Re: Neither the grass, nor the money, is greener ...

[William Cala <Wcala@ROCHESTER.RR.COM>]

The claims of "largest increases in aid to education" are all malarkey.  Juanita is correct that the money does NOT get to the classroom.  In fact, it's not enough to pay the increases in bills, therefore, we are falling behind.  Last year in my district, Health Insurance alone went up $2,000,000.  State aid was frozen.  This year, the employee's retirement system dues went up 1000% (that's not a misprint!!).  Again, state aid is frozen for my district.  The state also has a cute way of establishing all these neat little categorical aid funds that are inaccessible by most districts, yet it appears on paper that you have the dollar allocation.  For example, we have $1 Million set aside for pre-K.  Problem is that the state is not permitting any new programs, therefore, the money is a sham.  Many more examples exist like this.  

Even the districts that DID get increases in aid did not make any gains due to the aforementioned costs.  

BC
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Juanita Doyon 
  To: ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU 
  Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 3:36 AM
  Subject: Re: Neither the grass, nor the money, is greener ...


  In a message dated 3/25/02 12:28:03 AM Pacific Standard Time, erwin@MORTON.NET writes:



    Our current "Education Governor", Gray Davis, 
    actually has boosted school funds dramatically 
    above what they were when he took office three 
    years ago--but even from where we are now, 
    after those increases, it would take an additional 
    $5.5 billion per year in per-pupil spending (about 
    $1000 per student) just to reach the national average


  Yes, we've boosted education spending in WA too, but how much of that boost actually reaches the classroom, and how much is eaten by inflation in such large ticket items as electricity?  We've experienced cut after cut at the site level.  Until the only thing that keeps us afloat is finding money in the Medicaid funds that follow kids who receive qualifying services at the school.

  Trickle down education.
  Juanita