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K-12 school leaders warn of 'disaster' from huge coronavirus-related budget cuts as layoffs and furloughs begin
The Washington Post via SFGate ^ | May 8, 2020 | by Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post

Posted on 05/08/2020 8:23:58 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON - Just as they face unprecedented new challenges and financial costs, leaders of K-12 public school districts around the country are warning of dire consequences from sharp budget cuts from state legislatures attempting to deal with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

The alarm was sounded by school superintendents in 62 cities, who sent a letter to Congress through the nonprofit Council for the Great City Schools, asking Congress for billions of dollars in new federal education assistance and warning that some 275,000 teachers could be laid off in their districts alone because of budget cuts caused by a drop in state and local revenue during the crisis. Those would add to existing shortages in virtually every state.

"[D]ark clouds are forming on the educational horizon that will spell disaster if Congress does not intervene," the letter said. "Significant revenue shortfalls are looming for local school districts that will exacerbate the disruption students have already faced. Some 40 to 50% of school district revenue, in fact, come from local sources that are expected to drop precipitously in the months ahead. This revenue decline will come on top of revenue losses in the months to come from state sources that have been more widely reported. Several big city school districts are now projecting 15 to 25% cuts in overall revenue going into next school year."

In California on Thursday, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom released a budget analysis showing a $54.3 billion budget deficit through next summer, with projections that the K-12 public schools could lose some 20% of their state funding.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: education; pandemic; publicemployees; schools
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Teachers all across this country are drawing their same salary while only a small fraction of them are working! And I’m supposed to feel sorry for them? NOT!!!!!


41 posted on 05/08/2020 9:32:51 AM PDT by eeriegeno
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Motivated students can learn at home.

Anyone remember Abraham Lincoln’s education? Abe did not have the benefit of the world’s knowledge at his fingertips on the Internet.

If they need a teacher, THOUSANDS of young people can learn from a single teacher at the same time via the Internet.

No class clowns or behavior problems can disrupt the teaching.

Also, parents can watch examples of various teachers’ presentations online and choose which teacher to be the one to teach their children.


42 posted on 05/08/2020 9:37:40 AM PDT by Gnome1949
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Teachers usually work for about 8 months a year (given all the holidays and vacays, including summer). They have good benefits and retirement plans. Maybe schools should take the cut in funds and adjusat. They could fire many “administrators”, lower teacher pay and benefits...and retirement benefits. Are teachers and administrators getting full pay this year while they are on extended vacay? Are taxpayers being given a refund on their property taxes since most schools have been closed for several months?


43 posted on 05/08/2020 9:59:45 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
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To: Gnome1949

Good idea but as part of it we need to bring affordable unmetered broadband to anyone who can not get that, subsidising that would still come in far cheaper than the current school system so it would be well worth the cost and and ‘rural broadband act’ is long overdue.


44 posted on 05/08/2020 10:05:06 AM PDT by wattojawa (Diseny: Destroying your childhood since 2010)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Red for Ed” LMAO! FOAD Commies.


45 posted on 05/08/2020 12:17:43 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
projections that the K-12 public schools could lose some 20% of their state funding

more than 80% of all Students in the Public Schools here in California are Illegal Aliens or Children of Illegal Aliens, here in Los Angeles it is 90% Plus, DEPORT all the Dead Weight and their offspring and most of the Schools will close for lack of Students. Taxpayers WIN!!
46 posted on 05/08/2020 1:28:31 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: WildHighlander57

Forget lower property taxes. Likely, they jack them up...for the children, you know.


47 posted on 05/09/2020 4:03:02 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
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To: webheart

Decreases??? I doubt it. Likely they increase them.


48 posted on 05/09/2020 4:05:08 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
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