Joe,
RE: The Maintenance of Effort post this afternoon.
Mr. Pollitt’s request to be relieved from meeting the MOE standard speaks volumes.
It meant that he wanted permission from the MD BOE to provide local funding to the schools which would fall short of this soft requirement. MOE is a carrot attached to a stick….if a local board won’t pony up at the MOE level, then certain state funds won’t be provided to the school district, creating a double whammy of the local ‘shortfall’ plus the state ‘holdback’. Since the resulting combined ‘loss of revenue’ to the schools could readily be linked to the actions of the local County Executive or County Council who withheld the MOE funds it’s a spotlight most elected officials don’t want to have shining on them.
I’m doubtful Dr. Fredricksen would have taken a position in Annapolis that was not in sync with the BOE he reports to, which coincidentally Pollitt belonged to for the better part of a decade.
I don’t think a food fight is desirable over this topic, but I believe in this case the appointed official is a far better qualified and talented manager than the elected one.
Wicomico County would be foolish not to ‘man up’ to the MOE standard because the funds are really needed due to the increase in FARM kids (free lunches, and like programs). These are not local concoctions, but the district has to meet specs. By no means do I equate turning on the money hose as an answer, but if the County won’t keep pace in its funding then the district will 'lose' from two directions.
The folks who put these provisions in place were, it seems to me, both pragmatic and crafty. They understood the need for school systems to have some funding consistency as opposed to an oscillating budget driven by political winds and whims.
The Revenue Cap continues to be useful and practical; it’s the only working taxpayer-friendly constraint on the spendthrifts at the GOB.
Have a fine weekend,
Wirewheel
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
12 comments:
What do you mean"FARM KIDS", what I think you mean.
Free and reduced meals...the amount of children qualifying for this is steadily increasing.
Joe:
If Pollitt does not get that MOE waiver, it's time to take the persons responsible for the tax cap -- Phil Tilghman and Matt Creamer -- to task.
We will know about that waiver by this time next week.
Under the requirements of Maryland Education Article §5-202, Annotated Code of Maryland, county governments must prove that the county’s fiscal condition “significantly impedes” the county’s ability to fund MOE.
The State Board of Education by May 15, 2009, is required by law to issue a decision granting or denying the waiver request.
Joe...
Most counties put in for the waiver but all but 3 pulled out.
Let's put this into perspective. If the BOE does not get MOE, that means the BOE does not get almost 6 million dollars on new funding. Plus the CC can then ask the BOE to cut their budget even further...most talks think another 10%.
Is the public ready for over 10 million in cuts. If so, I hope the BOE makes a point and hits programs across the board. Sports, field trips, class sizes increasing, etc.
How do you like the revenue cap now?
to 8:45
I love the revenue cap! Anything it takes to reign in the free spending ways of the board of ed without any accountability. quit playing the harp strings that it will affect the kids!! boo hoo. go ahead, cut the trips, make classes bigger. MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR A CHANGE, THATS ALL WE ASK BEFORE WE GIVE THEM A BLANK CHECK. GET IT??????
Wicomico County schools also have the most students classified as homeless in the State of Maryland. Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) is used as a way to measure the amount of students living in poverty. Some schools in Wicomico have close to 90% of its students qualify as FARM. These kids need a lot of help and it takes money to provide an education to these kids who are so needy in many areas.
Well spoken 9:58!!!!!!!!!! You appear to have great knowledge, that's more then can be said for a lot of others!!1
10:58 Come teach with 35 kids in a class, of which 5 have emotional problems 5 are special ed, 10 are repeat behavior problems. Lot of learning going on there. Research shows small class sizes are best. We are accountable every day. Walk in my shoes for a week in a classroom. You would have a new respect for the teaching profession!! Everyone always slams teachers. How about slamming the state board of ed who likes to put the gun to your head if you suspend to many kids who wont behave. They want to hang you if your test scores are not up to par. I along with every other teacher pays taxes too, so its not a blank check for us. We feel it too. The only difference is we understand the alternative if things arent funded.
9:58...
You will be the same one to B#t@c and complain that your johnny can play football now or has to pay to play because the BOE doesn't have sports anymore or that he can't learn because of the 35 kids in his class.
WHEN that happens, keep you mouth shut and than good ole Donny Coffin!
Oh...any by the way...no MOE...there WILL be cuts in the WCSO...haven't heard from Mike yet on that one!
10:25 I agree with you in one respect. The State BOE puts an overbearing burden on local BOE's. Having had conversation with a member of the local board, I learned that the ability to suspend kids who are disruptive in class revolves around whether or not the kids have learning disabilities. Then I learn that a learning disability can be defines as a child who acts out in class, such as cursing at a teacher and who comes from a single parent home. I further learn that over 80% of the kids who fit into this category are of one specific race and that these "standards" are set by the State of Maryland - not by the local BOE.
I learned that if these "standards" aren't strictly followed, the State board will step in and dictate how state funds are to be spent.
I'm making this point to show that even though these hideous standards are set by the state, the local BOE's bow down to them in order to obtain the almighty dollar. We become dependent on this money, then when it is taken away we find ourselves in a quandry. This is yet another example of increasing government regulation that continues to grow the financial obligation of it's citizens. This should be a wake up call to the State of Maryland. Any new regulations are regulations that will not be satisfied if they depend on increased burden to the taxpayer on the local level. I, for one, am sick and tired of being bent over a barrel every year in the name of "the children".
Anon 10:25 - That's where the money should go IN THE CLASSROOM. Too much fat at the Board and positions should be cut. One person can do what two are doing now. But they never get rid of anybody they just find them a "new" position
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