Need to cut costs in our school system

In response to current conditions, the Fieldcrest School Board last week indicated that it will probably seek to pass a referendum to increase taxes in order to fund the current education funding crisis. Judging from the sentimentality in this area, it is my opinion that a referendum will not pass. That leaves two options. The state must seek additional ways to fund education through either an income tax or sales tax on certain items to increase the education fund without soaking the property owners any more. We cannot hope for that to happen very soon. The second thing that must be done is for each school district in this state to do a cost analysis of its overall operations to determine where cuts can be made to reduce expenses.

The whole country experienced good times during the 90's and when times are good, costs are not controlled like they probably should be. That is true in corporate American as much as in our education system. When times are not good, corporations have to cut expenses or trim the fat. That should apply to school systems as well. As a property owner who has paid taxes to the school system for 30 years and whose property taxes have doubled in the last eight years, I feel that I am a stockholder in the school system, and I demand an accounting of expenses before I agree to provide more money. School districts are not a profit making organization and do not have the same pressure to keep costs down like a private corporation. Therefore, periodically it is necessary to cut the fat.

Fieldcrest is not in a rich area like schools in the larger communities. Whether we like it or not we cannot afford all of the things they offer in the big schools. So where do we start cutting? Already this website has received a letter suggesting that the school consider hiring out janitorial services, leasing buses, reducing cheerleaders, etc. I see an awful lot of half empty buses. I know the school district didn't have school pickup trucks and vans years ago. Why do we need them now?

I feel that education is more important than sports and, therefore, the school should consider cutting back on some of the sports programs.

Let me start with the most ridiculous example - bussing kids to the bowling alley for bowling lessons. You learn bowling on your own, not on school time. The same goes for some other sports. I am a golfer but I feel that golf should be something that you learn outside of school. Go to a golf pro and learn it right rather than learning from someone who probably can't break 90. It costs money to bus kids to and from the golf course on school time.

Another way to cut costs is to make those who play pay. In some schools, if a student participates in an athletic program, the student's family must pay an extra-curricular fee. The fee would be based on ability to pay in which less affluent families would be assessed less.

It is my opinion that education must come first above everything else, including athletics. Those who feel that our athletic program has been important to our students must be reminded that I have over 300 trophies from the past sitting in the old OddFellows building that I cannot give away even though they are advertised on this website.

Other areas to look at are class sizes and the number of teacher's aides. I realize that teacher's aides do provide support but we didn't have them 30 years ago. Do we need them now? Are class sizes above normal or below normal? How much do we spend on subsitute teachers? I know that an awful lot of use is made of substitute teachers. How many times are teacher absenses really necessary?

Now may be the time to consider having school twelve months of the year to make more efficient use of the school's facilities and of its staff. Utility bills and maintenance goes on year round, why not school?

The last thing I want to discuss is the current decision for the school board to spend $250,000 to put in an elevator for a handicapped student at Fieldcrest middle-east. I have been told that about $160,000 of this money will be used for the elevator and the rest for renovations to enable the support of the elevator. I do know that this is an unfunded state mandate which puts the school between a rock and a hard place. The school has the option to pay for the student to be transported and educated at a place that can handle his disabilities at a far less cost if the family of the student would agree. However, the family can insist that the school provide accessabilty at the local school. This student may eventually attend Fieldcrest High School which would necessitate another elevator expense. There has to be a solution other than spending potentially $500,000 to provide accessability for one student.

I encourage everyone to express your thoughts and comments on the school funding crisis to this website. It is your tax dollars that are being spent and this is your opportunity to make your voice heard on how you feel about the current school funding crisis.