uh, thermoses and coolers work pretty dang well. i'm glad theres not been an outcry from teachers against this. i do not beleive they would not get much support from the community.
For the most part, teachers can now say goodbye to refrigerated drinks and lunch in the classroom.
The Richmond County school board agreed Tuesday night to a policy that bans certain personal appliances, including mini-fridges, in most classrooms. The board voted 7-1, with member Barbara Pulliam dissenting. Board members Alex Howard and Frank Dolan were not present.
The policy, which aims to save on energy costs, would allow teachers to pay a yet-to-be-set fee to have personal appliances in offices, but the fee wouldn't allow them to use them in classrooms.
The policy does allow refrigerators in teachers' lounges and workrooms, but they are not to be used in classrooms unless they are there for instructional purposes. They are also restricted in the central office building.
Mini-fridges may be allowed in clinics, labs and special education classes, as approved by each school's principal.
Electrical appliances targeted in the new policy include refrigerators, space heaters, microwave ovens, coffee makers and lamps.
Before voting against the policy, Ms. Pulliam said that in some cases teachers might need a refrigerator in their class because they don't always have the time to walk a long distance to get to a lounge. Instead, she said that time can be used for instruction.
"In the elementary situation, it really helps that teacher to not have to move around and stay in that area," she said.
But Superintendent Dana Bedden said that when he was a teacher he didn't need a refrigerator in class.
"There is no instructional value for a refrigerator in a classroom," he said. But he noted the new policy wasn't designed to just target mini-fridges but energy conservation as a whole.
In other action, the board agreed to seek an outside firm to manage the transportation department personnel. The move comes after some school officials have said there's a problem with tardy and absent bus drivers.
Outside the board meeting Tuesday, about 35 bus drivers protested with signs along Broad Street. They said they've been unfairly treated and negatively portrayed by school officials.
Comments
uh, thermoses and coolers work pretty dang well. i'm glad theres not been an outcry from teachers against this. i do not beleive they would not get much support from the community.
We give lip service to teachers being overworked, yet underpaid and we do something petty like this. The teacher struggling against time, unable to go to the cafeteria, won't be able to keep her sandwich and soda cold. Mayo on the sandwich goes bad while the shool board are the ones out to lunch. They talk about spending money on a trip to Spartanburg to see how they could bring a BMW factory to Augusta while passing this asinine measures. Don't they realize others are at work on bringing indursty here? What a motley crew of individuals with nothing more to comment on than fridges in the rooms.
A couple of questions: What is the problem with the Transportation Dept.? Hire an outside firm? I thought they had a director....BTW, what will this cost the taxpayers?
I really don't see having a small fridge in the classroom as a big deal. If needed, limit it to one per grade level. Or, better yet, charge the teacher $40 a year to have one. That way, I'd bet the school system would make out to the positive end. Dana Bedden's comment about him never having to have a fridge when he was a teacher sounds EXACTLY like one of these administrative people who has lost touch with where he came from! People who get promoted, sooner or later, turn to the "other side" and they start looking at their situations as "us against them". Happens all the time and in every job.
Dana, you could forego your bonus and allow the teachers the small luxury of a fridge for lunch and drinks. For pete's sake, this is splitting hairs!
The removal of the mini-fridge in the classroom is not the first time this effort has been used. The mini-fridge often costs more to run than the full size fridge. While their size can be convenient, their efficiency isn't. A cooler lunch box works fine for keeping stuff from spoiling. A thermos keeps thing hot or cold. While a mini-fridge, microwave, toaster oven and coffee pot are nice, they aren't free to operate. It's crunch time on the budget. A little effort from everyone goes a long way.
I am almost always in the teacher's corner but not on this. I taught for over 30 years and never had a frige, never saw the need. There is just no need and it does waste money.
I am almost always in the teacher's corner but not on this. I taught for over 30 years and never had a frige, never saw the need. There is just no need and it does waste money.
You could pay for the electricity for the fridges with the money you paid someone to do an efficiency study on electrical use in the schools.
Blind leading the Blind. I am amazed that the school system can function for even one day. I attended Wilkerson Gardens, Murphey and Butler. Wow have times changed or is it the times?
Mr. Thackeray, in over thirty years you never had a "frige"? I bet that you didn't, and I sincerely hope that you didn't teach spelling.
Teachers are human beings and God creations. They need to be respected as a human if not being a professional. Budgets cuts do not explain everything. If you really want to know what is driving the decisions of the RCBE, check out what is happening to the inner city of Auusta.
55F-100 nice one!
Being "professional" is not the issue here. There is no need for these in every room, my God folks, put them in each of the rooms in your home and see what happens to your utility bill! This is an easy way to save money that does not effect instruction one bit.
They actually outlawed them two years ago. In one school, the principal put the message out about no heaters, no fridges, and no eating or drinking in the classroom (the last being the most ridiculous for teachers). The principal was actually laughing in her office after the announcement, because she of course had no intention of getting rid of her heater, her fridge, or her constant eating and drinking in her office. And, Bedden could not be more out of touch with students, teachers, and education in general. We need to get rid of him as soon as possible.
ladies and gentlemen, this is ms. venus cain and the other board members at work..lets see take out all mini fridges, turn off all lights, keep doors closed..but spend millions on athletic venues, or wasteful, useless or ineffective programs to "dumb down the curriculum" to increase graduation rates, or geared towards the "at-risk youths" at teh expense of the regular students who want to learn but because the lack of attention or insufficient number of text books, they, unfortunately are the ones left out in the cold. thusly leading to rich cnty having thte 6th highest percentage of black males dropping out in the ENTIRE COUNTY...hey ms. cain whats next...reducing the speed of the buses to 5-10 miles below the speed limit to save gas, while spending millions on another football stadium for anothe high school that failed to meet ayp or graduate 40% of its senior class???
Lets see what is happening. The RCBOE is going broke, the bus drivers now see the folly in not unionizing, text books are being consumed faster than potato chips and teachers that swear they are busy 8 hours a day are complaining about not having a refrigerator in the class so they can eat and drink while teaching class. What a statement from one of our elected officials "Ms. Pulliam said that in some cases teachers might need a refrigerator in their class because they don't always have the time to walk a long distance to get to a lounge. Instead, she said that time can be used for instruction." Now you know why the kids are graduating with an 8th grade education level. BTW when are they going to stop the IPOD and CD use by teachers while they are supposed to be teaching?
I am a husband of a teacher in RC and I honestly question why any sane person would become a teacher. You get paid for yrs of service with no regard for your performance. Underperformers and over performers get the same pay. There is no incentive to do well. If I were a teacher, or had a job where performance was not rewarded, I would goof off and listen to Ipods all day too. Why would I not? No teachers are ever fired and there is no reason to try hard. Sure there are a few that "want to change a kid", but when does that mentality run out after all the ridiculousness they have to put up with. Cant help but laugh. I would never become a teacher, why would you?
What is wrong with lunch boxes to put your drinks and snacks in? I worked construction for many years, we were lucky if there was a microwave on the job. That was only on big long lasting jobs. I really appreciate teachers and I think they are underpaid, but refrigerators do seem like a waste of money.
Just say that doing this will save a poor polar bear and a pacific island and everything should be ok.
Get rid of Dr. Bedden because he thinks refridgerators waste money...you all are nuts!!!! Give up his bonus so the teacher can have refridgerators....you all are nuts!!!! He works for his money. Check his salary against other superintendents in GA. I do hope though if they bring in an outside firm for managing the transportation that they at least fire the incompetents doing it now.
Dissman, no one is saying they should eat or drink during class. It is when they don't have breaks and have to do paperwork through lunch that they would be helpful. It's as hinted at above. These are professional people and should be shown basic courtesies such as these. When you take petty measures against them such as this, you tell them they are not that important.
Okay...how much is spent on utilities when various athletic camps and nonstudent events are held in gyms and stadiums? A few hours of those lights/heat/AC cost a lot.
get rid of extra lights???
Come on now, let's be a little reasonable!
What is one's vision worth? Some children and teachers need a little more light for impaired vision!
Good should not have been in the classrooms in the first place
Guess it's too much to ask to have the teachrs walk to the TEACHER LOUNGE!!!
Thank God I do NOT teach in Richmond County - they treat their teachers like royal poo-poo! Instead of looking for ways to raise morale and encourage overworked, underpaid professionals, they "strain at nats and swallow camels." And Dana Bedden is nothing but a new version of Charles Larke - the latest head nitwit in charge!
I feel for teachers and all of the problems they have with disrespectful kids and indifferent parents. They take too much of the blame for the declining education in our country, while too little blame is placed on parents. With that being said, and with all due respect, I agree with this policy. Refrigerators, coffee pots, microwaves, etc do run up power bills. In these economic times this does need to be addressed and ended. Many private companies don't allow employees to have these in their offices either, for the same reason.
If any of you could attend the Board meetings, you would be aware that the policy and guidelines are not about mini-fridges, but about cutting enery cost (over $1 million dollars is thhe goal) to help save jobs (teachers, etc.) during a budget crisis and recession period. Look at the list of appliances isted. Those lapplicances that ae legal (not banned by the fire dept) can still be in schools in breakrooms, etc. RCSS has not laid off any employees during this crisis.
RCBOE---Afirmative action at it's best!
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
