Seattle School District Cuts 35 Teaching Positions - Buys $15,000 Espresso Machine

[matcom]

<snip>

There's still a coffee pot in the break room of the Edmonds School District administrative offices, and employees still take turns buying coffee beans, but they now have a more upscale option.

A new $15,000 automated espresso machine provides what they say are Starbucks-quality mochas, lattes and Americanos to district staff for less than Starbucks prices. There's even an array of syrups to flavor employees' espresso drinks.

The school district says the espresso machine will pay for itself in about 20 months and then generate revenue for the food-service operation, which is self-sustaining and does not take money from the general fund. And 5 percent of the proceeds will go into the district budget to support teachers and students, said Food Services Program Director Barbara Lloyd.

But coming at a time when the school district is cutting its budget $4.5 million and eliminating 35 teaching positions, a high-end espresso machine may seem a luxury.

"It's incredibly extravagant when you've got Brossoit running around talking about how dire the budget is and how class sizes are getting bigger. That's not the time to be buying an expensive espresso machine," said Al Lyon, a teacher at Lynnwood Elementary School.

But other staff members say it's a tempest in a coffee pot.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003735408_coffee06n.html

[Orsino]

1. Because teachers pay for themselves over decades...

...the bean counters once again screw over the kids.

[mainegreen]

2. If it will generate money in the long run, what's the problem?

No I don't think firing teachers is generally a great idea, but how is that related to food services? Different departments operating usually on different budgets. If food services wants to try and bring in more revenue (which is usually then used to improve the quality of the food) what's the problem?

[PVnRT]

3. This post is sarcasm, right?

n/t

[mainegreen]

4. Nope.

You read the article right? Clearly a smart move. Hell, given three years this might help add a teacher to the payroll.
Budgets are a fact of life.

[PVnRT]

6. You cut budget when you're in the red

You don't cut budget to buy a coffee machine. Should schools be turned into profit-making enterprises now? Budgets are a fact of life, but when you shave teachers and buy what are essentially luxury items, your priorities look confused to say the least.

Yes, I'm sure that an espresso machine will generate enough money to hire a teacher someday....right....

[mainegreen]

8. Since the food services division contributed 200000 to the general fund, I -would- say right.

I also highly doubt the food services division is in the same budget as the teachers salary (and if they are clearly someone needs to be fired), so a shortfall in one budget resulting in teacher firing actually in no way is impacted by what the food services division does with its allocated budget, especially since that division generates a profit.

[Left Is Write]

12. I'm with you.

The article said that the food-service division does not take money from the general fund, so it's not as if they took money away from teacher salaries to buy the machine.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

15. Oh yeah, I mean those teachers aren't turning a profit at all

they are seriously behind the food services, arcade, and media division when it comes to revenue. I say fire the lot of 'em and open up a clothing outlet.

Send teachers back to business school!

[mainegreen]

18. Did you even read what I posted?

So you think schools should operate even greater in the red, so they can fire even more teachers? Great idea!

If they need a commercial oven, should they not be allowed to buy it?

Or perhaps they should simplify the issue an turn over the food division to Aramark? I'm sure that will improve things!

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

19. You don't find it just a little ridiculous, talking about a public school like it was a Starbucks?

You think an espresso machine will improve things? Instead of, Oh I don't know, sufficiently funding the schools publicly? Schools shouldn't have to function as a profit/loss business.

[mainegreen]

23. I don't find anything ridiculous about a school finding ways to increase funding.

Teachers drink coffee. Hell, a lot of us like a quality cup of coffee in the morning and a lot of us pay for that. Is all coffee synonymous with Starbucks now? It's not like schools aren't already providing food for money. All schools already sell food!
Of course if your opposed to any form of alternative funding for schools, I supposed they could just ask for a property tax increase. How successful do you think that will be?
Of course, once more I would like to point out that in no way could the purchase, or non-purchase of this coffee machine in any way at all affected whether or not any of the teachers actually would have been fired or not. Budgets don't work that way. It's like saying paying for the tator-tots got a teacher fired.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. OK, Einstein, if the coffe machine is such a wonderful revenue generator...

...WHY DID THEY HAVE TO FIRE TEACHERS?

[mainegreen]

29. Budgets don't work the way you think they do.

Nor is there an implied cause and effect here.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

30. I'm going to have to respectfully disagree, and here's why

Schools are for education. That's why they exist. We should then expect that education be the top priority among school administrators. They shouldn't have to concern themselves so with how they will afford to provide this education. But, our system of federal and state level spending, poorly prioritized as it is, forces them, the administrators, into that position. Still, though unfortunately now concerned with school funding, these administrators should always consider education their top priority. That means that any financial endeavor that is taken on by the administrators should be done so solely to provide that precious, education funding. So, keep that mind while we look at some key points from the article.

Though the food service operation is self sustaining, meaning it doesn't require any money from the general education fund, it doesn't contribute much to that fund, either. Though the food service division brought in $200,000.00 for the general fund, that
represents only 4% of the amount they're cutting from the budget, $4.5 million, not even the whole budget, which was not disclosed. But, the espresso machine is the wave of the future, perhaps it can do better.

Let's crunch some numbers here:

Say the food service division makes $50,000.00, gross, just from espresso sales over their first two years. $15,000.00 of that goes to paying off the machine, I won't worry about other costs, we won't take that out of espresso profits, that leaves us with $35,000.00 in two years. The general fund gets 5% of that, which is $1,750.00. Ok, ok, sure that's just the first 24 months, how 'bout more long term. After all, this is an investment. Well, ok, let's say over five years, we estimate a profit of $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 a year that gives us $275,000.00. The machine's already paid for and I'm not taking out other material costs, we'll say this is all profit. 5% of $275,000.00 is $13,750.00, over five years that's $2,750.00 a year. Hmm, I don't think that's gonna be enough to keep that algebra teacher...Ah well! We'll get a new pin-ball machine instead.

Hey, I wonder, where does that other 95% of the profit go?

But, wait, I'm being narrow-sited here, every little bit counts, and the espresso machine is only one source of income. After all, the food service operation contributed $200,000.00 to the general fund. That's great! Oh, but, oddly enough they're still cutting 35 teaching positions. It doesn't seem to be doing the trick. Am I saying they shouldn't try? Not at all. I am saying, however, that perhaps they shouldn't continue investing in an operation that, while self-sustaining or profitable for itself, doesn't seem to be improving the children's education? Yes, and further doing so, is extravagant and irresponsible.

That’s really the whole point. What is, or is not, being done to improve the children’s level of education and in that regard, what does the purchasing of this machine show about their priorities? With an education system that is in dire straights, we need to start asking tough questions and making real changes. A 5% contribution from the proceeds of espresso sales, while a nice gesture, is a relatively empty one and that in of itself can mean something. Do you really think improving education is their primary reason for the purchase of the machine? I wonder...

In a time when real changes need to be made, even something as benign as an espresso machine can seem very inappropriate and a symbol for how seriously, or how nonchalantly, the problems of our education system are being taken. The article talked about improving teacher morale, well, how would you feel if your school district (all separate budget divisions not withstanding) laid off 35 teachers, but was able to procure a $15,000.00 espresso machine? I don’t know that I’d care that it wasn’t being paid for from the general fund, I’d see a lack of priorities, either way.

[mainegreen]

31. It's still not a strong argument against the machine.

While appearances are all well and good, at the end of the day education, like almost everything in this world comes down to one thing: money. Nowhere has it been demonstrated that the purchase of this machine will reduce the operating funds of the school, reduce the quality of education, or even result in the loss on one teacher. It has been demonstrated that it will make money.

Schools are in the business of food, always have been. One of the primary purposes of school is to ensure that students get at least one good meal a day. This is *very* important, and for many students the meals they get at school are the best meals they get all day. A malnourished student does not learn well. Of course, good food takes money, especially when you offer two full meals and beverage a day for 40 cents at the reduced price rate. The fact that the food division operates at a profit helps fulfill this mission. That's a good thing and is completely within the main goals of a school.

Of course the coffee machine is for the staff, and frankly if you ask the staff if a good coffee machine has reduced moral around there, I'm sure no one will feel that way. Of course staff have nothing to do with education. Perhaps we should take away the staff lounge as well? It would be better served as a classroom.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wapsie B]

5. God, you could just as easily be talking about a hospital.

As for the schools I would love to see a school system have the balls to start axing administrators rather than teachers. Schools as well as hospitals both have more than enough administrative personnel.

[montanto]

7. hear, hear.

[driver8]

21. Where I work, we keep losing "worker bees" and keep gaining managers and VP's.

Most of the technicians (I work in the entertainment industry) bring in money by the hours we bill. The managers and VPs do not bill any hours to clients and therefore do not bring in any money. But, we keep losing technicians and keep gaining VPs...I joked the other day that soon we will have a "VP of Coffee Operations."

Hmmm...I wasn't too far off.

[Guava Jelly]

9. Well America needs Coffee

Teachers are a dime a dozen :sarcasm:

[montanto]

10. well, think about this.

with class sizes going from 32 to 45 teachers are gonna need that extra caffeine.

[Hugin]

11. So, someone's passive-aggressive sign demanding a new coffee machine paid off...

Good show!

[Zomby Woof]

13. I used to teach in Washington state public schools

And they are every bit the sick joke this article confirms.

Glad I left it behind. It's no better here in southern CA for schools, where the $15,000 would be wasted on a metal detector rather than an espresso machine.

I have held jobs in public schools, the federal government, and the private sector. By far the most inane chit-chat I have ever endured in a break room setting was in the teachers' lounges. Maybe the coffee was too weak. :eyes:

It's a damn sad waste. There are great teachers everywhere, and my heart goes out to them for suffering through so much mediocrity. No regrets from me for leaving it, though.

[Hugin]

14. Seconded...

If our children are our future then teachers are the gateway to our future.

(Deep thought for today. :) )

[JVS]

16. Well, teachers usually make more than 15K, otoh this could be indicative...

of a pattern of poor priorities.

[HEyHEY]

17. Good, I hate teachers

[slj0101]

20. No latte left behind.

[Joe Fields]

22. Does this mean Seattle teachers only make 2,500 dollars a year?

[Connonym]

24. If the teachers are buying the beans where does profit come into the picture?

??

[Oeditpus Rex]

26. Tips

:P

[MistressOverdone]

25. Geez, we can't even buy a new microwave

when our fried

[Rabrrrrrr]

28. I see no problem with it - it's a revenue generator.

[PVnRT]

33. Yes, I'm sure it's the answer to all their budget problems

n/t

[gollygee]

34. The two issues aren't related

It's too bad that the teachers were laid off, but the espresso machine has nothing to do with that. It will pay for itself and eventually generate some revenue. If the espresso machine isn't costing them anything in the long run, why shouldn't they have it?

[Sanity Claws]

35. It was Edmonds, not Seattle

Edmonds is north of Seattle and in a different county.
Seattle gets enough of a bad rap.

[mzteris]

36. Well DUH! Gotta keep those teachers

left hyped up on caffeine so they can do their job and the jobs of those cut!