CHANGE

CHANGE! Seems every politician running for office is promising CHANGE. The buzzword of the day. What everybody wants.
A year ago your Marietta City Schools weren't asking for CHANGE. They sought to keep things the same. "Preserve the Progress." Keep a good thing going. And they did. They earned the highest academic ratings ever for the district. And the voters approved by a large margin to continue
to provide needed funds just as before. No new funds. No CHANGE in funding.
CHANGE may, in fact, be what was needed rather than just staying the same. There is no
doubt that CHANGES have taken place that directly affect schools and their finances.
While it may appear from the outside that not much CHANGES in schools, an inside
look reveals this is not the case. An even closer look at finances and how things operate
gives an even greater confirmation that, indeed, CHANGE has happened.
A look at neighboring Frontier School District shows CHANGE. Owing to financial difficulties,
the state may soon control every action of their schools. Telling them what they may and may
not do; must and must not do.
We are not far behind this fate. Marietta City Schools' current 5 year forecast
shows that income for the 2008-2009 school year will be $21.4 million. Our projected
spending will be $22.6 million. Already you see the problem. We are spending $1.2 million more than we are receiving.
The state is not yet knocking at our door because we have $2.5 million dollars in the bank. We can
spend down our savings to cover current expenses.
But the following year, 2009-2010, with that money in the bank spent, we will be $200,000 dollars short. And the following year we project to be $2.5 million in debt.
Overdrawn. In the hole.
At that point our problems begin. We will have Frontier size issues.
From having the state come in and mandate what changes we must make, to forcing us to seek
approval for every expenditure and other rather unpleasant requirements. Not fun. Not what we
want for Marietta City Schools.
One alternative to this scenario is to move ahead cautiously and hope for any number
of minor miracles to bail us out. And seek a levy along the way. Again, not what we want for
Marietta City Schools.
A more responsible alternative is to understand our problems. Make tough choices.
Make CHANGES now. Before being forced by the state.
Let’s examine just a few of the CHANGES that happened to cause the current financial situation.
First is an ever rising major expense that many readers never experienced during their
school years. Accommodating special needs students.
From those with physical and mental challenges and needs requiring extra help to those
with far above average learning abilities, the special needs programming in your schools constitutes
over $4.5 million of expenditures. That segment has grown over the past 30 years. It is a major
portion of our expenses and one which deserves a full explanation in another presentation.
“Unfunded mandates”. The special needs cited above are among them. Add to that
state mandated testing and information systems and the costs have skyrocketed.
Then there is school funding in Ohio. We all know the Supreme Court has told
the legislature the funding formula is unconstitutional. Yet the legislature has done nothing to
address it. Again, a fuller explanation awaits another day. Suffice to say the legislature is not going
to solve funding inequities soon enough to save your Marietta City Schools from bankruptcy on
our current course.
Two significant components of the funding formula are tax abatement and tax exemption. From churches to schools
to hospitals to Wal*Mart, there is much property removed from paying taxes. Those dollars disappear.
That leaves the remaining taxpayers (YOU) to pay the bills.
It is virtually impossible to get an accurate number on how much money schools would receive
if all untaxed property were to suddenly begin to yield taxes. Just this year we learned
of an exemption that will cost our budget over a quarter million dollars per year. It is far from the
only recent abatement/exemption.
Those dollars would go a long way toward keeping our
doors open with no CHANGES. Again, a subject that deserves a much more detailed explanation.
Yet another CHANGE working against your school funding is declining population. We are aging.
There are fewer students. This translates to fewer dollars from funding sources. Sadly, we cannot
eliminate large expenses when just one less student shows up for school. Classes still have to be taught,
but the funding that came with that missing student disappears.
If providing quality education to the students of the Marietta area is our top priority, then keeping
the doors open and paying the bills is the first order of business. And to do that in light of current
finances, CHANGES need to be made. Savings must be realized. Efficiencies must be gained.
And yes; perhaps some CHANGES that are uncomfortable must happen.
We can no longer attempt to be all things to all people. We wish to avoid the dramatic
changes of recent years that were so painful because less dramatic changes were not made
earlier.
The future lies with those strong enough to survive. Those willing to make tough choices will be
among the survivors. Your Marietta City Schools Board of Education chooses to be among the survivors.
Survivors capable of offering a program of education excellence to its students. We choose to be
known for excellence that will attract open enrollment students. Schools that will attract new
residents and families with children.
Further discussion on these and other topics vital to your school’s health are forthcoming.
We seek your input, assistance and understanding as we move forward to adapt to the CHANGES at hand.
A blog will be created to provide further information. Our 5 year forecast and other
information will be available there.
To achieve excellence we are embarking on CHANGE. That CHANGE comes with an appropriate caution.
“CHANGE is wonderful! You go first.”