Local Educators: Show Us the Money (OH)

September 28, 2010

Many area educators said that although they are in favor of President Barack Obama’s proposal for a longer school year and extended school days, they also are concerned about how the president would pay for the plan.
During a nationally broadcast interview this week, Obama said a longer school year makes sense. He did not specify how long the school year should be, but commented that U.S. students attend classes, on average, about a month less than children in most other advanced countries.
"Plans and proposals are gre at, but the funding has to be there to support them," said Patrick Guliano, interim superintendent at the LaBrae Local School District.
"Any plan can look good on paper, but implementing it and putting it into practice is another story. It’s a good plan. It’s a great idea. But even good plans and great ideas need the funding to make them work," Guliano said.
This week Obama appeared on NBC’s "Today" show in a live interview that focused on education.
Although state and local governments primarily are responsible for education, the federal government has a say in various programs through the criteria it places on financial aid it hands out to schools across the country.
Obama has long called for students to spend more time in school and, while addressing the subject at the beginning of the 2009-10 public school year and again in the spring, made similar comments this week regarding proposed reforms in education.
In response, local educators said they are not against his proposal, they’re just not sure it’s very practical, especially considering financial challenges already placed on the education system.
Kathryn Hellweg, Warren City Schools superintendent, said she has worked in school districts where students spent more time in their classrooms, whether through longer school years or longer days.
"And it worked really well," she said. "But we cannot expect to put such programs and plans into action without compensating the teachers and support staff who would be working the extended hours. It would need to be worked out with the community, with the school staff, with everyone involved."
She said Warren already has a slightly longer school day than what is required by the state. She also noted educators realize students would benef it with more time in school.
"It could help students, but we would have to be able to pay for it," she said.
Likewise, other local superintendents, including Stan Watson in Liberty, said Obama’s ideas and proposals are admirable.
"As long as there’s some funding to go along with them," he said. "As long as the funding is available to go along with it, that would be great."
David Bair, superintendent at Joseph Badger Schools, said he doesn’t believe any educator would be against providing students with more time in the classroom.
"I don’t think any of us have a problem with that," he said. "But to do that they need to pay for it. Extend it, fund it or not. That’s it. No matter what, it comes with a price and someone has to pay for it."
Obama also has said he is looking for 10,000 teachers to be recruited over the next two years in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
The president has also endorsed the firing of teachers who, once given the chance and the training to improve, are still not serving students well.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.