Political Ramblings

[mom'sfolly]

In almost every district, money for capitol projects, buildings, books, playgrounds, etc, come from a different fund than does money for teaching. In our district, almost every capitol project is funded by bonds; which means the money can only be used for the projects described in the bonds. To use the money for something else is illegal. Each fundraiser from a school. at least where I live, must also tell where the money is going. PTA fundraisers are different, and they are not bound by the same rules. What this means is that often districts can build schools or additions at the same time they have to cut teaching staff. The money doesn't come from a general school fund, but rather specific funds.

 

[Capvin]

Did her class read all or part of the play? What is the context of the question? I am assuming you think it is a bad one and an example of poor education based on your tone and I'm wondering why? What does this assessment have to do with age.?

I think that the intent of that post was quite the opposite of how you interpretted it. I believe that Newfoundland was citing it as an example of a good education and I tend to agree.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Ah. Sorry. I also thought it was a good question and was confused but interested why she thought not. But, I believe I misunderstood.

 

[thaiturkey]

Ain't that the truth. And they should not ever be in competition with private enterprise, it is not government's role.

 

[Happy Chooks]

In almost every district, money for capitol projects, buildings, books, playgrounds, etc, come from a different fund than does money for teaching. In our district, almost every capitol project is funded by bonds; which means the money can only be used for the projects described in the bonds. To use the money for something else is illegal. Each fundraiser from a school. at least where I live, must also tell where the money is going. PTA fundraisers are different, and they are not bound by the same rules. What this means is that often districts can build schools or additions at the same time they have to cut teaching staff. The money doesn't come from a general school fund, but rather specific funds.

And that is exactly why the school system is so mismanaged. It's a giant bureaucracy.

 

[chickened]

In almost every district, money for capitol projects, buildings, books, playgrounds, etc, come from a different fund than does money for teaching. In our district, almost every capitol project is funded by bonds; which means the money can only be used for the projects described in the bonds. To use the money for something else is illegal. Each fundraiser from a school. at least where I live, must also tell where the money is going. PTA fundraisers are different, and they are not bound by the same rules. What this means is that often districts can build schools or additions at the same time they have to cut teaching staff. The money doesn't come from a general school fund, but rather specific funds.

Public schools resort to bonds because they are having to replace money taken out of the classrooms by the unions, all bonds levied comes from property taxes here in Oregon.

 

[mom'sfolly]

No unions here in Texas. They resort to bonds because they are only allowed a certain cap for taxes, they cannot pass that. Bonds do a run around on the tax cap. We also have a Robin Hood clause here in Texas, so that property rich districts end up sending money to property poor districts. Bonds are a way to build schools and only temporarily raise taxes. Most teacher and classroom funding is a constant.

 

[rufus]

Didn't Texas go to a sort of unified state wide school district several years ago? That was supposed to even out the inequities between the poorer districts and the oil rich districts.

Every state seems to have a different situation when it comes to funding schools. It all depends upon the tax base and the income level. Here in Arizona about 85 per cent of the land is owned by the federal government, and as such is not taxable. A good deal of that is Indian Reservations that produce school age kids, but not much taxable revenue. The shortage is made up by that land that is taxed.

However, we do have state lands that are leased out and produce revenue dedicated to the school systems.

Texas receives so much money in taxes on oil and gas produced that they really don't have the burden of income taxes like a lot of other states.

 

[newfoundland]

The reason I mentioned her age is because I think the homework is quite searching for a child of this age and would be more the sort that would be given to say a 15 year old. This is only the beginning of her second year in high school. I am all in favour of stretching children and having worked for many years in education I know that the mantra of the education department in UK is that 'all children must receive an appropriate, full time education, taking into account any special needs they may have.' The standards of teaching and learning must be rigorous. Schools are inspected regularly and classified and if the pupils show poor behaviour and fail to achieve, the school is put on special measures. This usually means that the head teacher of a successful school is drafted in to oversee the improvements. This often means some failing teachers taking early retirement or being sidelined to a non teaching role. The only way to improve schools is to inspect them regularly and categorise them. Every school wants to be classified as outstanding and the school league tables are published annually. The only way to raise the achievement of the pupils is for the teachers to raise their expectations and that is why I applaud my great neice's school.

 

[chickened]

No unions here in Texas. They resort to bonds because they are only allowed a certain cap for taxes, they cannot pass that. Bonds do a run around on the tax cap. We also have a Robin Hood clause here in Texas, so that property rich districts end up sending money to property poor districts. Bonds are a way to build schools and only temporarily raise taxes. Most teacher and classroom funding is a constant.

The schools built prior to about 1980 were real brick and mortar schools and the schools in Oregon received money from timber rich counties and the O&C land grants and we never had bonds attached to property taxes. The greenies began suing the forest service and BLM killing timber sales and the school system was hit hard. There is no reason our schools should have unreliable funding and fat and lean budgets with the resources we have here in public holdings. We can thank the greenies for this one.