HOW TO SPEND THE 11 MONTHS UNTIL THE NEXT SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE

Well, the school budget/Board vote is long past, and probably forgotten. That’s too bad – the “forgotten” part – because the time to make  improvements and financial savings begins now. We all have months to generate some fresh thinking so that next spring, we won’t have to suddenly spring into focus just before the vote; our improvements will already have been thought of, considered, and tentatively planned.

We’ll have to begin with some attitude adjustments. Last month, I offered a lengthy blog titled “Schools: More Than Just Bricks, More Than Just Money”.     I suggested that we should view budget votes as more than just a business proposition….more like the shaping of our future partners in society.

That  triggered some very spirited back-and-forth. However, I was truly sorry to see that it all focused on salaries and the question of which workers  “deserve” what salaries.

That’s the wrong place to start. Let’s begin instead with the understanding that educators have one of the most important tasks in life: not merely “teaching” but  stimulating, encouraging, shaping, and bringing out the potential of each child.  

So why are teachers so widely resented? After all, in many other countries, teachers and professors are among the most highly esteemed members of their societies. One possibility:  many people remember their own teachers as merely sitting at a desk or standing at a chalkboard, spooling out facts for memorization.

Many more resent the short academic work calendar.  One hears, bitterly and often, “They only work 181 days a year!” Well, ask any spouse or child of any academic teacher:   yeah, they work 181 days…but they also work 181 nights. Weekends, days off, and yes, even vacations are packed with the before-and-after work that’s never seen by students or parents.

Here’s the problem:  everyone thinks everyone else has an easier job, and thus doesn’t “deserve” the salary they get. For example: look at sanitation workers.. ….short hours, no decisions involved, no preparation or paperwork….what a racket!  Oh yeah? Take a closer look: working outdoors in all weathers;  head buried in loud grinding machinery for hours; repeatedly   swinging 20- and 30-pound loads of garbage up and over – brutal!

If you’ve seen enough types of jobs close-up and learned what’s really involved, you discover – as I have – that most jobs are, in one way or another, more difficult and/or stressful than people think.

And here’s something we all need to wake up to:  one big, nasty reason for the widespread resentment of teachers is that for years, the Republicans have been systematically bashing them, feeding a resentful public attitude toward them. Why?  Because teachers represent two things that the GOP hates:  strong unions that enable a solid middle-class life, and government institutions     (state school systems) that – if properly funded and sensibly run – usually do a decent job….and often a very good job.

Here’s the grand result of all  that Republican hatemongering:  millions of working (and not working) Americans are busy resenting each other. The question echoing throughout the land is always, “Why should they be making more than I do?”

Wrong question, folks. Instead, what people should be asking is, “Why aren’t I making as much as they are?” Much better - that one leads to the wake-up that the people killing jobs, keeping our wages flat, forcing freezes and givebacks, and stripping benefits and rights  are not unions, government, or immigrants... they’re  the unbelievably powerful corporations, who are fairly close to basically owning the country.  

    Let’s finally get back to school budgets. If we don’t reduce them by kicking out teachers and eliminating programs, how else could we possibly accomplish that?  Glad you asked - here’s a bunch of ideas:

Share the Pain. While teachers deal with freezes and cutbacks, how about freezes and/or cutbacks on all those administrative salaries? 

Retirement Buyout Options.  When districts are “stuck” with many teachers  approaching retirement – and thus close to top salary – they may offer a bonus for  teachers to retire early. This one-time expense is a fraction of the savings as new teachers are hired at far lower salaries.

Combined Purchasing.  Bulk buying for discounted prices is a standard business practice. Surely several school districts could agree on at least some of their operating material and equipment, and combine their purchases. They might also be able to do that for  gasoline, heating oil, food, etc.,…perhaps even insurance and security (been done).

Tighter Bus Routes.  Perhaps the bus routes for middle and high schools could be redrawn, with some  students walking a couple more blocks to the bus. Thus, we’d see fewer stops, fewer awkward loops, and – over 181 days – enormous fuel savings.

Solar Heating.  Most suburban school buildings have  acres of flat roofs. In not many years, solar savings would completely  overtake the original cost, and pile up from there. Many programs have been created  where installation is on a loan, which is then repaid from the annual cost savings.

How do we  get “there” from “here”?  Several ways:

-  -  Go to Board meetings, voice some proposals, and meet others who might be like-minded.                                                                                           -  -  Meet with individual Board members to explore cost-saving possibilities.    -  -  Connect with PTA  groups to discuss possible efficiency measures.            -  -  Network  with other district residents to brainstorm, research, & evaluate ideas for savings.

Sure, that’s a lot of work. Improvement always is – whether it’s dieting, exercise, practicing piano….or developing a new plan for a large organization.   However, it’s the best way to arrive at next spring’s budget vote with money and education on the same page, no longer  on opposite sides of the ledger.