Public Schools LTE in the D&C
Check out this great letter to the editor in the D&C last Saturday:
 Bull-headed move wasn’t progressive
The premise of the lead Nov. 8 guest essay was curious: that a good start to local governmental overhaul was to support the new sales tax redistribution plan that slashes funds to no other governmental entity but our school districts — which arguably deliver the most effective governmental services offered in our county. What would possibly motivate the rest of our governmental entities to make any changes when they aren’t losing any money and will be held harmless by the new plan? Doesn’t the singling out of our school districts really point to a breakdown in local governmental cooperative leadership at all levels? How did we go from decades of Morin-Ryan cooperation, to stonewalling, followed by frustration leading to a unilateral sales tax plan, to the attitude that if you don’t like it, then “sue me?”
Instead of throwing our school districts under the bus, shouldn’t our governmental leaders be talking to each other about a better way to do business?
Isn’t it time for the attitude of “shoot first, talk later” to be replaced by “talk first and stop the shooting”?
Two things pop out, The first: “school districts — which arguably deliver the most effective governmental services offered in our county“. In addition to that, schools are the most accountable, since taxpayers must vote on every budget, and parents and children are evaluating them every day for results.
Second: “Doesn’t the singling out of our school districts really point to a breakdown in local governmental cooperative leadership at all levels?” Given this, with the D&C Ed Board’s overriding desire for cooperation in government, how could they endorse the Brooks/Minark administration in the election two weeks ago? I just don’t understand.
A strong public education system is the cornerstone of a strong representative democracy. You need all levels of society to be educated and informed, not just those that can afford it or believe in a certain religion.
The claim that school districts deliver the most effective government services is certainly arguable. The recent State Comptroller’s report which showed that school district spending has risen by more than double the inflation rate over the past 5 years would seem to belie that claim.
Further, I am really weary of the argument that school districts are more accountable to the public because we can vote on their budgets. The power of school boards to impose “austerity budgets” if a recalcitrant public votes against the levy makes the voting process only slightly better than meaningless. If school districts really wanted to be accountable, why not hold their budget votes on election day when they would get a much greater voter turnout? Answer, because virtually no school budget would ever pass. Schools prefer the separate date and lower turnout consisting of a higher percentage of parents of school age kids.
The truth is that school administrators are much less accountable than most other government officials. They do not face losing their jobs to an angry electorate frustrated with their tax bills. School Boards insulate the administators from the public.
Look, I have always voted for my district’s (Gates-Chili) budget. I happen to think that they do a great job of educating my kids. I am willing to pay the cost in taxes of giving them a good education. I do not, however, understand why school districts should be exempt from making the hard fiscal choices that other municipal governments have to make.
It is my understanding, that Monroe County is one of only a handful of counties in New York that share Sales tax revenue with schools. Even cut in half, the Monroe’s sharing of sales tax funds dwarfs most other county’s payments to schools. Why, then, is sharing those funds seen as an unalterable entitlement?
John - Well the stars are no longer in alignment. Before they go completely go out of alignment and cause us to disagree - Hope you have a great holiday - I’m sure you ‘d wish me the same.
OK enough with the stars…
The state’s recent report about school districts includes, as I recall, a lot of other school districts outside Monroe County, they are simply not germain to the discussion. At least that is what I got from the report when I read it. I have to read it more in detail but haven’t yet. I suspect that most schools locally are not far off and not as bad as the screaming headline of the report says.
Voting on election day? John - they do - School budget approval is in May. The new school year starts in September. That is a few months in advance. As opposed to what? The Monroe County Budget? Voting on it post election day (the November election day).
Low voter turnout is a legitimate question. Brighton typically has no controversy - Maybe Gates doesn’t either but Greece? Well- seems like their school district is always working through some controversy. I suspect (need to look it up) that the Greece turnout was compatible to an election turnout.
Superintendents are not accountable? Well - actually they are - the School board oversees the superintendents. Insulate from the public - I think the supers are seen by the public up close and personal much more that an insulated County Exec.
Now this bothers me…
This assumes that during the budget process schools don’t make hard choices. They do.
What they should be exempt from is carrying the counties burden. A burden accumulated by stubbornness at the County Exec level because she ran out of one shot financial wonders.
They should also be exempt from having to adjust their budgets in midyear due to political maneuvering by the County Exec
unalterable entitlement? Well there is the Morin-Ryan act. Can someone change it? I suppose anything can change but if Maggie is going to change the plan they say you are changing it instead of caging her comments in political BS.
Look forward to agreeing with you again - this time it isn’t in the stars.
Well, what’s the saying, … “reasonable people of goodwill may differ”… something like that?
In any event, Happy Thanksgiving.