There isn't really much to say, but I promise to keep you in the loop of what I know, as much as I can. The Budget Crisis team is staying on top of the information and are meeting again this week. Some folks have submitted ideas that could be a cost savings for the District, and they are appreciated. I will tell you though that some of the ideas, while sent with the best of intentions, could really impact another job family. For example: if we were to consider going to a four-day workweek, most of us would continue to have our regular paychecks ~ but not our bus drivers. The sacrifice that they would make would be completely unfair, so four day weeks are not on the table right now.

A parent suggested at a listening session that all students bring their own supplies and that teachers stop handing out pre-printed worksheets. As I reflected on that, it almost became like the 'house that Jack built.' Here's how it impacts so many of us if we stop printing worksheets:

The teacher asks an IA to develop a form on the computer,

Then the IA asks the School Office Specialist to fill out the form to order print, and the SOS puts the form into a courier envelope,

Then the SOS packs the school mail into the courier bag,

Then the District Mail Courier picks up the bag with the print order,

Then the Mailroom sorts out the mail,

Then the Reprographics Office Specialist sorts out the mail,

Then the Reprographics Printer sets up the machine to print the order (on paper that has been sorted and shelved by another ESP at Repro),

Then the order is wrapped and prepared for mail and sent to the Mailroom,

Where it is sorted to go back to the school by the Mailroom ESP,

And then picked up and delivered by the Mail Courier ESP,

To the school where the SOS ESP unpacks the bag and sorts the mail into the teacher's box,

Where the IA ESP picks it up.

And then takes it back to the classroom, and hands it out to the students,

Some of whom crumple it up and toss it towards the trash can, but not all of them make it. And the Custodian ESP has to pick it up at the end of the day.

That's just the story of one piece of paper for a classroom. We have over 40,000 kids in this district, and we ALL have a part to play that is impacted by one or two simple things. When we think about cutting back on anything, we have to think through the process too. Every single one of the jobs I have listed above are impacted by that one little piece of print for Mrs. Teacher's classroom.

Money saving ideas are great and as I've said before - we'll consider them all. Do understand that not all of them will be implemented though, because the domino effect happens more than we realize.

We'll stay in touch on a regular basis. Hang in there.