<p>With limited resources, it often comes down to paying for expanded academic opportunities for kids and teacher support in the classroom, or paying for increases in teacher benefits because of rising health care costs. Insurance companies are the winners.</p>
<p>Brighty - In my area of Mass., experienced teachers are retiring from the
system and I'm told the talent pool of applicants to replace them is
not very high. And this is a suburban school system that has managed
to retain a good reputation despite massive cuts in the last 4 years or so.
I think the word is out that the system is not being supported by the
taxpayers and therefore look elsewhere for a job. Some young teachers
have only had their teaching jobs for a year or two, then been laid off.
I personally know a teacher that this happened to at our middle school.
He was a good young-ish teacher we never should have lost. Also,
I suspect teachers are rebelling at steadily increasing class sizes -
they are entering the 30's in our schools - not 20's - 30's! You are of
course correct about school budgets routinely representing a large
% of overall budgets - here it is about 70% and has been for some time.
The system is really breaking down in my state (Mass.), despite its
overall reputation for high public school achievement. It is difficult
to witness, trust me.</p>
<p>I thoroughly understand your point. This is very interesting.</p>
<p>Citizens are not supporting local property tax increases because they too are feeling squeezed. Teacher lay offs, increased class sizes, and the highering of teachers with less experience are the result of diminishing resouces from local, state and federal governments. Ask your local school committee and they will tell you the insurance companies are getting the money that once went directly to kids in the classroom. I won't even go into the unfunded mandates of NCLB.</p>
<p>I believe the graying of America is a big factor in the way tax referendums don't get passed as frequently as they used to. With more people whose children -- and, often, their children's children -- past school age, they place less and less emphasis and priority on their supporting public schools. My grandmother always told me that when she needed them, the schools were there with excellent teachers. Her view was that she would never vote against a requested tax increase for schools because she owed it to the next generations to provide what was there for her and her children. I'm a private school parent and I think she was wise. I'd pay even more in taxes to build better schools so that kids don't have to go to private school like mine have to. But among most private school parents, they're totally puzzled when I put a "Vote Yes" bumper sticker on my car signaling support of a school tax referendum. Many people look at these taxes like user fees and if they're not using public schools, they feel they shouldn't have to pay for them. As the nation grows older, that population of indifferent voters increases. And that means less and less money for public schools. That's not the only reason. But it should get added to the mix of reasons.</p>
<p>I could not agree with you more, D'yer Maker. We are switching to private school but our support for public school budgets will remain steadfast.</p>
<p>Brighty - I agree with you, to a point. Health insurance is rising very
rapidly and teachers pay a lot of it themselves. (I think the split is
something like 60% teacher-paid/40% budgeted). Special ed is
gigantic and virtually uncontrollable because it is mostly a federal
mandate and any whiff of scrutiny is met with fear of a parent
lawsuit against a school district. I'm simply shocked at what has
been cut here (no more foreign language until high school, for example,
and only 4-5 AP courses offered at the high school), and I am
very afraid for what the future might hold regarding lowering MCAS
test scores, people actually voting with their feet and leaving
the state. Is it that bad? Not quite - but close. And Mass. is still
viewed as being in the top ranks for public education. It's been
eye-opening, to say the least, coming from Westchester.</p>
<p>P.S. - MCAS tests are state-wide achievement tests given in various
subjects in certain grades, starting I think in 4th grade. They are
important indicators, for better or worse. And they are declining here,
in what many would regard as a strong suburban system, looking from
the outside in.</p>
<p>D'yer Maker - Could not agree more with the failure of older folks to support
school budgets. This has caused a huge rift in my town. However, having
fought a few school budget wars, I was equally upset a couple of years
ago to discover that many residents with children in the public schools
were also shooting down the budget. Their "no" vote resulted in more
cuts to academic and other programs, and I don't think they cared.
Many older folks up here are quite financially secure and also vote
no. It's amazing to me what people are willing to give up in terms
of school quality for a somewhat lower property tax bill every year -
maybe $200-300. I too am a private school parent, but that does
not prevent me from being very concerned about what is going on
in the public schools since they are so important to a town in many ways.</p>
<p>Often, teacher salary increases are offset by having to pay more toward their health care benefit.</p>
<p>Our list of reasons for diminished resources (which in turn impacts student achievement) for public schools grows. So far we have: decreased goverment funding (local, state, fed.), unfunded mandates, aging demographics, and rising health care costs.</p>
<p>Eiffel13, Isn't it amazing the disconnect that people have been their property taxes and the schools? A growing number of parents of school aged kids in my community are voting down budgets. It seems they don't get it or don't care until it's THEIR sacred cow program or teacher that gets the axe. </p>
<p>Education aside, like many people, my property is my greatest asset. Paying small increases to maintain excellent schools is the best way for me to protect my biggest investment. I wish downsizing empty nesters would appreciate that the value of their home is in direct correlation with the quality of the schools in their town.</p>
<p>In our village the school always runs a major drive to educate the parents and get out the vote when budget time comes around. Specifically want parents to understand why the budgets are what they are and to care enough to make time in their busy schedules to go and vote.</p>
<p>^ Same thing happens in our town each year.</p>
<p>Our town also tries hard to educate voters, with forums and a mailing
about the specifics in the proposed budget. But generally speaking,
either residents don't pay much attention to it all, assuming the usual
override vote, or they attend a meeting but don't ask good questions - or
any questions at all. It's quite strange. I think some of the most
concerned folks have found alternatives in private and parochial schools.
That's the path we took, a couple of years ago.
Others still with children in the system are paying privately for supplemental
instruction of various kinds, e.g., languages, music, art, test prep.
It's a good time to be a competent tutor up here, in all manner of
subjects!</p>