Walton County School Budget -- report from Sen Gaetz

[Smiling JOe]

To send Senator Don Gaetz an Email: http://www.gulf1.com/Elected/gaetz/Gaetzmail.htm
Half-time Report: Senate makes progress on NW Florida priorities

In at least one way, a Florida legislative session is like a high-powered basketball game ? the last minutes are often the most exciting and most important. Right now, the 2009 session is at half-time with adjournment scheduled for the first week in May. So, while there are some points on the board, most of the action is still to come.

NW Florida School Districts Fare Well in Senate Budget

One ?hot off the press? development is that the Senate education budget does not include deep cuts in school funding in Northwest Florida. As former Superintendent of Schools in Okaloosa County and as a member of the Senate Education Committee, I?m committed to squeezing full value out of every precious taxpayer dollar that goes to education. But I also believe that deep cuts to school budgets will undermine our economy and make our children less competitive and less successful as they enter college and the workforce.

That?s why I?m proud of Senate President Jeff Atwater for standing with us to protect classroom instruction even as state and local revenues have steeply declined as a result of the deteriorating economy. President Atwater is insisting that cuts be made elsewhere in the budget in order to keep our schools operating. While I would not have voted for the federal stimulus plan if I were in Congress, I am working closely with my colleagues in the State Senate to ensure that stimulus dollars designated for education are properly used. The Senate?s plan for education funding does not make the double digit cuts which some folks predicted and, frankly, over-dramatized.

Here?s how the five school districts of coastal Northwest Florida will fare under the Senate budget:

(funding per student)
District / 2008-2009 funding / 2009-2010 funding / Change per student

Bay / $6,658.47 / $6,692.99 / 0.52%

Escambia / $6,593.44 / $6,580.29 / -0.20%

Okaloosa / $6,683.05 / $6,649.61 / -0.50%

Santa Rosa (County)/ $6,493.44 / $6,478.33 / -0.23%

Walton / $7,065.06 / $7,306.22 / 3.41%

 

[Busta Hustle]

These number's look totally different from those coming from the school board of wc.

 

[Smiling JOe]

just remember that it is reportedly the Senate budget's numbers, not necessarily the numbers which will be final. Also, I don't know how it is calculated. Perhaps it includes items such as the new school building. I have no idea. It comes from a politician's desk, so take it with a slant.

 

[Busta Hustle]

those numbers include capital projects yes. Still the simple truth is spending per student in wc for the past 5 years has been far above national averages not shameful as discussed in many a thread on budgets.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I know why politicians include capital expenditures in their numbers, but I think the valuable information would look solely at the cost of teaching the students, which in my mind would include teaching and administration salaries, classroom expenses such as supplies and teaching materials, etc, but not operating costs such as utilities, building costs, etc. How much do we spend on actual teaching per student?

 

[Jdarg]

I know why politicians include capital expenditures in their numbers, but I think the valuable information would look solely at the cost of teaching the students, which in my mind would include teaching and administration salaries, classroom expenses such as supplies and teaching materials, etc, but not operating costs such as utilities, building costs, etc. How much do we spend on actual teaching per student?

I can't remember the exact numbers, but depending on which study, Florida ranks 47th and 50th in money spent per student.

The Senate budget number for Walton County is far more than the number on everyone's lips, but I don't know why. Maybe Mark Davis can chime in.

 

[30ashopper]

Aren't these numbers totally skewed by cost of living differences? I was looking at funding per pupil from a 2006 study -

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011747.html

and comparing that to standardized test scores in things like reading, writing and science -

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/

and I'm seeing that the amount of money spent per pupil is a pretty worthless statistic for predicting quality of education.

 

[Here4Good]

Aren't these numbers totally skewed by cost of living differences? I was looking at funding per pupil from a 2006 study -

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011747.html

and comparing that to standardized test scores in things like reading, writing and science -

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/

and I'm seeing that the amount of money spent per pupil is a pretty worthless statistic for predicting quality of education.

What do you think would be a reliable indicator, then?

 

[Smiling JOe]

I somewhat agree with 30ashopper. $/student cannot be a sole factor. However, other than test scores, which we all know the problems with those, $/student spending is one of the few hard numbers which we can see.

Having quality teachers, with quality teaching skills is probably a great predictor of quality education, but how do we measure "quality" teachers and skills?

 

[Susan Horn]

I somewhat agree with 30ashopper. $/student cannot be a sole factor. However, other than test scores, which we all know the problems with those, $/student spending is one of the few hard numbers which we can see.

Having quality teachers, with quality teaching skills is probably a great predictor of quality education, but how do we measure "quality" teachers and skills?

What a conundrum. I give up! Maybe public education systems could let private biz "take them to school" about how to attract top talent (hint -- PAY well, give them an objective, and then let them show their stuff, get out of their way with the red tape and paperwork) and how to jettison dead weight (do not renew contract for underperforming employees--a lesson certain banks, insurance companies and mortgage firms need to learn yesterday).

When a dysfunctional bureaucracy rewards mediocrity in those who know how to keep their heads down and turn in the right paperwork on time, while punishing those who aren't so good at paperwork but are really good at their job, guess what kind of folks leave the system in favor of employment that gives them room to apply their strengths?

I think that brings up another sticky subject, teacher evaluations, and related issues such as tenure and job security. Perhaps job security is a thing of the past, and we need to be shifting our workforce toward -- and our educational system preparing the next generations of workforce for -- greater adaptability to our constantly changing global economy/job market.

Van Jones has some interesting things to say about a lot of these issues, though it's more from an environmental and economic development perspective than an educational one. I think you can read articles and excerpts at Yes! Magazine's website if interested.