District begins cutting teachers

My student recently mentioned that, due to the budget cuts, the block days at the HS are being replaced with regular schedules (seven classes per day). How do the cuts affect the scheduling changes?

CuriousParents,

If you call the MHSD office(587-2580) they can explain it to you.

William Murray

Seven classes a day instead of eight=less teachers needed. In addition, on the block schedule, teachers get one prep hour on A days and one on B days. This way, they will have only one prep hour for ever six hours teaching instead of two, which will help increase class sizes, I imagine.

My concern is whether graduation requirements will be changed since we have one less hour a day to fill with potential credit. We apparently require the most credits of any school in the state to graduate.

Thank you, Christy. Hopefully graduation requirements will not change or cause any problems for you all.

SunshineChristy. Thank you for answering the question. Did you ever consider running for the School Board?

I'm 16...so no.

That'd be cool though.

Some 8th graders' parents I know are seriously considering options such as homeschooling and even MOVING to Boise for next year because the increasing class sizes at the high school (resulting from Luna's plan)-- if 30 students for a teacher is problematic, what will happen with 40? Plus, the idea of requiring online classes is a worry to them -- they worry their kids are going to be the 'guinea pigs' and may not be as successful if they have to use online classes.

I don't understand why the district should loose any teachers next year. Wasn't Mtn Home proactive in passing a bond during the elections to protect itself from teacher layoffs? What exactly is the district going to do with the tax money we've already approved if it's not going to keep teachers?

Does anyone know exactly which classes or programs are being cut?

Wow. For 10 years student enrollment in MH schools has been on the decline. For nearly 10 years...the MHSD cut little and ran like they had high numbers. Nobody wants to look at the big details in all of this. For YEARS these fat cats at the district office have lived high on the hog. Where has all the money gone (kind of like the Peter Paul and Mary song Where Have All the Flowers Gone)?

How about if we focus on some of the facts here for just a moment. Nearly anyone in MH, who still has a job, has faced paycuts, doing the same job with less people, etc. Why do some feel that teachers are exempt from this mess we are in?

Go to a MHSD Board Meeting and see how they treat the public if you question them. See how they treat you if you DARE ask questions.

Pardon me if I do not feel the pain right now for the MHSD. We have all had to cut things...but not the MHSD. They are exempt...or so they must think.

MGHM:

I know that Drama and Art are on the chopping block.

Hmmm. Recently, (last year) the voters of Mountain Home took to the polls to vote on a levy for school athletic programs which caused an increase in our property taxes. This levy is to last a minimum of 2 years. "It's for the children," was the rally cry. Yesterday, a school aged girl came to my door selling cookie dough. "What is the money going to be used for," I asked? "To support the school softball teams." was her reply. Now really, enough is enough! While I may applaud students wishing to help fund their school athletics by going out and selling goods, this amounts to nothing more than double-dipping. Where is the money allocated by the voters? What is being done with it those millions of dollars? Again, it appears as though the school district needs to account for these funds as they need to account for all the taxpayer funds they receive. Not one more penny until a full accounting is made.