So, in order to cut costs and balance the budget, Cy-Fair is eliminating its professional development compensation.

Via a combination of graduate classes and professional development classes, teachers had been eligible to receive up to $450 per year to compensate them for their time taking these classes (6 Hours of Graduate Work, 45 Hours of professional development, or a combination). Now, in order to balance our incredibly bloated budget, we are losing that program so Dr. A can have his wings and catered food in his luxury box at the Berry Center and we can continue to build $150,000,000 high schools.

When I earn my HS certification this year, I'm applying at every nearby district. I am so sick of this man and his raging dumbassery. (And for the record, I used to think he was a great superintendent)

$450 a year? Boo hoo. Start slinging crack to your kids and you'll make quadruple that in a day.

Lack of ambition with teachers today, yeesh..

Hmm, I'm torn. On one hand this seems dumb. Hiring less experienced employees and building them up is a less expensive way of getting good staff. And at $450 a year, I don't see how this is not cost effective.

However, education for the sake of education isn't something an organization should blindly promote. People, by all means. But not organizations. I would be interested to see the drop in people using this.

The more I think about it, the better plan would be to reduce the money and see the impact. If it leads to significantly higher attrition and less teachers seeking development, you've at least mitigated the damages. As it is, I don't know if you have a way of measuring it.

And just so I don't seem hard-hearted, I hope A-M makes lots of money and does something fulfilling.

I know it's not very much money, but it was a nice bit to have attached to my final paycheck of the year. The district is attempting to no push the, "You should continue to go to classes for the children" angle. My problem isn't as much with losing this program as it is the combination of losing a program like this which probably paid dividends in training, yet still spending money on foolish things (like the practice pools) for HS and such.

And for the record, here are my outside activities that I do for supplemental income as a CFISD Teacher:

Football Coach (stipend)
Summer School (4.5 extra weeks of work)
Job Shadowing externship (stipend)
Inquiry-Learning based program (stipend)
These activities add another 17% to my paycheck, in addition to the private tutoring I provide. (Cypress Area, Math-Science, if anyone is interested )

Im other words, I feel like I do a fair bit to supplement my pay...but that $450 was nice, and would have helped me with my Masters' tuition.

it's unfortunate when programs like these get cut and it seems like those at the top aren't feeling the pinch at all.

give me your email address and i will talk to you about those nearby districts

Shorty, if you're serious, I will be looking for a High School Physics position.

i am serious because i know of somewhere you should consider.

pellis@aggienetwork.com

ok e-mail sent.

Every industry has had to make cuts, get over it. At least you still have a job.

I taught in 2 different districts in Texas and never received compensation for my professional development hours. There's good & bad in every district. Happy job searching!

Cy Fair also pays, on average, arond $1000 or more less than surrounding districts, so this was a nice way to make it up. But like I said, it's time for me to look elsewhere to a district that isn't having to make cuts to stay afloat.

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we can continue to build $150,000,000 high schools.

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fortunately the money used to build a high school comes directly from a bond. the bond is voted on and approved by voters in the district. the know where the money is going to when they vote on the issue.
you just can't use that money for something else.

But, as was pointed out, part of the budget is debt service, which wouldn't be nearly as high if our Middle Schools didn't look like High Schools and the High Schools didn't look like colleges. It's silly and a huge waste.

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Every industry has had to make cuts, get over it. At least you still have a job.

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Bingo.

Some of you may want to open you eyes to what is going on in the global and US economy. Many professionals are losing their jobs. Others are having similar programs cut. Others are taking pay cuts and losing retirement benefits.

Enjoy your multi-month time off.

thank you gap. your comment about enjoying our multi-month off is very original.

A nice little perk...isn't it.

Wow, I never heard that one before! Multi-month...clever!

Next will come the, "I wish I could work from 8-3" jab that we've NEER heard before.

I was always told if you didnt like a situation, and you werent forced to be in it, then instead of whining about it either A: get up and leave,or B: deal with it. No one is forcing you to work for Cy Fair ISD. If you dont like it, move to another district and spare us all the sad song and dance. You knew what you were getting into when you were hired, and if you didnt, that isnt their fault. The fact you cant decipher the limitations and restrictions on a simple bond proposal makes me hesitent to think you are nearly as in the "know" as you think. Ive always felt it was best for administrators to administrate and teachers to teach.

On a note, I dont feel sorry for anyone that has a job, and much less those who have one,and dont appreciate it. If people would put half the amount of energy in providing solutions as they do in griping about the details they disagree with , they might come up with some excellent alternatives.

OP already said he was going to do something about it:

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When I earn my HS certification this year, I'm applying at every nearby district

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It would be a nice day to relax by the pool today and still get a paycheck like many teachers are probably doing.

[This message has been edited by KW02 (edited 7/8/2009 7:57a).]

It all goes back to our legislators punishing districts with the optional extended homestead exemption (everyone gets the standard state issued homestead exemption). Their method for reformulating the state budget meant that districts such as cy-fair would have to either cut the optional homestead exemption during hard economic times, or cut their budgets, programs, and staff dramatically. I still think the right answer without a doubt was for the board to bite the bullet and take away the optional homestead exemption. In the long run the good of the district is not being served by the move to retain it versus continueing to have too notch teachers, administrators, and programs in place for our students.

Cutting teacher pay while districts around us continue to offer bonuses, stipends, and lower class sizes is if nothing else bad for morale. For those saying be glad you have a job remember that having a job isn't an issue in our profession, but competitive salary situations is. You can't expect us to sit around being thankful for our job when other districts are more than willing to hire us. We mostly complain because most cy-fair employees are very loyal to the district, and we don't WANT to leave but we feel like we would be stupid not to if things don't change soon.

As for summers off (I shouldn't even dignify this with a response but here goes...) we don't get paid. We are paid a salary for the days we work based on our contract and those payments are divided up so that we recieve equal payments through out the year. In the past teachers could choose whether to be paid the full amount during the school year and not recieve checks during the summer but that choice was cut around 6-7 years ago. Surely you can understand how payments for services rendered can be spread out over time right?

I digress...

[This message has been edited by Cypress Ag (edited 7/8/2009 8:25a).]

Do you not collect a paycheck? That's all he was saying.

I only posted this as a follow-up to the 2 threads about Cy-Fairs budget issues to let this board know of their new idea.

Consider yourself lucky not to be a teacher elsewhere. My best friend teaches in LA, and her district cut staff nearly in half and are doubling classroom sizes.

I agree w/EnergyAg.

I think Cy-Fair is in for a rough transition as in the last ten years they have changed from a suburban district to an urban one. A whole lot of attitudes are going to have to change ,from parents to residents to administration. There is only so much you can do to fight changing demographics.

As much as people say, "Nothing is too good for my kids," the answer is that some things are. There is no shame in not being able to afford something. There is in living beyond your means.

(By changing demographics, I think back on my middle and high school. Some kids just aren't going to pass TAAS (at the time) since the can't speak english and make no effort.)

CypressAg-

I'm glad you like CyFair, but don't stay out of a sense of loyalty. In today's world, that just doesn't go far. I hope this district can offer you a competative salary, but if they don't, waste no time in seeking "Better opportunities for personal development".

District needs to cut the lavish administrative and infrastructure spending NOW.

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The fact you cant decipher the limitations and restrictions on a simple bond proposal makes me hesitent to think you are nearly as in the "know" as you think.

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The debt service comes out of the BUDGET of which there is a shortfall.

If that $150M HS was less money there would be less of a budget shortfall since the debt service would be lower.

Maybe think before you stick your foot in your mouth.

Is CFISD really spending $150M on a High School?

All I can find is Cy-Ranch cost $123/sq.ft - which is pretty expensive. I have a feeling the guys in Capital Planning at CFISD are either not doing there job, or not updating standards and lowering costs by using more up to date construction techniques.

Perfect example is the renovations at Cy-Creek which I see progress on several times a week. They started almost a year ago. The stabilized bed of sand sat for weeks before the poured the new foundation for the expanded portion. Then, they built the structure out of STEEL, which went up 4x in cost over the last few years (until the last 6-months anyway). Most new buildings are concrete.

[This message has been edited by agracer (edited 7/8/2009 2:44p).]

to the op, i was under the impression that they still have the training program, you just don't get paid for them now?

anyway my wife is a counselor, and heard it through her.

and to anyone with the multi-month off comment, that's not for every employee, counselors work d*mn near through the whole summer.

and as someone else said, your payments for 10 months of work are just spread out over 12 months..

Kinda like some companies do 4 ten hour days.. If you do that, you just got 52 days off more a year.. that's almost 2 months..

bad argument.

Never consider yourself lucky to have a job. You have to approach every work day like your employer is lucky to have you.

As shown here, any employer will break it off in you if it means saving themselves. You should never feel like they owe you anything or vice versa.

I went to cy fair schools all my life. Hope they don't end up like aldine or hisd but if they do they have no one to blame but themselves. Other area districts and other similar demographic districts like round rock isd are thriving.

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Other area districts and other similar demographic districts like round rock isd are thriving.

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RRISD, similar demographics to CFISD! haha.

CFISD
Black 16%
Hispanic 38%
White 37%

RRISD
Black 10%
Hispanic 25%
White 53%

Not even close.

And RR is about 40K students, CFISD is 100K.. not that that has anything to do with good budgeting..

but the demographics comment is off.