Changes

I’m sure sorry you guys are having to make all those changes because of the budget. “What changes?” I asked. Well, dropping all those classes and things. “What classes were dropped?” I asked.
Well I’m just glad my boys got out of school while there were still a lot of choices. “What choices don’t we now have?” I inquired.
It finally dawned on the speaker that he did not have specifics. He did not know what had changed. He was speaking in generalities from rumors he had heard.
When I reviewed with him the changes that had taken place in next year’s class offerings he was startled that they would impact relatively few students. He understood why classes showing low and declining enrollment needed to be examined especially if similar courses are available elsewhere. As a taxpayer he knew we cannot afford duplication.
The other point he grasped quickly was that students leaving the district to attend another district or to opt for full time PSEO meant that we needed fewer teachers to serve the remaining students. It has a negative impact. It behooves us to make sure our offerings are attractive enough to keep students interested in maintaining most of their class work at Marietta High School.
Therein lies the challenge. As our enrollment declines and the numbers in classes get smaller, we need fewer teachers. It may also mean fewer course offerings are affordable. As course offerings decline, some students will seek courses elsewhere. A downward spiral.
Yet if we fail to address increasing costs by effecting savings we are not being responsible to the taxpayer in using his funds wisely. A delicate balance.
At any given time in the state of Ohio roughly half the 600+ districts are in financial trouble. The other half experienced a recent tax levy passage. They will be in trouble in a few years.
It’s not a good system. It doesn’t serve the taxpayers well. It fails to serve the students equitably and is not Constitutional according to four Ohio Supreme Court rulings. But until our legislators have the courage to address it, we must do the best we can to continue to operate. And that means finding savings where we can and seeking new money when we must.
The savings we addressed at the January meeting will be voted on May 19th at the 5:30 monthly board meeting. Also on the agenda will be discussions about the sale of the North Hills facility. We will not seek to move that sale ahead until we get further public input. Of further interest, it is time for the release of the newest five year forecast.
Bear in mind, it is a forecast, not a budget. As such, it is based on the best available information. It is made up of the facts at hand and the best estimates based on previous experience. It gives the board a snapshot from which to make decisions about future actions. It was this forecast from last fall that caused the board to seek the savings being acted on now to make the money we have last longer.
Our elementary class sizes range up to 25, 26 even 27. Many college bound students will shortly experience auditorium style classes. At the June meeting and beyond we will probably be examining any of next year’s classes that fall below the 20 student level. It behooves us to have good course offerings that conform to state and federal requirements. We must seek to teach those courses efficiently and effectively.
Your school board represents the interest of the public. If you have questions, feel free to ask. It is far easier to answer a question than to dispel rumors.