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| MASB warns of shortfall in state school bugget | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 6 2009, 08:56 PM (543 Views) | |
| LPS Reformer | Jun 6 2009, 08:56 PM Post #1 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Link The grim reality of recession Highlights • School Aid Fund has a $732 million shortfall for 2009-10. • This is added to current year short fall of $425 million. • Stimulus funds will fall short. The budget news for Michigan schools couldn’t get much worse than what we heard at the state revenue estimating conference on May 15. State economic officials confirmed what we all have feared: the state has a $1.7 billion shortfall for the upcoming 2009-10 fiscal year, including a $732 million deficit in the school aid fund. These numbers are in addition to shortfalls in the current year of approximately $1.3 billion statewide with $425 million in school aid revenue. The state has recently made cuts of over $300 million to help reduce the general fund deficit and the remainder, including the school aid portion, will be made up with federal stimulus dollars. To put these numbers in perspective, that’s a $265 per pupil shortfall for 2009 and a shortfall of approximately $457 per pupil for 2010. A more stark reality is that the entire corrections/prison budget, or the higher education budget, or every state department budget other than human services and community health would have to be eliminated to make up the deficit the state is facing. This year’s shortfall may be taken care of, but we should be very concerned for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 budgets. Where we once believed that any shortfall in 2010 would be made up by federal stimulus money, we now know there isn’t enough money to make up the shortfall. Recall that the original intent of the federal stimulus dollars was to keep school budgets flat for the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010- 11 fiscal years. Because some of the dollars earmarked for education must go to higher education, Michigan's $1.3 billion pot of money is quickly absorbed this year and is completely used up for 2009-10 where the shortfall exceeds the amount of money available to back-fill the budget. This means there will be cuts in next year’s budget for school districts. It now seems likely that school aid will face close to $200 million in cuts for the upcoming school year because of these revenue shortfalls. This is $532 million less than the actual shortfall because of the stimulus money that will be used to fill the hole. Next year’s cuts will likely come from categoricals and the per pupil allowance. This initial cut in school funding will be only that much worse in 2010-11 because the revenue picture isn’t likely to improve and the stimulus money will be gone. The best case scenario is a possible 4 percent growth in school aid fund revenue for the 2010- 11 budget and that would still leave schools being cut by an additional $300 million. If that growth isn’t met, which is likely, the following scenarios could happen: • 4 percent growth—cut an additional $300 million • 3 percent growth—cut an additional $400 million • 2 percent growth—cut an additional $500 million • 1 percent growth—cut an additional $600 million • NO growth—cut the entire $700 million, or $450 per student Keep in mind that these estimates were based on the Big Three all remaining in operation in some fashion. There’s some talk in Lansing about how to best spread these cuts to prevent the large cliff in the 2010-11 budget. Some have suggested that cuts for the 2009-10 budget be larger than the mentioned $200 million so that next year’s reduction be less painful. We’ll keep you informed on these conversations and others as the budget moves through the Senate. This will be a long summer of budget negotiations and we likely won’t see the state pass budgets until late summer or even September. Of course, this makes the process at the local level even more difficult. As you can see, we’ll be looking for legislative and administrative solutions, while also trying to get timely information to our members on ways that other districts are trying to address their funding problems. It’s imperative that local districts start thinking about what they’ll have to do locally to make the necessary changes in their operations to meet these new budget realities. For questions, contact Don Wotruba, dwotruba@masb.org, 517.327.5913. |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| LPS Reformer | Jun 6 2009, 08:57 PM Post #2 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Maybe Randy ought to stop handing out raises. |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| Al Beabak | Jun 7 2009, 10:57 AM Post #3 |
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Advanced Member
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Maybe the BOE should have imposed a freeze on non-essential spending a long time ago |
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| Whatever | Jun 7 2009, 12:21 PM Post #4 |
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Veteran
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Better install those lockers now.....before the $$$$ runs out. |
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| Ms. AK | Jun 7 2009, 12:54 PM Post #5 |
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Veteran
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AK: Look for these PR moves ("strategic communications") the BOE will use in the coming months. Note: The very first tip mentions a campaign strategy: "keep your reputation in tact." This is from the same link to MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) newsletter, which LR posted above: Budget communication tips The key to getting through the next 18 months of economic turmoil is strategic communication. Effective communication will keep your reputation intact and demon- strate that your district is in good hands during these stormy times. Show that we’re all in this together • Engage staff and local lead- ers and carry through with the theme we’re all in this together. AK: (Get others to say the same things you are.) • Investigate the potential of pub- lic and private partnerships. • Work with your employee groups to develop savings tactics. Seize opportunities as they become available • Strategically frame local school budget debates to stay focused on your children and their needs. AK: Not focusing on what is draining all school budgets--uncompromised admin/teacher salaries, benes, step increases and wasteful BOE spending. • Realize that your disrict needs a targeted communication plan dedicated to addressing financial issues. Budget debates are cam- paigns that need planning and monitoring. AK: "Campaigns"? • Use a number of different tech- niques to collect feedback, carry messages and buttress key ideas. Make it personal. We’re talking about their children and money. • Do focus on messages about the economy but also weave in mes- sages about individual children and neighborhood schools. • Don’t list proposed cuts generi- cally, such as miscellaneous art materials. If planned cuts mean you’ll no longer give art supplies to high school students, say it. • Don’t use millions. Do create images that people can visual- ize and relate to: cost per child, cost per household, cost per classroom and so on. Explain in terms of an average taxpayer. AK: Don't use the word "millions"? Source: National School Public Relations Association. For help engaging your community, contact Edited by Ms. AK, Jun 7 2009, 05:15 PM.
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Krome on Cars | |
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| LPS Reformer | Jun 8 2009, 06:59 PM Post #6 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Public Deception 101. Nice. |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| LPS_MOM10 | Jun 9 2009, 08:41 AM Post #7 |
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Advanced Member
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The MASB war tactics are disgusting. Why not just tell the truth to the public without HANDLING us! |
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| Ms. AK | Jun 9 2009, 09:39 AM Post #8 |
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Veteran
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I posted the above to help people become aware of when they are being manipulated by PR. I don't know if MASB is intentionally being misleading...? It all goes back to some on the BOE taking a paternalistic view of the constituents: "The public does not understand--or they are lazy--so we shouldn't provide transparency." Look for the MASB website to become "member-only" access to PR information, which is the case on the MEA website. |
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Krome on Cars | |
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| Deleted User | Aug 31 2009, 07:41 PM Post #9 |
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Deleted User
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Northville Schools transportation program changes August 27, 2009 The worsening state economic picture over the past four to five years has forced the Northville Public Schools and other school districts to make drastic budget reductions. This 2009/10 Northville Public Schools budget reduction includes a major change in the district's Transportation Program. The previous program allowed elementary students residing within 1.0 mile distance and secondary students residing within the 1.5 mile distance from the school to “walk back” to a bus stop and ride the bus to and from school. Quite generous of the district to allow that This provision in the previous procedure resulted in a significant number of additional bus runs. This new program will not allow the walk back option. Therefore, only those students residing at or beyond the 1.0 and 1.5 mile distances will receive bus service. The district is working with the Novi and the Northville Township Police Departments to hire crossing guards at Beck and Nine Mile, Taft and Nine Mile, and Ridge Road and Six Mile. Eligible riders will receive a postcard via the U. S. Postal Service. This postcard will serve as the bus pass for the first two to three weeks of school. The postcards were sent Aug. 24. The three exceptions to the new program that will allow students residing within this distance are as follows: 1. Students who must cross a street where the posted speed limit is 40 MPH or higher and there is no crossing guard or pedestrian overpass. 2. Students who have to cross a railroad track to get to school or a bus stop. 3. Students who do not have any other option but to walk along or in a public street where there are no sidewalks and the posted speed limit is 40 MPH or higher. residents have stated this is one of the reasons they do not want sidewalks, loss of busing and the need to shovel snow If you did not receive a postcard and you believe that you reside at or beyond the respective distances, or if you have a question or concern, please go to the district's website and fill out the form located at http://www.northville.k12.mi.us/district/transportation.asp Parent arranged walks to schools or car pools will all help the District to keep the budget cuts as far away from the academic programs as possible. We understand that this change will cause difficulty for some families and apologize for the inconvenience. Submitted by David C. Bolitho, Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090827/NEWS12/908270446/1029/Northville+Schools+transportation+program+changes |
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