money will go to teachers or to benefit students.

Has it stopped boards from buying new technology or making sweetheart deals with their favorite lobbyists/vendors/campaign contributors? (No).

If you believe this story you believe in the tooth fairy and easter bunny too!

[joepublic]

All that these stimulus funds have achieved is the prolonging of necessary cuts to the fat of our local districts. I work with all Florida districts day in and out. All I'm hearing is that the stimulus dollars have allowed districts not to fire/layoff as many people as originally intended. These are non-recurring funds that will eventually land everyone back in the same position unless tax revenues skyrocket. We'll see more schools gain Title 1 designations so they can receive more money and then all these programs and Title 1 schools will be left impoverished once the federal dollars disappear. I am extremely disappointed with the stimulus plan, the lack of its oversight, and its usage by its recipients.

[Jessica]

Thanks for sharing information with us...

___________________
Jessica
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[Yahoo!]

St. Pete Times please verify your facts. According to Pinellas there is no stimulus money for teachers jobs. I as a taxpayers would find it news, to discover exactly where my tax dollars have been spent.

[Thankful]

For all of the "right-wing" echo-chamber chatter about the stimulus program being a failed experiment due to lack of new-job creation, it seems that folk overlook the number of jobs SAVED. Those unemployment numbers would be much greater were it not for the influx of federal dollars from the stimulus program. I for one, am grateful for a President and Congress that stepped up and helped save the jobs of hard-working loved ones and friends.

[anonymous]

If countless of undocumented people continue to pour into the country/state and demolish the set (attendance) quotas, you'll eventually be closing schools and firing teachers in the near future. Of course, this country simply cannot expect to add trillions to the national debt every year, either. Ergo, something has to give. This short-term "victory" will keep this number of schools and related jobs at the stated levels, until IMMIGRATION REFORM and SPENDING REFORM are enacted. If it is not, the inevitable will, in fact, occur- schools will close; jobs will be lost.