June 5, 2017, Spartanburg (SC) Herald Journal: Spartanburg District 6 OKs $94.8M budget with no tax increase http://www.goupstate.com/news/20170605/spartanburg-district-6-oks-948m-budget-with-no-tax-increase
Spartanburg School District 6 trustees passed a $94.8 million budget that isn’t expected to include a tax increase....
Growth in special education, especially services for students with autism, early intervention and occupational therapy programs, were all absorbed into the district’s general fund since federal support of those programs has dwindled. …
Daniels said the experience-based salary increases for teacher and other employees accounted for $846,130 of the budget’s increase.
Two classroom teacher positions were added, as were three special education assistants.
The previous budget included nine new teachers, four of whom were special education teachers. Literacy assistants were also added at several elementary schools.
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.