At EK Powe's sitebased meeting tonight, we learned that if the proposed budget cuts go through, the student to teacher ratio at EK Powe will increase from 17 to 1 to 20 to 1. This translates to a loss of 3 teachers. Our wonderful principal put a bright face on it. She said that this was the "worst case scenario". She was unsure of her Title 1 funding, and she casually mentioned some programs she was concerned about losing such as supplemental reading programs, ESL teachers, and reading curriculum specialists. She/we couldn't make much of things right now, because she really didn't seem to know herself how things were going to change. She said she wouldn't know the actual cuts until the summer when both the state and local budgets are adopted. Our last sitebased meeting is May 10th.
Why do I get the feeling that the County Commissioners and State Legislators like things this way? The summer budgetary time frame suits them just fine. They can wait for all of the parents and teachers to go on summer vacation while until the schools are officially gutted.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Real data on teacher salaries
People have been talking to me a great deal about school funding. Go figure. The other morning a very progressive liberal neighbor and I were shouting at each other back and forth across the street.
She said I was asking for too much money. She said it wasn't clear whether I was asking for a 33% or a $.33 on $100. I explained to her that I was limited to 250 words for the N & O article. She said I was going about it all wrong. She wants data. Well, here's some data from everyones favorite anti-tax group, The John Locke Foundation.
This paper ranks states by teacher salary when those salaries are adjusted for factors such as pension contribution, length of service, and cost of living.
Seems like a good idea, because we all know it doesn't cost nearly as much to live in Durham as it does in South Orange, New Jersey or Marin County, CA.
When teacher salaries are examined in this light, NC ranks 14. Not bad. But wait a minute. Take a look at the top five on this list: GA, IL, KY, AL, AK.
WOW! Those are five states that definitely take education seriously. Look at that list again. Yikes! Are these the states we want to be comparing ourselves to?
In case you're interested, here's the link to the actual report.
http://www.johnlocke.org/spotlights/display_story.html?id=218
She said I was asking for too much money. She said it wasn't clear whether I was asking for a 33% or a $.33 on $100. I explained to her that I was limited to 250 words for the N & O article. She said I was going about it all wrong. She wants data. Well, here's some data from everyones favorite anti-tax group, The John Locke Foundation.
This paper ranks states by teacher salary when those salaries are adjusted for factors such as pension contribution, length of service, and cost of living.
Seems like a good idea, because we all know it doesn't cost nearly as much to live in Durham as it does in South Orange, New Jersey or Marin County, CA.
When teacher salaries are examined in this light, NC ranks 14. Not bad. But wait a minute. Take a look at the top five on this list: GA, IL, KY, AL, AK.
WOW! Those are five states that definitely take education seriously. Look at that list again. Yikes! Are these the states we want to be comparing ourselves to?
In case you're interested, here's the link to the actual report.
http://www.johnlocke.org/spotlights/display_story.html?id=218
Face-Off
Wow. I made the bigtime! (sarcasm) Check out the article in the News and Observer here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/05/421887/proposed-tax-is-an-investment.html
I also thought I'd repost my initial commentary on the school tax idea. Here it is:
After last night's meeting with the County Commissioners and the School Board, it is clear to me and others that the only solution to our system's budget crisis is a tax increase. For too long, we have underfunded Durham's schools. Now, we are at a tipping point. The passion and hope on display at last night's meeting was inspiring. Now, we must focus this energy into pressure on our elected officials. I propose we ask for the creation of a special Durham School District Tax of .33 on $100 of assessed property value. This rate increase would happen over the course of 10 years with a 6% increase the first year followed by 3% increases the next 9 years. While it wouldn't immediately alleviate our current budget mess, it would show a real commitment to our children's future.
Some particulars: A .33 cent increase per $100 would mean roughly and extra $660 on a $200,000 house by the end of the tenth year. This would increase our per pupil spending in Durham County from $2,845 to $5,684 and far outpace the current state high spender, Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Who would not like that? Well...
Many will claim that if we raise taxes that much in Durham that people on fixed incomes like the elderly, unemployed, or poor, would be forced out of their homes. While this is a very real concern, I believe we cannot let our future suffer for the wrong policy decisions of the past. Provide limited tax increments for those who are on fixed incomes or in poverty which is not MOST of Durham's property tax base.
People will claim that housing prices will rise so much that only the affluent will be able to afford the taxes and only the affluent will enjoy the good schools. Do we have a problem with affordable housing in Durham County? Yes, but that is not because of our tax rate. It is a problem caused by developers not wanting to build affordable houses. It is the problem of a city and county officials giving sweetheart deals to big developers. Why do developers and Realtors fight so hard against ordinances that attempt to require certain percentages of affordable housing? It isn't because of the tax rate?
Would a higher tax rate drive the poor out of Durham and make their lives worse as Mike Ruffin suggested at last night's meeting? This logic seems so circuitous it makes my head hurt. Certainly, as schools improved, all home values in Durham County would increase. However, to make the argument that we should keep our schools underfunded and suffering so that poor people can still live in Durham and attend these suffering schools is the definition of insanity.
People will say that there are approximately 35,000 students in Durham County schools and there are 260,000 residents in the county. They will say that school children make up 13.5% of the population, yet DPS alone makes up roughly 30% of the county budget. They will point out that DPS funds no portion of their tax burden. (Like our children should be out selling chocolate bars so that they can keep teachers in their classrooms?) They will claim that we already have more than a "reasonable" amount of our tax dollars going to support our children-- more tax dollars than go to any other one agency in the County. We will be told that the county tax rate is 70.81 cents and the city tax rate is 54 cents, so Durham city residents (which is the vast majority all Durham County residents)pay a total of $1.2481 dollars per hundred valuation. Are we supposed to forget that pretty much one of the only reasons that local governments exist anymore is to educate (schools), protect (police and fire), and assist (social services)? What do these people want? A police and fire department as big as the school system? Well, that is what would happen, and is happening, if we continue to cut education.
Finally, we'll be told that Durham County schools are not underfunded at the local level, at least not in comparison to other systems in the state. We'll be told they are in the top 5 in local funding since forever. Hundreds of dollars more per pupil than surrounding counties and comparable counties, except for Orange County. We'll be shown this list from the 2009-10 Per pupil funding from the NCACC Budget and Tax Survey.
Alamance - $1,466
Buncombe - $1,758
Chatham - $2,727
Cumberland - $1,388
Durham - $2,854
Forsyth - $2,079
Guilford - $2,405
Johnston - $1,735
Mecklenburg - $2,267
New Hanover - $2,520
Orange - $3,073
Wake - $2,112
We'll be told to believe that this means we're succeeding. Yet, aren't all those other school systems suffering too? Aren't they facing the same if not greater problems? When we were getting the most money, weren't these same leaders pointing to DPS scores and asking us what good the money did? Durham has one of the highest concentrations of poverty in the state. Wasn't that one of the reasons for not raising taxes? But then, isn't it also a reason our schools need more money?
We are not fools. It is time for us to get together and demand proper funding for Durham's schools. Please, I'm not a policy wonk. I've started this blog in an attempt to reach out. We can make a difference. Think about what each of you can do.
I also thought I'd repost my initial commentary on the school tax idea. Here it is:
After last night's meeting with the County Commissioners and the School Board, it is clear to me and others that the only solution to our system's budget crisis is a tax increase. For too long, we have underfunded Durham's schools. Now, we are at a tipping point. The passion and hope on display at last night's meeting was inspiring. Now, we must focus this energy into pressure on our elected officials. I propose we ask for the creation of a special Durham School District Tax of .33 on $100 of assessed property value. This rate increase would happen over the course of 10 years with a 6% increase the first year followed by 3% increases the next 9 years. While it wouldn't immediately alleviate our current budget mess, it would show a real commitment to our children's future.
Some particulars: A .33 cent increase per $100 would mean roughly and extra $660 on a $200,000 house by the end of the tenth year. This would increase our per pupil spending in Durham County from $2,845 to $5,684 and far outpace the current state high spender, Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Who would not like that? Well...
Many will claim that if we raise taxes that much in Durham that people on fixed incomes like the elderly, unemployed, or poor, would be forced out of their homes. While this is a very real concern, I believe we cannot let our future suffer for the wrong policy decisions of the past. Provide limited tax increments for those who are on fixed incomes or in poverty which is not MOST of Durham's property tax base.
People will claim that housing prices will rise so much that only the affluent will be able to afford the taxes and only the affluent will enjoy the good schools. Do we have a problem with affordable housing in Durham County? Yes, but that is not because of our tax rate. It is a problem caused by developers not wanting to build affordable houses. It is the problem of a city and county officials giving sweetheart deals to big developers. Why do developers and Realtors fight so hard against ordinances that attempt to require certain percentages of affordable housing? It isn't because of the tax rate?
Would a higher tax rate drive the poor out of Durham and make their lives worse as Mike Ruffin suggested at last night's meeting? This logic seems so circuitous it makes my head hurt. Certainly, as schools improved, all home values in Durham County would increase. However, to make the argument that we should keep our schools underfunded and suffering so that poor people can still live in Durham and attend these suffering schools is the definition of insanity.
People will say that there are approximately 35,000 students in Durham County schools and there are 260,000 residents in the county. They will say that school children make up 13.5% of the population, yet DPS alone makes up roughly 30% of the county budget. They will point out that DPS funds no portion of their tax burden. (Like our children should be out selling chocolate bars so that they can keep teachers in their classrooms?) They will claim that we already have more than a "reasonable" amount of our tax dollars going to support our children-- more tax dollars than go to any other one agency in the County. We will be told that the county tax rate is 70.81 cents and the city tax rate is 54 cents, so Durham city residents (which is the vast majority all Durham County residents)pay a total of $1.2481 dollars per hundred valuation. Are we supposed to forget that pretty much one of the only reasons that local governments exist anymore is to educate (schools), protect (police and fire), and assist (social services)? What do these people want? A police and fire department as big as the school system? Well, that is what would happen, and is happening, if we continue to cut education.
Finally, we'll be told that Durham County schools are not underfunded at the local level, at least not in comparison to other systems in the state. We'll be told they are in the top 5 in local funding since forever. Hundreds of dollars more per pupil than surrounding counties and comparable counties, except for Orange County. We'll be shown this list from the 2009-10 Per pupil funding from the NCACC Budget and Tax Survey.
Alamance - $1,466
Buncombe - $1,758
Chatham - $2,727
Cumberland - $1,388
Durham - $2,854
Forsyth - $2,079
Guilford - $2,405
Johnston - $1,735
Mecklenburg - $2,267
New Hanover - $2,520
Orange - $3,073
Wake - $2,112
We'll be told to believe that this means we're succeeding. Yet, aren't all those other school systems suffering too? Aren't they facing the same if not greater problems? When we were getting the most money, weren't these same leaders pointing to DPS scores and asking us what good the money did? Durham has one of the highest concentrations of poverty in the state. Wasn't that one of the reasons for not raising taxes? But then, isn't it also a reason our schools need more money?
We are not fools. It is time for us to get together and demand proper funding for Durham's schools. Please, I'm not a policy wonk. I've started this blog in an attempt to reach out. We can make a difference. Think about what each of you can do.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Survey now available
I've crafted a basic survey (and I mean BASIC) to guage interest in the proposed tax. I wonder who the supporters are...if there are any. Would they live in the city? County? Would they have kids in DPS?
Well,what are you waiting for. Let me hear from you!
Click here to take survey
It is only 7 questions.
Come on. Just do it.
Well,what are you waiting for. Let me hear from you!
Click here to take survey
It is only 7 questions.
Come on. Just do it.
Comments, please.
Thanks to a post from Melissa Rooney over at BullCityRising.com, I just realized I haven't made it easy to post comments. Oops, my bad. I've fixed that.
Comment away!
Comment away!
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