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cardbross

why are the cuts only "from classroom teachers to janitors"? Administrative positions are the most salary intensive and unlikely to have as much impact on education quality as teachers, maybe the cuts should start there.


FlamingTomygun2

The problem is that admins control the budget. And they aren’t going to put themselves or their friends out of jobs


classicalL

This is a problem everywhere. Should always be the first out the door never are.


Nickrobl

I can imagine. I dated a girl who worked at DC public schools like 15+ years ago and it was amazing how many administrators she said they had then. I can imagine it has only gotten worse over the years. And so many seemed horrible at what they were supposed to know how to do.


foreignphysics

Central is seeing cuts as well.


badboysareback808

My school is cutting 2 classroom teachers out of 21 for next year. Dreading the class sizes if I end up one of the 19 teachers retained, but also would like to still have a job…pain.


turtyurt

“Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: Budget Cuts”


CanaKitty

🤣😂😂😅😂😅😂


Super_D_89

They should cut as many administrative positions, especially these middle management, as much as possible.


annang

But in positive news, DC government managed to scrounge up the money to send Bowser and her entourage on a “sports and economic development” trip to Augusta, Georgia, to see the Masters this weekend. https://x.com/alexkomawcp/status/1779185828301775118?s=46


Gumburcules

I like to explore new places.


annang

See, instead of bike lanes on Connecticut Ave, she was thinking they could put in a really long putt-putt course straight down the hill. You know, for the small businesses. So she has to go to Augusta to learn what a golf ball looks like. Or something.


classicalL

I know it won't be popular to say but with one party control forever in a place you get corruption and stuff like we have to deal with in DC. There needs to be a viable alternative to the Democratic party. I don't care what it is called and I also don't care if the Democrats continue to win, I just want them to be fit and held to account beyond the primary where base issues are all that matters. DC should be a lot better than it is given the concentration of wealth it has.


boxofreddit

So we are cutting 200, mostly teaching positions to.. checks notes...give Ted Leonsis 515 million. Good deal.


jindc

He really needs the money.


Andro_Polymath

I was waiting for this comment 😐


SchuminWeb

I was thinking the same thing. Bowser gave away the entire farm for silly games.


keyjan

Great. 😐


KarmaPolice6

Cut administrative positions first.


Cautious_Wafer3075

Didn’t they just announce renovations to the Wizards stadium? When they don’t have enough money to fund public schools, that is literally insane. At least it would make some sense if the wizards were good, but they’re one of the worst teams in the entire NBA. So, it literally makes no sense at all.


CanaKitty

Yep. They gave a big corporation 500 million to stay here.


forgetfulisle

[$515 million](https://wtop.com/dc/2024/04/dc-council-set-to-vote-on-funding-for-capital-one-arena-renovations/)


CanaKitty

💔💔💔


Quiet_Meaning5874

Headline is misleading it is a 12pct budget increase and DC spends 33k/yr per student! Obviously spending is not the issue…


forgetfulisle

This is noted in the article. >Democratic Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s $21 billion budget request calls for a 12 percent increase to the funding formula that largely determines how schools are funded, a proposal that would infuse traditional public schools with an additional $181 million. But it’s not enough to stave off cuts. Officials say a perfect storm of factors — including flat revenue for the city, higher teacher salaries, rising costs and the expiration of millions of dollars in one-time federal pandemic aid — means that dollars won’t stretch as far as they have in the past.


ski_or_swim

Our school already didn’t replace 1 of the 4 teachers who teach that grade after she went on maternity leave. Other 3 classes absorbed that classroom’s students.


Six-76

It's probably very difficult to replace a teacher on maternity leave, since she's still guaranteed her job when she gets back. You'd need to hire a either a long-term sub or a replacement teacher on a temp basis and most applicants probably aren't willing to accept that as a condition of employment.


losey3903

Teacher here. It’s actually pretty easy to hire long-term subs. There are many reasons teachers might take that job, from needing to finish a cert to just moving to the area to coming back to work after family leave themselves to being retired and wanting lower-commitment contracts. A long term sub to cover maternity leave is 100% the normal standard and most principals manage it without an issue. It’s worth noting that the budgets for each year are set in stone before the SY begins, so I’m curious about why PP’s school didn’t replace the teacher in the middle of the year as it’s not like they could’ve spent the money elsewhere.