The School Budget Vote - What's The Real Issue?

The school budget vote is an important one, but every year the discussion ends up as an "us against them" scenario. There's more to this! We continue to get innundated by the numbers game of the proposed 2.96 percent budget increase versus the contingency 1.92 percent increase, and the fact that either way, a 4 percent tax increase is projected.  Some are properly concerned about the impact on the education of the children, which should be the central issue. But what gets lost in the mix is the insanity of this process, where a paid superintendent and his staff prepare their own budget, and the Board of Education ceremoniously hold meetings about the proposed budget. In my perception of the "real world," should the Board be the force behind the budget, and the superintendent's office be supplying educational and technical recommendations and input?

Nowhere do we hear an airing of alternatives, some of which include:

1) Examining the class length at Schreiber. Our high school is one of the only school's anywhere that uses a one hour length (we are told repeatedly that it's so there is less wasted time walking the halls), while other schools use approximately 40-45 minute lengths. We are then told that teachers are contractually limited to a maximum of 20 classroom hours per week, and scheduling means that they average under 17 hours per week. If the 45 minute length was used, each teacher could be in classroom at least 2 hours more per week, which means that through attrition alone, and without increasing class size, there would be nearly 12 percent fewer high school teachers needed to maintain the same number of classes. Obviously, this would be phased in, but within a short time, wouldn't it translate to a real cost savings, while there would be no sacrifice in educational quality?

2. When I went to a much larger high school than Schreiber, we had only one principal, one assistant principal, a dean of boys and a dean of girls. Schreiber has four assistant principals, and they make more than deans, and if all that was needed at a school that housed more than three times the number of students was a far lower number of higher paid administrators, then might we not be somewhat top heavy? Couldn't Schreiber get along fine with one principal, one assistant principal, and a couple of deans, without sacrificing education, or at least with some cost savings alternative?

3. Weber's four house system creates duplication where there are possible cost savings, without any demonstrable proof that the house system has enhanced educational quality.

4. We lobby for a reduction in the number of buses, and were placated by permitting us to modify elementary school start times to a savings of nearly a half-million dollars. We're told that's all "they" were willing to do to modify the mandates. Has anyone heard of fighting for something and applying real political pressure, to reduce busing costs? I am sure that other districts face a similar obstacle – How about "lobbying" together and NOT taking no for an answer.

5. When will we begin to completely examine the budget? Don't tell me about unfunded mandates, because again political pressure by combining our efforts with other districts have not been fully employed or even attempted! It's time for zero-based budgeting, where every item is examined from a standpoint of its need, viability, priority, way spent and alternatives. While it is too late for it this year, let's demand that the BOE listen to their Board Member Bill Hohauser, who has suggested the need to start next year's process very soon! Or do we need to go through this insanity every year?

6. Let's demand a full exploration of alternatives!

7. Let's even look at the Holy Grail of class size. While we've been scared by people saying we don't want class sizes to grow by a large percentage, and have class sizes upward of 35, how about looking at class sizes about 10 percent larger. That would save money over time, again without sacrificing educational quality.

I am NOT even sure if I support all the ideas I have mentioned above. But, isn't it time to actually begin the process of real reform, so that our schools and school system can be run as efficiently and effectively as possible? If you believe that there is no room for improvement, and the system makes sense and can't be more efficient, then I know of a certain bridge you might like to buy also!