Senator Patty Murray claimed she was saving 3,000 Washington teachers from layoffs by spending billions of borrowed dollars (nationwide; $208 million here). It was discovered and reported here that about 500 teachers received layoff notices in May and most of those notices were rescinded, so very few teachers faced job loss in early August when Senator Patty performed her heroic rescue. See SENATOR PATTY HEROICALLY SAVES JOBS NOT THREATENED and Part II.
The Washington Education Association president rushes to her defense: Senator Murray meant to say that janitors, bus drivers, lunchroom workers, counselors, nurses, teacher aides and administrative assistants would be saved from layoff or empty positions filled.
Recent reports in The Seattle Times on the impact of the educator jobs bill overlook the number of education-support professional positions lost over the past 18 months.In this time of slow economy and cut backs what should be the priority in our schools? Teachers or bus drivers? Only 47% of school employees are in the classroom. Should we spend money we don't have for staff who are not in the classroom?Hundreds of school counselors, nurses, bus drivers, teacher aides, janitors and administrative assistants have either been laid off or their positions were not filled due to attrition. As a result, we will see too many schools this fall with too many students and too few adults to mentor, coach, mentor, teach and support those students.
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-- Mary Lindquist, president, Washington Education Association, Federal Way
Senator Patty got the bill passed on false pretenses. Now the money can be spent for almost anything, as we saw in Part II. Old trick.
Hat tip: Washington Policy Institute's blog
Posted by Ron Hebron at September 03, 2010 08:17 PM | Email ThisIn other words, not.
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on September 3, 2010 10:14 PM
Although PRes Obama is turning more and more into a one Term repeat of Jimmy Carter, he differs from Carter who sent daughter Amy to public school. Instead, Pres Obama had his children attend the ritzy private school couching it in the rationale of 'security.' But lets be honest, would you want your children attending public schools in DC given past results? Despite huge amounts of money plowed into the district, the track record out there is horrendous.
So, I give him and his wife a pass on it although he could be a stronger advocate for charter schools.
For what it is worth, Arne Duncan the head of Education has his kids in public school. Of course, he lives out in VA.
So far, Rossi has let Murray frame the campaign - that is what I call ridiculous compassion for the opponent. Come to think of it, that's what McCain did in 2008.
Posted by: KDS on September 6, 2010 12:59 PMOh, that's right. Sound Poltics last "can't lose" candidate - lost!.
Don't be surprised that while it will indeed be a successful night for Republicans nation-wide "can't lose" Rossi will find himself a LOSER election night.
That would make Weenie RINO Rossi a three time loser. But many think he was offered a deal to get into the race just to make sure that a liberty minded candidate doesn't win. Well he ensured that. Mission accomplished, so it would be interesting what position will be offered him after he loses this election.
Posted by: Steve on September 7, 2010 12:36 PM