Sunday, January 11, 2009
Parcel Tax
We need a parcel tax to improve funding for our schools. As teachers, we know that we don't have the resources we need to do our jobs properly. Now is the time to ask voters to approve a parcel tax so that local businesses and residents can support schools in our community. I'm willing to do what it takes to develop a sensible parcel tax and get it approved by voters. The key is identifying the critical components that will make our schools more effective for our children. I think that means more funding for music and art, more counselors, and more programs where high school students can learn marketable skills if they are not going to college.
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3 comments:
more funding for music and art???
I can't see how those things should be a priority. This district can barely pay their employees a competitive wage. Schools don't have enough money to run the way they should right now...so that's where the money should go.
MDUSD needs to allocate more money for classroom assistants, special ed teachers, materials, and training for teachers. I can't remember the last time my school (elementary) had a quality in-service. Bubba Paris? Motivational speakers? worthless. The district has a program that I have heard about called Step up to Writing that our school has not had access to at all because we can't afford it. Our teachers have not been trained properly to use edusoft either.
Keep music and art the way it is...we need to focus on the basics.
A follow up to my previous post:
The so-called district writing program, 'Step up to Writing' is a good one. It's a shame that it can't be implemented in all schools because they can't afford it.
The Edusoft program is also a quality one. I guess, it allows teachers to exchange materials and create assessments as well. Again, not available due to lack of funds (training not available).
Even the intervention program at our school has been drastically cut back because of lack of funds.
How can we ask the community to pay for art, music, and sports, when we can't even pay for reading, writing, intervention programs, and teacher training?
Anon 9:26 and 6:10, you make some good points. How can we, as a school district, consider funding 'fun' things when there is such a dramatic need to fully support the basics?
I have two thoughts. The 1st is that there is a perception that the public would not support the idea of a parcel tax if what it was supporting were the basics. Why would the public not support it? Good question. . . .perhaps because people believe they already pay enough into the system and that education has enough to do their 'job'? Asking to tack on more taxes so that the MDUSD can continue to do their job just might now sit well with enough people to make passing a parcel tax possible. However, if the parcel tax is for 'extras', then it's much easier to get public support to pass the tax.
2nd thought is that our district is paying for these 'extras' from the general fund (the same pot of money that pays for many of the basics that you mentioned above). If art, music, drama, sports, etc. was then paid with by a parcel tax, it would then leave more money available for the basics. Win-win in my book.
I think it's a great discussion to have so thank you for bringing it up!
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