AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2008 > January > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAn End to Austerity?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Could this finally be the year state lawmakers end the long-running, erroneously named “temporary reductions” in Georgia’s education budget?
After six years, some key Republican officials are actually starting to speak out against annual cuts in the state’s K-12 funding formula, which Gov. Sonny Perdue initiated during his first year in office because of a severe deficit.
During state budget hearings Wednesday, state Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox admitted she was “disappointed” that Perdue plans to continue the so-called austerity reductions next school year.
According to today’s story by legislative reporter James Salzer, House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans) also voiced reservations about continuing the cuts, which now total more than $1.4 billion.
“We keep coming up with new programs, and we’re funding those,” Harbin said. “Maybe it’s time to stop with the top-down programs and allow that money to get to the [school] systems.”
At a separate meeting for education reporters Wednesday, state Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) — a former school administrator who leads the House Education Committee — said he and other legislative leaders would be looking for ways to end the formula cuts this year.
“Money is an acceptable way to say, ‘I love you,’” he quipped. “But money is not the key. … We’ve got to fully restore [the funding] and take it where it should be, then we need to look at doing two or three more [policy] things.”
State Sen. Dan Weber (R-Dunwoody), chairman of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, agreed — although, Weber doesn’t view ending the cutbacks as a priority.
“It’s a lot of money. It can make a difference. But I don’t think it will turn around school districts,” he said of the $141.5 million proposed cut for next year. “Some of the other issues we’re talking about will.”
UPDATE: Those who may not understand the ramifications of the K-12 formula cuts might want to check out Maureen Downey’s latest editorial. She cogently lays out the problems for all to see.
Comments
By JustMe
January 24, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
A-MEN! Restore the basic funding first….
GA tax coffers are over-flowing. HOPE coffers are over-flowing. We want the best schools. Yet, we cut basic school funding?
This type of backwards logic that our State republicans have brought us has never made sense to me.
This money is used for many of the basic needs to support education of our children. Without it, the foundation is eroded away. However, the State comes up with these grand “programs” that they fund that are really nothing more than window dressing (read PR for politicans) while our students suffer.
By jim d
January 24, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
JM,
“Ditto”
By JustMe
January 24, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
jd - Okay, this is getting too odd. We agree on two things in two consecutive days? LOL!
By Jeff
January 24, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Well, other than JM’s partisan snipe (I personally feel it is ALL of their fault, not just one particular party.), all THREE of us agree on two consecutive days.
Quick, somebody have a near death experience and report back on the status of Hell! :P
By Oh! My Sevens! Sob!!
January 24, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
“We keep coming up with new programs, and we’re funding those,” Harbin said. “Maybe it’s time to stop with the top-down programs and allow that money to get to the [school] systems.”
Amen! Excuse me, I am off to look for pigs with wings and frost forming in …
By jim d
January 24, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Whats the odds?
By fedup
January 24, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Money ain’t the problem. The problem is the schoolhouse is trying to be everything to everybody. Schools are not doctors offices or mental health facilities. Schools started failing when schools stopped being schools.
By 411slady
January 24, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
A BIG amen to you all but especially fedup! We have to STOP expecting schools to raise our children. Parents need to do their job and let educators do theirs! You can’t be good at your job if your job has grown to include every aspect of life from manners to math and all points in between.
By Attn: Clayton Parents
January 24, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
So two consenting adults on a Clayton school staff engage in hanky-panky and it’s front page news on the AJC. But Clayton board member *Rod Johnson KNOWINGLY facilitates the hiring of an accused (now indicted) child sexual predator and the AJC can
By Tony
January 24, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
I concur with JM, jim d, Jeff, et al. The idea of creating new programs with special funding while implementing “temporary” cuts is ludicrous.
Weber has not listed a single “turn around” program at all. All the ideas presented are political in nature and have very little basis in sound planning. By examining the special programs of the last few years (super principals, grad coaches, master teacher…) it is very evident that the special funding was not enough bait for school systems or educators to truly buy into the ideas.
The new wave of charter systems, VIP programs, and whatever new gimmicks are put forth this year will have similar results.
And, yes, schools should be schools. We should gladly operate institutions that promote learning in the interest of maintaining liberty in these United States. It is unfortunate that federalism is pushing more and more into our local business. Well educated citizens are the best defense.
By Attn: Clayton Parents
January 24, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
So two consenting adults engage in a little hanky panky in a Clayton school and it’s front page on the AJC. But school board member Rod Johnson KNOWINGLY facilates the hiring of an accused (now indicted) child sexual predator and the AJC won’t print the story? The Clayton News Daily did, so obviously the story and its sources have been vetted.
Could it be because he’s a GAE member trying to discredit the other education organization in Clayton that the AJC is going to extraordinary lengths to supress the story?
Editorial bias is understandable, but a reporting bias that causes AJC education reporters to sit on a story about a school board member KNOWINGLY hiring an accused child molester is simply NOT acceptable.
The AJC knows they are wrong, that’s why they refuse to comment on it.
By jim d
January 25, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this
Bridget,
How about doing a blog on proposed HB 881?
I kinda like the new funding proposal, but I’m quite confident there will be a fare amount of opposition.
By jim d
January 25, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
Here’s what we’re talking about with the proposed funding change.
Funding
A commission charter school shall be entitled to funding through state appropriation of state and federal funds, so that the school shall receive a full proportional share fro each student enrolled in such school equivalent to the federal, state, and local funding in the local school system within which the commission charter school is located. Such funding shall be based on the charter school’s student enrollment and student characteristics, including all applicable categorical grants, equalization grants, and all other grant programs for which students qualify. The commission may retain up to 3% of the funding of each school it has approved for use in administering its duties. The total allotment of state and federal funds to the local school system within which the commission charter school is located shall be calculated with an ensuing reduction equivalent to the amount appropriated to the commission charter schools located within the local school system. For funding purposes in the first year, the Department of Education shall calculate and distribute the funding based on the projected enrollment according to an enrollment or counting procedure stipulated in the charter. After the first year, enrollment shall be based on the actual enrollment in the current school year according to the most recent student count. For administrative purposes, including data reporting, student enrollment counting procedures, student achievement reporting, funding allocations, and related purposes as defined by the State Board, commission charter schools shall be treated as contained within a single, state-wide local education agency administered by the Department of Education.
By JustMe
January 25, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
Guys - here is something confusing…. If all of us on this blog ‘get it’ as far as what should happen with schools/education, but cannot the politicans ‘get it’? IMHO, it is that group that is really screwing up education in GA.
If the politicans want to help schools/education in GA, the first (and maybe the biggest) step is to get parents to be parents - and this should NOT be done within the context of education.
As a teacher, I have always said, “Give me a class of well behaved students that know the value of an education and I will give you a class of students by the end of the semester that know the material.” As a teacher, why is this too much to ask?
By jim d
January 25, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
JM,
3 consecutive days would be unheard of.
So—-while I do agree that the primary problems today with education are man made and of a political nature, I feel compelled to point out that since politians have caused the problems, they truly are the ones that must remedy what they have done.
The problem I see with expecting them to do so is that they can’t seem to leave well enough alone.
Let’s just be honest here. The most damaging legislation in the history of public education has been NCLB. Politican are very aware of this and more importantly so is the general public. NCLB will eventually go away but only to be replaced by other and possibly even more damaging meddling by well meaning people with no clue.
That’s just the way it is!
By JustMe
January 25, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
jd - I do agree with what you said. I just wonder why the politicans do not see/understand what everyone else seems to see/understand.
If the politicans did understand, then they would find some way to encourage (or force) parents to be parents. They would not continue to muck with education (read muck to mean ‘screw up’).
By jim d
January 25, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
JM,
To be rather frank, should they muck with our rights to raise our children as we deem appropriate they’d have a revolt on their hands. And they know what I do. “Most educators will just go along with the program”