How big is the impact of rising fuel and energy costs on schools? USA Today puts it in sharp relief: one in seven school districts is considering cutting back to four-day weeks this fall. One in four is considering limits on athletics and other extracurricular activities. One in three is eliminating teaching jobs.
“In the first detailed look at how fuel costs are affecting schools, a survey by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) finds 99% of superintendents contacted say they’re feeling the pinch — and 77% say they’re not getting any help from their state,” reports USAT’s Greg Toppo.
Scary.
Update: See that little link up top for comments? Click it to read John Thompson’s view of the tensions budget troubles create between policy types and those who go to work in schools every day. “In the real world vs. the theory of policy reform, administrators in most of the country spend a lot more time dealing with sports than student achievement,” he writes. ”And no national mandate is going to change that in the short run. Paying for gas for field trips will not only divert money but attention.” Good, clear-eyed stuff.
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