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| Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash |
Hope you are enjoying a wonder Friday despite the less than ideal weather. Today, I just want to share something that is really bugging me. It is that time of year where Mr. Kell, school business administrator, and I are deep into the budget process for next year. What this means for MPS (at least as it has been for the last 8 years that I have had the pleasure of leading) is we anticipate that the State Financial Aid will remain flat – same as the year before. Each year, for the past 8 years, we have seen flat funding – with the exception of last school year where we received flat funding initially, then the State took an additional $860,000 after our budget was prepared and approved. Yes, that happened but I will get back to that in a minute. First, let me spend a little time on what flat funding means for us.
Our annual operating budget is just a bit above a hundred million dollars. Of that, approximately $10 million is provided by the local taxpayers. Easy math, over $90 million comes in the form of State Financial Aid (Federal Aid as well). Within our budget, some 70% is dedicated to 1200 or so employees and their medical benefits. The remaining 30% is used for things like technology, infrastructure, facility care, supplies, athletics and such. Each year, modest salary increases and increases to the cost of health benefits around 2 or 3% results in about an addition 2-3 million dollars. Again, pull out the old calculator and you can see that flat funding coupled with increases in labor costs (regardless of how modest) results in a 2 to 3 million dollar shortfall. Factor in the cost of operations also increasing this deficit can grow. Under the current State guidelines, the District is permitted to raise local taxes by 2% annually without the need for a public vote. This 2% provides an additional $250,000 annually, give or take. Certainly not anywhere near enough to cover the shortfall that exists when flat funding is provided.
A bit of history lesson for those who are not fully aware… The MPS District is a ‘former Abbott’ School District. Abbott districts are school districts in New Jersey once covered by a series of New Jersey Supreme Court rulings, begun in 1985,[7] that found that the education provided to school children in poor communities was inadequate and unconstitutional and mandated that state funding for these districts be equal to that spent in the wealthiest districts in the state.
The Court in Abbott II[8] and in subsequent rulings,[9] ordered the State to assure that these children receive an adequate education through implementation of certain reforms, including standards-based education supported by parity funding. It include various supplemental programs and school facilities improvements, including to Head Start and early education programs. The Head Start and NAACP were represented by Maxim Thorne as amici curiae in the case.[10] (Source: Wikipedia)
The part of the state constitution that is the basis of the Abbott decisions requires that:
- [t]he Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years.[11]
- The Abbott designation was formally eliminated in the School Funding Reform Act of 2008, but the designation and special aid were restored in 2011 when the NJ Supreme Court blocked the Christie Administration from making any aid cuts to the Abbott districts while allowing cuts to other districts.[12]
- There is limited evidence that the legal actions have improved student learning outcomes in the Abbott districts.[13] (Source: Wikipedia)
Important to address that last bit of information. While the overall research does not show significant improvement in Abbott performance as a result of the funding, our District was cited among a few former Abbott Districts that have made significant improvement (source – Governor Chris Christie’s 2017 Budget Address). Also important to note is that improved student learning outcomes is still comparing the Abbott performance to that of the wealthiest districts. I maintain that the funding simply provides the Abbott District with the basic resource to create a comprehensive budget. Student outcomes among students of poverty must be reviewed against other students of poverty – not as the State does it as they say low socio-economics play no role in student achievement. From someone who has spent his 20 year career in districts in the lower tier of socio-economic status it does make a difference. Growing up in poverty is filled with challenges that the wealthy student never has to consider. Hunger…clean clothing…supplies and resources at home to assist in the education development of the child. There are countless studies that identify the differences, for example students of poverty begin school with a vocabulary that is 2-4 thousand words short of their middle-class classmate.
Now, during the time we were Abbott, we were NOT permitted to raise local taxes at all. For obvious reasons, the State was subsidizing the Abbott Communities to ensure fair funding. So while an Abbott, the local share was frozen. Fast forward to last year when the State decided to take additional money from our budget after it was already board approved. There were 27 Districts total in NJ that had additional money taken from their budgets; in 2018 twenty-four of them received that money back while 3 received their money back in the form of a loan from the State. A loan, for money that was once part of our budget. In fairness, they are not charging interest (that we are aware) but we do have to pay the nearly nine hundred thousand dollars back over the next ten years.
The only reason we have been provided is that it is because our community does not pay its fair share in local taxes! If you have been able to stick with me through this you are probably scratching your head asking huh? MPS was identified by NJ as one of the Abbott Districts, low socio-economic status…and during that time we could not raise local taxes under their rules….and now that Abbott has been removed not by our choice (how that happened is still a mystery as the finding of the court that initially created it has not changed or been overturned to my knowledge)…we are being punished because the local taxes are not high enough?
So year after year, we come together and tighten the belts. We do more with less. We were forced to close an elementary school last year…all to attempt to make flat funding work somehow. For 8 plus years I have been warning the State and anyone who would listen in my budget address that at some point in the future, we simply will not be able to cut any further and still meet the never decreasing demands placed upon NJ School Districts (with countless unfunded mandates). I fear that time may be close.
I remain hopeful that with the new Governor as well as an education commissioner who was a superintendent in a former Abbott District perhaps something will change for the better. I hear all the time about the importance of the ‘children’…now more than ever. The students need to be safe, they need to receive an exceptional education, become college and career ready, we must provide support services to identify signs of mental illness, provide federally mandated special education programs to help our large special needs population (something for which I support 100% - but the reality is it is expensive to provide a full host of services), we must have the latest technology…we must have the best staff…(which we do) but we are not going to provide you with the funding necessary to do that this year. Instead, make do with what we gave you 8 years ago. I am sure the bills in your house have remained the same as they were 8-10 years back right?
Normally, I want the Phenomenal Friday to strictly be positive; to celebrate our staff. However, this is an issue negatively impacting all of us and for that reason, it must be shared. I believe with my entire being that public education is and always has been the best opportunity to give kids a shot at a bright future. MPS District has some of the best staff members anywhere! We must demand that every community, from the wealthiest to the poorest has what they need to provide an exceptional education. We cannot accept that if your parents are fortunate to be able to live in the wealthiest communities you are granted a full and complete set of resources. If however, you are not, well you just have to make do with what you were given more than a decade ago. I was the first to go to college in my family. My parents both worked extremely hard and made education a priority. Fortunately for me, I attended the MPS District at a different time when funding was not the issue it is today. I am an example of how with hard work you can accomplish your dreams. We must make sure that every student in our community has the same chance! We must provide our world-class staff with the resources of a world-class school district.
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| Photo by Rene Bernal on Unsplash |
"Over the last couple of faculty meetings we have been discussing PLC's all the while diving deep into our student data. During a recent unannounced visit to their 5th Grade Language Arts PLC Mrs. Silvestri and Mrs. Tapp were using the data that was provided to them to target specific areas in their instruction and plan intervention strategies to help their students meet their targets. This meeting exemplified what a PLC ought to be. Outstanding Stuff!!"
"The job of a Principal's secretary is not an easy one, especially for my secretary. I get pulled, twisted, and stretched in what feels like a million different directions across the day. Tammy Haley keeps me grounded and focused; she helps make the unmanageable, manageable. What makes her even more remarkable is that I am pretty sure she does this for almost everyone else in the building as well. Thank you for all that you do!!"
~Eric Reissek, Principal
"Congrats to Mike Jones for earning his 100th career win as the Head Coach for the Millville High School Boys Basketball Team this past week. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication to the program!"
~ Dave LaGamba, Supervisor
"Barb Kern is an amazing Social Studies and AVID teacher In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is very dedicated to the Lakeside Student Council. She provides opportunities for the kids to become engaged with the community through service projects. She assists with many activities throughout the school and ensures that kids are recognized for their hard work!"
"Robbie Williams is a positive force in the climate and culture of Lakeside Middle School. He is an innovative Social Studies teacher who is always willing to take risks for his students. He is a mentor to first year teacher, Cody Hand. In addition to his teaching, Robbie is the Co-Athletic Director and Head Wrestling Coach. He coordinates fundraising activities so that his wrestlers have adequate gear. He volunteers his extra time to assist with the 8th grade hallways and is always willing to assist teachers, parents or students!"
~Spike Cook, Principal
"Katie Baralus is our awesome CST case manager at Holly Heights. Katie has quickly built a positive rapport with both students and staff and is always eager to help. She will be leaving us soon for her maternity leave and we wish her all the best."
~Steve Saul, Principal
"Heather O'Donnell is always full of positivity in the history hallway of MSHS. She greets her students at the door each day with a smile and starts each class by saying, "Welcome to another fantastic day of learning!"
~Jessica Kauffman, Dept. Chair
"A big shout out to Eileen Roche for securing A PRIDE grant for our once upon a recipe night. Diane Cavagnaro and Cindy Tarpine organized the event. Every family who came out last night enjoyed the company of at least one of the teachers in their child's room. 100% of our classrooms were represented by a staff member. Each teacher and aide selected a book for their class and followed a rebus recipe that went along with their book . The halls came alive with families sampling their child's creation. Also special thanks to Millville Day Care staff and their families for joining us in this event."
~JoAnn Burns, Principal
"Margaret Keefer took some of the high school students to Lakeside to give a Bullying presentation. The Lakeside students were engaged and very receptive. Congrats on a meaningful, well-done presentation!"
~Henry Hartman, Supervisor
"A special shout out to Dan Caregnato!!! Dan has been working so hard to become a Master teacher, learning each day from his peers and students. Being a retired State Trooper he had a very different skill set prior to this job. He has truly impressed everyone with his development as a teacher. From writing tickets and reports to now writing curriculum . Dan also offers a helping hand at the HS and is willing to assist in any way needed. He is often someone’s hero ! Thanks Dan!"
"I would like to give a big shout out to Tori Smith from Memorial HS. She has transformed the food service department and works hard to make the meals nutritional and great for the staff and students. Keep up the great work!!"
~Stephanie DeRose, Principal
"When the flu struck the Bacon front office and our awesome secretaries were down and out, Karen McCafferty volunteered to cover our office. Thanks to her help, Bacon didn't miss a step and the show went on. Thanks Karen for being willing to come spend the day with us! We appreciate it."
~Mike Coyle, Principal
Have a great weekend!
Regards,
Dr. G.
Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001
#MPSWC (MPS World Class)
#greatdaytobeabolt
Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ
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