The 100 million dollar school budget

The Rome, NY Sucks blog has an interesting post on School Board Follies. He speaks of the 100 million dollar school budget and makes an interesting observation that our school superintendent Jeffery Simmons is earning $132,986.10 a year (roughly $65 an hour). He points out that this is four times the median income in this area.

This may be a competitive salary similar to what a school superintendent might make in other parts of the country. But for our little, economically depressed Rome, NY, this amount is disproportionate to the standard of living that we face. I've seen the argument that we need to pay them this much in order to recruit top talent from elsewhere. I would argue we could find a local willing to do the job for half as much, be just as qualified, and much more in tune with our own local social and economic realities.

RomeHater also points out the lack of interest in the school board - 5 candidates running for 3 seats. It's no wonder our property taxes are so high (and property values deflated as a result). The lack of interest and oversight into where these massive amounts of tax dollars are going are part of the reason we're in the mess we are.

Rome Free Academy is a wonderful building both outside and in. The music, arts and sports programs are second to none. However academically it seems we're falling behind. I know of several students who are failing multiple courses - generally the math and sciences. I also know some who have dropped out completely (or are in the process of flunking out). We are letting these kids down.

Why are students being allowed to attend three classes a day and then skip out for the rest of the day? I remember when the school first opened, there was a strict policy on not allowing kids to leave the campus. I didn't agree with it at the time, having attended the "old" RFA and enjoying the small freedoms that going out for lunch granted. But it seems like somewhere along the path the "new RFA" has fallen off the wagon.

I can't put the entire blame on the RFA staff and guidance counselors - the past 8 years at the White House have led to massive underfunding for science and mathematics. Parents are part of the problem as well, understanding that their child is failing but still allowing them a car, an allowance, and a 3 a.m. curfew. Substance abuse is as rampant as it ever was.

But with a budget of 100 million I expect more from our schools as well. We should be demanding more after-school hours out of the teachers who are leading to these massive failures. After-school programs for failing students should be mandatory. And we need to look critically at the teachers who are leading to these failures. Are they deserving of their jobs? Talk to the students - you're bound to get an honest assessment out of some of them on WHAT exactly the teachers are doing wrong to cause these failure rates.