Future Uncertain

The Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) provides many services to boards across the state. The highest profile is the annual conference in Columbus. Held at the Columbus Convention Center, it features a trade show for school service vendors and a series of breakout presentations on a wide range of school related subjects.
A quick overview of some subjects available this year include Transitioning the multiply disabled to adulthood; Infectious disease control and prevention; Making tough decisions in a recession; Electricity purchasing workshop; Labor law tips all administrators should know; A district wide intervention program; Legal implications of social technology and School funding reform-Will it ever happen. There were literally dozens of other topics offered covering issues of concern for schools.
Studying the map of the trade show and reflecting on the empty spaces I calculate there were at least 1,500 vendors. Of those it seemed there were dozens of architect and or engineering firms and at least as many project management firms all vying for attention and business. Attention getting handouts ranged from pens and bag clips to assorted candies plus popcorn, backpacks and other gewgaws.
One conversation I had with an architect yielded the fact that in Ohio, the main areas of productive activity that he saw were school building projects and churches. He further observed that church building was lagging behind as available funds are dwindling. He also pointed out that when the tobacco settlement funding for schools runs out that area will revert to only funds from the state budget which are limited at best and questionable going forward. Not a cheery overview.
No one seems able to provide a precise answer to the question of when our district’s opportunity to take advantage of the tobacco funds actually expires. As usual, there seems to be a bit of double talk and politics involved at the state level on this subject. It may be clear to someone but it is certainly not clear to me.
As you know we had lost our older state funding participation rate of 39% and were reduced to 28%. We were re-instated to receive the higher level of state funding but we will lose that again if we do not take advantage of it within a 24 month window. It is still unclear to me when that window closes. It is further uncertain when the tobacco money actually runs out. That will depend of course on how many districts take advantage of it before we step up, if we do.
The other activity that takes place at these conferences is networking with board members from other districts. Their experiences often prove of value in making decisions locally.
You may be interested in two conversations I had. One with a lady from a district that some years ago failed to pass a bond issue for new buildings four times. They dug in and are living with their old buildings, the newest of which dates to the 1950s. The oldest of which was built in 1870. They are on a continuous cycle of seeking operating funds to maintain and operate those buildings. They have spent a lot of money doing what they can to have the buildings accommodate today’s needs.
The other was with a treasurer whose bond issue also failed recently and they, like us, are totally uncertain as to how to proceed. The needs have not changed but the possibilities and choices are now more limited.
The question I am asked most frequently locally is what comes next. The answer for me at the moment is, I do not yet know.

Thank You And Imagine.

Imagine the Marietta area without Interstate Route 77. Think of the lack of commerce. Ponder driving to Cleveland on Route 821. To get to Florida you have to go somewhere else to start.
When I came to Marietta a generation and a half ago it was hard to live a day without hearing about S. Durward Hoag and his wonderful accomplishment; getting Route 77 to come through Marietta. Original plans called for it to be near Athens. His tireless work let fortune smile on Marietta.
Thank you Mr. Hoag for your vision and effort. Hope and promise arrived on this new highway.
Time to say thank you to a few more folks who worked for our future. There is an email list of nearly 50 names of people directly associated with the School Bond Committee. None of them seek nor would be happy with any public thank you. Their efforts have been yeoman like for many months.
More thanks to the many folks whose names are not on that list but helped in so many ways to deliver the message of what our future can be with new facilities. People who distributed yard signs, door hangers, information brochures, Journey Maps. People who put signs in their yards, talked to neighbors, asked questions and got answers. TV endorsers, ad writers, producers. Cash contributors to the campaign. An endless list.
Thanks to the local craftsmen who helped in many ways with the effort to get the message out. Even more thanks for their favorable Project Labor Agreement that would save us countless dollars as the work proceeded. A minimum of 80% of the workers would be local folks who would pump those income dollars back into the economy generating our own local job stimulus program. And brought $31 million of our own money back from Columbus.
Thanks to many individuals who put talent and time into generating the Journey Map that examines our district today in great detail and lays out a map to take us to the future our community deserves. Never has there been a more comprehensive vision for education in Marietta.
Three years ago your board was looking at a familiar picture. A 5 year forecast that showed us running out of money in 3 years. We were on the cycle of frustration caused by the unconstitutional funding of education in Ohio. That hasn’t changed.
That cycle stifles hope promise and vision for districts across Ohio. It locks us into perpetuating mediocrity and continually asking voters for more funds. Three years ago we would not have been eligible for the tobacco money. Those are the funds that would have been brought here as the state’s share of the project. They will soon disappear.
Nearly two years ago the dream of updated education facilities and a new Marietta future began to formulate. Today the voters have spoken. Not so fast was the message. Not now. Make do with what we have. And we will.
Marietta without Route 77 would not be what she is today. And the Marietta of tomorrow will not be nearly as prosperous without updating our educational facilities. At some point it will have to happen. Until then, we will continue to provide the best education opportunities in our existing facilities.
We are still stuck on the cycle of frustration with the sate funding formula. Buildings would not change that even with the projected savings. But they would help.
The only way to know what the public wants is to ask. Many thanks to those who gave us the opportunity to ask the voters what they want.

Warning. Finances Still A Disaster. Thank You Ohio.

Warning. You are about to enter the Twilight Zone of school finance. Do not read further without being seated. The road ahead is unpredictable.
You must sign a disclaimer stating you understand that schools are set up to go broke every three to five years. You must acknowledge that Ohio schools have been operating unconstitutionally for decades. You may now proceed through the door to the unknown. Fasten your seatbelt.
Last Monday’s board meeting saw the presentation of the new 5 year financial projection. Mr. Combs received the latest state funding formula a few days before and began assembling the numbers as directed by the state.
Gone was money for buses. We’re on our own. Changed was the state funding “guarantee” formula. We lost nearly $100,000. A “gifted identification” formula was changed. We lost another $10,000.
State personal property taxes were eliminated but the state was to make up our share. That solemn promise is reduced by 47% within this forecast period. A loss of $438,000. Property tax income will be reduced by $364,000. Thank you very much. Was that Elvis we just saw?
The current Permanent Improvement levy will expire. The current Operating levy will also expire during the period. The assumption is that voters will replace both. But who knows? Together they constitute several million dollars essential to our survival on this journey to the future.
On the expense side is a zero increase in wages for the coming year and a modest increase over the period. An 18% increase in health costs for this year followed by 12% increases the remaining years is in line with national statistics. Unless---well, who knows what’s behind the health care cost door?
Open enrollment is a $750,000 annual cost. Community School costs are $300,000. Alternative School costs $80,000. Add to that Washington County Juvenile Center tuition of $50,000. PSEO costs an additional $50,000. The total expense is over a million dollars to educate students out of our district. Oh, yes, then there is a reduction in federal reimbursement for special programming of $80,000.
The reduction in bus fuel expense is a result of lower costs from the previous projection, but that too could change dramatically as we have seen. There is an increase in staffing costs. Some federal funds completely disappear and those costs must be absorbed by the General Fund.
Federal dollars touted as gifts are as formless as the ghosts of Christmas past when they expire. Financial chicanery on a grand scale committed by experts. More Ponzi schemes anyone? Government plays them best. And it’s legal when they play. And they play with your money.
The point of previewing this journey you are taking is to tell you that in spite of the work done during the past two years attempting to bring new facilities to the district, the overall funding picture is still bleak. As it has been for decades in Ohio. Remember, you were warned that school funding is designed to go broke every 3 to 5 years. Which is why a constant stream of new funds from the voters is required just to keep operating.
New facilities will bring some operational savings but we are 3 years away from seeing those buildings and yet further away from realizing the savings. The only part of this journey you get to control is your votes next Tuesday and in coming years. Will we take this journey in new buildings or old? Will we pour more money into old facilities or leap into the future? Either way, the choice is yours. You get to decide. Enjoy the ride.

Can You Guarantee?

Last Monday’s Town Hall meeting saw many interesting questions from some very interested folks. One of the common themes was “guarantees.” As in, ‘Can you guarantee you are going to use the bond money just to build buildings?”
The answer to that one is, of course, yes. We are forbidden by law to do anything else with the money. This is not operating funds we are seeking but new construction funds and, in the case of the current high school, renovation funds.
It should be noted also that included in the ballot language there is one half mil dedicated to maintenance. This component is required by the state. And that’s a good thing.
Another guarantee question involved what we would do with savings realized through more efficient operation costs for the new buildings. Would we, in fact, restore some or all of the programs we have lost owing to cutbacks in recent years.
The answer is that our Journey Map plan lays out our destination and goals. The plan has been adopted by the board and is supported by both administration and staff. To the extent there are funds available to make progress, it is clear where we are going.
Another piece of that answer is that whatever programs are best suited to the needs of our students will be the ones put in place. It may never make sense to restore teaching Home Economics at our high school since similar courses are available at the Career Center. We cannot afford to duplicate services.
In efforts to make promises and “guarantees” one must also be careful not to commit to things beyond one’s control. State funding and mandates for instance are beyond our ability to predict.
We may be forced tomorrow to do something not anticipated in our budget forecast or current building projections. That’s the way government works and we are powerless to object. We have to work within the confines of the dictates of state and federal lawmakers.
One guarantee your board can make is that we will reduce the current amount of taxes you are being charged by 1.95 mils upon passage of the bond issue. Thus making the net increase to you 4.59 mils. You will see this action take place at this Monday’s board meeting.
Another guarantee you can count on is that owing to the Project Labor Agreement already in place, fully 80% plus of the labor force on these projects will be local workers. Workers who live and raise families in our local area. Workers who spend money here that contributes to the economy. Hometown folks.
You can also count on the fact that these buildings will add to our ability to attract new businesses, jobs and residents. We have been on the wrong side of this issue for far too long at great cost to our community and your real estate values.
Finally, we can guarantee that our financial woes are far from over. We still need operating funds. Expenses continue to grow. Receipts continue to hold steady or fall. You may well understand this from your own household budget experience. It’s a fact of life and speaks to the need to be ever improving and working harder and smarter.
Eventually we will be forced to build new buildings whether we do it now or later. It will never be less expensive and there will never be this level of state fund participation. The only question is how much more money gets spent on old buildings versus how much we have to invest toward new facilities. You get to decide.

What We Learned From the Crowd

The folks who have attended the past two Town Hall meetings have taught us a number of things about the bond issue and building new schools. They are valuable lessons. The first thing we have learned is that mostly Yes voters are in attendance.
However, there are also some folks who were opposed but willing to show up, ask questions, get answers and leave with a more positive if not totally supportive position. And those are important folks as they may make a critical difference in the results.
We learned from Mr. Parlin’s presentation that our district is shrinking. From nearly 6,000 students in the 1960s, we are down to under 3,000. But a more frightening figure came out.
In 2000, our underprivileged population in the schools was about 10%. That number has grown to nearly 40%. Not only are we shrinking in size but our student needs for special services is increasing.
We have learned that the two years spent developing the Journey Map plan for where the district is headed is well received. And it was essential to determining what the district’s needs really are and how we can meet those needs. If you would like to see it yourself, go to www.buildmariettaschools.com. Or call 374-6500 Extension 11. We will send or deliver one to you.
We learned based on our previous experience that transportation costs are likely to go down and some student bus rides will be shorter, though some a bit longer as a result of the new configuration. We may need to add two buses but experience overall savings in operation.
We learned about class sizes and what is and is not possible with our existing facilities. In light of coming mandates on class sizes we learned that we would incur great costs to install temporary trailers at nearly every school to accommodate the new requirements. Money that is better spent on new buildings that will serve for decades.
We learned about needed school safety and security changes that are not attainable in the current buildings at anywhere near affordable costs. Times have changed, our buildings have not.
Finally we learned that someone with a genuine interest in finding out what the project truly means to the community can ask good questions, get good answers and fully understand the importance of this project to the community. But there’s a problem.
There are those unwilling or unable to access all this information. Some who have made up their minds without knowing what is at stake. Yet others who may not even care what is at stake.
This is where you may be of assistance. At the end of last Monday’s meeting an audience member was concerned that we have not been conveying this information adequately to the public at large. She understood what we had conveyed and the importance of the public to become informed. We agree and understand.
Another person offered a solution. You each have friends, neighbors and others with whom you communicate. You can be the person to carry the message. You can be the person who can help share the facts. You can play an influential role in coming to a successful conclusion and positive outcome for our community.
Those who genuinely do want information and facts upon which to base their decision often just need a helpful voice to get that information. Someone like yourself who has taken the time to understand and share. Someone who cares about the future of our community and our children and grandchildren.
Give us a hand. Lend your voice. Tell others what you know.

Bonjour. Got French

Bonjour, comment ca va? Got French? We Don’t. Perhaps you have seen that statement on t-shirts worn mostly by Marietta High School students the past few years.
I reflected on the French deficiency statement Monday evening on the heels of observations by a young man who confessed that until the very end of the meeting he did not get the connection between new buildings and improved education. In part it was because he had not thought about how we are forced to spend our money on our old buildings.
Increasing costs combined with steady to declining cash flows make us do some things that don’t make sense in a modern educational setting. We continue to erode our education base to pay other bills at our student’s peril.
What have we lost besides French? Too much, really. Here are just a few of our losses.
At the middle school we have classes of 30 plus students. Some in science labs where there is not enough equipment. We no longer offer a semester of French or Spanish at the middle school.
We have crammed Language Arts and Reading classes into shorter periods rather than we used to have. Both are skills fundamental to long-term scholastic and life success.
At the high school we dropped word processing as a graduation requirement; dropped our business classes, German classes and American Sign Language. Not to mention what in my day we called Home Economics. Though that is still available at the Career Center.
There are a number of electives we no longer offer thanks to cuts in staffing to save money and pay other operating costs. As a result, many Juniors and Seniors have most or all of their basic course requirements met with few other classes to choose from to enrich their experience and prepare them for life or further education.
One parent told me of her college freshman son who just dropped a course because he was ill prepared compared to other students. He was falling behind. Yet there was no course pre-requisite. It was assumed high school had prepared him to take the course. Ours had not.
We have teachers doing lunchroom duty and monitoring parking lots because we can’t afford both an aide and a teacher as the teacher must be available for classes during other periods. We have fewer nurses than buildings. As a result, some kids are left without nursing service as the staff travels and works at other buildings.
As the young man discovered Monday, we are forced to make hard choices between what we must pay and what we should offer. We have to pay the heat bill. We do not have to teach French. We have to patch a roof. We are not required to expand our computer class offerings.
Let’s not even talk about our building security and the costs to bring it up to date in the old buildings that were designed to be open and welcoming gathering places. Times have changed. The buildings have not.
It has been calculated based on modern building design and experience in other districts that our new building operations will save a minimum of a half million dollars per year. Probably much more. Money that can be used to restore programs we have lost. Money that can bring us into the 21st century. The trick is getting there.
You can help by learning more. Go to www.buildmariettaschools.com. Come to an information meeting on either of the next two Mondays. The 12th at Marietta College McDonough Center. The 19th at the high school auditorium. Both at 7 PM. Au revoir.

Harold Gash

I met Harold Gash at a conference in Chicago in 1970. He was a successful businessman from Atlanta and I was a young entrepreneur eager to learn from my elders any lesson I could as I sought my way in the world.
Harold was wearing a suit that cost more than the car I was driving at the time. In fact, that may still be true. But that’s another story.
Over the years I have learned that we tend to remember bits and pieces of information and events. Not whole days or long stories. My mind at least tends to retain small snippets much better than large chunks. And I remember well Harold’s lesson that day.
Surprisingly it is relevant to Marietta’s choice about building new schools for our community. About focusing on the future and doing the right thing.
Harold talked about magnanimity. Generosity. So what’s the magnanimous perspective on new schools? Easy. Our students deserve the latest and best technology. They will soon be in the work world and asked to compete for jobs with students from around the world who have had access to that technology. Our kids need to measure up.
Our teachers deserve the best we can provide in terms of teaching environment to maximize the lessons they teach as well as to maximize student interest and learning. Buildings should be heated and cooled to facilitate learning. Technology should assist those lessons in every way possible. It’s happening in other places, we should make it happen here. It’s magnanimous.
Then there’s safety. Our current buildings do not allow security that meets today’s standards. To retrofit them would be cost prohibitive. And it still would not measure up to modern day threats. We should provide a safety level worthy of the lives we are protecting.
Okay, so much for magnanimity. What else did Harold cover that day? Selfishness. How does that relate to Marietta in 2009?
Just this way. It would be selfish to wish for our community to grow and prosper. To assure that growth takes a solid community foundation. Modern schools are at the base of that foundation. Providing them would serve that selfish desire.
It would be selfish to hope that employers who would employ our kids so they can get good jobs at home would stay in and come to our community. Good schools are a basic requirement of those employers.
It would be selfish to want our students to graduate and be able to compete against students from the best districts in the country for entry into the best trades, services and colleges in the country.
It would be selfish to act on the fact that property values are based in large measure on demand for our property. When we are ready to sell, we need a pool of eager buyers. That requires good schools.
It would be selfish to note that in communities where schools are not supported well, extras disappear. Athletics, clubs, bands, choirs, all the things that make up a well rounded school experience contribute to the value of housing in those communities.
Even if we are not anticipating selling our properties in the short run, it is best to maintain and increase our property values for the long run. It’s a sound investment. It’s the selfish thing to do.
So what was it that Harold Gash said all those years ago that caused me to remember the lesson? As with most lessons worth learning and remembering he distilled it to such simplicity that even I could not forget.
If you can’t be magnanimous, be selfish.

TMI

TMI. That’s what our kids said when we told them things that were either embarrassing to them or contained information not relevant to their immediate interests. It meant, Too Much Information. And perhaps the following fits that category.
Imagine you are a teacher. Scary thought for most of us, but follow along. You awake at 5 AM or so. And you just don’t feel up to par. Perhaps it’s that pesky flu stuff. The best decision is to call in sick. Let them find a sub for the day.
That sick call sets into action a whole host of activity designed to replace your presence in the classroom just over two hours from now. Phone numbers will be accessed. Lists of those qualified to teach your class will be sorted. Calls will be placed to determine who is available and willing to take your place.
You must make a plan for the teacher to follow. Somehow that plan must be gotten into the hands of whoever it is who ends up teaching your classes for the day. And remember to include special instructions concerning challenging students or classroom issues that came up yesterday.
Now let’s look at the other side of the challenge. You are in charge of finding substitutes. You have lists. You’re organized with the phone numbers and background knowledge. But there are 26 teachers out today. This is a tall challenge. But there is a bit of good news.
Many of them made prior arrangements to be out. Those slots have been filled already. But there are those 15 calls that came early this morning and those classrooms must be filled. The first four calls you made were not answered. Another call was answered but the sub had already accepted an assignment in another district. Two more calls were to subs who were themselves feeling under the weather. Fifteen slots still to fill and it’s less than an hour before classes begin.
Your pace quickens. It’s ‘one of those mornings.’ And it’s only September. The whole year lies ahead. This is beginning to feel like herding cats.
There are yet more details to this issue that involve tracking what subs actually taught what classes after the day is done. How many sick days each teacher has accumulated and how many are left. And then there are the payroll issues on both sides of the equation. And the mountain of paperwork that goes with all these changes.
TMI settled in yet? But wait. There’s good news. Thanks to the internet nearly all of this can now be done by computer. The computer makes the calls. The teachers start the process themselves. The phone numbers are already stored and ready for use. The computer knows who has already accepted an assignment and who is not available that day.
The plans can be put online for sub use. Special notes of importance that day can be entered by the teacher. The computer begins calling multiple subs for multiple positions simultaneously as soon as the absences are registered. AND, it keeps track of all the calls and responses.
Marietta City Schools began using this system this year. It has freed up hours of staff time enabling them to focus on other duties.
There are far more details if you would like to know. Have a look at: http://aesoponline.com.
We are adopting new technology to both operate and teach more efficiently. New buildings will permit yet larger leaps in technology to bring us into the 21st century. There is a whole world out there waiting for us. Our kids are already there.

The Dog Ate My Homework

Astro ate my homework. What? What teacher would accept this as an excuse for not producing last night’s homework assignment?
Nearly two years ago your school board was asked to show our plan for facilities to justify borrowing about $3 million of the yet to be collected tax moneys granted by the voters. The idea was to borrow the money up front, renovate the old buildings and pay off the loan with future tax collections.
Just one problem. There was no plan in place. Nor even thought of. We could not explain which buildings would still be in use in 5 or 10 years. We had not thought that far ahead.
Yet here we were being asked to commit future tax dollars to a project that would use the money to patch up old buildings that may not be in use in the foreseeable future. And we could not answer simple questions about those buildings because we had no plan.
That was the first big clue that things needed to change. We needed to take a hard look at our resources and make an honest evaluation of just what could be done with what we had. Thus began our journey to a self-evaluation of the entire system.
From buildings to buses to choirs and football teams. Algebra, Biology, Calculus, and on up the alphabet. We should be able to answer simple questions about what we have, what we offer, what we need and what our plans are. We should have those answers and plans ready for the public to view at any time.
The plan should be an honest review of where we are now in virtually all areas of operation of the school system. It should include where we would like to be in a reasonable time period; say 5 years. And it should include logical steps showing how we expect to get there.
Most of all, it should be flexible. Able to change as times and circumstances change. Able to be amended or re-directed if the original focus becomes obsolete. And it should be respectful and conservative of the taxpayer’s money.
It has been a long journey. Many hands have done the work. There is much yet to be done. The initial product is ready for viewing and will be available at the upcoming public meetings on the bond issue. Those meetings will be at 7 PM on the first three Tuesdays in October. It will also be available electronically soon on the www.buildmariettaschools.com website and also on the Marietta City Schools regular website.
There is far too much to absorb in one sitting. It is our intent to review each of the categories one at a time in upcoming weeks. We want the public to review the work and add their observations and ideas. Over time the plan will become a product of the community outlining its envisioned future for their school system.
At the same time this work has been evolving, the teaching and service staffs have been working on their areas of expertise and developing the Professional Learning Community concept in all the buildings. Their work is directed at developing best practices for delivering the education product.
Combined together, the community will have a system that is constantly improving and responsible to the citizens for the future of its schools. With your help we will no longer be caught unable to answer reasonable and simple questions about your schools.
The dog ate my homework is just not acceptable. It’s time we stepped boldly into the 21st century providing education for our future leaders.

Your Lottery Dollars and School Funding. Yeah, that's it.

Where’s the pea? An old con game designed to fleece onlookers of their money used three half walnut shells and a small pea. The con person would turn one of the shells over and show the pea’s location and then bet that he could move the shells in such a way that the onlooker could not locate the pea.
After a few trial runs where the onlooker always knew the location of the pea the betting would begin. Of course the con person would then work his magic and the pea was never where the victim believed it to be. Such are the dollars from your state lottery.
Last Wednesday’s school board meeting saw the presentation of the most recent five year forecast for your district’s finances. Further explanation of the overall forecast is to be found elsewhere in this publication. It’s never a pretty story but serves as a warning and signals changes required to continue operations.
The bottom line is we are projected to next year spend nearly $900,000 more than we take in. But we are not technically “broke” yet as there are some reserves. We will exhaust the reserves by the end of fiscal year 2011 and be about $2.8 million in arrears unless expenses and revenues are adjusted. And adjust is what we plan to do in light of the forecast.
So what about all the promised lottery dollars that were to be sent to schools to solve funding problems? Aren’t we getting that money? Where is it?
Good questions. Especially if you are a lottery player and believe you are at least in part helping education when you do not win. Let’s have a look.
Permit me to quote from a recent communication from CORAS (The Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools).
“According to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) web site, the appropriation to the lottery profits education fund group was $688.9 million in fiscal year 2008. Of that amount, $666.2 million was designated to support Foundation Funding, which supports formula aid, special education weighted funding, career technical education weighted funding, poverty based assistance, parity aid, charge off supplement aid and other forms of aid to districts as well as education service centers. ODE said the 2008 lottery profits were distributed as follows:

Total Lottery Funding Fiscal Year 2008 to School Districts, $551,908,697.97. Educational Service Centers, $24,597,560.64. Community Schools,$62,756,709.32. Joint Vocational Schools, $26,935,032.06.
The balance of the appropriation was designated for the retirement of bonds used to support school construction.
What ODE does not say is that the state used a formula to calculate general fund school district state aid, removed $666.2 million from that total, and added in the $666.2 million dollars from the lottery fund....and then used the $666.2 million general fund money that was removed from the state aid calculation somewhere else...or at least that's the way we see it. There was no additional money for school districts beyond the calculated state aid formula.”
The money the lottery put in to education was exactly matched by the money the legislators took out of education funding and put elsewhere. They hid the pea.
There was a brighter side to the board meeting that can lead to changing our finances. Our new building program is projected to achieve operational savings of over half a million dollars a year or more as well as deliver better educational services and increased safety to students.
More exciting, after nearly two years work, the District Professional Learning Community representatives presented a vision and mission statement adopted by the board. Much more on this soon to come.

OWE!

O.W.E. Occupational Work Experience. Not a well known program in our schools but one which has served hundreds of students over the past 40 years and continues to be a lifesaver for many.
OWE is a program of the Washington County Career Center that operates in the Marietta City Schools buildings. Its intent is to help students graduate. Students who may drop from school early. Students who, but for this program may never graduate.
The program helps these students gain valuable work and life experience and enables them to earn money while doing so. It provides an environment tailored to the student’s needs.
To be in the program, students must have a job and work or volunteer at least 15 hours per week during at least 3 school days. It requires parental or guardian permission and access to transportation to and from work.
Typically a student spends two periods in the main high school building followed by two periods in the OWE class located in the Vocational Agriculture building, followed by work on the job.
English course credits can be earned in the OWE classes and there is access via computers to a service called NovaNet where virtually any high school credit except gym may be earned. The goal is to gather enough credits to earn a diploma.
There is no such thing as a “typical” OWE student. Some have plenty of credits but their life circumstances or personality just don’t fit a regular school and classroom day. They may be in danger of leaving school just because school is not meeting their needs.
Others may be struggling to keep up in the classroom and need the extra help a smaller class size can provide. They may also have social skill needs that a classroom cannot provide.
Then there are those whose life circumstances present a real challenge that requires some adaptation. On average, an OWE class consist of 30% students who are also parents. Some are living on their own providing rent and food for themselves. Others are contributing to their family’s income to make ends meet.
Over the years many local employers have provided jobs and training and supervisory personnel to help these students. Admittedly, it is a mutually beneficial relationship. Often the students stay on with the employer and make fine long term employees.
For the student not headed for college OWE can be the perfect first step into the workforce. It can also lead to some of the best management training available as most of the employers have excellent programs. One can literally go from flipping burgers to a great entrepreneurial opportunity thanks to the training available.
Local employers have included Arby’s, Burger King, Captain D’s, Chartwell’s, East of Chicago, Influent, Izzy’s at Marietta College, Krogers, Little Caesar’s, McDonald’s, Ohio Valley Marine, ResCare, Ryans, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Zimmerview Farms.
An extensive advisory committee and many volunteers keep the program operating and in touch with employers. Names too numerous to mention have been serving for many years.
Lest one think that the course work is less challenging, here’s the assignment the most recent day I visited. Prepare a presentation about a musical artist. Pick a song, discuss the lyrics, their meaning and interpretation.
Discuss the value of the rhyming in the lyrics, the importance of the beat and rhythm and their contributions to the overall experience. Point out similes, metaphors, figurative language, alliteration and hyperbole and other linguistic characteristics the artist employed to make the song relevant and of interest.
Create a presentation board with photos, graphics, and other items that will engage the reader. Ahem.

Be Positive

I promise to be positive. I promise to be positive. I promise to be positive.
The May meeting of your school board has been moved to the 27th. Regularly scheduled for the fourth Monday, the 25th, that is a holiday. Moved back to accommodate the holiday we found it crowded too many reports that must be prepared and presented at this time of year so the date got readjusted.
This is the meeting where your board will be presented with one of the mandated twice-yearly five-year forecasts. This one will be particularly challenging.
It seems the folks in Columbus are still wrangling over a number of details that would impact our local budget over the next five years. Yet they demand we come up with the forecast and hold us accountable.
Treasurer Combs wrestles with this report every time as a 1 or 2% deviation can cause the board to take action and cut programs and lay off employees. People’s careers hang in the balance.
What originally looked like a federal stimulus cash injection to our biennium budget of 15% followed by 14% shrank under the eraser of the legislators to 8% followed by minus 2% and now looks as though it may disappear altogether. How’s that for solid input on which to plan?
But there’s more. And none of it is encouraging. And some of it may cost us money while some of it may mean yet more unfunded mandates. Things we must do and figure out on our own how to pay for them.
One of the exciting mandates in an earlier version of the legislation called for having a nurse in every building. Who could argue with that? From a safety and health point of view it would be great.
Two problems at least accompany this inspiration. First, how would we pay for the increase in staffing? And second, Ohio is in a nursing crisis. Where would we find enough nurses to meet the mandate?
Then there is the idea to extend the school year over a ten-year period. More days of school per year. Great idea. Who would like bet that teachers, aides, attendants, bus drivers and our other school year employees will voluntarily add to their work year without seeking additional compensation? I thought not. How will we pay?
But there’s an even more outrageous piece still in the pending legislation. In simple terms that even I understand it says that districts would not be permitted to reduce staff for reasons of insufficient funds.
You read correctly. If a district doesn’t have enough money to pay all its expenses, it could not reduce staff to save money. One must assume other reductions in expenditure would be the only option. Turn out the lights, shut off the water, skip buying any books, things like that.
One wonders just who dreams things like this up and with what background information? Surely someone up there knows that on average over 80% of any district’s budget is spent on personnel expenses. It’s a service business. People provide the service. People insist on being paid!
And rightly so. Even legislators. Though one also wonders if that isn’t a place where we could achieve some much needed savings at both state and federal levels. But that’s a subject for another day.
The bottom line is, your board must approve a 5 year forecast in about two weeks and your treasurer is painstakingly trying to guess it together with more uncertainties than the Kentucky Derby. And there are no winners.
I promise to be positive. I promise to be positive. I promise………

Decisions

No one awakens in the morning and actively wonders how they might mess up their day. How could they make poor decisions? How could they be part of worsening problems?
Yet most of us can look back at times when it appears that is exactly what happened. In our personal lives. In the lives of those we observe. Somebody wasn’t paying attention. At least it appeared so. The texting bus driver is a recent example. Giving money to GM or Chrysler may be others. That is yet to be determined.
It all comes down to the decisions we make. And those decisions are often based on what we consider good judgment based on our previous experience. More often those experiences are responsible for feelings we hold and our judgment is an outgrowth of those feelings. Reason often is put aside if it is considered at all.
The feelings prevail.
What do you think about public schooling versus private schooling? Your opinion is probably influenced by your feelings around what you think you know about the two systems, most having experienced only one.
Perhaps you are one who thinks private is better, knowing that those with financial ability tend to choose private when available. But what do you really know about the subject to make a good decision, money aside? Like me, probably not much.
Last week I met two youngsters who had been educated partly in private schools. They were then sent to public schools. They were jubilant in their recounting the benefits of public over private.
Band, choir, sports were highlights for them in the public schools. The socialization factor weighed heavily in their tales. Bottom line, they recognized what they referred to as, “More opportunities.”
Their parents, doubtless, believed they had made the right decision in sending them to private schools. And ultimately, another decision sent them to public schools. Which was probably a good decision as well. At least for these two students.
Recent figures indicate that over 120,000 students were transferred from private to public schools in the United States last year. Finances of the families played a major role in many of those decisions.
School boards too are faced with decisions based on finances. It seems a never-ending battle to make choices that impact the system because of a lack of funding. We are witnessing our state making education funding decisions in the face of economic constraints unlike any previous limitations. And in the state’s case, not only finances but politics play a major role. It’s not a pretty sight.
Given that circumstances change slowly over time and operations are ongoing how do boards best make decisions for schools? At the local level there are virtually no politics. At least none that are readily apparent. It all comes down to dollars and cents.
Of course there are decisions apart from financial that are important. When decisions involve personnel or sports the issues tend to get a lot of attention. When they involve policy or programming, much less so. There is less passion attached to academic programming than one might hope for.
From the outside it may appear boards have disobeyed the premise that began this piece. In fact, we do not get awake and try to figure out how to mess things up. There is at work a question with an overriding qualification that plays out in all our decisions.
Given all that we know and all that it is reasonably possible to know about any situation, the end of the day finds our decision based on just one thing. What’s best for kids?

We / They

A local businessman approached me at a social function last week. “Do you mind talking business for a minute?” He asked. Not at all I replied.
He related a conversation he had had with someone who spoke of the intention to build new schools in Marietta. There was total dismay, wonder and lack of belief in this person’s voice. She cited reasons for her concerns.
The economy is not good. People have lost jobs. Jobs are leaving the area. Student population is down. The population is aging, etc.
She finished with a comment that concerned him most and about which he wanted to speak. The comment was, “I just don’t know how they think they can get a bond issue passed to build those schools.”
My conversation with the friend took place Monday evening. Tuesday there was an election. Not a lot of things on the ballot to bring people out. In some places there were literally no issues at all.
But in some places there were very vital issues. Places like Warren School District and Switzerland of Ohio. Districts that, like Marietta, needed support. Needed new funds. Need new buildings. And, like us, have many of the same conditions relating to the economy and jobs.
The real concern is in the way she expressed herself on this issue. The use of the word ‘they’ is what got his attention. As though she was not one of they. As though it is someone else somewhere else who is undertaking to invest in the future of the schools in her district.
It is quite valid that your board and superintendent have not really begun to tell the story about what why and how to build new buildings for your district. The details from the state are still too sketchy to begin giving cost specifics on the construction side.
But those figures are coming together. It would be safe to say at this point the investment in new buildings for the average homeowner will be under one dollar per day per hundred thousand dollars of value. Just how much under awaits finer tuning of the total costs.
You may think of it in many ways. The hot chocolate I picked up at McDonalds Wednesday cost $3.20. The gasoline I purchased Monday cost $2.33 per gallon. The newspaper you are reading cost a dollar.
However you choose to view it the investment in education always pays dividends far beyond the price paid. Generations to come reap the benefits long beyond your immediate returns. It’s not just about the kids, it’s the grandkids and the great grandkids. And your community today.
There are reminders at nearly every board meeting about just how strongly our local citizens value education. Last month we accepted with appreciation a donation of $15,000 from the Phillips PTO for the purchase of smart boards.
While that was not enough to equip every classroom, it was a very big move in that direction. Some creative use of funds may yet add enough so that every room has one of these valuable learning tools.
It has not been long since Harmar School supporters completely rebuilt their playground at considerable expense. And the Athletic Boosters have donated many tens of thousands of dollars to replace the bleachers in Sutton Gymnasium.
These contributions and so many more show that it is not ‘they’ who are doing things but we. As a community we value education and support it by our actions. When the time is right and we understand the needs, ‘We’ seem to do the right things. Just like our neighbors.

Excellent

Sometimes you can look to your past to determine your future. Say what? How can that be?
Several months ago I had the pleasure of spending nearly two hours with a local business couple. I had asked about Frank Christy, a sports figure at Marietta High School in the late 1950s.
This couple has the yearbooks from many decades and knows the 50s very well. They were classmates with Mr. Christy. They had the stories and the memories to share and it was like stepping back in time.
Imagine taking your family up the hill to what is now the Middle School but was then the High School. It’s a Friday night and there is a football game. In Chillicothe.
In the parking lot at the top of the hill you gather with other local families and there are two squad cars from the Washington County Sheriffs Office. One of them will go to the foot of the hill to the stoplight. The other will remain at the top of the hill to be the last car to leave the lot.
At the appointed time the procession begins and the traffic leaves the hill headed for Chillicothe and a great night of football rivalry. A cruiser in front and one in back to guide the flock.
The procession never stops for a stop sign or red light the entire trip. Radio calls have local police positioned to protect the intersections and the procession goes right on through with their help.
I’m told this was not an isolated event. It happened often And it was not just a Marietta phenomenon. Other communities with great teams were accorded similar concessions. The pride in team and school ran deep. It was hard won, earned and respected. There was no Super Bowl but everyone knew who the best teams were.
That pride in team carried over into the classroom. An eagerness to learn was encouraged by enforcing strict adherence to academic achievement. And that eagerness spilled over to the non-athletes as well. There was a sense of pride in achievement. Of being associated with a winning team.
This story could just as well be told about the days when our marching band had 200 members. Or when our forensic team earned statewide recognition. Or many other individual distinctions that have come our way by excelling in one or another category.
Admittedly it takes a fortunate combination of able participants, talented and willing coaches/teachers and community support to achieve such stellar performance. Some of those components are determined more by chance than choice. But we can always look at our resources and determine what is important to us and how to make the most of our current assets.
While the subjects of new building possibilities, funding shortages and stimulus monies have been upper most on minds and in conversations lately, there have been ongoing efforts to craft a map that will give direction for the future of the district based on its current status in all categories.
Future boards and administrators will not have to guess what the community wants or needs. There will be a clear and precise agreed upon journey that can be referred to in making decisions. The direction will be known; though changeable if necessitated by outside forces. And always subject to improvement.
We may be a long way from having another team like the ones in the 50s. But we are only decisions and planning away from being excellent in the areas that are of value to us today. Finding and employing best methods and practice can take us there.

Buildings? Schools?

One of the first questions asked by potential new residents to a community concerns the schools. Where are they? How are they rated? How do students perform? What is the graduation rate? How many students go on to higher education? All valid. And all of interest to new residents.
Not surprisingly, these same questions are asked by new businesses. They know that any new employees they need from outside the area will be asking these questions and want good answers. Or they will not come here to assist in the business.
Second perhaps only to churches, schools are the community’s flagships and represent its values and principles. It behooves us to rate high in both categories.
Though the State of Ohio has been successful with the tobacco settlement money in building new schools around the state, it still remains up to the local community to provide the local share of any new construction project.
One of the measures the state uses to determine whether it will assist in building a new school or renovating and upgrading an existing school is the sixty-six percent rule. That is, if the cost to repair exceeds 66% of the cost to build new, the state will insist we build new or they will not participate in funding.
Many will remember that our buildings were evaluated some years ago as part of the state program to secure our place in the line of funding. At that time our community’s resources were examined and it was determined the state would pay 39% of the cost of any building project we would undertake. The other 61% would be up to us.
This past year we have had the buildings re-evaluated to address any interim changes. The state is locked in for their 39% share and it remains for us to commit to the future we envision as a community.
The results of the building evaluation are as follows. Harmar and Phillips would not qualify for any state funding assistance as they are located in the flood plane. The state will not invest any money in the flood plane.
The middle school, even though it underwent significant renovations in the early 90s, still needs sufficient new renovations and upgrades that the cost would exceed the 66% rule. Hence, the state will not participate in that funding.
Putnam School does not qualify under the 66% rule. Neither does Washington. The current high school is the only building that qualifies for upgrades and funding, but just barely.
Using state rules about classroom sizes, class sizes, square feet of space per our student population and other dictates, the proposal recommended is to construct a new K-4 grade school on the Colegate side of the current high school in the parking lot areas.
The current high school building would be renovated and upgraded to modern standards and become our 5th to 8th grade middle school. A new high school facility would be constructed in a place yet to be determined. There are two locations currently under consideration.
The construction phases would be sequenced to provide a minimum disruption to classes and at the same time expedite having our students in new buildings with updated technology and safety features as soon as possible.
More specifics should be available soon. In the meantime, if you have the opportunity to visit neighboring schools which have been newly constructed, do so. Have a look at what is happening in these new facilities that our students may soon enjoy. We hope to arrange for some of those visits. It’s worth the trip to see the differences.

Be Like The Other Kids

I don’t care what the other kids are wearing, it’s cold outside and you will wear your coat. Now put it on and get off to school.
Early lessons from parents often deal with the contrasts between what others do and what you are allowed to do. Yet like most lessons in life, there are exceptions.
Marietta is one of only three school districts that border the Ohio River between Stubenville and Portsmouth that have not built new schools in recent years. They have not chosen as yet to take advantage of the state funded participation in new buildings. Perhaps it’s time we consider doing what the rest have done.
As recently reported, all the permanent improvement monies spent to date from the levy passed two years ago have been spent conservatively with an eye toward larger goals. Further, our investments in property have been limited to maintaining responsibly what we have with a first obligation being safety of students and staff.
We will continue in this manner until we have an opportunity to tell the larger story about what our future can look like and obtain voter approval to move toward that future. That time is drawing ever closer.
We have recently received the results of the professionally done real estate appraisals of our buildings. Thank you, Mike McCarthy. Harmar $672,000. Putnam $137,500. Middle School, $2,000,000. North Hills, which was appraised a few years ago, $275,000
We have no appraisal as yet on Phillips or Washington at this time.
A curiosity in our properties is that the school system does not own the property on which Washington School stands. Technically it belongs to the city of Marietta. Which makes it a rather challenging property for any future owner and thus impacts its value.
The many other districts that have built new schools in recent years have had their own reasons for doing so. Those reasons probably parallel our reasons for considering such an ambitious but timely project.
Security always tops the list these days. Our current buildings do not lend themselves to the demands of modern security requirements. To retrofit the existing buildings to assure the level of security we should expect is prohibitively expensive.
Next comes the opportunity to take advantage of “free” money. Of course it is not free. It always comes from taxpayers. But this time we have a chance to get some of it back toward our local project. When that opportunity disappears, we will have to pay the entire bill ourselves.
Improved programming possibilities with new facilities will assist our learning process and make our resources more productive. There are many things we can do with new buildings that are not possible with such a widespread array of current facilities.
Operational savings figure in the overall equation. With our scattered buildings we cannot easily adjust class size. Having all our grade school classes under one roof would make an easy adjustment to allow for changing class sizes. One teacher more or less at a grade level could make a huge difference to a student’s educational experience. And provide system flexibility.
Further operational savings on a maintenance level are achievable as we focus on fewer buildings, fewer roofs, fewer everything, not to mention newer, which will have positive impact on repairs at least in the early years.
New buildings will allow us to have larger classrooms more suited to modern teaching methods, equipment and requirements and keep class sizes minimal. Current facilities were designed for needs that are now decades old. Our students deserve up to date facilities and programming.
Stay tuned. More to follow.

The Future Is In Your Hands

Preserve the Progress-Prepare for the Future. That’s the rallying call behind the effort to pass the 2.95 mill Permanent Improvement levy two years ago. And you did.
What have we done with your money? Good question. First let’s look at what we promised to do with your money.
We promised to buy buses, classroom equipment, computers, energy-efficient windows, handicap accessibility, heating systems, paving, playground equipment, restrooms, roofing, safety, security systems, technology and textbooks. Quite a list.
Next we need to share with you that of the 5 years of levy monies approved by the voters, we have only collected about one year’s worth so far. About one and a half million dollars.
The reason is that after the approval, we did not begin to get the money until the following tax year. So we only have receipts for 2008 and an advance on 2009.
If you go to the office and ask for the summary which Mr. Combs prepared for me you will see a pre-levy carry-over balance from previous years of $41,000 in the accounts. That is the money we set aside to go with the Athletic Booster’s generous contributions to pay for the new bleachers in the gym at the high school. Thank you very much Boosters! Total expenditures about $140,000.
Now to the levy money. Total receipts so far, (March 31, 09) $1,697,462.46. Total expenditures to date, $1,047,723.54. Leaving a balance unspent of $649,738.92.
What did you get for your money? Rounding to the nearest thousand dollars, though we have the figures to the penny, here it is.
Textbook replacement, $246,000. Technology, $224,000. Security, $110,000. Paving, $126,000. Roof repair, $44,000. Three buses, less state share, $201,000. Window repair and restoration, $21,000. Gym wall pads and covers, $9,000. Classroom furniture, $6,000. Custodial, maintenance and transportation equipment, $33,000. And here’s one that got my attention: County Auditor and Treasurer fees, $28,000.
It had escaped my attention before that we must pay the Auditor and Treasurer to calculate, collect and disburse our money from the taxes you pay. Someone has to pay those salaries, and it is us. Which is really you, but that’s another subject.
Sounds good on the surface. What didn’t you get that you were promised? Great question. We did not spend an estimated $400,000 to install elevators in Washington and Harmar schools. Since new buildings could possibly be in our future we felt this was an expense that could await further public approval of the future of the district.
We also chose to hire a local contractor to do some major work on the windows at Washington School to increase both safety and efficiency. We opted for this expense over spending nearly $400,000 that would not have returned the investment for over 30 years. Again, the future of the district needs to be clearer before an expense of that size can be justified.
We have also not spent any of the permanent improvement money on playgrounds. Though there have been many improvements thanks to PTOs and others. Our playgrounds overall are acceptable and safe. Our goal is a much grander improvement later.
Any money unspent from this levy can be used in the event you, the voters, approve the construction of new buildings. And we are getting much closer to being able to report the final numbers and recommendations from the state.
Yes, we have been saying we are getting close since October, but really, we are. They are running out of stall tactics and final figures will soon be available. Be prepared. The future of your schools will soon be in your hands.

Free Money. Blessing or curse?

With billions and trillions of dollars being discussed, budgeted, printed and spent it is no small wonder that some are giddy over the prospect of dollar windfalls raining from the sky into our district. It sounds like a done deal.
Not so fast. It would seem thus far that the additional funds to come to the Marietta City Schools are very much in question. In fact some of the money may be more curse than blessing.
How can that be? How, indeed, one wonders. It seems there are many opportunities along the way to alter the flow of funds coming from the federal government to local school districts. Governor Strickland’s proposed biennium budget actually shortstops the federal money in Columbus.
Most of us remember how the lottery was sold to the voting public. The promise was made that profits from the lottery would flow to education as an inducement to have the lottery concept approved. And we bought it.
But, there was a catch to the deal that was not widely publicized. It seems when all that money started showing up at the state from the lottery profits the legislators did as promised. They sent those dollars on to education. What they also did was stop sending dollars that had already been flowing to education and divert those funds to other projects.
In other words, the new lottery dollars displaced the old education dollars. Net gain? About zero. Put another way; no new money. We were cheated.
It’s about to happen again. This time the federal funds intended to serve impoverished students and students with special education needs are being thrown in to the education money pot in Columbus, pooling it with state money that will flow to schools. Any money will come with strings attached from both the state and federal governments.
At present we are among 230 districts whose new funds calculated by the proposed formula had to be capped to limit how much we will receive. We actually fall into a group with other districts that truly can be labeled wealthy under the new rules.
By contrast, Trimble Local in Athens County will receive no new funds the first year and actually lose 2% in the second year. Federal Hocking and Nelsonville-York are in similar condition with no hope under the new budget.
So what does that mean in Marietta? Great question. And as yet there is no reliable answer. The discussions continue in Columbus.
Original projections indicated we would receive about $1.1 million more than anticipated the first year and $1.2 million the second. But there’s a catch.
This is to be one time funding for some programs, covering only two years. We will have to be careful to only spend this money on short term programs. One wonders where the district would find the money to continue the services. So we will have to begin programs; run them for two years, then eliminate them.
There are actually more components contained in the Governor’s current budget proposal that could bankrupt districts.
One is a requirement to increase staffing in guidance departments. Another is to require a nurse be present in every building where students receive medications.
You recall this board took a knife to our budget last year to reduce spending. We trimmed programming and staffing to save money owing to finance shortages and projected deficits.
With personnel expenses at 83% of our total budget, Reduction in Force (RIF) is the most effective way to cut expenses. The Governor’s budget actually proposes eliminating RIF for financial reasons. What options does that leave for savings? Lights out!

We Must Get It Right

The Marietta High School National Honor Society recently inducted 37 new members into its ranks. Forty students will be recognized for Academic Excellence at a banquet this spring. Several students are recognized as National Merit Finalists. Truly an honor and testament to the quality of our students as well as our educators and our system.
It is nice to toot the horn and recognize academic excellence. Good to know we have so many who are working up to their potential. But why is that important?
From a YouTube video titled Did You Know comes the following information: if you are a great student with a bright future deserving of the classification “one in a million” there are 1,300 more just like you in China.
During the first five minutes of the National Honor Society induction there were 67 babies born in the United States. None born in the auditorium that I could tell. In China, during that same 5 minutes, 274 babies were born. And in India, during that same 5 minutes, indeed every 5 minutes, 395 babies are born.
Consider this; China will soon be the largest English speaking country in the world. If you count the top 25% of academic achievers in India, that number of students is larger than the total of all students in the U.S.
Overwhelmed yet? Today’s students soon will be. Our schools are preparing students today for jobs that do not yet exist. Jobs that will require technology that does not yet exist. And the top ten jobs with the most demand for employees in the next few years - - do not exist today.
The average worker in the future is projected to have 10 to 14 jobs by age 38. One out of every 8 couples who married in 2005 met on the internet. Times have changed. The pace quickens.
The internet social website MySpace has well over 200 million users. If they were all in one geographic location they would constitute the 8th largest country in the world.
The first commercial text message was sent in 1992. Today, there are more text messages sent every day than there are people on the planet. There were over 3,000 books published……today. Technical information doubles every two years. By 2010 it is predicted to double every 72 hours.
One can observe the increasing pace of development by observing that after the invention of the radio it took 38 years to reach 50 million listeners. Television came along and took only 13 years to be in 50 million households.
The internet, many years later, required 4 years to achieve the 50 million user penetration. And Steve Jobs’ Apple Computer innovation, the iPod was in the hands of 50 million users in only 3 years.
Finally, if you need further proof of the changing times and the challenges our students will face in their careers, think about this. Who among us has not executed a Google search? Today there were 2.7 billion Google searches. One wonders who was answering all those questions before the advent of Google.
It is absolutely imperative that we prepare our students for the world that awaits them with the very best technology, the latest teaching and learning techniques and the most creative thinking concepts available. We owe our students and taxpayers no less than to have the highest expectations of our system and its performance that we can obtain given our resources. And we must seek to expand our talents and resources at every opportunity. You can be sure that the rest of the world is striving toward the same end.

Science Olympiad and Bush Jumping

Paul Harvey died February 28. Along with him went a unique ability to appreciate and convey a sense of values that defined several generations of America. A Wall Street Journal eulogy specifically referenced his stories about “personal responsibility as opposed to individual license.”
When I learned last week of the Science Olympiad to be held Saturday, March 7 featuring the efforts of hundreds of Middle School students from many districts engaged in various scientific endeavors I determined to attend if only briefly. Here would be personal responsibility for learning exhibited on a large scale. Here too would be adults engaged in helping students expand their knowledge committing a full Saturday to the endeavor.
My effort was rewarded. There were robots in action; catapults launching items across distances; exercises in group cooperation to achieve stated goals and rockets being launched with cargoes of eggs to be delivered back to earth undamaged. I got a bit too close to that activity and Professor Anderson volunteered me. He put a stopwatch in my hand with instructions as to its use. Commandeered was more like it.
A joy to watch hundreds of students and adults all across the Marietta College campus engaged in constructive activity. Taking personal responsibility.
Contrast that with my experience later in the day when confronted by some unhappy folks who told me about their experiences with Middle School students who travel through their neighborhood at school day’s end. “You can hear them coming long before you see them. And what you hear is not fit language for anyone much less these youngsters. And the girls are as bad as the boys.”
The foul language reports were nothing new of youngsters that age. What struck me as alarming was the damage to property being inflicted on the neighborhood as the students were practicing their own version of the rocket experiment. These students were jumping into the air and landing on bushes and shrubbery to soften their fall. Fine for a safe landing, but destructive to the shrubbery. Students had also stolen a tricycle and engaged in bullying a smaller student in the neighborhood.
Requests to cease the behavior had been rebuffed with more bad language and intimidation. The police had been called on at least one occasion but with reluctance as the property owners feared retaliation with future behavior. They understood the concept of individual license that our society has granted in the name of free expression. Which sometimes trumps property rights.
I listened politely and sympathetically though with growing resentment that we have somehow failed to impart a sense of decency and self-respect to some of our students. Sadly it appears the absence of foreign language instruction at the middle school level has not stifled student’s abilities to speak in language foreign to their neighbors.
The day balanced out when I learned of the results of our science students. In individual events, we had five
1st places, five 2nd places, six 3rd places, six 4th places, three 5th places, and five 6th places. We placed in all but one event and qualified for the state competition in April. An impressive showing by all accounts.
Further good news of constructive activity came in the form of an announcement about the upcoming Academic Expo to be held March 17th at the Middle School. Over 200 students will compete for spots in the district level competition for National History Day to be held later at Marietta College. Hard to imagine these students would be engaged in property destruction tricycle theft, bullying and foul language. And now you know the rest of the story.

Special Ed Spending vs: Gifted Spending by Wendy Myers

Marietta City School Board recently met with Student Services Coordinator, Marcella Swaney and Special Education Supervisor, Maureen Sigafoos to learn about special needs programming. Our district has financial troubles, and we are concerned about funding excellent education in our future. According to the most recent fiscal year Special Education Fiscal Accountability Report provided by the State, nearly 22% of our General Fund Budget goes towards special needs programming, and slightly more than 1% goes toward gifted programming.

Special education was mandated by the federal government in 1975 with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Currently, the program assists children with a variety of diagnoses, including speech & language impairment, autism, learning disability, emotional disturbance, cognitive delay, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, traumatic brain injury and vision impairment.

Unlike special education, there is no federal mandate to provide gifted education. In Ohio, students are identified as gifted by categories, such as superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability, creative thinking ability and visual or performing arts ability. Specific gifted education plans are left to the districts and their resources.

This week, an opinion article in Newsweek, highlighted the dichotomy that faces school districts. Stephanie Lindsey, a mother who lives in Ohio, writes about the experience of sending her two children to school. Her son (8) has autism, and her daughter (12) is gifted. Her son receives individual attention with a specialist constantly by his side. Her daughter, by contrast, is bored with school; some of the only “gifted” instruction she receives is independent work. As Lindsey notes, in 2008 the No Child Left Behind Act allocated $24.5 billion to special education programs, while only $7.5 million was allocated in federal grants by the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program.

Currently our district serves 542 students with special needs. These children range from ages 3 through 21 as specified by law. Children enter our education system at the age of three through referrals by Help Me Grow, preschools and other sources. Ms. Swaney and Ms. Sigafoos walked us through the process for each child from referral to evaluation to Individual Education Plan. (IEP) Extensive reporting is required in order for our district to receive funding to help defray costs for therapists, aides, supplies, and qualified teachers. Unfortunately, the funding we receive falls far short of the amount needed to provide the services necessary for each child.

One type of testing in our district has identified 736 students, K-12 as gifted, and of these students, currently 63 are being served with gifted programming. Recently the school board learned about national certification of our Project Lead the Way, an innovative program that encourages high school students to learn more about the field of engineering. We also approved a high school curriculum with Advanced Placement classes. Neither of these programs are federal mandates, but we feel strongly that our job is to help all students in our district to excel.

Ms. Swaney and Ms. Sigafoos, helped us learn about the complicated special education system, and we developed a huge respect for our instructors, aides and administrators who navigate this system and provide excellent care and education to students with special needs. Every parent wants the best for his or her child. As a district we must strive to help every child reach his or her potential. In the next few months, the school board looks forward to finalization of Governor Strickland’s education proposal, and we fervently hope our funding will be increased to allow us to not only fund special education adequately, but to help provide better services to our gifted students as well.

Finance reform. Still confusing.

Perhaps you would enjoy coming to a school board meeting. Perhaps you would enjoy learning to speak Sanskrit.
That’s how some of us felt when Treasurer Dave Combs began to address the new state funding formula last Monday. All we know at this point is that supposedly we will be receiving more money the next two years than forecasted.
We are a long way from cashing those checks. A brief example cited will serve to share our bewilderment.
The current formula has various components based on each district’s specific details of those components. For instance; if one of the components is reimbursement for special education expenses in a certain category and based on the number of students we have in that category, it might be that the formula calls for us to receive $32,000 for that student.
If, however, the state is experiencing a budget difficulty, they may adjust the funding to give us only $26,000 for that student. Further, if owing to special circumstances related to the student’s needs and the availability and cost of the services we in fact experience a cost of $40,000, there may be yet another piece of the formula that calls for us to be reimbursed for “catastrophic expense” the difference between the $32,000 recognized and the $40,000 experienced. $8,000.
However, if again, the state is short of funds, we may only receive a few hundred dollars of the excess $8,000 that we paid in expenses. We are totally at the mercy of the state and their funding formula adjustments.
We have had and continue to have students whose educational cost to the district is in excess of $40,000. We continue to absorb those costs not reimbursed.
Herein lies our current mystery. Although we know there are 39 components to the new formula the old formula is totally scrapped, we do not know the details of the components, much less do we know the adjustments to those components for our district. That, as they say, is still a subject that is being “tweaked.”
There were a few non-regular attendees at last week’s board meeting. I made a point of asking one why he was in attendance. His only comment was to observe the total mystery surrounding the discussion of finances. In spite of many sessions with Mr. Combs on this subject I had to concur that this day’s discussion left me bewildered as well.
But take heart, there will come a day of reckoning when the dark curtain of the new funding formula will be removed and the components will be in plain view just as they are now for the current formula. One can but hope all the “tweaking” will produce a result that permits us to expand our services to all students and enhance the educational product of the Marietta City Schools.
The most enjoyable and encouraging piece of the meeting was the discussion of the Project Lead The Way program. This well attended and in demand engineering program is currently being taught at the high school with plans to begin that program in the middle school in the future. The objective is to interest more students in the engineering studies and get them on the path to a lifetime career in those fields.
Our Project Lead the Way program is now nationally credentialed and students can enter many colleges with up to 15 hours of college course work to their credit.
Instructor Steve Foutty confessed that the course work challenges him at times. Further, his students are happy to help him at those times. I wonder if they speak Sanskrit.

Who's got the money? Will we get any?

Money, money, money. Scary. Seems all we hear about is talk of money. Mostly from the federal government, but then some flowing to the states, maybe to your local schools. The logical question to ask is whether we will receive any school money locally.
The answer is: What time is it? For it seems the possible answers change with the clock. Each hour brings new speculation about what is included, who will be the recipients, and how much.
The answer for Marietta City Schools (MCS) at the moment is we don’t know. And we don’t expect to know for some time. And we will not incorporate unknown funds in our forecasts. We do not buy lottery tickets.
Recent local news showed anticipated state revenues for many area districts over the next two-year period. Frankly, it looked like rather good news for MCS with a boost in expected revenues of over a million dollars each year.
Other districts appeared not to have fared so well. Again, we are at a loss to know just why though we can offer up a partial speculation.
The previous formula used to calculate each district’s funding from the state ran to 24 pages. All of the many factors taken into account took a total of those 24 pages to explain and compute. The new formula is, at this point, unknown to us. The 39 line items could run to 50 or 60 pages.
It is quite possible that since MCS voluntarily paid for the all day Kindergarten program the past two years that we would be given some recognition in the formula for having provided that service. Districts who have not funded it themselves but, owing to the previous formula received state funding, would not now receive yet more funding. Hence, that piece of their share would remain the same while we receive a raise.
It is also possible that since we have by far the most special education students in the area and provide extensive programming that an adjustment may be made. It is a given we cannot use any new money to pay for existing programs. Currently mandated programs already strap our budget.
It is impossible to predict what amount of funds will ultimately flow our way. Only time will tell. Here are some important things for you to know.
At the regular monthly board meeting, Treasurer David Combs reviews our current finances and notes any changes, adjustments or exceptions that have arisen since the previous month. Usually they are quite small and often predictable. Our sources and uses of funds change very little over the course of a year. That is, unless the state happens to make a significant adjustment by surprise. Which has happened.
Twice each year we are required to file a five-year “projection” of our funding and expenditures. This happens in May and October. Again, coming so closely upon each other, there are few surprises. But it’s a good time to review the future and make adjustments in our expenditures, as we have virtually no control over our receipts.
With over 83% of our spending flowing to wages, salaries and benefits and nearly all of that being directed by contract, it leaves little room find savings without cutting programs. Add to those expenses the unfunded mandates and the room for adjustment is even smaller.
Finally, as we all received our property tax bills recently, ponder this. A couple percent reduction in the number of people who pay their taxes on time can have a six figure negative impact on our cash flow for the next six months. Frightens us too.

It's a three to two world in some places.

Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) is an organization founded in 1955 to serve the needs of Ohio’s school board members. Headquartered in Columbus, it provides a wide range of professional services and training throughout the year.
A recent training for school board presidents produced many insights into the operations of other boards and the problems that arise when the big picture is not kept in mind.
The big picture, of course, is ‘what’s best for all students, the whole district and will serve us well ten years down the road?’ A tall order, but one which board members should keep in mind when making decisions and formulating policy.
One of those present at the training had a number of questions of the instructors. His questions were introduced by explaining that his was a three two board. That is, no matter what the issue or question, his board was always going to vote three to two.
The division of personality and vision was so distinct that he said if they were to vote on whether the sun had come up or not, the vote would be three to two. One can only imagine how difficult it is to get things done and move forward in that district.
Another member of the class had a different situation. A newly elected board member declared to the rest of the board that if they would vote to help him get rid of the superintendent and the golf coach, his vote was available for anything else they wanted. Obviously a strong agenda on this member’s part and not a positive one.
Then came the story from another board president who described a three to two split board that lost a member of the group of three to a job transfer. Four citizens applied to be appointed to fill the position.
It became apparent in the interviews that two of the applicants would side with one side of the board, and the other two applicants would side with the other side of the board.
Not being able to agree on anything, the remaining four members failed to appoint a successor to the departed member and it fell to the Probate Court Judge to make the appointment. The judge picked one of the applicants who, according to this board president, “Went to the dark side.”
After a few months of the new member working with the group of three and seeing their agenda and intent, she switched sides and the three to two split reversed itself.
Boards are made up of folks with a wide range of personalities, backgrounds and experiences. Which is a healthy and valuable resource in a school board.
Boards become non-productive, sometimes even dangerous if there are members with an agenda or purpose that does not serve the long range best interests of the community and the school system.
As I listened to these stories I found myself counting the fortunes of our Marietta City Schools board. Not only do we have a wide range of talent and experience, we are blessed to not have any private agendas being served. All are there to best serve the needs of the district.
We were further blessed when we had a vacancy last year to have eight citizens who stepped forward with great experience, background and intent to serve the district well. This apparently is not the case universally.
One board president in attendance had an even tougher story to tell. His board was always split four to one. And he was the lone voter. Perhaps two of his members will be transferred.

Dang It, Snow Again. There Goes Spring Break.

Two hour delay. Snow day. We’re losing spring break days. Where will it end? When I was a kid they didn’t close schools until the snow was up to my knees.
We lost four days in a row last week. We’ve had several 2 hour delays and at least one 1 hour delay. A letter sent to me offers some alternatives.
One suggestion was to establish a snow route bus schedule with many fewer stops. Say, Putnam School and the Hasty Shopper to cover all of Devola. It’s up to Little Johnny to get to one of these two stops.
Which works fine for all those who can make it, but would result in unusually high absences for those who could not make it. But the writer has a solution for that.
If Little Mary lives way out, or is unable to make it to one of the appointed stops, and 80 or 90 percent of students can get to school, let’s have class. Then the administration and teachers could work with the Little Marys when they do return to get the missed work and make up important tests.
This sounds good until one ponders the teacher’s dilemma when the absent students return and now he/she must work at two or more levels depending on how many students missed what lessons and what to do with those who were in attendance and are ready to move on. Educator’s nightmare.
The writer then criticizes delays as being a dodge to avoid using one of the allotted calamity days. Here again, failing to take the bigger picture into consideration.
Those delays allow road crews to get out and work on dangerous areas. They give sun and traffic time to soften up the ice and snow and make it safer for later traffic. And they allow us to have classes without missing the total day when it is just the early travel that may have been dangerous.
Ironically, the letter arrived the day before a bus was hit head on by a truck sliding on ice and crossing the center line. Fortunately, it appears no serious injuries resulted.
On that day a one hour delay was in effect. Had it been a two hour delay, perhaps that icy patch would have been worn off or sanded and salted into oblivion. I would suggest the truck might not have been there but the driver was a student with a one hour delay. Perhaps a two hour delay would just have put the two vehicles in the same place an hour later.
The author offered that it’s a tough world out there, and we should provide some adversity and commitment training by having school every day except in the very worst of weather. He began his views by admonishing me to not “hide behind the school bus safety excuse”.
On the heels of the accident, I’m opting for safety over boldness every time. As will Superintendent, Mr. Young, who once worked in a district where they didn’t consider closings until the snow was 11 inches deep. But they had the equipment to handle it up to that point. We do not. And the crews servicing the roads locally are getting a later start and have less sand and salt owing to both budget and supply shortfalls.
The writer fails to address the liability issues created if we get more aggressive while surrounding districts remain cautious and then we have an accident. Should we not have known it was dangerous? Won’t look good in court. Come to think of it, I had shorter knees back then.

Time for action. Done with Tinkering.

By now you have read or heard about Governor Strickland’s State of the State report. Some further information may be of interest to you as you digest and reflect on the contents of the Governor’s message.
The following is quoted directly from a memo from the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, CORAS (www.coras.org). “Ohio schools should have a freer hand awarding tenure to good teachers and firing bad ones, a report by the Ohio Grantmakers Forum, a philanthropic coalition, said Thursday in recommendations to the governor and Legislature. The forum also recommends eliminating Ohio's standardized high school graduation tests and suggests replacing them with other ways to gauge critical-thinking skills and readiness for college and work.
The report was developed by 43 people from 33 organizations interested in education issues, including the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the Ohio Education Association, the Ohio Department of Education (OEA) and the Ohio School Boards Association. The recommendations were endorsed by the forum's board, but not every organization with a participant backed all proposals, according to a news report. OEA said it found common ground with many of the proposals but backed the state's current teacher tenure and dismissal standards.”
The report itself is titled, Beyond Tinkering: Creating Real Opportunities for Today's Learners and for Generations of Ohioans to Come. You may read it at: www.ohiograntmakersforum.org. Here are the three broad recommendations. See what you think.
1. A bold plan for accelerating the pace of innovation-for restructuring the traditional, industrial model of teaching and learning and for addressing the lowest-performing schools in our state-is needed to keep pace with the demands of the 21st century.
2. Bold action is required to refine Ohio’s academic standards and restructure the state’s assessment system. The state standards need to be revised to articulate what we expect all students to know and be able to do so they are ready to compete in the increasingly global labor market, can live and thrive in a diverse society and can participate as informed members of our democracy. And we need to move to a more balanced assessment system that allows students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities in different ways, informs teaching strategies and improves learning and provides a complete picture of how schools are doing against a consistent set of expectations.
3. Bold steps are needed to ensure that we have the very best teachers and principals working in all of our classrooms and schools for the benefit of all of our students, especially minority and low-income students who traditionally have been underserved.
Three “bold” recommendations to the General Assembly, the Governor and members of the State Board of Education. All coming before the Governor’s address, but on the heels of two years of relative inaction on the education issue which was a main campaign promise.
Note, too, the title of the report and how it warns that we need to be “Beyond Tinkering.” The issue is far too important to Ohio now and in the future.
In the same memo from CORAS, the following comment: “On a related note, House Speaker Armond Budish told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that inequalities that plague Ohio's public schools can be reduced by using multimedia technology to bring high-quality courses from wealthier school districts into the poorest ones. While not the definitive solution to the state's school-funding problem, long-distance learning programs are a cost-effective way to chip away at disparities, the Speaker said.”
Ohio’s school funding system has been unconstitutional since March 24, 1997. It’s time to do more than “chip away” at the problem. Does the Governor’s plan do that?

EMIS. It ain't free.

Dad often says, “You go to school to find out what you don’t know.” Fellow board member Wendy Myers and I went to school for a couple hours a few weeks ago and found out what we didn’t know. And then we tried to learn about it.
EMIS. Education Management Information Systems. Sounds like a good idea. Having a system. Getting information. About education. Not so fast.
Turns out there are only 6 people in the county who have the job of operating this system and reporting the information to the state. One in each district. Talk about a lonely profession.
They have help. Principals at every school provide some of the data. Teachers, of course send data to the front offices of the schools, and the bulk of the work at the school level is done by the school secretary.
An informal survey was conducted in our district and it was discovered that there are 12 people involved in the process of providing and processing this information on a weekly basis. All together about 35 hours per week. Nearly the total time of one full time employee. Which does not count the one nearly full time employee who processes and sends the data to the state.
We do get reimbursed for this work. But it’s a lot of time when you consider it has nothing to do with providing education, only reporting to the state.
There are overlapping non-consecutive reporting periods each year. Each period requires the submission of different information covering many aspects of the education process. Here are the names of the periods.
October (K), February (C), December (M), March (D), Yearend (N), Graduation (G), July (H), Five Year Forecast (P). No one knows why the periods have those names and letters. It’s a mystery.
To further confuse the process, each reporting period has a beginning and ending data processing date and it changes from year to year. Further, much of the data does not roll over from year to year even if there are no changes.
To add insult to injury, a recent reporting requirement from the state carried a deadline date that came before the forms and processes to submit the data were available from the state. We were admonished for not having reported the information in timely fashion even though it was they who kept us from performing.
The names of the records involved in filing these reports fill nine pages of lists of the elements contained in each record. Huh? Try this. The Student Demographic Record contains 8 different categories. From birth date to Native Language and Gender.
The Student Standing Record has 30 different pieces of data related to a student. An identification number, of course, followed by such things as what building they are in, why and how they came into the district, Unexcused absences and whether they were in attendance during the February and October count week. During any year about 400 of our nearly 3,000 students move in or out of the district.
Other reporting categories cover staff and their various employment and certification details, course offerings and the qualifications of those presenting the material. All reasonable sounding things, and it all takes an incredible amount of staff time to comply.
Those interested in learning more may go to www.ode.state.oh.us , then DATA, then EMIS. Here you will find nearly everything you might want to know about your schools.
Oh yes, I mentioned the reimbursement we get for doing all this. $11,000 per year. That should cover it. Dad never mentioned there are things you don’t know that you don’t want to know.