GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

I am confused–is Success Academy itself saying it is looking to attract: 1) more affluent students; 2) low-income residents of Red Hook, Gowanus and Sunset Park; or, 3) a diverse group of both? I know what Success detractors are saying, but how are they really pitching it themselves?

Here is the link directly to the Boston College Center for Retirement Research report.  Go to the back where they list the funded status of different plans under different estimates, and look for the NYC teachers retirement plan.  It is right near the state plan, and the difference is instructive.

http://crr.bc.edu/images/stories/Briefs/slp_23_508.pdf

Stay on topic?  Why do you think funds for the classroom have been and will be cut year after year despite preferential treatment for education in the city budget, tax increases, and sky high spending?  Extra spending on parsley?

As I said, the anti-reformers on this site should be happy, because as I’ve said that era is over.  No one is going to be talking about making the NYC schools better in three years.  Not for decades (and not ever, if this era and its outcome are remembered).  They’ll be cutting deals for less work for and lower expectations for teachers in exchange for higher class sizes and wage freezes, as money is diverted to the retired and the city tries to salvage public services that are salvagable.

If the next Mayor has any sense, he or she will never say “hold me accountable” for the schools.  He or she will say that thanks to the UFT contract, the pension hole and Albany, there isn’t a damn thing that can be done for them.  Just send a letter to every student and teacher every year showing the TOTAL (including spending on the retired) school spending for NYC vs. the U.S. average, and say that what if anything is received in return for it (in wages for younger teachers and in education for the students) is up to the union.

One more point…you want to see the future, look to the MTA.  It’s unions demonized it for years as a political strategy, claiming all the money went to waste and managers.  So now the politicians, given collapsing finances, are de-funding it.  No, no, no, the unions now say, the MTA needs money!  We do a good job!  Well I guess they can get the money from the second set of books, because they’ve “won” the argument.

Check out  Ed Notes Online, they have some information you might find pertinent.

Again, look at the back of the report rather than hurling insults. And note that the NYC teacher pension funds status is very similar to New Jersey.  New Jersey’s teachers contributed vastly more to their own pensions than NYC teachers, but NJ taxpayers and politicians were irresponsible in doing their share.

So how did NYC end up in the same mess?

Please, please, please tell me that you taught gym.  

It isn’t one report.  This confirms an earlier report by this source, and other reports by other sources.  No matter who does the analysis, the NYC pension funds are among the worst off.

I some universe I would understand the union would be concerned about this.

Vote NO!:  Awesome analysis.  The pensions will be fine no matter what.  It’s the schools that need “this economy” (but not “that economy” and certainly not “the other economy”) to boom.  Go Wall Street.  Down with Wall Street.  But above all, go Wall Street.

Please tell me your not a lawyer. Some of the best teachers I ever knew were gym teachers.The most caring and loving people I worked with and for you to put them down as you have, just shows that you don’t have a clue to what your saying.
You both have this hidden agenda  and everyone here sees thru your Bull