State budget shortfalls could force real change…for the better!
Editors Note: Although we have focused on the reorganization and annexation issues in Center Grove there are other important issues facing our residents. In addition to the reorganization plan voters are likely to find other issues on the May ballot, funding a new 500+ bed county jail and an issue to increase taxes to cover a “short fall” in the Center Grove school budget. The following article is an editorial provided by a Center Grove resident who has been following the school funding issue. We welcome comments to this article and also invite anyone who cares to comment on issue facing Center Grove/White River Township residents to send us your thoughts. We will be glad to post them.
Update: While the details and total scope are unclear, initial proposals presented late Thursday call for slashing the choral music program and the elimination of the director who has lead multiple choirs to championships, including the 50-year-old Debtones organization to national champion for the last three years.
Commentary by Tom Heermann
The Indiana State Teachers’ Association (ISTA) and the Center Grove teachers’ union have rightfully called for significant reductions in excessive administrative personnel and benefits to make up for next year’s estimated $4 million budget shortfall.
From 2006 through last year, CG administration staffing has grown by at least 11 – while about 15 teachers have been quietly reduced though attrition and retirements (Indiana Department of Education, DOE). Special education aides, traditional school counselors and other support personnel have also been cut.
Indeed, for the past few years, school board members have overwhelmingly favored unprecedented growth in administrator staffing and benefits — and spent millions on new administrator facilities. Concerned parents, citizens’ actions groups, elementary PTO groups, the teachers’ union and the Daily Journal have continually questioned the wisdom of these actions – but nothing of any real substance has taken place…until now, maybe.
Now with the boards’ back to the wall, informed and concerned taxpayers might force the board to cut the millions in fiscal fat. If this is successful, we may finally have a budget that spends money where it should be spent: on the students.
Significant state funding reductions from the General Fund have the school board scrambling for solutions. “The (Teachers’) Association has been warning the district’s administration for nearly a year of potential financial shortfalls in a variety of meetings,” said Chris Pratt, teacher union president in a recent press release. “There are of course more areas (besides administration) that should be cut before eliminating further teaching staff.”
Board officials claim they now will examine and trim all budget areas while trying to maintain present teacher staffing. Officials say additional taxpayer money could be raised for teachers through a Referendum on the May ballot.
Let’s see: a Referendum to fund teachers. Raise millions more and give it to the same board who contributed to our serious fiscal mess in the first place? You can bet Center Grove taxpayers will be carefully considering that question when they enter the voting booths in May.
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One Response to “State budget shortfalls could force real change…for the better!”
CGSC is not the only Indiana school district in a financial bind. It’s a 100% state wide problem.
Comment made on January 23rd, 2010 at 3:22 pmOur district must do what has to be done, understanding that education is not hampered under any terms. The school board made one “me Tarzan” buy not renewing the present Supers contract. The only problem with that move has now created a stigma on a district as one where no worthwhile wold be interested in appling. One bad apple if thrown out in time can save the rest of the barrel. We’ve lived here for over 26 yrs and have fouund that very few of the board members really pay much attention to the root issue (education). They all seem to want control of the big picture. If we have teachers who are 100% student loviing teachers then please don’t force or furlough them them out of the system. But when was the last time our district did what Dr. White and the IPS did (with approval of their board) go to ground zero and really reviewed their teacher core? The reason I doubt that this doesn’t happen is due to the “buffer” of management layers between the ceiling and the basement. Also we have always wondered about the councilors and school corp police force, needed to mantain a naturing recovery of the students when tragedy hits, the corporation has a problem calling local enforement for assistence when required? Regarding naturing recovery, have all the parents left the district? These are 2 areas we do not need. If we put authority back into the hands of the TEACHERS, many of these added “positions” would not be required. Likewise having a school Principal who is doing their job in conjunction with the teachers is about all the staff required. Remember, your running a school(s) not a day care facility. If just these few areas would be reworked, the budget issue would disappear. This is not new, it is simply the bubble bursting. I recall a friend whose son (in the lower grades) had a motor learning problem. He had a wonderful, concerned teacher. That lady spent many hours of her own time helping this youngster overcome his problem. She explained to the parents about a keyboard she and other teachers kept requesting as a part of their equipment. It never happened, but we got a world class outdoor sports facility, scoreboard and pro grade lockers. That took the action of an
administration and board, to make it happen. Sooner or later those “little” things become monsters. We seen stories about how various are trying to “fix” their problems. Turn off lights, turn off computers. Really?
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