By Jeffrey S. Solochek, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 1, 2011
WESLEY CHAPEL — Jean Marie Whaley was frustrated.
Six weeks into the school year, Whaley, one of Pasco's first instructional technology specialists, still had not found the time to train all teachers in the district's new math software programs.
She had iPads, digital cameras and SMART boards sitting unused. A long list of requests for her expertise remained unfulfilled.
As part of this year's budget cuts, the district laid off 14 elementary technology and media specialists, plus 28 assistants. The remaining ones now have to split their time between two schools instead of focusing on one, with dozens reassigned to different schools than the ones they worked at a year ago.
Whaley blamed that decision for a marked decline in services to students and teachers. She called the changes a professional frustration.
"You want something to work ...