[Durham INC] More energy efficiency in schools would help

Tue Jan 6 15:06:29 EST 2009

I volunteer at Creekside elementary twice a week, on average. And I work in at least three different classrooms. ALL of the permanent classrooms in which I have worked have been excessively warm...to the point that now I see windows and back doors completely open in order to keep students and teachers from literally sweating. And this is in spite of the fact that many now dress as if it is spring, because the classroom is too warm for winter wear. It is frustrating for parents when they dress their kids, and more frustrating for the kids who can't concentrate because their either sleepy or irritable due to the heat.

Seems to me that with Durham's Green House Gas plan, and its increasing need to cut costs, we should have MUCH better temperature control in our schools. 

Some tell me that the temperature is controlled in the hallways, and when teachers shut their doors, the heat doesn't get to the hall, causing it to increase the heat further.

Others tell me that their classrooms do, supposedly, have independent temperature control, but that it clearly isn't working properly.

Either way, this is an issue in which we should spend the money upfront to reduce further waste (of money and energy) far into the future.

Keep in mind that Creekside is a NEW school -- only 4-5 years old. I'm told the new addition will have better temperature control, and that there is an initiative to improve temperature control in existing schools, but no one who works in the schools has any indication that this is happening.

The sooner we correct this problem -- not just in our schools, but in all of our gov't/public buildings-- the better.

Melissa

Melissa Rooney
mmr121570 at yahoo.com

--- On Tue, 1/6/09, Pat Carstensen <pats1717 at hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Pat Carstensen <pats1717 at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] County Manager's Proposed Budget Actions
To: "inc listserv" <inc-list at durhaminc.org>
Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 1:25 PM

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"Tenure" ain't what it used to be -- teachers can get fired for cause or moved to where they don't want to teach, at least in NC.

I'm in the schools a lot as a substitute.  I don't see a lot of incompetence.  Most of the "big-ticket luxuries" (if you define "luxury" as anything but direct teaching of core subjects) that I see are things like mentors for first year teachers, more choice in electives, an extra office worker to take care of administrivia so teachers can spend more time on teaching, extra-curricular activities.  There's always things around the margins, like doing better at turning off the lights, but you wonder about some of the "efficiencies" (e.g. a "copy budget" that started out 1 page per student per day for elementary kids).

In general, I think anyone who wants to pontificate on reforming schools should spend a year teaching 7th grade math at Lowe's Grove (or any other middle school).  Then maybe you will have a real sense of what is going right and wrong in our schools.

Regards, pat

From: allen.joshua at gmail.com
To: mmr121570 at yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 22:14:23 -0500
CC: inc-list at DurhamINC.org
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] County Manager's Proposed Budget Actions

Melissa,
This is a time when everybody has to trim their expenses.Schools should be no exception.  We all know that there is fat to be cut.  There are many school systems that spendfar less per pupil and show better results.  
The right approach for our schools is to get rid oftenure and ineffectuve teachers, increase teacher salariesto attract the best teachers and treat teachers like professionals.  
--Joshua 

On Jan 5, 2009, at 7:13 PM, Melissa Rooney <mmr121570 at yahoo.com> wrote:

Our schools cannot afford any more cuts. In fact, they need significantly more money to accommodate the supposed increase in people moving here (one of the arguments for all the new development we're seeing in the suburban and rural areas). Many of our schools are still overcrowded, particularly those in the rural and suburban areas, and their trailers are now considered permanent fixtures.

Don't mean to be barking up the same tree, but our local gov't needs to kick and scream and demand the ability to vote on NEW DEVELOPMENT impact fees specifically for public school funding. We citizens have been begging our state reps and senators for this ability for years, to no avail. Meanwhile Orange County is still benefiting from these fees which Durham County is prohibited from imposing. In the meantime a referendum to impose land transfer impact fees toward
 this end should be included on any ballot from here on out... even if it is unfair to our long-term and senior residents, it's the only thing we've got...there must be some way we can offset this unfair effect somehow. Colin, didn't you have some ideas in this regard?

I love the Museum of Life and Science, and all the improvements they've made. I am in full support of the new outdoor section and the Dinosaur trail, which are supposedly already funded via bonds. But I do not think this museum needs any additional improvements at this time, particularly a new and larger gift shop...and many Durham citizens did not vote for the prepared food tax because they didn't want the money used toward this end. 

Just my ten cents...
Melissa

--- On Mon, 1/5/09, RW Pickle <randy at 27beverly.com> wrote:
From: RW Pickle
 <randy at 27beverly.com>
Subject: [Durham INC] County Manager's Proposed Budget Actions
To: fhna-list at fhnanews.com
Cc: inc-list at durhaminc.org
Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 6:27 PM

Press release from Durham County.

Today, the Durham County Board of Commissioners met for their first
Worksession meeting of the New Year.  County Manager Mike Ruffin presented
a plan of recommended actions to accommodate the declines in the economy
and its impact on County operations. The report used a decline in key
revenues as the basis for an overall FY 2009-09 Revenue Shortfall of
$14.25 million dollars. To make up that difference, the County Manager
recommends substantive cuts to county departments’ budgets to capture
$8,951,100 and proposes 3% cuts to other county funded agencies including
Durham Public Schools, Durham Technical Community College, Museum of Life
and Science, various non profits and more to
 make up the remaining
$5,291.587.

Dawn D. Dudley

Public Information Specialist

Durham County Manager's Office

919-560-0008  desk

919-475-4411  cell

ddudley at co.durham.nc.us

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