The Board met in regular session last evening. After approving minutes, claims and personnel recommendations, the board discussed spending reduction strategies for the next two years. Several considerations were made as the board studied strategies.
1) Preliminary steps toward grade reorganization in 2006 were considered.
2) The Board considered resolving scheduling issues in the district. Among those are the sharing of music staff at the high school/junior, and junior high/elementaries. Changes in the schedule at one building impacts instruction in other buildings.
Changing enrollment patterns at Plymouth High School were a factor as strategies were considered. Core 40 requirements are causing enrollment shifts which result in increases in some areas and decreases in others.
Parents have expressed concern about the schedule at Lincoln Junior High. Their child’s’ entire schedule is driven by choices in enrollment in band or choir.
During this current year, the elementaries and junior high share art teachers. The unavailability of art teachers from the junior high at a consistent time has caused constant changing of schedules at the elementaries.
The size of the ELL staff at Lincoln Junior High does not meet the needs of those students.
3) The third factor considered when developing the spending reduction strategy was finances. The 2005 budget has been cut $117,000. The district is receiving an additional shortfall due to the lack of state appropriations.
The Board approved a spending reduction strategy which includes the following adjustments:
· There will only be one prep period for each staff member at Lincoln Junior High next year.
· Foreign language instruction will be postponed until the 9th grade.
· Mrs. Baldwin will become a full-time ELL teacher at Lincoln Junior High.
· The assignments of the music staff will be arranged so that three music teachers are assigned to the elementaries, two music teachers are assigned to Lincoln Junior High, and two music teachers are assigned to Plymouth High School.
· Mrs. Mercer will be transferred to Plymouth High School to cover French and English classes.
· Mr. Isenbarger will be transferred to Plymouth High School to cover PE, health and social studies classes.
· Ms. Young will be transferred to Lincoln Junior High to cover health classes.
· Mr. Skirvin will teach both business and PE classes.
· Ms. Lange will be transferred from Lincoln Junior High to Webster Elementary to cover an elementary class.
· Mr. Wenino will be available first and second periods all year for elementary art.
· Through utilization of current staff, the PE position at the high school will not be filled.
· Mr. Benedict will become a ½ time social studies teacher.
· One FACS position at the high school will be reduced to ½.
· Mrs. Freidhoff will be replaced through a transfer instead of hiring a new person.
· Through attrition and elimination of some positions, the total number of assistants in the district will be reduced by eight.
· The extra contract days for the Ag teacher will be reduced by 20 days.
· The extended contract of a music teacher will be reduced by 10 days.
· The extracurricular positions of pool director, girls basketball program director, boys basketball program director, debate coach, 13-15 year old baseball coach, 8th grade assistant boys basketball coach, 8th grade assistant girls basketball coach, team leaders at Lincoln Junior high will not be filled.
· We will reduce the losses in the textbook fund by $40,000.
Total savings to the district for calendar year 2005: $163,018
Total savings to the district for calendar year 2006: $326,691
In other business, the Board heard a report on the NCA documentation visit at Jefferson Elementary and donated property behind Menominee Elementary to the park department for the city Greenway Project.
The next board meeting will be May 12, 2005 at 5:00 o’clock p.m. at the Administration office.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Construction Update
A construction meeting was held on April 21, 2005 @ 9:00 a.m.
During the next two weeks:
The slab in the band room will be poured at Lincoln. All the cement floors will be poured at Webster. The floors in the large band room, corridor 112, and the weight room will be poured at Plymouth High School. The footings for the mezzanine walls in the music area at PHS will be poured next week. The internal walls in the music room at Plymouth High School will be completed. The mezzanine walls and steel will be up in the music area. The interior walls at Webster will be completed. The footers and the foundations will be poured for the dry storage areas at Lincoln Junior High. Insulation on the Webster roof will be installed and shingling will begin. Windows at Webster and Washington will be installed. The kitchens at Lincoln and Washington will be painted through the finish coats. The ceiling grid will be started in the Washington and Lincoln kitchens. The brick at Webster will be caulked and sealed. Temporary coverings will be constructed at Lincoln and Washington for the wall demolition.
Installation of kitchen equipment:
It was announced that the kitchen equipment will arrive and be installed at Lincoln on June 1, 2005. Installation of kitchen equipment at Washington will begin on June 15, 2005.
Pre-Construction Meeting for Phase II:
The pre-construction meeting for Phase II was conducted this morning at 10:00 a.m. All contractors will begin mobilization. The CCI construction trailer will be on site at the new elementary next Wednesday. Construction schedules will be issued in the near future.
The next meeting date for Phase I is May 5, 1005.
During the next two weeks:
The slab in the band room will be poured at Lincoln. All the cement floors will be poured at Webster. The floors in the large band room, corridor 112, and the weight room will be poured at Plymouth High School. The footings for the mezzanine walls in the music area at PHS will be poured next week. The internal walls in the music room at Plymouth High School will be completed. The mezzanine walls and steel will be up in the music area. The interior walls at Webster will be completed. The footers and the foundations will be poured for the dry storage areas at Lincoln Junior High. Insulation on the Webster roof will be installed and shingling will begin. Windows at Webster and Washington will be installed. The kitchens at Lincoln and Washington will be painted through the finish coats. The ceiling grid will be started in the Washington and Lincoln kitchens. The brick at Webster will be caulked and sealed. Temporary coverings will be constructed at Lincoln and Washington for the wall demolition.
Installation of kitchen equipment:
It was announced that the kitchen equipment will arrive and be installed at Lincoln on June 1, 2005. Installation of kitchen equipment at Washington will begin on June 15, 2005.
Pre-Construction Meeting for Phase II:
The pre-construction meeting for Phase II was conducted this morning at 10:00 a.m. All contractors will begin mobilization. The CCI construction trailer will be on site at the new elementary next Wednesday. Construction schedules will be issued in the near future.
The next meeting date for Phase I is May 5, 1005.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Welcome to the Blogosphere!
Terri Dennie and Jeff Hunter have established a classroom blog . Please visit and see how this technology can be used with students and parents.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Monday Potpourri
The Wawasee blog has two interesting articles for your reading. One shows that certified teachers are more effective than non-certified and the second discusses public school students out performing private students. If you have a chance, click on the highlighted words above and it will take you directly to that blog.
Last week we held our 4th technology summit. The summit began with a presentation by Plymouth High School graduate Chad Barden explaining what is needed and expected of high school graduates if they are to participate in the new economy. We also reviewed articles about technology.
As a group, participants in the summit identified those technology skills and knowledge areas that students should have when they graduate from our district. Participants also developed a list of technology activities that can be used to improve student achievement. We further discussed the use of long-distance learning and shared some examples of how the long-distance learning equipment has been used thus far.
In the 4th discussion session , participants from the elementary levels, the middle school and high school levels developed preliminary procedures for selecting software and hardware in the future. The final discussion session focused on the technological skills and knowledge each teacher should possess. This information will be used to write our three-year technology plan which must be submitted to the state of Indiana. If you wish to see a copy of the results of the technology summit, please ask your principal.
A rally to demonstrate support for more funding for public schools will be held tomorrow evening at Washington High School in South Bend, IN. It begins at 5:00 p.m.
Last week we held our 4th technology summit. The summit began with a presentation by Plymouth High School graduate Chad Barden explaining what is needed and expected of high school graduates if they are to participate in the new economy. We also reviewed articles about technology.
As a group, participants in the summit identified those technology skills and knowledge areas that students should have when they graduate from our district. Participants also developed a list of technology activities that can be used to improve student achievement. We further discussed the use of long-distance learning and shared some examples of how the long-distance learning equipment has been used thus far.
In the 4th discussion session , participants from the elementary levels, the middle school and high school levels developed preliminary procedures for selecting software and hardware in the future. The final discussion session focused on the technological skills and knowledge each teacher should possess. This information will be used to write our three-year technology plan which must be submitted to the state of Indiana. If you wish to see a copy of the results of the technology summit, please ask your principal.
A rally to demonstrate support for more funding for public schools will be held tomorrow evening at Washington High School in South Bend, IN. It begins at 5:00 p.m.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Where's Waldo
I remember a decade ago a series of fascinating youth books entitled, Where’s Waldo The book series eventually branched out to games, napkins, paper cups and even neckties. If you liked Where’s Waldo, you may have found Saturday at the Plymouth Library just as exciting. This time let’s call it Where’s Steve, Where’s Vic. Those who didn’t see the small article in the Pilot News this week probably went to the public library Larimore Room at 9:15 and found it empty. This is one might have played Where’s Steve, Where’s Vic.
Representative Steve Heim and Senator Vic Heinold cancelled their 3rd House breakfast, citing reasons of busy schedules. They were also too busy to make an appearance at the rally last weekend at the Indiana Statehouse. We can only hope that our elected legislators stop playing the no-show game and start representing their constituency by finding the resources necessary to fund the mandates they seem fated to pass. You have to wonder if Representative Heim is spending more time courting his largest contributor, Christel Dehan, an Indianapolis business woman (see line 7722) than he is with the fine people in his own district.
Representative Steve Heim and Senator Vic Heinold cancelled their 3rd House breakfast, citing reasons of busy schedules. They were also too busy to make an appearance at the rally last weekend at the Indiana Statehouse. We can only hope that our elected legislators stop playing the no-show game and start representing their constituency by finding the resources necessary to fund the mandates they seem fated to pass. You have to wonder if Representative Heim is spending more time courting his largest contributor, Christel Dehan, an Indianapolis business woman (see line 7722) than he is with the fine people in his own district.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Board Highlights
The board met in regular session last evening. The members of the Webster 4th grade Math Bowl Team were honored for their 1st place finish in the district competition. The elementary handbook for 2005-2006 was reviewed.
John Shultz gave his yearly report from the technology department. He shared the status of the goals of the previous year and the goals that the department set for the next year. Jon reported Plymouth schools had 600 computers in service in January of 1998. Today we have 1,347.
Dan Tyree gave a five year ISTEP report. He reviewed progress that has been made in English/Language Arts, Mathematics and Science ISTEP scores.
The board accepted bids for Phase II in the amount of $12,535,386.00. A change order for -$78,598.00 will be written to one contract which brings the total project construction cost to $12,502,045.00. This amount is $33,341.00 below the construction document estimate.
The two year delay has cost the district approximately $1.5 million dollars for Phase II alone.
The next board meeting will be on April 21, 2005 at Jefferson Elementary at 7:00 p.m.
John Shultz gave his yearly report from the technology department. He shared the status of the goals of the previous year and the goals that the department set for the next year. Jon reported Plymouth schools had 600 computers in service in January of 1998. Today we have 1,347.
Dan Tyree gave a five year ISTEP report. He reviewed progress that has been made in English/Language Arts, Mathematics and Science ISTEP scores.
The board accepted bids for Phase II in the amount of $12,535,386.00. A change order for -$78,598.00 will be written to one contract which brings the total project construction cost to $12,502,045.00. This amount is $33,341.00 below the construction document estimate.
The two year delay has cost the district approximately $1.5 million dollars for Phase II alone.
The next board meeting will be on April 21, 2005 at Jefferson Elementary at 7:00 p.m.
State Happenings
Governor Daniels reacted to the educational rally held Wednesday. We are deeply disappointed the governor refuses to recognize the $588,849 in cuts that have made at Plymouth since 2001. He failed to recognize Plymouth has lost 11.7% of its administrative staff and 2.5% of its teaching staff since 2000. His proposed budget would have necessitated deep cuts in all facets of our programs. Our staff is dedicated to continuous improvement. We expected more support both emotionally and fiscally from his office.
The voucher bill has apparently died in this year’s session. Thank you to all who communicated with their representatives. Keep an eye on happenings in Indianapolis. A legislative session is much like a basketball game. “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over”
The voucher bill has apparently died in this year’s session. Thank you to all who communicated with their representatives. Keep an eye on happenings in Indianapolis. A legislative session is much like a basketball game. “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over”
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Construction Update
A construction meeting was held on April 7, 2005 @ 9:00 a.m.
During the past two weeks:
The interior masonry at Washington and at the Lincoln kitchen is 95% complete. The framing of the roof has been completed at Webster. The interior footings have been poured on the music wing at Plymouth High School and work has continued on the bearing walls in the music wing. The footers have been poured and the foundation walls are being formed at this time in the multi-purpose room area.
During the next two weeks:
The interior masonry work at Lincoln and Washington will be completed. The cement slab will be completed in the music area at Lincoln. The footers and foundations will be completed for the dry storage area at Lincoln. The slab at Webster is scheduled for pouring on the 22nd of April. The metal decking on the roof at Webster will be started Monday and completed within two weeks.
At Plymouth High School, the construction of the interior walls in the music wing will continue. The bar joist over the corridor in the music wing will be installed tomorrow. Work will continue on the foundations in the multi-purpose area.
Gas Shut-off:
The gas will be shut off at Washington by NIPSCO for a short period of time during the spring. This will be done after the heating season and Mrs. Riise will be notified. This should not interfere with schooling in that building.
The next meeting is scheduled for the 21st of April.
During the past two weeks:
The interior masonry at Washington and at the Lincoln kitchen is 95% complete. The framing of the roof has been completed at Webster. The interior footings have been poured on the music wing at Plymouth High School and work has continued on the bearing walls in the music wing. The footers have been poured and the foundation walls are being formed at this time in the multi-purpose room area.
During the next two weeks:
The interior masonry work at Lincoln and Washington will be completed. The cement slab will be completed in the music area at Lincoln. The footers and foundations will be completed for the dry storage area at Lincoln. The slab at Webster is scheduled for pouring on the 22nd of April. The metal decking on the roof at Webster will be started Monday and completed within two weeks.
At Plymouth High School, the construction of the interior walls in the music wing will continue. The bar joist over the corridor in the music wing will be installed tomorrow. Work will continue on the foundations in the multi-purpose area.
Gas Shut-off:
The gas will be shut off at Washington by NIPSCO for a short period of time during the spring. This will be done after the heating season and Mrs. Riise will be notified. This should not interfere with schooling in that building.
The next meeting is scheduled for the 21st of April.
The Rally
We attended the rally at the statehouse yesterday afternoon. The passion and enthusiasm of the participants was inspiring. Several speakers explained the need for additional funding for schools and the potential impact of unfunded mandates.
It was reported that teachers from John Glenn met with and were informed by Representative Heim that he was supporting all the bills that contained unfunded mandates. We were unable to meet with the representative and could not verify that report. It is critical that you contact Representative Heim and express that he vote "no" on SB 281, SB 200, SB 231, SB 371, and SB 598. These bills contain processes for moving dollars away from public schools when increases are minimal. Please email immediately at http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.pl?data=HouseHeim,Steveh17hr .
It was reported that teachers from John Glenn met with and were informed by Representative Heim that he was supporting all the bills that contained unfunded mandates. We were unable to meet with the representative and could not verify that report. It is critical that you contact Representative Heim and express that he vote "no" on SB 281, SB 200, SB 231, SB 371, and SB 598. These bills contain processes for moving dollars away from public schools when increases are minimal. Please email immediately at http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.pl?data=HouseHeim,Steveh17hr .
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Important: Contact Your Legislator
We can not impress upon you the importance of contacting representatives regarding the bills mentioned in yesterday’s posting.
It is critical that our representative understands the feelings that we have regarding the great job that we do at Plymouth and the necessity to provide the resources for us to move forward. We will be participating in the state-wide rally on April 6th in Indianapolis.
Many of us are concerned about potential cuts that may be required in the near future. Because our general fund budget order was reduced $117,038, that amount be trimmed in general fund expenses. The total financial impact, positive or negative, will not be known until the legislature has recessed. Given the nature of some of the bills that are being considered and some of the talk that has been shared with us, necessary reductions could be as high as $450,000.
These challenges are not unique to Plymouth Community Schools. Districts all over Indiana are facing the same crisis or even greater challenges. Furthermore, Indiana is one of the last states to come address its financial state crisis.
We will examine:
- the $588,000 in previous reductions
- our current organization and explore if there are more efficient ways to deliver instruction
- look at low enrollment classes and their relationship to our mission statement, corporation goals, building goals, and state goals as we discussed yesterday.
There are five bills currently under consideration that are either unfunded mandates or bills that will take dollars away from state tuition support that will come up for vote in the very near future. It is critical that you immediately email Representative Heim and express that he vote “no” on those bills.
It is critical that our representative understands the feelings that we have regarding the great job that we do at Plymouth and the necessity to provide the resources for us to move forward. We will be participating in the state-wide rally on April 6th in Indianapolis.
Many of us are concerned about potential cuts that may be required in the near future. Because our general fund budget order was reduced $117,038, that amount be trimmed in general fund expenses. The total financial impact, positive or negative, will not be known until the legislature has recessed. Given the nature of some of the bills that are being considered and some of the talk that has been shared with us, necessary reductions could be as high as $450,000.
These challenges are not unique to Plymouth Community Schools. Districts all over Indiana are facing the same crisis or even greater challenges. Furthermore, Indiana is one of the last states to come address its financial state crisis.
We will examine:
- the $588,000 in previous reductions
- our current organization and explore if there are more efficient ways to deliver instruction
- look at low enrollment classes and their relationship to our mission statement, corporation goals, building goals, and state goals as we discussed yesterday.
There are five bills currently under consideration that are either unfunded mandates or bills that will take dollars away from state tuition support that will come up for vote in the very near future. It is critical that you immediately email Representative Heim and express that he vote “no” on those bills.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Plymouth Produces Two Lilly Scholars
The Marshall County Community Foundation announced the 2005 recipients of Lilly Scholarships are Taryn Holt and Ryan Pickell. Congratulations for your accomplishment!
To those staff members and parents who have guided and influenced Taryn and Ryan in their endeavors, we say 'thank you".
To those staff members and parents who have guided and influenced Taryn and Ryan in their endeavors, we say 'thank you".
Budgets and Bills
As a child growing up, my parents had six envelopes in which they kept money. The envelopes were designated for groceries, clothing, car expenses, household expenses, Christmas, and miscellaneous. My parents cashed their paychecks and distributed dollars among the envelopes. This was their way of budgeting.
The corporation budget operates much the same way. Instead of six envelopes, the district has seven funds. The money from various sources is placed into one of the designated funds. The funds are the general fund, capital projects fund, debt service fund, bus replacement fund, transportation operations fund, special education/pre-school fund, and debt service pension fund. Money from one fund cannot be spent for purposes designated for another fund. For example the district pays for a building from the debt service fund and pays for employee salaries and benefits from the general fund.
The preparation of the 2005 budget begins in June of 2004. By the third Thursday in September 2004 the board must adopt the 2005 budget. Those numbers are based on projections and estimates of assessed values, estimated expenses, and various revenues for the next 18 months. The final approval for that budget is supposed to be made prior to the beginning of the 2005 year. With re-assessment, the Department of Local Government has been late in certifying the budget.
Two weeks ago, the district received its budget order, the certified amounts that the district can spend out of each fund. As a result of that certification, the district will now have $117,038 less to spend in the general fund than the Board originally adopted in September of 2004. In the transportation fund, the district will receive $8,075 less then approved. In the special ed/pre-school fund, the district will receive $37,715 less then approved. The money in the special ed/pre-school fund is driven by the number of students enrolled on December 1, so that will not create a hardship for us. Its greatest cut came in the capital projects fund. That has been reduced by $872,000. Part of this reduction is caused by a new “envelope” called the debt service pension fund. The board has chosen to reduce its capital projects fund to pay off the pension bond debt. The district is required to cut expenses for this calendar year by those amounts.
These cuts come off the top; they do not include the short-falls that the district is currently experiencing as a result of the State being unable to meet its share of its monthly tuition support payment.
During the next few weeks, the district must estimate the impact of the legislature’s action and determine how it will live with in the new parameters.
This task is compounded by the potential passage of several bills moving through the legislature, whose financial mandates will shrink the amount of money available for supporting schools.
It is critically important that you contact Representative Heim (http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) and ask him to vote “no” on Senate Bill 200. Senate Bill 200 is the Core 40 bill. It is a noble bill that could be supported if the dollars needed to implement the tenants of this bill were provided.
Senate Bill 231 is the Kindergarten entrance age date change. This is another bill that could be supported if the dollars needed to implement the change were provided. In its current form please encourage Representative Heim (http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) to vote “no”.
Senate Bill 281 would provide transfer tuition/school vouchers/tuition tax credits. This bill has the potential to move millions of dollars from the public schools to the private schools. In its current form please encourage Representative Heim ( http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) to vote “no”.
Senate Bill 371 is the professional standards board reorganization, increase in drop-out age/spring ISTEP testing bill. Many parts of this bill could be supported but, the unfunded financial liabilities of this bill will take money away from public schools. In its current form please encourage Representative Heim (http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) to vote “no”.
Senate Bill 598, diverting common school and alternative education funds from traditional public schools to charter schools. The financial resources of the state are limited at this time. Money needed to fund this bill will be taken away from children of this district to fund charter schools in other districts. Please encourage Representative Heim to vote “no”.
The corporation budget operates much the same way. Instead of six envelopes, the district has seven funds. The money from various sources is placed into one of the designated funds. The funds are the general fund, capital projects fund, debt service fund, bus replacement fund, transportation operations fund, special education/pre-school fund, and debt service pension fund. Money from one fund cannot be spent for purposes designated for another fund. For example the district pays for a building from the debt service fund and pays for employee salaries and benefits from the general fund.
The preparation of the 2005 budget begins in June of 2004. By the third Thursday in September 2004 the board must adopt the 2005 budget. Those numbers are based on projections and estimates of assessed values, estimated expenses, and various revenues for the next 18 months. The final approval for that budget is supposed to be made prior to the beginning of the 2005 year. With re-assessment, the Department of Local Government has been late in certifying the budget.
Two weeks ago, the district received its budget order, the certified amounts that the district can spend out of each fund. As a result of that certification, the district will now have $117,038 less to spend in the general fund than the Board originally adopted in September of 2004. In the transportation fund, the district will receive $8,075 less then approved. In the special ed/pre-school fund, the district will receive $37,715 less then approved. The money in the special ed/pre-school fund is driven by the number of students enrolled on December 1, so that will not create a hardship for us. Its greatest cut came in the capital projects fund. That has been reduced by $872,000. Part of this reduction is caused by a new “envelope” called the debt service pension fund. The board has chosen to reduce its capital projects fund to pay off the pension bond debt. The district is required to cut expenses for this calendar year by those amounts.
These cuts come off the top; they do not include the short-falls that the district is currently experiencing as a result of the State being unable to meet its share of its monthly tuition support payment.
During the next few weeks, the district must estimate the impact of the legislature’s action and determine how it will live with in the new parameters.
This task is compounded by the potential passage of several bills moving through the legislature, whose financial mandates will shrink the amount of money available for supporting schools.
It is critically important that you contact Representative Heim (http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) and ask him to vote “no” on Senate Bill 200. Senate Bill 200 is the Core 40 bill. It is a noble bill that could be supported if the dollars needed to implement the tenants of this bill were provided.
Senate Bill 231 is the Kindergarten entrance age date change. This is another bill that could be supported if the dollars needed to implement the change were provided. In its current form please encourage Representative Heim (http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) to vote “no”.
Senate Bill 281 would provide transfer tuition/school vouchers/tuition tax credits. This bill has the potential to move millions of dollars from the public schools to the private schools. In its current form please encourage Representative Heim ( http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) to vote “no”.
Senate Bill 371 is the professional standards board reorganization, increase in drop-out age/spring ISTEP testing bill. Many parts of this bill could be supported but, the unfunded financial liabilities of this bill will take money away from public schools. In its current form please encourage Representative Heim (http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/) to vote “no”.
Senate Bill 598, diverting common school and alternative education funds from traditional public schools to charter schools. The financial resources of the state are limited at this time. Money needed to fund this bill will be taken away from children of this district to fund charter schools in other districts. Please encourage Representative Heim to vote “no”.
Monday, March 28, 2005
State Financing Issues
It is critical that we all become aware of the activities of the Indiana legislature with respect to school financing and related issues. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette published an article that describes the anti-school sentiment that exists in Indianapolis.
Posted on Sun, Mar. 27, 2005
_
Running on emptyAnti-school sentiment stalls education progress by Karen Francisco
There might be no equation more important in the state’s budget battle than the one that will determine how much money will go to public schools. And as popular as the idea of simplifying that equation seems to be, it will please very few if there’s not enough money to make it work.
Calls to replace the current formula with one in which “the money follows the child” are growing stronger. They drown out a deeper, darker fight taking place at the Statehouse – one that strikes at the philosophical foundation of Indiana’s constitutional requirement to provide “a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.”
The implication in calling for a revised funding formula is that there are plenty of education dollars to go around, but they aren’t being distributed fairly. It’s a brilliant strategy if your goal is to divide urban, suburban and rural school districts or to saddle them with more and costly requirements. If you want to steer tax dollars to private and parochial schools exempt from those same requirements, “the money follows the child” is the ticket.
If you believe, however, that Indiana’s public schools are a key factor in its economic future and that improvements will continue only with additional investment, you’ll realize that a simple funding formula is this session’s red herring.
The philosophical fight has come about because Republicans won control of the House and because the new administration appears to place little stock in public education. Gov. Mitch Daniels used his State of the State address to characterize Indiana schools as overfunded and lagging other states. His education agenda is aimed at rewriting the funding formula, increasing funding for charter schools, appointing his own superintendent of public instruction and moving the ISTEP+ exam to spring. Only one measure – moving up the kindergarten enrollment date – would have any direct effect on classroom achievement.
A complex task
The task of balancing property wealth, socioeconomic variables, fluctuating enrollments and other factors presents a challenge that far exceeds grade-school math abilities. Even Sen. Luke Kenley, a critic of the current formula, expresses reservations. “We’re very pleased we’re all marching down the path of trying to do funding that follows the child,” he said earlier this year. “But it’s good news, bad news.”
Actually, it’s a case of bad news and more bad news. What some lawmakers sought was a formula that stops granting additional dollars to schools with declining enrollment and shifts those dollars to growing districts. The dollars earmarked for schools in the House budget bill, however, allow a handful of districts to limp along and leaves most of them struggling.
“It almost works the reverse of what they were hoping for,” said Brian Smith, superintendent of Southwest Allen County Schools, one of those growing districts. “We were shocked to learn that our class sizes are going to grow as a result of this.”
Southwest Allen, because of its projected growth, expects to lose $150 per student in 2006 and $100 per student in 2007. That’s frustrating for the Allen County district because it succeeded in passing a voter referendum specifically aimed at reducing class sizes.
But its problems are minor compared with those of some small-town and rural districts. Adams Central Community Schools, in Monroe, is facing a 3 percent reduction in the first year of the proposed budget; almost 4 percent in the second year. Smith-Green Community Schools, in Churubusco, would see cuts exceeding 2 percent each year.
“It’s a very, very difficult time,” said David Martin, Smith-Green superintendent. “We’re looking at a significant drop in revenue, and what is amazing to me is that the discussions at the state level are about adding requirements.”
Martin is worried about Senate Bill 200, which would make the Core 40 curriculum the minimum requirement for a high school diploma. It would require Smith-Green to hire more staff, even as the proposed budget demands that vacancies left by retirements this year will go unfilled. It will be harder for small districts to offer more advanced science and math courses than it will be for larger districts.
Lowell Rose, a retired superintendent and consultant to the Indiana Urban Schools Association, said the proposed budget will “disperse misery for all, albeit disproportionately.”
House Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, defended the budget proposal, noting that it’s the lack of money, not the formula itself, that school officials are unhappy with. He pointed out that all three districts in Wells County, his home county, lose money in his proposed budget.
Urban vs. suburban
Before the legislative session began, Sen. Vi Simpson, a Democrat from Ellettsville, predicted that the funding battle between urban and suburban schools would be the “debate that tears this session apart.”
That could still happen. But school officials have quickly realized that squabbling over their own share of state dollars is counterproductive when there is not enough money to go around in the first place. It’s a fairly recent development, even if it seems that schools always have been begging for more.
Some history:
Indiana’s school finance program dates to 1949, with adoption of a “foundation program,” in which the state guarantees all school districts a target amount of per-pupil support for education, assuming that the district will raise a portion through local property taxes.
Until 1973, school districts were required to raise a minimum amount in local taxes in exchange for state support to meet the foundation level. Districts could levy higher taxes to support as strong a school system as the community wanted and could afford. In 1973, modifications were made to control property taxes and, later, to reduce inequities in funding between districts. One major change was to add a “minimum guarantee” so that school districts would not face a decline in revenue during a fiscal crisis. As the state’s fiscal crisis began in 2001, the number of school districts receiving the minimum guarantee began to grow to the point where eight out 10 corporations now receive the minimum guarantee.
Because growing districts in wealthier areas make up most of those not receiving the minimum guarantee, some lawmakers began faulting the formula for withholding money from growing, suburban districts at the expense of declining urban and rural districts. But it’s a lack of money overall, not the formula, that is the root of the problem.
“It’s all about politics and very little about schools,” said Simpson, who predicted the urban-suburban battle. “(The formula) is not that difficult to explain. When they say that only six people in the state understand it, that’s baloney – that’s malarkey.”
She said that the state shouldn’t penalize corporations like Fort Wayne Community Schools, with a relatively stable enrollment, or small districts like her own in southern Indiana, to support growing suburban districts, but should instead re-examine its priorities to put more money toward all schools.
“There are appropriations in this budget that could be diverted to K-12 – it’s just a matter of priorities,” Simpson said. “My hope is that we can get the word out and get this turned around. We’re going outside of Indianapolis to spread the word – the governor has been missing in action in supporting public schools.”
Discouraging prospects
As Simpson and other Democratic legislators hold town meetings across the state to discuss K-12 funding, education officials are bracing for the worst and trying to hold off the additional demands that Republican lawmakers seem intent on approving. Lowell Rose admitted that the crisis hasn’t registered with voters. “When the public wakes up to everything that has happened (regarding education) in the session, it’s going to be too late to do anything about it,” he said.
“The other thing going on is that this administration has demonstrated that it is not pro-public school,” Rose said. “I think the members of the House and Senate are far more supportive of public education than the governor.”
Rose praised Senate leaders, including Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, who he said is working to find another $100 million for schools. Revenue estimates due in April will determine if it can happen. Espich predicted that the legislature will approve additional sin taxes and find another $50 million to $100 million for schools, but he warned that even the extra dollars won’t bring K-12 education up to the funding level of the current biennium.
A likely scenario is that Indiana’s public schools will receive in the next two-year budget the same or less amount of money as in the previous biennium. They also will be required to add to their high school course offerings and serve more students in accommodating an earlier kindergarten enrollment cut-off date and a higher minimum age for drop-outs. A badly timed switch from fall to spring ISTEP+ will consume a considerable share of dollars that could go toward instruction.
In a worst-case scenario, Republican House leaders will push through HB 1009, a voucher bill that will further erode financial support for public education.
If the session continues on its present course, Indiana can expect to find itself continuing to talk about its funding formula. But instead of Statehouse arguments over suburban vs. urban, the discussion will be in the courts, where many other states have found themselves trying to defend inadequate and inequitable support for public education.
Lawmakers would be well-served to review of the state’s constitutional requirements with regard to schools if they want to save Hoosiers the cost and heartache of a legal challenge.
More important, they should protect the wise investment they have placed in schools over the last two decades.
Tomorrow we will share the impact of proposals on our district. Late this afternoon we received the following:
PLEASE BE ALERTED THAT HB 1009, THE VOUCHER BILL, WAS AMENDED INTO SB 281, PUBLIC SCHOOL TRANSFER PROGRAM THIS MORNING BY THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The amendment was offered by Representative Behning. Now is the time to personally contact your representative in the House and ask them to oppose SB 281 as amended by the House Education Committee. You can e-mail your legislators at:http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.plpl A telephone message would also help. Testimony was not completed on the bill and amendments, so further testimony and the vote have been delayed until Wednesday morning at 8:30 AM. No one received a copy of the amended 1009, so it is hard to tell what changed. John Ellis did have one of the opportunities to speak, and opposed the amendment incorporating HB 1009. He discussed:· When funding for public schools is at such a low level it is not a good time to direct dollars that could be dedicated to the public school funding formula away from those schools. The dollars would go to private schools even if the private school and the student funded never demonstrated attainment under NCLB. The fiscal impact for the three-year period on the tax credit defined is substantial--$11.4 million in 2007, $17.1 million in 2008, and $63 million for 2009. In addressing the assumption that schools will recoup dollar for dollar since the student leaves when the money leaves, Ellis used the example of tuition support at $3880 per student--a district with six 4-section elementary schools losing 100 students to vouchers would average a loss of 1/2 student per class--hardly allowing a penny of savings because the 100 students were gone. The Chair's response was there would be a new fiscal to fit the revisions in the bill.· The funding source was changed from direct school revenue to the state's general fund. The state's general fund provides revenue for public schools, Medicaid, correction, and any other item within the state's budget.Members of the House Education Committee: R. Behning - Chair T. Harris S. Heim R. Hoffman J. Thompson G. Porter D. Cheney J. Micon P. Pflum V. Smith
Posted on Sun, Mar. 27, 2005
_
Running on emptyAnti-school sentiment stalls education progress by Karen Francisco
There might be no equation more important in the state’s budget battle than the one that will determine how much money will go to public schools. And as popular as the idea of simplifying that equation seems to be, it will please very few if there’s not enough money to make it work.
Calls to replace the current formula with one in which “the money follows the child” are growing stronger. They drown out a deeper, darker fight taking place at the Statehouse – one that strikes at the philosophical foundation of Indiana’s constitutional requirement to provide “a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.”
The implication in calling for a revised funding formula is that there are plenty of education dollars to go around, but they aren’t being distributed fairly. It’s a brilliant strategy if your goal is to divide urban, suburban and rural school districts or to saddle them with more and costly requirements. If you want to steer tax dollars to private and parochial schools exempt from those same requirements, “the money follows the child” is the ticket.
If you believe, however, that Indiana’s public schools are a key factor in its economic future and that improvements will continue only with additional investment, you’ll realize that a simple funding formula is this session’s red herring.
The philosophical fight has come about because Republicans won control of the House and because the new administration appears to place little stock in public education. Gov. Mitch Daniels used his State of the State address to characterize Indiana schools as overfunded and lagging other states. His education agenda is aimed at rewriting the funding formula, increasing funding for charter schools, appointing his own superintendent of public instruction and moving the ISTEP+ exam to spring. Only one measure – moving up the kindergarten enrollment date – would have any direct effect on classroom achievement.
A complex task
The task of balancing property wealth, socioeconomic variables, fluctuating enrollments and other factors presents a challenge that far exceeds grade-school math abilities. Even Sen. Luke Kenley, a critic of the current formula, expresses reservations. “We’re very pleased we’re all marching down the path of trying to do funding that follows the child,” he said earlier this year. “But it’s good news, bad news.”
Actually, it’s a case of bad news and more bad news. What some lawmakers sought was a formula that stops granting additional dollars to schools with declining enrollment and shifts those dollars to growing districts. The dollars earmarked for schools in the House budget bill, however, allow a handful of districts to limp along and leaves most of them struggling.
“It almost works the reverse of what they were hoping for,” said Brian Smith, superintendent of Southwest Allen County Schools, one of those growing districts. “We were shocked to learn that our class sizes are going to grow as a result of this.”
Southwest Allen, because of its projected growth, expects to lose $150 per student in 2006 and $100 per student in 2007. That’s frustrating for the Allen County district because it succeeded in passing a voter referendum specifically aimed at reducing class sizes.
But its problems are minor compared with those of some small-town and rural districts. Adams Central Community Schools, in Monroe, is facing a 3 percent reduction in the first year of the proposed budget; almost 4 percent in the second year. Smith-Green Community Schools, in Churubusco, would see cuts exceeding 2 percent each year.
“It’s a very, very difficult time,” said David Martin, Smith-Green superintendent. “We’re looking at a significant drop in revenue, and what is amazing to me is that the discussions at the state level are about adding requirements.”
Martin is worried about Senate Bill 200, which would make the Core 40 curriculum the minimum requirement for a high school diploma. It would require Smith-Green to hire more staff, even as the proposed budget demands that vacancies left by retirements this year will go unfilled. It will be harder for small districts to offer more advanced science and math courses than it will be for larger districts.
Lowell Rose, a retired superintendent and consultant to the Indiana Urban Schools Association, said the proposed budget will “disperse misery for all, albeit disproportionately.”
House Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, defended the budget proposal, noting that it’s the lack of money, not the formula itself, that school officials are unhappy with. He pointed out that all three districts in Wells County, his home county, lose money in his proposed budget.
Urban vs. suburban
Before the legislative session began, Sen. Vi Simpson, a Democrat from Ellettsville, predicted that the funding battle between urban and suburban schools would be the “debate that tears this session apart.”
That could still happen. But school officials have quickly realized that squabbling over their own share of state dollars is counterproductive when there is not enough money to go around in the first place. It’s a fairly recent development, even if it seems that schools always have been begging for more.
Some history:
Indiana’s school finance program dates to 1949, with adoption of a “foundation program,” in which the state guarantees all school districts a target amount of per-pupil support for education, assuming that the district will raise a portion through local property taxes.
Until 1973, school districts were required to raise a minimum amount in local taxes in exchange for state support to meet the foundation level. Districts could levy higher taxes to support as strong a school system as the community wanted and could afford. In 1973, modifications were made to control property taxes and, later, to reduce inequities in funding between districts. One major change was to add a “minimum guarantee” so that school districts would not face a decline in revenue during a fiscal crisis. As the state’s fiscal crisis began in 2001, the number of school districts receiving the minimum guarantee began to grow to the point where eight out 10 corporations now receive the minimum guarantee.
Because growing districts in wealthier areas make up most of those not receiving the minimum guarantee, some lawmakers began faulting the formula for withholding money from growing, suburban districts at the expense of declining urban and rural districts. But it’s a lack of money overall, not the formula, that is the root of the problem.
“It’s all about politics and very little about schools,” said Simpson, who predicted the urban-suburban battle. “(The formula) is not that difficult to explain. When they say that only six people in the state understand it, that’s baloney – that’s malarkey.”
She said that the state shouldn’t penalize corporations like Fort Wayne Community Schools, with a relatively stable enrollment, or small districts like her own in southern Indiana, to support growing suburban districts, but should instead re-examine its priorities to put more money toward all schools.
“There are appropriations in this budget that could be diverted to K-12 – it’s just a matter of priorities,” Simpson said. “My hope is that we can get the word out and get this turned around. We’re going outside of Indianapolis to spread the word – the governor has been missing in action in supporting public schools.”
Discouraging prospects
As Simpson and other Democratic legislators hold town meetings across the state to discuss K-12 funding, education officials are bracing for the worst and trying to hold off the additional demands that Republican lawmakers seem intent on approving. Lowell Rose admitted that the crisis hasn’t registered with voters. “When the public wakes up to everything that has happened (regarding education) in the session, it’s going to be too late to do anything about it,” he said.
“The other thing going on is that this administration has demonstrated that it is not pro-public school,” Rose said. “I think the members of the House and Senate are far more supportive of public education than the governor.”
Rose praised Senate leaders, including Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, who he said is working to find another $100 million for schools. Revenue estimates due in April will determine if it can happen. Espich predicted that the legislature will approve additional sin taxes and find another $50 million to $100 million for schools, but he warned that even the extra dollars won’t bring K-12 education up to the funding level of the current biennium.
A likely scenario is that Indiana’s public schools will receive in the next two-year budget the same or less amount of money as in the previous biennium. They also will be required to add to their high school course offerings and serve more students in accommodating an earlier kindergarten enrollment cut-off date and a higher minimum age for drop-outs. A badly timed switch from fall to spring ISTEP+ will consume a considerable share of dollars that could go toward instruction.
In a worst-case scenario, Republican House leaders will push through HB 1009, a voucher bill that will further erode financial support for public education.
If the session continues on its present course, Indiana can expect to find itself continuing to talk about its funding formula. But instead of Statehouse arguments over suburban vs. urban, the discussion will be in the courts, where many other states have found themselves trying to defend inadequate and inequitable support for public education.
Lawmakers would be well-served to review of the state’s constitutional requirements with regard to schools if they want to save Hoosiers the cost and heartache of a legal challenge.
More important, they should protect the wise investment they have placed in schools over the last two decades.
Tomorrow we will share the impact of proposals on our district. Late this afternoon we received the following:
PLEASE BE ALERTED THAT HB 1009, THE VOUCHER BILL, WAS AMENDED INTO SB 281, PUBLIC SCHOOL TRANSFER PROGRAM THIS MORNING BY THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The amendment was offered by Representative Behning. Now is the time to personally contact your representative in the House and ask them to oppose SB 281 as amended by the House Education Committee. You can e-mail your legislators at:http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.plpl A telephone message would also help. Testimony was not completed on the bill and amendments, so further testimony and the vote have been delayed until Wednesday morning at 8:30 AM. No one received a copy of the amended 1009, so it is hard to tell what changed. John Ellis did have one of the opportunities to speak, and opposed the amendment incorporating HB 1009. He discussed:· When funding for public schools is at such a low level it is not a good time to direct dollars that could be dedicated to the public school funding formula away from those schools. The dollars would go to private schools even if the private school and the student funded never demonstrated attainment under NCLB. The fiscal impact for the three-year period on the tax credit defined is substantial--$11.4 million in 2007, $17.1 million in 2008, and $63 million for 2009. In addressing the assumption that schools will recoup dollar for dollar since the student leaves when the money leaves, Ellis used the example of tuition support at $3880 per student--a district with six 4-section elementary schools losing 100 students to vouchers would average a loss of 1/2 student per class--hardly allowing a penny of savings because the 100 students were gone. The Chair's response was there would be a new fiscal to fit the revisions in the bill.· The funding source was changed from direct school revenue to the state's general fund. The state's general fund provides revenue for public schools, Medicaid, correction, and any other item within the state's budget.Members of the House Education Committee: R. Behning - Chair T. Harris S. Heim R. Hoffman J. Thompson G. Porter D. Cheney J. Micon P. Pflum V. Smith
Champions In Our Hearts
Our speech and basketball teams are great examples of what is right with public schools. Both exhibited what our youth can do when high expectations, great teaching and coaching, and hard work all come together. Their accomplishments are not measured on the ISTEP, however their experiences provided valuable lessons that will last them a lifetime. Coaches and team members, we thank you for your efforts. You are CHAMPIONS in our hearts!
Friday, March 18, 2005
Congratulations!
Good luck to the Speech Team members and coaches who are participating in the State Speech meet this weekend at IUPUI.
Our "final four" basketball team will make us proud tomorrow at Huntington. During this week, Jack will be admitted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Congratulations!
Our "final four" basketball team will make us proud tomorrow at Huntington. During this week, Jack will be admitted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Congratulations!
Reading News
It was a “rush” to see the enthusiasm associated with our district’s emphasis on reading in Wednesday’s elementary in-service. This does not exist in all districts.
Federal reading first dollars have been used to evaluate many products who say they meet the “scientific research-based” criteria. Those evaluations are available to the general public from an University of Oregon website. As we become more adept at identifying specific problem areas, these resources will be useful in making instructional decisions.
While working with a student teacher, Stephanie Schaffer (Webster) compiled a resource book for reading. This book has been distributed to all elementary and is organized for additions over time. We thank you Stephanie for your efforts.
Federal reading first dollars have been used to evaluate many products who say they meet the “scientific research-based” criteria. Those evaluations are available to the general public from an University of Oregon website. As we become more adept at identifying specific problem areas, these resources will be useful in making instructional decisions.
While working with a student teacher, Stephanie Schaffer (Webster) compiled a resource book for reading. This book has been distributed to all elementary and is organized for additions over time. We thank you Stephanie for your efforts.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
What is in a Name? Part 2
A few days ago we solicited potential names for the new elementary. Some experienced difficulties with the comment button. Let's try it again. Thus far, two suggestions have been received via email, Franklin Elementary and Nutmeg Academy. What is your proposed name for the new building?
Remember, the name of the building should inspire excellence. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
Remember, the name of the building should inspire excellence. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Check Out Other Blogs
The Wawasee Blog has two interesting posts. One talks about the game on Saturday, the other features an article by the late Mike Royko, Mudders and Fodders.
Semi State Tickets
Semi-State Tickets will be sold as follows:
Tuesday, March 15, Parents of varsity players, managers and cheerleaders,
High School students and high school employees from 12:00 - 4:00 PM - - Season ticket holders only.
Wednesday, March 16, . From 3:30 - 5:00 PM - Plymouth Community School Corp. Employees - season ticket holders only.
Season Tickets holders - Tickets will go on sale at 6:00 PM in the boys gym. Everyone must show their season tickets and everyone will have to pick up their own tickets.
Thursday, March 17,
Non season ticket holders 8:00 - 4:00 PM.
Tuesday, March 15, Parents of varsity players, managers and cheerleaders,
High School students and high school employees from 12:00 - 4:00 PM - - Season ticket holders only.
Wednesday, March 16, . From 3:30 - 5:00 PM - Plymouth Community School Corp. Employees - season ticket holders only.
Season Tickets holders - Tickets will go on sale at 6:00 PM in the boys gym. Everyone must show their season tickets and everyone will have to pick up their own tickets.
Thursday, March 17,
Non season ticket holders 8:00 - 4:00 PM.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Student Services Committee
The Student Services Committee met for the first time this year. Thirty-five staff members, parents, and community members gathered to talk about what our community is doing for our students.
Mrs. Georgette Rader started the meeting by addressing the needs for AIDS instruction in the schools. Once the new Health and Wellness curriculum is released from the state, health teachers from the high school and junior high will meet with representatives from the elementary school to create a K-12 curriculum in this area.
Representatives from the Bowen Center took the podium next and informed the gathering on the Student's Assistance program recently established.
Melissa Shanks, Sue Stinson, and John Barron gave excellent reports on wellness in the PE and Health Classes. Mrs. Stinson even had Mr. Tyree take off his shoes and socks and have his body-fat index taken. The results are secret! Mrs. Rader talked about wellness from the nurse's perspective and Mrs. Burnham gave a report on our healthy-lunch program.
The group will meet again on September 7, 2005. Anyone who has an agenda suggestion should contact Dan Tyree.
Mrs. Georgette Rader started the meeting by addressing the needs for AIDS instruction in the schools. Once the new Health and Wellness curriculum is released from the state, health teachers from the high school and junior high will meet with representatives from the elementary school to create a K-12 curriculum in this area.
Representatives from the Bowen Center took the podium next and informed the gathering on the Student's Assistance program recently established.
Melissa Shanks, Sue Stinson, and John Barron gave excellent reports on wellness in the PE and Health Classes. Mrs. Stinson even had Mr. Tyree take off his shoes and socks and have his body-fat index taken. The results are secret! Mrs. Rader talked about wellness from the nurse's perspective and Mrs. Burnham gave a report on our healthy-lunch program.
The group will meet again on September 7, 2005. Anyone who has an agenda suggestion should contact Dan Tyree.
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