Schools Are Where Stimulus Saved Jobs, New Data Show.

[elleng]

The best symbol of the $787 billion federal stimulus program turns out not to be a construction worker in a hard hat, but rather a classroom teacher saved from a layoff.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/us/31stimulus.html?hp

[NYC_SKP]

1. 62,000 Teaching Jobs Saved in California...

“Some of our colleagues are saying that it hasn’t done much, or was a waste of money,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said, sharing the stage with Mr. Biden. “Well, I would dispute that.”

He said the stimulus had created or saved more than 100,000 jobs in California, the most in the nation, more than half of which — 62,000 — were the jobs of teachers, professors and school administrators. Mr. Schwarzenegger noted that some people have questioned whether those teachers would actually have been laid off without the stimulus. “No, those teachers would have been gone, if it wouldn’t have been for the federal stimulus money,” he said.

:patriot:

[Cant trust em]

2. Who needs teachers?

All they do is "educate".

:sarcasm:

[Aragorn]

3. sure

in California, where they don't have the guts to tax before they spend. BFD. I mean, it's good for Ca kids.

[twiceshy]

13. So let me get this straight..........

We spent $787 Billion to save some teachers jobs. I have nothing against teachers, but I was picturing bullet trains and urban computer controlled mini-trolleys, and renovated inner-city development zones and WPA-style training for our lost-boys generation.

This sucks!

[eppur_se_muova]

4. How about a construction worker building a school?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=137&topic_id=5016&mesg_id=5016

http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/tax_credit_bonds.cfm

[Daveparts still]

5. It's Great!

To save teachers jobs there is no argument there. But stimulus means to stimulate, what they are doing with the money is to salvage jobs. It's a patch, it will do nothing to help the economy and when the monies gone then the Republicans will cry "It didn't work! We need more tax cuts"

The problem is not too many teachers, the problem is not enough money due to falling tax revenue. To save jobs we must create jobs which increase tax revenue or raise taxes. So it's wonderful to save teaching jobs but using the stimulus funds to salvage jobs is eating your seed corn.

[Tansy_Gold]

6. What are they gonna do next year? n/t

[elleng]

7. 'THEY' ???

[Tansy_Gold]

10. Okay, "WE."

What are all these school districts going to do next year, when there is no stimulus windfall to bridge the budget gap? Where are the dollars going to come from then?

Most school districts in this country depend on property taxes to fund their operating budgets, which includes teacher salaries. Property values are down, so taxes are down. As houses go into foreclosure, taxes don't get paid. Monies that come from state general funds are also down.

School districts -- and states -- that relied on "stimulus" money to supply the funds that should have come from property tax receipts are going to have to get that money somewhere else next year, unless Obama can borrow more billions from the Chinese and have them fund our "public" education system.

The wealth earned in this country is going down a gigantic sucking rat-hole, and that rat-hole's name is Wall Street. (The Iraq and Afghanistan rat-holes are subsidiaries of Wall Street.) Trillions of our dollars have been shoveled down these rat-holes while the recipients, with their seven-, eight, or nine-figure annual incomes, burst into aggrieved tears at the thought that their hard-earned obscene bonuses should be taxed AT ALL or limited AT ALL, EVEN BY THE PEOPLE FROM WHOM THEY ARE STEALING THIS FILTY LUCRE.

Tax the god-damned rich. Tax their capital gains. Tax their 10-figure inheritances. And if they can't cover their Wall Street bets, let 'em got bankrupt. It's good enough for working families who can't pay their medical expenses; it should be good enough for gamblers who've run out of credit.

This is basic economics, folks. You've gotta consume what you make and make what you consume. If you don't, you're in trouble. Long term or short term, you're in trouble. And you're in even more trouble if you're borrowing to do it. Eventually the house is gonna call in your markers and you'd better be able to pay up.



TG

[elleng]

8. WHAT A CRUMMY PLACE THIS IS!

I question priorities of DUers who don't applaud this.

and didn't notice the photo: Rosalinda Elmore, the principal of Herrick Elementary School in Sylmar, Calif., was able to avoid laying off two teachers and create a reading specialist's position with the money.

[Daveparts still]

11. Elleng

I don't think that anyone is opposed to this as much as worried whether this is the best use of stimulus money. I don't think anyone at DU is in favor of seeing teachers laid off. But the problem is more complicated than just hire/fire, what can we do to raise the revenues to adequately fund primary education permanently?

Most educational funding comes from the state level and the Terminators attitude has been to cut state workers but don't tax yachts! To cut hours for state workers while giving tax breaks to Hollywood until the economy in Sacramento suffers because those state employees are now struggling to keep their own homes. I have criticized Obama for not giving direct assistance to the states but at the same time there is not much Obama and the Federal Government can do when the state is in the hands of an idiot

[elleng]

12. Sorry Dave, but I'm about as far from California as one can be!

Our method of funding education has been messed up for a long time, and I certainly don't have answers for Calif!

[WyldRogue]

14. Well..

... over here where I live, the teachers went on strike on Oct 14, and the kids were finally back in school Fri Oct 30. For 3 days up to the announcement school was going to be back in session, the teachers and school district met for 3 days and reached a 'conceptual agreement'. That 'conceptual agreement' turned out that the teachers only met with the SD (school district) to preserve their health coverage (full coverage, no co-pay) and they plan on going back on strike either sometime this week or next.

These 'teachers' are wanting a 3.9% pay increase for the next 5 years during a time when people have lost their jobs, 401K, investments and have had their hours cut yet we as citizens of said township are supposed to hand out money we really don't have??

And yes, this SD did NOT show Obama's speech until 2 days later so they could 'review' it for the safety of the children (yea right). Would not have happened if Bush was to speak directly to them or say McCain. In general, it seems that money trumps education and I am sorry but the teachers here are the HIGHEST paid teachers where I live. When they went on strike last year, they were demanding a 5.2% increase for 3 years and then 5.2 for 2 with provisions that the increase gets stepped down by .1 until it reaches 4.7%. Now how greedy was that? The SD balked at that offer and offered them 3.9% but the teachers turned that down but luckily, it went to arbitration and school was allowed to resume. And now here we are, 1 year later and now they want the 3.9% for 5 years and 3.7 for the next 5 years. They didn't want it then but they want it now with an even higher demand for lengthening pay increase for the next 10 years. They should be ashamed of themselves.

And a side note to this saga, the SD has not bothered to mention any of the facts I submitted here. I am privy to this info because I am good friend with a council member as well as friends with a PTA member. Funny that it's our taxes they are dealing with but par for course, we are kept in the dark. Sound familiar? And yes, we live in a Repub stronghold.

And as a final note, teachers aren't in danger of losing their jobs irregardless on what is being said. I mean really, the economy was so bad that they were getting ready to lay of teachers?? I don't believe that for 1 second.....

[elleng]

15. Why are you kept in the dark?

Doesn't media cover teacher/school district negotiations?

[Daveparts still]

16. The Original Article

referenced CA, so I just assumed that you were there. Here in Atlanta they are laying off Police and fire persons. The county I live in (Gwinnett) is facing a billion dollar shortfall in revenue.

The county had borrowed money on the expected revenue and growth, Now that revenue is gone, 20% of the businesses in the county are closed and thousands of homes are in foreclosure. The new purchasers of these homes are paying lower property taxes based on the sale price.

I don't know what the answer is but I don't think that pouring money into the banks is the answer.

[alp227]

9. Well with more teachers there'll be fewer inmates

Because teachers will be saved from mismanaging districts who'd keep jerks but lay off the good ones. And more education=less crime right? In a recession we need to keep kids in check.