| Eastland School Board more concerned about money vs. education
I was very disappointed and angry to hear of the Eastland School Boards' decision to fire three faculty members at last Wednesdays meeting. They ruled to fire Mary VanMiddendorp (EHS English Teacher), Tammy Giedd (EHS Teachers Aide), and Teresa Green (EMS Music Teacher). I feel that all three of these teachers are true assets to the Eastland School District and made Eastland a better place to be. I do not understand the boards decision at all. I talked to Mrs. V and Mrs. Giedd on Thursday and both told me that Mr. Hansen told them it was due to declining enrollment and financial reasons. I called Mr. Hansen and got the high school's enrollment and financial report. The high school enrollment this year is 251 students and next year (according to him) would be 249. Another source told me that the enrollment would actually be more then 251 in the high school next year.Even if we were losing two students,why would we fire two high school teachers? I then got the financial report and it was for right around EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS! Now if we can spend eight million in one year, why are we having financial problems? We have one of the richest districts in Illinois, but according to Mr.
Class Notes
The Plano ISD Board of Trustees will host a town hall meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday at Williams High School, 1717 17th Street.PISD Superintendent Doug Otto and his leadership team will present information about the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program, one of the district's initiatives related to college- and career-preparatory programs for Pre-kindergarten through grade 12.Family Night with the Frisco RoughRidersThe Plano ISD Council of PTAs is hosting a PTA Family Night with the RoughRiders on May 3. This is the council's first time to host an event for all of PISD.For information, contact Council President Robyn Tatman at rtatman@planopta.org or 972-671-8251.Council of PTAs to host program and vendor fairThe Plano ISD Council of PTAs will host the 12th-annual Program and Vendor Fair from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mortgage crisis overwhelming credit counselors
CINCINNATI, Ohio (Reuters) -- Until last year, financial counselors at the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati spent most of their time teaching Americans how to buy a first home. Now, they're deluged by broken and bereft homeowners facing foreclosure. "Oh Lord, there is no way we can keep up with these calls," said Kaye Britton, a foreclosure counselor at the downtown nonprofit group that promotes home ownership to minority Americans, among others. Britton has been helping clients reach the American dream of owning a home since 2002. Handmade wall signs urge would-be buyers to "sweat the small stuff" and note the lender's golden rule: "They have the gold, they make the rules." Foreclosures were formerly rare, caused mostly by the loss of job, divorce or medical bills.
San Mateo Daily Journal
New state test scores goals distributed by the California Department of Education Tuesday are forcing local school districts to make improvements across each student demographic to meet state standards in the future. Statewide student achievement is growing, yet a disparity remains. Instead of assigning a schoolwide improvement goal, as was done previously, the state devised a new point system. Now schools not meeting the Academic Performance Index score of 800 — the state goal — will be required to improve five points schoolwide as well as in various subgroups, such as English learners or various ethnic groups. Growth targets now apply to the school and the subgroups within the school to lessen the achievement gap. Each of these groups is expected to make a five-point improvement in 2007 until the 800 goal is reached.
FHA loans getting easier to use
| With the subprime mortgage industry in virtual free fall, where do home buyers with less than perfect credit turn for financing?
The news reports are grim: Not only have dozens of subprime lenders closed their doors or cut back sharply on new mortgage offerings, but they're also severely tightening the loose underwriting standards that got them into trouble. As a result, many people who would have been approved for a loan months ago now find all the doors suddenly closed.
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