Steamboat Pilot & Today

Support School Board

I can't believe the editorial in the newspaper on class size. You should know better. The School Board was the only one with the courage to stand up to the small but vocal minority on class size. The newspaper should be applauding the board, not criticizing it. Finally, someone did what is right. Finally, someone did what was financially responsible. I support our School Board.

Board gets no respect

I think there has been a significant lack of respect for the work our School Board has done to deal with the financial issues facing the district. Does anybody really know what the class sizes are? If we are within the stated goals of 20-to-1 overall, why are we screaming for three more teachers? Here's the deal -- something has to give.

What should we cut to make class sizes smaller? How about teacher salaries? What if we do what some have suggested and just have the superintendent control everything from buses to CSAP scores to lunches to athletics to building maintenance? Not only could we save a bunch on central administration, let's go another step and get rid of the principals. A good superintendent could handle their jobs too, right? Those who think they have all the answers should be careful what they wish for.

Add some teachers

I am amazed at how anti-teacher, anti-parent, anti-student and anti-principal our current School Board is. Do any of these people have children attending any of our schools? If so, they might be a bit more sympathetic to their plight. How about cutting some money from the content standards department and adding some teachers. Last time I checked, education was about teachers educating students.

Stop squandering

Perhaps the School Board would be compelled to accept the gift from the Fund Board had the board not squandered money toward attorney fees, mediation, and other frivolous areas. It's obvious that some School Board members don't have the student's interest in mind.

Cut administration

Cut administration. Hard-working teachers and support staff are confounded by a maze of nearly 400 pages of policies and procedures. Parents are often frustrated by the more than 60 committees, all channeled through the superintendent before reaching the School Board. Simplify the process with the input of ideas from students, parents and teachers.

Don't cut programs

I think the school district needs to cut some of the administrative positions. I don't see why we need assistant principals at both the middle school and high school. I don't believe we have to have a parking attendant at the high school. I would hate to see any of the programs cut.

Cut the ineffective

I think the facilities director's job should be eliminated, and that would help a lot in balancing the school district's budget. Also, the district should look at eliminating those administrators who are ineffective.

Cut big-wigs' income

I am calling regarding the question about the school district budget. Why don't we cut back on some of the hierarchy's income? In corporate America, it seems the top executives get paid beaucoup bucks and the workers who actually keep the company running smoothly -- the ones you couldn't have a business without -- get the shaft.

Reconsider gift

I'm very sad, mad and frustrated at the School Board's decision not to accept the Fund Board's gift for three elementary teachers for one year. Why not receive the gift for one year? If someone were to offer you a massage would you say no because I might not get one next month or next year? No, you would accept it and get the benefits for that time. Please reconsider, School Board.

Cut administration

Administration should be cut to help the school district balance its budget.

Trim the fat

Administration. There's a lot of fat that can be cut from the administration. The teachers are necessary. We are asking for more teachers, we can't cut them. The programs are very beneficial to the kids. I think that some of the higher-ups need to re-evaluate why they are there, as well as their salaries.

Consolidate jobs

It is interesting that the positions in the RE2 administration have increased significantly in the past 10 years. For example, do we need a full-time director of food services to serve four lunchrooms? A facilities director for four or five buildings seems excessive for a full-time job. Couldn't the facilities director also manage the maintenance and the bus schedule, thus saving more money? This is a small district. It doesn't need 10 or more people in the district office. Perhaps the School Board needs to look closely at administration jobs that have been added and funded by the Fund Board or have been around too long.

Focus on students

The school district has a lower ratio of school district employees to administrators (central office and school principals) than it does students to teachers. Isn't it time for this board to reduce the number of administrators at the central office and focus on its students getting the best education possible? Why do we need a director of facilities, a director of transportation, and a director of food services? Couldn't a single director of operations handle these jobs? I think its time we get a new board.