At tonight's listening session several people talked about the structural deficit problem: the fact that due to the state funding formula, we are looking at a deficit that grows by a million dollars each year for as far as the projections go. As Craig mentioned, our revenues increase by about 2% a year (less than inflation) while our expenses go up by more than 4% per year. This is the real problem that makes the issues brought up today look like child's play. Several people asked us to consider the long term, a sentiment I couldn't agree with more. Others asked us to consider an operating referendum to avoid cuts. I agree that given the current situation we will need to consider this as we move forward. But an operating referendum alone can't solve this problem - the deficit is not a one time or short term issue.
A while ago someone asked for my long term plan for solving the structural deficit. I've given this a lot of thought, and I have to say there is no magic bullet for this, I haven't heard anyone on the board or administration articulate any specific ideas that get us out of this situation. What we need more than anything is else is good ideas.
Enough introduction, this is the plan I would hope to implement:
A comprehensive plan for preserving the fiscal condition while improving outcomes of the Monona Grove School District:
1) Complete a strategic plan for the district: A strategic plan with well designed goals, reached through a process of significant district and community input, would provide a framework for all budgetary decisions on an ongoing basis. By measuring all budgetary decisions against a plan we will avoid expenditures not focused on the core mission, and have guidance for any future cuts that might be made.
2) Administrative Re-organization: The district has a talented and skilled team of highly trained educational leaders, however much of their time is spent on organizational duties that are essential, but peripheral, to the core mission of the district. A thorough review of responsibilities will reveal ways to improve both efficiency and effectiveness of our administrative teams.
3) Share Resources: Explore the possibility of consolidated support operations with neighboring school districts. Most school districts in the area are in similar straights and facing growing structural deficits, and yet all have similar needs in such areas as transportation, food service and IT. I believe that there are opportunities for significant savings if the district was to form cooperative ventures to supply support services with nearby districts. By taking advantage of increased purchasing power, reduced duplication of services and the ability to specialize in larger organizations it may be possible to improve services while reducing costs.
4) Draw on the expertise of the citizens of the district. There is no shortage of experienced professionals willing to help the district in its time of need. By focusing a board, administrative and community committee on a review of district operations and finance it may be possible to find new and creative modes of operation that will save significant money.
5) Continue and Expand Energy saving efforts. Efforts introduced over the last year successfully lowered district energy consumption at a rate that will save the district over $120,000 per year, but energy costs are still one of the largest non-educational expenditures. We need to continue and expand these efforts to improve the bottom line.
6) Referenda: Once the district has demonstrated a commitment to efficient and quality operation and has established specific well supported goals, it may be appropriate to ask district residents to help through an operating referendum that would be used to preserve and protect the features of the district we value most: small class sizes, exceptional arts programming, leadership in assessments and strong academics.
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(photo ©2008 Bruce Fritz)
About Me
- Peter Sobol
- My family moved to Monona in 2003 and have been happily ensconsed in the Frost Woods Neighborhood ever since. I have 2 kids who graduated from Mg. I have been serving on the school board since April of 2007. We moved back to the Midwest in 2002 after spending 10 years in California, where I was a Department Director for Maxtor, a Fortune 500 company. In truth we left California largely because of the school situation - chronically underfunded schools did not offer the kind of programs or opportunities we wanted for our children. We picked Monona because our thorough research showed that this was a place we would really like to educate our kids. Our experience has taught us to value the quality schools we have here in Monona, and the importance of careful stewardship to maintain community support for those schools.
22 comments:
Peter,
I'm doing my best not to be terrified by this quote: "no one on the board or administration has any specific ideas that get us out of this situation. What we need more than anything is else is good ideas." Can I help with a brainstorming session?!? Seriously, when do we start?
{I should be careful, I violated my own "speak for yourself" rule, so I updated my post. I should have said I haven't heard anyone articulate a plan.}
One the one hand you should be terrified! On the other hand I've worked in situations where if we only improved efficiency and performance by 3% a year we would have gone bankrupt. I think this is do-able, but its going to require an effort and a mindset that is foreign to the usual operation of public institutions.
I also think it's doable and I'd love to talk more about it. Where do I start?
We can start by electing school board members who present comprehensive, detailed plans such as Peter's. Bromides like "we want to improve student achievement" or "we need to improve communcation" do not cut it for this election. I do not care how many kids a person has put through this district or how cute a family looks on a campaign brochure - I want to see solid, practical plans and ideas.
I like Peter's idea of engaging the community. He seems to "get it" that the board has frozen out the community this past year. That has been a huge deficit of the current board. When Susan Fox eliminated the committees with the support of the majority of the current board (including Ms. Manning who is running for re-election), there was no alternate plan put in place to draw on the expertise in our community. This action eliminated community involvement even further because it has resulted in board meetings that go so late into the night that it is not practical to attend or watch the meetings.
I look forward to seeing the specific plans Ms. Manning and Ms. Pickel have that will address the grave issues our district is facing.
Would the consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah be considered part of a solution to the "structural deficit problem"?
Here are some ideas Peter.
1) Cut the waste and fat out of the district administration. There too many people and positions that do nothing that truly helps out children learn.
2) Cut teacher pay and benefits now. Yes, the holy grail. There is no reason that the teaching profession should be immune to the macroeconomic adjustments underway in this country. America will not be competitive in the world until, sorry, our wages are competive with the world. Teachers and administrators need to feel the same pain as the people they represent. That pain is felt in lost jobs, reduced income, higher out-of-pocket contributions for health care, reduced health coverage and reduced retirement benefits. Better yet, make retirement entirely self funded.
3) Utilize the brick and mortar assets this school board has sitting idle. We need more space and we have more space. What we cannot afford is another boondoggle like glacial drumlin.
4) Cut 4 year old daycare, I mean kindergarten. It is not the job of the state to provide day care and act as parental substitutes.
5) With no QEO, off a modest 5% wage cut. If the unions don't like it, then retract the offer and revise it to a 10% cut. If you have to, go to arbitration. Have some cahones brudder.
Just start cutting now! If the district's revenue have been going up 2% and the costs 4%, then you need to cut approximately 2% of your bloated budget every year until something changes. If you don't, you will bankrupt us all.
Yes, because it reduces expenses $250K each year consolidating Maywood is an incremental step toward solving the structural deficit.
4K pays for itself. Cutting the program would reduce revenue more than expenses. As for the value of the program, we do hear from teachers that the K students are now better prepared to learn.
The QEO has been eliminated, but the binding arbitration provisions haven't. If we went to arb. with a 5% cut proposal and the teachers went in with a 4% increase, the district would probably lose the arb. decision and we would be forced to pay the 4%. At the same time we would be passing up this current opportunity to negotiate other issues that have significant impact on the long term financial health of the district.
The average management ratio in the US is about 10%, in our district it is 3.5%. There may be opportunities for streamlining and efficiency, but I don't think "bloated" is the right word. In my mind we need to make the management we do have more effective.
Peter, while I think you underestimate the loss and betrayal Monona will feel when Maywood closes, I am willing to do what I can and work with whomever I can to right this sinking ship. How can I not? How can we not?
Maywood Forever.
Jen. At this point, the ship can only be righted by a mutiny. Mononans need to cast off those who seek to plunder our wealth and scuttle our local neighborhood schools. The election is coming soon...
An alternative mutiny would be to finally accept the absurdity that our non-contiguous school district represents. Yes, we could, and should split the baby.
It the district splits all Monona students would end up in a single building, the high school. They would all fit with room to spare and there would be no money for anything else.
Nothing would scuttle "neighborhood schools" (both elementary schools are in the same neighborhood BTW) faster than a split.
Plunder the wealth? Oh please. It is truly stunning how people lose all perspective in these situations.
Good luck to the board. You have my sincere best wishes in dealing with the absurd nonsense people are throwing at you.
" those who seek to plunder our wealth and scuttle our local neighborhood schools"
This is an example of a violation of my "Don't assign motives to anyone else" rule. If you have direct evidence that someone wants to "plunder and scuttle" then please provide that evidence.
Because this accusation is clearly absurd I am leaving this comment up as an example of what not to do.
Jen - I appreciate your response. After the current budget decisions I think we will have to strongly move on to a new tack to avoid being here next year. Please stay tuned.
"those who seek to plunder our wealth and scuttle our local neighborhood schools""
Perhaps, the word those should not belong 'cause the outcome of what she said is the outcome.
Peter,
I appreciate your reminder that we need to keep our eyes on the future while dealing with our budget woes. The only acceptable solutions to the current deficit are ones that make it easier for the district to balance its budget every year.
Your comprehensive plan has merit and is a good start toward long term solutions. Regarding your first point, what progress has the Superintendent made on a strategic plan for the district? As I recall the rationale for an HR Director was to free up time for him to accomplish this. When will we see a plan?
Regarding your last point, referenda are often short term fixes. Since every district in the State is in the same mess and Wisconsin’s political leadership has failed to find ways to adequately fund education the following alternative is worth considering. The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools has a campaign called “A Penny for Kids”, which seeks to increase the sales tax 1% to help fund our public schools. You can learn more and sign their petition at http://apennyforkids.org.
Jason McCutchin has a really good blog. http://jasonmccutchin.blogspot.com/
Peter-
Any thought about the following-
4 day school week with longer days?
(letting students out earlier in summer, saving on bussing and heat.)
longer school days and letting school out earlier in summber-
The state has both a minimum days of attendance and minimum hours of instruction requirement. A four-day school week would likely violate state regulations/laws.
"A four-day school week would likely violate state regulations/laws."
Other states are doing it and I think it makes more sense than some of our options.
This is a perfect of example of how people throw out options that aren't practical in order to avoid stating an opinion on the very real and very difficult choices that must be made. The 4-day suggestion is not practical at this time. Wisconsin requries a minimum number of days (180). That's why we need to make up snow days when there are too many.
"This is a perfect of example of how people throw out options that aren't practical in order to avoid stating an opinion on the very real and very difficult choices that must be made. The 4-day suggestion is not practical at this time. Wisconsin requries a minimum number of days (180). That's why we need to make up snow days when there are too many."
good gawd
Then way did our schools get to cut recess by 3 minutes or some silly crap to make up a snow day?
Because there is also a minimum minute requirement.
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