Yes, people in Aboite may have nicer school buildings, but they also recognize that maintaining the academic reputation of their schools is most important, so they voted overwhelmingly to continue paying for additional teachers. More teachers don't necessarily translate to higher test scores if the aren't used in the right place and the right programs. FWCS' $100 million racial balance expenditure, most of it going for extra teachers, has not achieved any demonstrable effect on test scores. But by and large, in a district where so many kids come in disadvantaged, more teachers, especially in the early grades should make a difference if used effectively.
So why hasn't FWCS proposed a referendum to add teachers in K-3? Maybe they think the academic situation is hopeless and the best they can do is give the kids buildings like Aboite instead of test scores like Aboite. Why not try asking for money for a few struggling elementary schools and demonstrating that it can make a difference? If that works, voters would probably support additional extra taxes to expand it across the district.
But that would also make it harder to ask for a lot more money for buildings.
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Great article. However, the SACS district was not voting to increase the amount of teachers. In fact, we have cut a few positions we did not want to see go, some of them teachers. The vote was more to maintain what we currently have, meaning small class sizes with the same amount of teachers, which is essential to academic success. Also, in an effort to tighten our belt further, we have discontinued school sponsored field trips, various programs, and some other positions, such as a guidance counselor at the high school, and a few others. Just to reiterate the point, the vote was to maintain, not increase.
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