A CONTINUATION

Friday's/Saturday's blog apparently did not raise as much questions from those that I thought would disagree with me. However, I would attempt to clarify some of the points that I was trying to make. One of course was that I was not fixating on the School District. but happened to use the Teacher's Contract settlement and to a lesser extent the specialized schools as an example. But more of that later.

We have to take into account the total costs of running governments and especially the local one. Although the PSD budget is 3 times as large as the city's; 79% of its revenue is from the State and 6% from the Feds and 16% from local taxes., that 16% makes up nearly 48% of our budget. so it does have a significant impact.,

Historically societies and even civilizations fall due to economic unrest. Today we are seeing popular people uprisings in the  Arab world. It is not because the people  want Democracy but the masses have finally reached a critical point where their poverty is forcing the revolution against the rich Oligarchy that rules with an iron hand. It was economic collapse of the Soviet Union precipitated by the Afghanistan War and the Cold War that enabled the Eastern European Nations and the Muslim Soviets to break free of the Communist rule.
 The same forces precipitated the French Revolution. The peasants had neither bread or cake. 

We could follow a similar trail to a complete change in social structure if we continue to spend  more than we have or eliminate one by one our essential services in an effort to prevent bankruptcy. The Wisconsin turmoil is symptomatic.

 This is why I have decried the raises in the Teacher's new contract (more in another blog) and have written that we must prioritize what we can afford to maintain a functioning community that will be a welcome home for its population. It may be as a cost saving measure that relying on an increased number part time workers with the savings from perks instead of full time employees may be one route. Another is  foregoing contracted raises. Another is increasing worker's contributions to health care and pension plans. Think about it.

I was going to clarify my remarks about the school system and the Barack Obama Academy as well as PAAAS. but this blog is already too long. However BOE member Hernandez in her personal blog which you should all read took exception to my comment that Barack Obama Academy was for problem children.
I would refer you to the following document form  the US Department of Education although it is 8 years old  http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/2002004.pdf  and this is the first paragraph from its Executive Summary: "Concern among the public, educators, and policymakers about violence, weapons, and drugs on elementary and secondary school campuses, balanced with concern about sending disruptive and potentially dangerous students “out on the streets,” has spawned an increased interest in alternative schools and programs (U.S.Department of Education 1996). Many students who, for one reason or another, are not succeeding in regular public schools are being sent to alternative placements.  In general, 
students are referred to alternative schools and programs if they are at risk of education failure, as indicated by poor grades, truancy, disruptive behavior,suspension, pregnancy, or similar factors associated with early withdrawal from school"
(Bold face mine.)