I spoke recently with one of our State representatives. Concerning school finances, they "do NOT think it's about more money. It's about the kids." Which I agreed. They went on to explain the "schools have not been accountable to the state and communities" for sometime.
This is why the state has required the schools to have a balanced budget by 2010.
Similar to our contribution through property taxes, the state has been paying into the schools (with taxpayer money) and is not seeing the accounting for these funds.
For YEARS our district has gone over budget and borrowed against our children's future. The future is here and now and they want us, community members, to pay for it. In some ways we are responsible. We should have been more involved, earlier on, and required more accountability sooner.
The community was not asked for it's input until the district surplus of cash had run dry. In turn, we the community did not ask for more accountability till the district wanted us to cough up more cash. For both sides it has been all about the money and we all are using the kids as the
bargaining chip for our response to the budget dilemma.
This isn't about busing, or kids getting to school or field trips. It is about getting our kids the best basic education we can afford. Schools cannot continue to take over as social workers and surrogate parents to give kids trips to the zoo and offer alternative schools to chronically truant students. Programs for students who want to be in school and whose parents make the effort to be involved are paying the cost. These students are losing lifetime opportunities that cannot be replaced.
National Honor Society, fine arts, clubs and activities are a small investment in keeping students encouraged about school and creating an atmosphere of community within their school. Not to mention, it looks great on the college application.
Below you will see a proposal that was mentioned at one budget forum. It was put aside quickly and I, for one, do not know why. In the list of alternate reductions you will see nearly 3 million could be saved by cuts to administrative positions only. Why wasn't this plan discussed more at the Tuesday Talks? Or at more of the Board forums?
Alternate Reductions
1.1.) Service Center Admin.
a) 81,000
b) 65,000
c) 30,000
d) 76,000
e) 87,500
f) 24,000
g) 65,400
h) 60,900
Total 489,800
2.2.)Elementary Admin.
a) 599,813
b) 319,614
Total 919,427
3.3.) Middle School Admin.
a) 492,059
b) 109,469
Total 601,528
4.) High School Admin.
a) 270,752
b) 10,000
c) 266,415
d) 90,000
e) 197,000
Total 834,167
Grand Total - All Alternative Reductions= $ 2,844,922
