catscratch
Well-Known Member
Wow, they have nerves of steel. I wonder how many times I've driven by a critter in this driveway and didn't see it.
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House and Habitat build thread:
- Thread starter catscratch
- Start date
I watched a bobcat stalk a group of Turkey's one time while I was bowhunting. He went behind a small rock 4 yards from my tree and completely disappeared. I thought "no way" but he never was seen by me again. I have no idea how he snuck out of there in open woods!
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Turkey Creek
Well-Known Member
They are the masters of blending into thin air. I was setting in a tree stand one night and saw a flicker of white occasionally out in a mowed hay field. Had to get out the binoculars to even see that cat at about 70 yards. Grass wasnt 3" tall.
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Did a little oak work in the basement today. Using milled lumber from logs I harvested on the place.
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Gravel Road
Well-Known Member
The counter top with the cedar log is amazing!
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Every piece of wood in that pic was harvested from the place. I'm greatly enjoying using resources from our land to finish the house!
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Looks great catscratch! I really like how you are utilizing the materials from your property.
I am pretty sure they are trying to mandate 5 day school here in Oklahoma pretty soon if they find some money. I know the property tax folks have been working overtime re-accessing property taxes using any and all methods possible...
"OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Governor Mary Fallin proposed several reforms focused on improving the state's budget during her State of the State address.
The series of reforms were proposed during her 2017 address at the State Capitol. The focus of the proposed reforms was modernizing the state's tax laws.
“This plan eliminates the most regressive tax on the books today, the state sales tax on groceries. This will benefit all Oklahomans. Eliminating the state sales tax on groceries is expected to result in annual savings of between $350 to $676 for a family of four," Gov. Fallin said.
The reform would also get rid of the corporate income tax.
"It will reduce the paperwork and red tape burden of many small businesses in our state and boost economic development. Eliminating this tax provides more transparency as it also eliminates the need for the Legislature to pick winners and losers with specific tax credits," Gov. Fallin said.
Fallin also stated that gasoline and diesel tax revenues need to go to fixing roads and bridges. The reform would increase gas and diesel taxes to the regional average.
The governor also challenged state lawmakers to find a permanent raise for public school teachers.
“A thriving, prosperous economy must have a skilled, educated workforce. That starts with good teachers in the classrooms providing our children a quality education five days a week," Gov. Fallin said.
Fallin said the raise would likely have to be phased in and may be targeted. She also stated that with pay raises, administrative ineffeciences must be addressed.
"I am creating a task force to review the state education funding formula, evaluate funding sources, and analyze the K-12 system footprint. Just as we must fix our own state budget structural issues, we must do the same with the K-12 education system," Gov. Fallin said.
During the speech, Fallin recognized seven Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers who tracked down and killed a murder suspect during a manhunt in western Oklahoma. Troopers Brian Costanza, Chris Hanover, Trenton Keasler, Brandon Seward and Micah Whittington and helicopter pilots Capt. Brian Sturgill and Cole Patterson received a standing ovation from legislators and members of the crowd."
Another article...
http://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-lawmaker-filing-bill-to-mandate-five-day-school-week/8550209
"OKLAHOMA CITY —
An Oklahoma lawmaker is pushing for a five-day schoolweek.
Sen. Kyle Loveless said a five-day week is better for our children when it comes to learning, and he's hoping his bill will be heard at the Capitol this session.
Loveless said after talking with school districts that have gone to four-day weeks, he believes the switch has been more of an inconvenience than a saving.
Loveless said teachers are on a fixed salary, so the only place they are saving money is in operation costs and he said it's a very small portion of the district's overall budget.
“I just don't think that when you balance out the cost savings, if there are any, they are slight, versus the need of the child,” Loveless said.
Loveless is filing a bill to mandate all school districts go back to that schedule. Some schools that have gone to four-day weeks told KOCO 5 they haven't seen dramatic savings, but one area that has been boosted is morale.
“They seem to be able to maintain that high level of work and not wear down at crucial times,” said Scott Morgan with Roff Public Schools.
If Roff Public Schools were to have to change back to a five-day week, Morgan said morale would take a hit and district officials are afraid they could lose some teachers and staff.
It’s unclear when or if this bill will be heard this session.
WEBVTT THE CAPITOL WITHWHY.CRYSTAL: THIS LAWMAKER SAYS AFIVE DAY WEEK IS BETTER FOR OURKIDS WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING.AND HE HOPES IT WILL BE HEARDTHIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THECAPITOL.SENATOR KYLE LOVELESS SAYS AFTERTALKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTSTHAT HAVE GONE TO FOUR DAY WEEKSHE ARGUES THE SWITCH HAS BEENMORE OF AN INCONVENIENCE THAN ACOST SAVINGS.HE SAYS TEACHERS ARE ON A FIXEDSALARY SO THE ONLY PLACE THEYARE SAVING MONEY IS IN OPERATIONCOSTS.AND HE SAYS IT'S A VERY SMALLPORTION OF THE DISTRICT'SOVERALL BUDGET.>> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WHENYOU BALANCE OUT THE COST SAVINGSIF THERE ARE ANY, THEY ARESLIGHT, VERSUS THE NEED OF THECHILD.CRYSTAL: SO HE'S FILING A BILLTO MANDATE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTSGO BACK TO THAT SCHEDULE.SOME SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GONE TO 4DAY WEEKS TOLD KOCO 5 THEYHAVEN'T SEEN DRAMATIC SAVINGSBUT ONE AREA THAT HAS BEENBOOSTED IS MORALE.>> THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TOMAINTAIN THAT HIGH LEVEL OF WORKAND NOT WEAR DOWN AT CRUCIALTIMES.CRYSTAL: IF ROFF PUBLIC SCHOOLSWERE TO HAVE TO CHANGE BACK TO AFIVE DAY WEEK, SUPERINTENDENTSCOTT MORGAN SAYS MORALE WOULDTAKE A HIT AND THEY'RE AFRAIDTHEY COULD LOSE SOME TEACHERSAND STAFF. "
"OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Governor Mary Fallin proposed several reforms focused on improving the state's budget during her State of the State address.
The series of reforms were proposed during her 2017 address at the State Capitol. The focus of the proposed reforms was modernizing the state's tax laws.
“This plan eliminates the most regressive tax on the books today, the state sales tax on groceries. This will benefit all Oklahomans. Eliminating the state sales tax on groceries is expected to result in annual savings of between $350 to $676 for a family of four," Gov. Fallin said.
The reform would also get rid of the corporate income tax.
"It will reduce the paperwork and red tape burden of many small businesses in our state and boost economic development. Eliminating this tax provides more transparency as it also eliminates the need for the Legislature to pick winners and losers with specific tax credits," Gov. Fallin said.
Fallin also stated that gasoline and diesel tax revenues need to go to fixing roads and bridges. The reform would increase gas and diesel taxes to the regional average.
The governor also challenged state lawmakers to find a permanent raise for public school teachers.
“A thriving, prosperous economy must have a skilled, educated workforce. That starts with good teachers in the classrooms providing our children a quality education five days a week," Gov. Fallin said.
Fallin said the raise would likely have to be phased in and may be targeted. She also stated that with pay raises, administrative ineffeciences must be addressed.
"I am creating a task force to review the state education funding formula, evaluate funding sources, and analyze the K-12 system footprint. Just as we must fix our own state budget structural issues, we must do the same with the K-12 education system," Gov. Fallin said.
During the speech, Fallin recognized seven Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers who tracked down and killed a murder suspect during a manhunt in western Oklahoma. Troopers Brian Costanza, Chris Hanover, Trenton Keasler, Brandon Seward and Micah Whittington and helicopter pilots Capt. Brian Sturgill and Cole Patterson received a standing ovation from legislators and members of the crowd."
Another article...
http://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-lawmaker-filing-bill-to-mandate-five-day-school-week/8550209
"OKLAHOMA CITY —
An Oklahoma lawmaker is pushing for a five-day schoolweek.
Sen. Kyle Loveless said a five-day week is better for our children when it comes to learning, and he's hoping his bill will be heard at the Capitol this session.
Loveless said after talking with school districts that have gone to four-day weeks, he believes the switch has been more of an inconvenience than a saving.
Loveless said teachers are on a fixed salary, so the only place they are saving money is in operation costs and he said it's a very small portion of the district's overall budget.
“I just don't think that when you balance out the cost savings, if there are any, they are slight, versus the need of the child,” Loveless said.
Loveless is filing a bill to mandate all school districts go back to that schedule. Some schools that have gone to four-day weeks told KOCO 5 they haven't seen dramatic savings, but one area that has been boosted is morale.
“They seem to be able to maintain that high level of work and not wear down at crucial times,” said Scott Morgan with Roff Public Schools.
If Roff Public Schools were to have to change back to a five-day week, Morgan said morale would take a hit and district officials are afraid they could lose some teachers and staff.
It’s unclear when or if this bill will be heard this session.
WEBVTT THE CAPITOL WITHWHY.CRYSTAL: THIS LAWMAKER SAYS AFIVE DAY WEEK IS BETTER FOR OURKIDS WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING.AND HE HOPES IT WILL BE HEARDTHIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THECAPITOL.SENATOR KYLE LOVELESS SAYS AFTERTALKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTSTHAT HAVE GONE TO FOUR DAY WEEKSHE ARGUES THE SWITCH HAS BEENMORE OF AN INCONVENIENCE THAN ACOST SAVINGS.HE SAYS TEACHERS ARE ON A FIXEDSALARY SO THE ONLY PLACE THEYARE SAVING MONEY IS IN OPERATIONCOSTS.AND HE SAYS IT'S A VERY SMALLPORTION OF THE DISTRICT'SOVERALL BUDGET.>> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WHENYOU BALANCE OUT THE COST SAVINGSIF THERE ARE ANY, THEY ARESLIGHT, VERSUS THE NEED OF THECHILD.CRYSTAL: SO HE'S FILING A BILLTO MANDATE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTSGO BACK TO THAT SCHEDULE.SOME SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GONE TO 4DAY WEEKS TOLD KOCO 5 THEYHAVEN'T SEEN DRAMATIC SAVINGSBUT ONE AREA THAT HAS BEENBOOSTED IS MORALE.>> THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TOMAINTAIN THAT HIGH LEVEL OF WORKAND NOT WEAR DOWN AT CRUCIALTIMES.CRYSTAL: IF ROFF PUBLIC SCHOOLSWERE TO HAVE TO CHANGE BACK TO AFIVE DAY WEEK, SUPERINTENDENTSCOTT MORGAN SAYS MORALE WOULDTAKE A HIT AND THEY'RE AFRAIDTHEY COULD LOSE SOME TEACHERSAND STAFF. "
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Good for Oklahoma! After reading your post and links I got curious and googled "Oklahoma education ranking", it doesn't paint a pretty picture for the system they have been using. I honestly don't see a lot of states taking real actions to improve their education system. I'm glad that your state is being proactive! I think it's more common to see politicians try to save money through education (it is expensive and when a state gets into a crunch they tend to look at the biggest expenditures first) than to try to fix it's problems.
I'm curious about one thing the articles you posted presented. One said: "Some schools that have gone to four-day weeks told KOCO 5 they haven't seen dramatic savings". How did they not know exactly what the savings would be before doing it? When we went to the 4 day week it was calculated and debated for months. The public was involved and there were votes. The savings were known down to the dollar both short term and long term. For instance; we are rural and busing is a major cost (possibly one that isn't a factor in OK). Going to the reduced week saved 20% a week in fuel costs, which is obvious. But it also extended the time between oil changes 20%, extended tire replacement 20%, and allowed the district to keep buses 20% longer before needed to replace them. I don't remember the numbers but it was surprising significant. It was enough that we didn't have to drop any of the programs that were getting looked at for the chopping block (music, art, Ag, Ag mechanics, metal shop, woods shop, cabinet making, and some sports were being considered).
Maybe I missed it but does OK have a plan to increase student outcomes (in addition to mandating 5 day weeks)? It sounds like they want to improve things and are willing to spend money to do it which is great!
Another question that I didn't see addressed; would the 5 day week increase student/teacher contact days, or would breaks become longer so that you had the same number of days a yr as the 4 day week? What I'm asking is will this change the number of days a kid goes to school a yr? You can get 190 days of school a yr with either week structure.
"If Roff Public Schools were to have to change back to a five-day week, Morgan said morale would take a hit and district officials are afraid they could lose some teachers and staff." You don't want teachers and staff that would leave if they went to 5 day weeks. They aren't in it for the right reasons if that is a job retention factor. Let them go! With that said, I think it worked the opposite for us. When we went to 4 day weeks there were a lot more applicants for positions than there were before. A low income district in the middle on nowhere all of a sudden had lots of highly qualified people applying for the same positions. It allowed the hiring department to actually have a choice and bring in better staff to a place that had little to offer otherwise. Kind of like a business competing for employees by offering a better benefits package.
I'm curious about one thing the articles you posted presented. One said: "Some schools that have gone to four-day weeks told KOCO 5 they haven't seen dramatic savings". How did they not know exactly what the savings would be before doing it? When we went to the 4 day week it was calculated and debated for months. The public was involved and there were votes. The savings were known down to the dollar both short term and long term. For instance; we are rural and busing is a major cost (possibly one that isn't a factor in OK). Going to the reduced week saved 20% a week in fuel costs, which is obvious. But it also extended the time between oil changes 20%, extended tire replacement 20%, and allowed the district to keep buses 20% longer before needed to replace them. I don't remember the numbers but it was surprising significant. It was enough that we didn't have to drop any of the programs that were getting looked at for the chopping block (music, art, Ag, Ag mechanics, metal shop, woods shop, cabinet making, and some sports were being considered).
Maybe I missed it but does OK have a plan to increase student outcomes (in addition to mandating 5 day weeks)? It sounds like they want to improve things and are willing to spend money to do it which is great!
Another question that I didn't see addressed; would the 5 day week increase student/teacher contact days, or would breaks become longer so that you had the same number of days a yr as the 4 day week? What I'm asking is will this change the number of days a kid goes to school a yr? You can get 190 days of school a yr with either week structure.
"If Roff Public Schools were to have to change back to a five-day week, Morgan said morale would take a hit and district officials are afraid they could lose some teachers and staff." You don't want teachers and staff that would leave if they went to 5 day weeks. They aren't in it for the right reasons if that is a job retention factor. Let them go! With that said, I think it worked the opposite for us. When we went to 4 day weeks there were a lot more applicants for positions than there were before. A low income district in the middle on nowhere all of a sudden had lots of highly qualified people applying for the same positions. It allowed the hiring department to actually have a choice and bring in better staff to a place that had little to offer otherwise. Kind of like a business competing for employees by offering a better benefits package.
Your last paragraph is kind of confusing...You say that when you went 4 days you had more applicants? I am assuming the reason is because the teachers wanted to have a 4 day work week which as you said is not a good retention package.
We have teachers that are going to leave if we go back to 5 days because a lot of schools only did it because the teachers and admin wanted an extra day off a week, saw their chance, and took it...When schools here chose to go 4 day they did not have meetings with parents, community, etc... they just had a simple vote from the teachers themselves...
Bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and janitorial all took a hit in their pocket book because they are hourly but teachers and admin gave up nothing...not to mention all of the parents that had to give up jobs and cut hours when they had the option to do so. My grandsons are in a 5 day school but if their school went 4 days my daughter or SIL either one would have to change professions just so 1 could be there on that day off.
Don't get me wrong, our schools are in dire straights for funding and as I mentioned earlier they are pulling out all the stops to collect taxes and 1 of the things that really irks me is when the State got the Lottery and State Casino's in place they put it to the ballot and won because they said the money was going to the schools but it is not and a lot of folks are worse off for it...
I certainly hope they can fund the schools and give the children an education like I was able to get 5 days a week...
We have teachers that are going to leave if we go back to 5 days because a lot of schools only did it because the teachers and admin wanted an extra day off a week, saw their chance, and took it...When schools here chose to go 4 day they did not have meetings with parents, community, etc... they just had a simple vote from the teachers themselves...
Bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and janitorial all took a hit in their pocket book because they are hourly but teachers and admin gave up nothing...not to mention all of the parents that had to give up jobs and cut hours when they had the option to do so. My grandsons are in a 5 day school but if their school went 4 days my daughter or SIL either one would have to change professions just so 1 could be there on that day off.
Don't get me wrong, our schools are in dire straights for funding and as I mentioned earlier they are pulling out all the stops to collect taxes and 1 of the things that really irks me is when the State got the Lottery and State Casino's in place they put it to the ballot and won because they said the money was going to the schools but it is not and a lot of folks are worse off for it...
I certainly hope they can fund the schools and give the children an education like I was able to get 5 days a week...
catscratch
Well-Known Member
My last paragraph was basically saying you don't want teachers who would quit just because they had to go back to a 5 day week from 4. Those are not professionals who are in it for the kids, let them leave! With that said, our district has little to offer to bring in "good" professionals. We don't pay well for the area and we are in a low income/high needs location. When we went to 4 day weeks we got a lot of highly qualified applicants that had never looked at this area seriously before because there are a lot of districts who offer more in other ways.
Yes, the public was very involve in the decision to change. It saved programs that parents wanted their kids to have available and brought in better teachers. It was a combined effort that district asked input for. If the district parents had said no, the change wouldn't have happened.
Unclassified staff did take a hit with WEEKLY paychecks, but work more weeks a yr now (we didn't drop our contact days so they still work the same number of days a yr). Our teachers and admin still get paid the same, because they still work the same number of days a yr too. The money shifted...
Lol, we had the same thing with the lottery. Lots of promises from the State that didn't get fulfilled.
Yes, the public was very involve in the decision to change. It saved programs that parents wanted their kids to have available and brought in better teachers. It was a combined effort that district asked input for. If the district parents had said no, the change wouldn't have happened.
Unclassified staff did take a hit with WEEKLY paychecks, but work more weeks a yr now (we didn't drop our contact days so they still work the same number of days a yr). Our teachers and admin still get paid the same, because they still work the same number of days a yr too. The money shifted...
Lol, we had the same thing with the lottery. Lots of promises from the State that didn't get fulfilled.
That was also what they were talking about here a couple years ago and then they pretty much went the opposite direction with it at the individual schools discretion...
What happens if you go back to 5 days? Do all those highly qualified teachers leave?
catscratch
Well-Known Member
I can't say for sure but I would guess no for the most part. Most are now invested in the area (own houses, active in extra curricular activities with students, family ties, etc.) and are where they want to be. Of course there is natural turnover in some positions; for instance PE teachers/football coaches seem to move around a lot as well as some other positions.
Gut feeling is I don't think our core teachers would see a 5 day week as a reason to give up on the district. I know these people well enough to know that isn't the reason they are here (even if it is what brought them though the door). If they do leave then good riddance.
Gut feeling is I don't think our core teachers would see a 5 day week as a reason to give up on the district. I know these people well enough to know that isn't the reason they are here (even if it is what brought them though the door). If they do leave then good riddance.
How do you get those 190 days in a year? Reason I ask is here the 4 day schools go 2 weeks (8 days) longer than the 5 day schools...doesn't add up...
catscratch
Well-Known Member
I haven't found out yet but; did the OK schools that went to 4 day weeks drop days from the school yr, or did they keep the number of days the same and shorten breaks? I think this is an important factor to be successful with a change like this.
Parents watching their kids on Fridays IS a big deal. I'm curious, what do these parents do during summer and Christmas breaks? Surely their jobs don't coincide with the kids's breaks... How are they dealing with those times and could they do the same with Fridays?
Parents watching their kids on Fridays IS a big deal. I'm curious, what do these parents do during summer and Christmas breaks? Surely their jobs don't coincide with the kids's breaks... How are they dealing with those times and could they do the same with Fridays?
catscratch
Well-Known Member
There are two ways to measure time (KS mandates a minimum for both ways): one is contact days, and one is contact hours. Our days are longer, Christmas is shorter, lunch is shorter, no spring break, and shorter summer break. We've actually increased our contact time with students since going 4 days (but for different reasons than finances).
I don't want you to think that I'm saying we have the best save all solution to the education woes. We have challenges that need addressing and always will. But, the 4 day week has been a positive in our district. It certainly hasn't been a root cause of the problems present. I also understand that your situation may be completely different with very different solutions. What works for one doesn't always work for the other.
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catscratch
Well-Known Member
Okie, I'm enjoying the discussion but I have to leave for the day. Don't take offense if you post some things and I don't reply... just busy.
My daughters pay for daycare through the summer with some money they put back throughout the year. If they had to pay year round for daycare they would have to adjust jobs/schedules. My daughter works at the college here in town so luckily her schedule is the same as the schools for the spring break, fall break, and Christmas break but the summer break she still has to work because they have summer classes at college.
Another thing to think of is we don't have enough daycares in the area to handle the kids not in school along with having to take on the kids that are in school. We see 8 and10 yr olds watching their 5 yr old siblings now in our area according to the news...when it hits the news it is never good
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