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“There Is Fat in This
District”
By Steven Flagg
Guest Column
Speaker
after speaker streamed forward as his or her name was called
to plead with the Toledo Board of Education to save a
school, art and music specialists or in opposition to cuts
from school athletics to bus transportation. Several said
they would support the TPS income tax levy, some only if
their program was spared.
The
public hearing at Start High on St. Paddy’s day had the feel
of a pep rally for the May 4 levy. Others suggested it was
more like a well-organized union rally since TFT, TAAP and
AFSCME members attended en mass, easily the largest group
represented that evening. The public hearing the next
evening at Rogers was not attended as well, more subdued and
absent the union presence although TPS employees again made
up half or more of those attending.
Francine
Lawrence, TFT president, led off the procession of speakers
and was followed by TAAP and AFSCME representatives.
Lawrence was loudly applauded by teachers in attendance when
introduced and with obvious exuberance when she concluded
her remarks by suggesting that board members need to “chop
from the top.”
Lawrence
offered a number of criticisms and one solid suggestion. If
the levy failed, she suggested the district should adopt a
four-day school week stating it would save significant
monies.
Why would
Lawrence or TPS wait for a levy defeat to implement a new
work week that could save art and music specialists and
several school programs perceived as successful? Certainly
such a change is not without challenges, but they seem
reasonable as compared to the consequences. Some state laws
must be waived or changed. But since legislators have
struggled mightily with the state budget, they’re likely to
be amenable.
One
Lawrence remark was surprising and a bit of a shocker during
a levy campaign. Lawrence said twice consecutively, “There
is fat in this school district.” On this Lawrence gets
whole-hearted agreement from many in this community. There
may be disagreements of where the “fat” is, but you heard it
from the TFT president herself that “fat” exists.
Lawrence
should share these cost-saving opportunities with the
public. Her members’ salaries are from taxpayer dollars and
their ideas are an important contribution to the discussion.
Most of
those who spoke at the public hearing asked that their
programs or special interest be saved. The Toledo Technology
Academy was amply represented by students and parents. The
students came prepared and eloquently articulated the value
of TTA and their experiences. It was a testament to those
involved parents and the students of TTA.
With TTA
and Early College High School slated for elimination, the
logical next question would be why the elementary academies
at Grove Patterson and Old West End were not listed as
potential cuts?
Superintendent John Foley stated on several recent occasions
that
all programs not required by state law were identified for
Board review.
The
longer school days and curriculum at GP and OWE result in
greater costs per student than the average TPS elementary
school. GP and OWE programs are not mandated by state law.
All four
programs serve about 1100 students or 4.2 percent of the
approximately 26,000 TPS students.
So, is
the current lame duck superintendent being honest with us?
Were all programs evaluated and sent to board members for
review?
TPS has
strategically identified programs or services and offered
them in sacrifice to create the greatest amount of emotional
turmoil. Logic takes a holiday when proposed cuts appear
callous and are programs perceived by many to be valuable
and enriching. They seem even more heartless because TPS has
not developed nor articulated a set of criteria by which
they will make these cuts. Angst always runs higher when you
can not reasonably predict what will happen in these
situations.
In the
end, it is to the advantage of the entrenched educational
elite to assure that everybody’s ox gets gored and that
emotions prevent clear thinking regarding a levy that will
drain $18 million from the private sector of our local
economy.
How else
do you pass a levy in these economic times when TPS has been
less than forthcoming about its operations and where great
public cynicism regarding the safety and efficacious use of
taxpayer dollars is evident?
Steven
Flagg is a community activist and education advocate. For
more information visit
TPSINFO.COM.
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