Budget crunch
A reader referred me to an interesting school consolidation story in the Topeka Capitol Journal about some efforts in the Santa Fe Trail district.
Made me think that if USD 108 and USD 223 would have started consolidation talks regarding the DISTRICT (not necessarily talking about closing high schools) then we’d be looking at preserving the entire budget of USD 223 and the consolidated budget of USD 108 all together, instead of talking about potentially huge cuts coming in the next fiscal year.
So while everyone else is cutting the crap out of their school budgets (which means staffs and programs and activities), we would be able to preserve the existing budget for three years and likely weather the national recession. Preserving jobs, making local education more efficient, getting extra state aid instead of cutting. Hmmm. Doesn’t sound so bad now?
Or would you rather cut 10 percent out of your local schools budget?
What do you think?
Hey, I already got people all in a fuss about the smoking ban. We might as well talk a little about school consolidation!
Some of the cuts that some in the state are talking about could be horrid, so we may end up being forced to talk about it anyway.
Waiting for Perfect and Kick Me Out to chime in any time now (or tomorrow morning).
And maybe I could pull in a few more Hanover readers with this discussion.
Think someone can get oil and vinegar to mix?
And I suppose a 1/2-second left win by Linn over WCHS in girls basketball on Tuesday probably won’t do much for the “get-along” factor.
Well yeah it would be the smart thing to do, but since everyone scoffed at the idea before, I would be surprised if the discussion lasts long. It sounds like small schools will get worst of the budget cuts also. It’s too bad that we’d rather suffer, than just coexist.
No thanks, I’ll keep my USD 108.
Here is my idea: 12th Road between K15 and the Greenleaf blacktop should be paved. Then a new middle school/high school complex should be built on the south side of the intersection of 12th Road and Sunflower Road. You could call it Sunflower High School or Prairie Empire High School or somesuch. Maybe the mascot could be the Threshers! You could keep three grade schools at the existing schools sites. The school could be a major technological and scientific center of learning. Each existing school would get to keep their grade school while sending their kids to a relatively centered within the county school at the relatively non-controversial town of Greenleaf.
Of course this won’t happen for budgetary reasons amongst others. But, I might be willing to consider some kind of consolidation-type event so long as the larger district has equal to greater control of conversation.
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11089905
Perfect
Seems to me your geography is a little bit off. Take a map of the co. and fold it in quaters. What town is closest to the center? Not Greenleaf.
There’s more than one type of center. Greenleaf is the closest to the center if you weighted by sections for population or if you weighted by school districts for pupils. Plus, it was more that Greenleaf is non-controversial than the centered thing that makes it a good idea to me.
Also, the commissioners should love it…it’s right by the airport!
oops quarters
you dismiss the NW part of the co.
that’s a whole other ” can of worms” better you than me
I think you’d have to do one of those 99 year lease things where it’s written in stone that no high schools could be closed for a century in order for many small towns to consider district consolidation.
People hear consolidation and don’t hear the first part “district” which doesn’t necessarily include “school” consolidation.
Perfect,
Put the consolidated high school on 12th and Highway 15 and I’m in! Suddenly, my house would gain in value because of its proximity to the school and I could sell it for a nice profit and build new or something! (At least after my kids are done with high school.)
Anyway, note to self… if blog is kind of slow, put something on about smoking bans and consolidation and watch it take off! Woohoo!
Anything else controversial I could throw on here?
Im sure that we can come up with some stuff. But will you put it up is another thing .
So if what you are saying is that if there are talks of consolidation then the budget is fixed then I say do it. We can negotiate and if it falls thru – sounds like it will – we are not out anything except some meetings. Am I understanding this correctly?
Budgets are just budgets. Whether its state, county, townships or school. You build a budget on what you would like to spend. I have never seen anybody build a budget for less, its your wish list. So they cut the budget 10% that doesn’t mean you get 10%less money . You may get the same amount you spent in 2007. If you could get by with this amount in 07 you can get by today. Just take out the excesses.
I asked Sen Taddiken Saturday how much larger was the budget in 2010 than 2008. He didn’t have the numbers with him but will get back to me, but said it was increased to add new monies for new programs. So 10% is really what you take 10% of. Its all a politcal game .
Lets just hope the Gov goes to DC. Has she ever came up with an idea on budgets on her own. We had better brace ourselves in Kansas for huge increased in cost of electricity. We need the coal plant . We need more Wolf Creeks to keep our energy cost down. We need wind farms but they are only able to deliver a small portion of our needs. The Gov always does things after the fact.
Not from around here,
No, a consolidation would have to be approved for the three year budget extension to be applied.
Ok, I misunderstood. Cut the budget!
Anybody see on ESPN where UCONN Men’s Basketball Coach had to defend his salary, as Connecticut faces a 2 Billion dollar deficit? I guess an activist go a press pass and popped him the question of how it was justified for him to be making so much when the university will be seeing cuts of their own. Here a link.
http://executivesuite.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/jim-calhoun-defends-his-salary/?hp
I bet UConn basketball turns a profit for that university year in and year out.
Ya lets take away all the good paying jobs. Even from the people who are actually productive.
I can see it now. Hey Johnny if you study real hard and do all your homework you can grow up and have the same job that everyone else has for the the same measly pay. And when Timmy doesn’t want to come to work for the 9th time this month, you can do his job as well with no extra pay. But we will still have to pay Timmy because it not fair to fire him.
Yeah, Jim Calhoun told the guy to shut up, and then gave a 2 minute spiel of how much the UCONN basketball program profited last season alone. I think it was like 12 million.
How has this recovery plan affected the budget cuts? Anyone heard anything?
The sad part is if the budget cut hit some of these school districts who already were introuble before this. I had heard two months ago that Republic Co was in a tight spot and needing for some major cuts before the talk of budget cuts even hit. Not a good situation at all for those folks. Lets “hope” for “change!”
http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/710909.html
Just a tidbit of info.
Well, its a start lets just hope it comes through. But it still isn’t here and still don’t solve some of our problems we are facing with places like Republic Co
Shane