State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff brings some numbers to the debate.
When you hear the discussion about the increase in the number of “non-teachers” in our schools, consider the following facts. These numbers represent full-time equivalent employees to account for part-time and/or contract employees.
Campus administration employees account for 2.8 percent of the staff, compared with 2.6 percent in 1999-2000. Keep in mind that we’ve added 1,040 campuses and 65 charter schools since then.
Central administration employees account for only 1 percent of the staff, compared with 0.9 percent in 1999-2000.
Teachers account for 50.5 percent of the staff, compared with 51.3 percent in 1999-2000.
Auxiliary staff (such as cafeteria workers, janitors and bus drivers) account for 27 percent of the staff, compared with 27.6 percent in 1999-2000.
Aides and support staff (such as counselors, librarians and nurses) account for 18.7 percent of the staff, compared with 17.6 percent in 1999-2000.
Keep that in mind the next time you hear someone claim that there are too many administrators or some such. The jobs that will be lost as a result of the Republicans’ drastic, short-sighted budget will be those that have a direct effect on students. Burka has more.