From the CEO
Greetings,
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teachers went on strike this week. Last year there were high profile teacher strikes in Arizona, Kentucky, and North Carolina. We are nearing a boiling point of teacher frustration and the potential consequences are severe. Accelerated teacher attrition, fewer teachers entering the profession, those that do as a starter job rather than career, and lower quality candidates.
In an NPR interview, one LAUSD “Teacher of the Year” said teachers would happily forgo more salary for smaller class sizes. This is a telling reflection that teachers value job quality over compensation.
It’s time to put the teacher back in the center of the education universe. It starts with school districts investing in a culture of trust and empowerment. Nothing symbolizes these characteristics more than unlocking funds already earmarked for classroom materials and giving teachers simple and flexible access to the funds in order to get the resources they decide are important for success.
Exciting News
Florida Association of School Administrators Partners with ClassWallet
We are very excited to announce our partnership with the Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA). FASA views ClassWallet as the type of technology districts should consider as a cost effective way to create a culture in which teachers feel valued and empowered. This goes a long way toward addressing teacher retention and recruitment challenges, as well as meeting expectations that millennials come to expect as they enter the teacher profession.
Smartphone Technology is Popular to Help Parents, but Not Teachers
ClassWallet has been talking to school district finance officers across the country. Most of us at ClassWallet are parents, and we do most of our school fee payments, donations, etc. through mobile friendly applications. This prompted us to ask the finance officers how they are taking advantage of mobile friendly technology to make teachers’ lives easier. The answer is not many. In our opinion this is not a sustainable strategy for school districts to keep teachers engaged, satisfied, and feeling valued.
What Would Bookkeepers Do with 5 Extra Hours per Week?
Many customers tell us ClassWallet saves 15 minutes bookkeeping time per transaction, which can add up to 5 hours per week. That inspired us to ask finance officers what school bookkeepers would do if they had that extra time. Here is what we learned.
And Would There be an Improvement in Job Satisfaction?
Simply put. Yes. Definitely.
Upcoming Events
Say Hi in Person! Find Us
Florida Association of School Support Administrators Board Meeting – Featured Guest Speaker
February 4
Arkansas Association of School Business Officers Conference
February 6 – 7
Levy County School District (FL) Lunch & Learn (RSVP here)
February 8
Florida Future Finance Officers Professional Development – Featured Guest Speaker
February 12
SXSW EDU – Featured Speaker
“Trust is a Must” – the importance of valuing teacher agency
March 3 – 7
ASU-GSV X Summit – Featured Speaker
April 8 -10
Kansas Association of School Business Officers – Featured Guest Speaker
April 24 – 26