Opinion from Dale Christensen: Margaret Thatcher said the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money to spend. Now I know that SCPS funding is not the same thing, but here is the rub! Did I read it correct 60 MILLION to remodel Oviedo High School? A few years ago Dr. Vogel called me we spoke for over 2 hours, I informed him what the SCPS tax base would decline to and all the “parade of horrible’s” that the SCPS would be facing, he understood and did not disagree. I cannot help but think that if at the time those same problems were in his private business a remedy would have been found. His course of action did not turn out a sucess and may very well have wrecked the finances of SCPS. I am not optimistic that this will be an easy fix. Like Thatcher said and the concept is so true spending other’s money carries less scrutiny and more areas to lay blame. I am sure Vogel looks over his own cash better. (Below is the Orlando Sentinel article he forwarded)
February 19, 2011 - Orlando Sentinel Article: The School Board’s unanimous decision last week against shuttering schools in a cost-cutting measure emphasized the words ‘this year.” And even those who fought hardest to prevent the closings predict they will happen — and quite possibly should.
Opinion from Lilian Casselberry: In the June July All Casselberry Magazine, there was a report on our public schools. We were rated #1 in the percent of the budget spent in the classrooms, #1 on the Return on Educational Investment, even though it was #53 out of the 67 Florida counties in funding. Seminole County over built and drew unwise geographic boundaries that caused busing. Taking that into consideration, you can imagine what the situation is for other counties.
Schools stay open – But long term solutions are still needed.
The schools will stay open, but the problem exists. The next question is how will we make the schools more affordable? Will more volunteers take on responsibility? Which programs will be eliminated? The School Board will expect that the energy to find a solution will be as strong as it was to keep the schools open.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-house-debates-budget-20120208,0,5244128.story This is a key point of the article: “The Brodeur amendment would require the district to complete district-wide re-zoning and cut the salary of administrators making $100,000 or more by at least 25 percent. The district said 29 administrators would be affected. ”
So why not redistrict? In Casselberry, students who live in the area would not have to be bused to other schools. Casselberry has fewer students because the School Board drew the lines. They are arbitrary.
Lilian Casselberry
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By Dale Christensen:
Why not cut the payroll and top pay levels and get a new management team asap? The current top administrators failed! Failed to read the market and mis directed spending years ago and they are still in charge! I know they are nice people and we all want to work together.
In the private world your busted and out of business no one will help. It’s a new economy, new world job market thus new essentials for the County that are not considered systemic by this team. The School administrators are keeping elevated pay plans in place as if it is a guarantee, an entitlement, a pre ordained right, a non negotiable element of Government spending. You know all the reasons not to change will be put forth by the current management, which is why it needs to go. Like the people who mis directed the resources are now directing this plan.
Speaking for me I have a lack of confidence. When one lacks confidence it makes a plan a hard sell. According to Ron Blocker Orange County School Superintendent 80% of the Schools budgets statewide is payroll related, that is where the money is, it’s also folks pay who work for the schools! Paychecks, so naturally controversial, but what is the alternative? You going to ask private worker/taxpayers who make less and have no guarantees in the job market to pay the price and bear the burdens of the failed management team? The Schools overspent, overbuilt, over committed the county to a spending plan that was not sustainable. Those administrators are not suffering any consequences for those directions that they pushed and held themselves out as professionals who knew their business academically and professionally. The administrators want to be held harmless, and pass the buck to our new school board members and the taxpayers.
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I really worry because the teachers at the school know the families and their situations. I often give one of the teachers food (we sometimes rendezvous after Wed. night dinners and have met in parking lots during the summer) and she takes it to the home of students. Who will care for them? I’m sure the members of the school board aren’t going to drive food to families at home and try to help them get their power or water turned back on or make cupcakes for a child’s birthday. It’s just so WRONG!