Porkucation anyone?

The school budget shortfall has been heavy on my mind lately, I have 4 kids coming down the pipes of the public school system in Austin.  I am also pursuing an degree in education, and I see the need for more teachers, and am disgusted that school districts are having their hands forced, and are making difficult choices such as closing schools and letting teachers go.  Increasing classroom sizes to unmanageable numbers is dangerous and does not create a good learning environment.   I am very worried about special education services.  I don't think people understand the health care crisis that will happen in the next 10-20 years if children with special needs such as Autism don't get the help they need to become functioning, empowered citizens instead of living in state-funded assisted living facilities for their entire adulthood.

But are the districts really cutting all that they can?  I used to work for a semiconductor company, and the industry is notorious for glorious highs and frantic lows in the market.  During an especially low time, an energy saving campaign was launched, designed to save the company money on the electric bills.  Our hours were reduced.  Less hours, less pay.. but we all had our jobs.  Perks and incentives were cut.  No more frivolous company parties or free food/lunch in the break room.  Employees were asked how we could cut costs in our areas, where we were experts on what was being wasted.  Anything to keep people working and in their jobs.

Aside from the fighting Gov. Rick Perry to accept the $830 million dollars in funding from the federal government, what else can be done to save money?  This blog from EmpowerTexans.com shows evidence that some school districts could do better in saving money, which in turn could save the jobs of some of the teachers who need to teach our children.

Especially alarming is the news that the Beaumont ISD superintendent is getting a pay raise during this fiscal crisis.  I respectfully suggest that this raise be declined.  This example of insanity leads me to something I thought of many weeks ago.. where is the suggestion of a pay cut for the top brass at AISD?   I don't see Dr. Carstarphen offering to take a reduction off her $283K salary.  When I worked for the aforementioned semiconductor company, one of the cuts they made was a 10% across the board salary reduction for all managers at a certain level.  Why hasn't this been offered as a solution to help save Texas schools?  How many teacher jobs could we save?   Andrew Kerr, author of this blog, has provided some valid points that raise questions about how much school districts really trying to save money in the face of reality that Gov. Perry likely isn't going to accept federal funds.  It would be interesting to see what other pork can be found in local school districts, not just in Beaumont.