Public schools exist to educate students, but sometimes I don't think the adults who run them know that.
According to the Skagit Valley Herald, schools in Skagit County are lamenting "a difficult budget year" (as do all public schools, every year). Some blame it on so-called "cuts" in education funding (i.e. "we got a smaller increase than we expected from the legislature"), some on higher health care benefits owed to workers.
The major culprit? Declining enrollment.
Another way to describe declining enrollment is "fewer customers." In the real world, "fewer customers" has a direct and logical correlation to "less revenue" and "fewer staff needed."
Public schools don't seem to get it, and staff whose services are no longer needed or affordable are seen as victims. Sometimes I think they'd run a school with no students at all if they could get away with it, and they'd keep campaigning for the levies to support it.
The ironic good news in all of this: The loss in revenue is motivating Skagit County school officials to take "aggressive steps to prevent teenagers from dropping out of high school."
"Instead of kicking kids out of school for violations, we kick them in school," explained Superintendent Michael Parker.
Too bad they aren't motivated by the prospect of students gaining the academic tools they need to become independent, productive adults. And, conversely, the prospect of political, social and economic disenfranchisement for those who don't.
The name of the teacher union's anti-charter school campaign is "Protect Our Public Schools". (As opposed to, say, "Protect Our Children's Educational Opportunities")
The name of the perpetual organization that exists to campaign for school levies in Seattle is called "Schools First" (As opposed to, say, "Kids First")
Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on September 3, 2004 06:37 PMa) I have to apologize. This is my home county newspaper, I read the story in newsprint and somehow between there and my life I forgot to e-mail ya. Sincerely sorry :-(.
b) Heard you on Republican Radio - you did great, as always. I think the "rising, roaring Republican rose" moniker fits you well.
c) As in re the article itself, I missed that point as to the dropouts that you raised. I have, as a former trustee applicant to Skagit Valley College (SVC), tried to make that an issue - 1 in 3 Skagitonians drop out of high school and we at SVC - as YOU AND YOUR FOUNDATION HAVE POINTED OUT - have to deal with the consequences.
FYI: One now-former administrator, who I like and therefore shall remain anonymous, in response to me raising this issue wanted me to focus instead on "access" and keeping tuition down. But to me, access INCLUDES not just having the fiscal wealth to get into SVC, but the intellectual wealth as well... You all can stew on that and the implications of.
Good work, Marsha. ROCK ON, DUDE!
Josef
P.S. Keep surfing the Herald - you'll see soon enuf why...
Posted by: Josef on September 4, 2004 03:02 PMKeep at it!
Matt
Posted by: Matt Rosenberg on September 5, 2004 08:33 PMSKAGIT VALLEY HERALD.com
Burlington joins special education lawsuit
By MARTA MURVOSH
Nine school districts taking state to court over funding
Educators say they have tried playing nice, asking lawmakers to fully fund special education — but to no avail.
http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2004/09/06/news/news01.prt
Posted by: Josef on September 6, 2004 04:47 PMIs learning district's priority?
I read with great interest the front page article on Wednesday, September 1, that mentioned how declining enrollment in Concrete's schools is causing budget problems leading to staff reductions. Student enrollment has declined in the past several years. However, the District administration uses enrollment projections to make staff reductions. Actual enrollment numbers have exceeded projected enrollment every year. That has led to certified (teachers) and classified (para-educators) staff being laid off at a greater rate than student enrollment has declined. The results? Larger classes; fewer education support staff; an across-the-board four percent pay raise for administrators. You heard it! While enrollment has been declining, and teacher and teaching support staff and activities have been reduced (at a faster rate than student enrollment), administrators got a pay raise. Statistics maintained by the Office of Public Instruction in Olympia clearly show that before this recent pay increase Concrete School District Administration costs were the highest in the state, as a percentage of total budget, for same size schools.
Parents need to be asking the Concrete Superintendent and the School Board members how these actions support student learning.
What is the district's priority? Why do district administration costs keep increasing while those people and activities that directly impact students everyday are being reduced?
Joe Shepherd, Concrete
http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2004/09/09/letters/letters.txt
Truly sorry.
Josef
Posted by: Josef on September 11, 2004 09:00 AM