Want to save money let Ruth Robinson retire and eliminate her position. Too much administration in this district. She did little to promote the program. This is a a great program; I had a child go through it was the best thing that happened to them.

Prevention- I think the 'instructional managers' would be people that are teachers already and then would receive their salary plus an additional $1,100 to $1400 a year. (but then again I could be wrong, it has happened once before)

I think people should really get back to the main fact and not get into the priority issue of special needs versus talented students. They ALL have extra needs that should be met correctly. As a parent, you need to advocate for your child whether it is for special services or additional services. I hope that someone is asking for the low wage, how much time will these instructional managers really spend with children? What are their qualifications for this type of position? Becuase they are managers do they still require a DPI certified teaching license? These are the questions that need to be answered to know if our children will be better served by this program versus the current program.

BeloitGuy...as far as I know, when I was tested for the gifted and talented program, it was a very in depth test that students took. This group of students was chosen by their teachers.

Do you know how many kids are truly "GIFTED" in our schools? The label gets thrown around too frequently and is a slap in the face to those who actually are "GIFTED". What tools are used when ID'ing "GIFTED" students?

All children with special needs should get the help they need, but it does seem that the gifted students have been getting short changed. I have two children who get pulled out for enrichment programs several times a week. I also help with one of these enrichment programs. I really do not want to see the school board cut anymore academic programs. It is also becoming increasingly harder to find qualified volunteers to help with these programs.

these instructors would only receive $1100 to $1200 a year? Wow, that seems awfully low-- lower than what an aid makes or even what those of us make in assisted living with people who have disabilities.

Why_teach...
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...You aren't the only one...I know that a couple years ago, there was a "student" at one of the high schools that teachers and aides spent a YEAR trying to teach ONE freakin' color, not colors, color, just one. At the end of the year, the student "knew" that color...until after summer break and they had to start all over again.
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Tell me how that is going to help anyone. I'm a heartless jacka$$, I know, but come one...does anyone really think that that is the best way to spend the few dollars that are going to be available?
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How about the student that was violent enough to warrant a school bus just for her?!?!? And teachers were NOT allowed do defend themselves, because "she doesn't know what she is doing". What is she going to do when she turns 21 and has to leave school???
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I don't want anyone to think that I think we should b\go back to locking away anyone that has problems, but come on, isn't there some middle ground here somewhere???

I thought I was the only one who would notice the cut back on the staff to help higher learners in order to save money to help the students who are at the lower end of the spectrum. I would like to see how many staff are hired by the district to help the students with special needs. Yes I do believe they need the extra help but where does it end. We are short changing exceptional and average students to spend all of our resources on special ed students. I am sure I am going to catch alot of grief for even bringing this up. But at some point I hope we realize that labeling every kid that doesn't pass a class isn't helping them but giving them an excuse to not reach thier actual potential but only meet the goals of their IEP. Not to mention giving them a reason to not try harder to catch up to their classmates the rest of their days in the education system having lower standards than their cohorts while still recieving the same degree.
What ever happen to teaching kids that if they want to succeed they need to try harder. If you are not a good reader you need to practice more. If you aren't good at math you do more problems until you understand it. Not the opposite which says if you aren't good at taking test you only have 2-3 answers to choose from on a multiple choice test instead of 4. How is that helping a student. It isn't, period. It is giving them a better chance of guessing the right answer.
WE are supposed to be preparing them for life after school not setting them up for failure by lowering all of our standards.
Sorry I got off topic a little but it is frustrating to see the average and advanced students not reaching their potential because all of our efforts are spent on the lower preformers. There needs to be some balance.

Isn't there a law, known as 'No Child Left Behind'? I see many 'special needs' children with DEDICATED staff - one for EACH student. How is it that students in this program get all the attention / funding, while those at the other end of the spectrum (those in the TAG program for example) get their resources cut?

Keep in mind there are hundreds of additional gifted and talented children other than in the "Challenge" program. Every 1st grader (along with every other grade) that gets "pulled out" for reading, math, etc. is helped by these TAG teachers. Every highschooler in honors or college prep courses is helped by TAG teachers.
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Not only do these TAG teachers help the TAG kids, they also administer the testing required by the federally mandated No Child Left Behind, requiring hundreds of hours of their time spent on testing and paperwork.

Why is when cuts have to be made the it's always the programs for the better students that get the shaft. Yes, the students that need help need programs also but are we sending a message to the kids that you have to have problems to be eligible for help or additional resources in this school district.

localboy:
The district has a wonderful TAG program called the "Challenge" program, but it's only at Roosevelt and Edison...meaning students have to travel into the program. Parents often choose to leave their child in their neighborhood school and have enhanced reading and math given rather than uprooting them. These TAG teachers offer those resources - and they probably could be performed by an instructional manager. For some children this might be the best answer, but although not convenient to the parent, taking their child to the Challenge program can be the BEST thing for an advanced student who requires enhanced curriculum.
Either way, the board has tough decisions ahead...once you cut here, then every group of students with a label are subject to the cutting game.

Is it possible to share educational services with U-Rock or Blackhawk Tech? If these kids in TAG need advanced educational purposes, can we combine or share post high school educational services? I don't know much about this, so posters be easy on my suggestion.