On July 29, the Orange County School Board approved 5 to 2 the tentative 2008-09 District Budget. This budget essentially puts into place the "flip" of start times for middle and high school start times, approved by the majority of school board members in mid-May. Middle and high school principals, and their guidance and instructional staffs, have worked creatively and diligently to institute this time change. Community partners are working collaboratively to shift their schedules, and most families and parents are adjusting well. It is not going to be easy for everyone, but the more our children learn how to adapt to change, the more resilient and resourceful they will be. Also, the more efficient a school district is in non-classroom areas of the operational budget, i.e. transportation, etc., the more able school leaders are in keeping maximum dollars in the classroom. Protecting the classroom should always be the first priority, where all teaching and learning take place.
It is interesting to note that two urban school districts, Austin and Minneapolis, have late start times for their high schools. Both are top-notch public school systems, and their high school students are able to do all of the normal things that high school students do. In fact, in Minneapolis, high school attendance went up and tardiness went down as a result of the later start time. We are already seeing how the shift at our middle schools is reinvigorating and redefining after-school programs and activities, for the better.
In spite of the unwelcome intrusion of Tropical Storm Fay, the first week of school went smoothly. Principals and administrators are going to keep track of concerns about this change, and continue to make adjustments and seek new solutions. But, I believe that a school district's first responsibility is to educate its students. The other services and opportunities that round out our students' lives are the responsibility of us all. Cooperation and collaboration are essential in building the kind of community that we all seek. It is encouraging to see much evidence of both.
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Recently, Leon County (Tallahassee) Judge John Cooper declared that Amendments 7 and 9 (see last post) could remain on the November 2008 ballot. The ruling has been appealed by an array of opponents, and will be heard by the Florida Supreme Court on September 8, 2008.
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In a separate ruling, Judge Cooper removed the Amendment 5 "tax swap" from the November 2008 ballot. He deemed it confusing and misleading. Its supporters will likely appeal.
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Last week, the General Revenue Estimating Conference revealed that state revenues were projected to be even lower than previously estimated. Earlier in the summer, OCPS, and all public agencies, were directed to "hold back" another 4% of their 2008-09 budgets. As Governor Crist mentioned recently, this "holdback" will likely become a real cut. This is on top of the $70 million revenue shortfall that has already been felt in Orange County's public schools and school district departments. Florida has been on a downward slide in per-student funding and now rests in the bottom five.
The Florida Department of Education has determined that OCPS is an "A" school district. Everyone is very proud of this accomplishment, and it shows that administrators, principals, teachers and support staff squeeze every dollar out of the revenues available to them to educate our children.
Nonetheless......we all want our public schools to move from good to great. That requires stable, sufficient funding and progressive, supportive leadership at every level-local, state and national. Our students, with their diverse and complex educational needs, are being prepared for a very competitive global economy and all need relevant, rigorous instruction. This cannot be done on the cheap, and depends both on fiscal discipline and dedication to equity so that all students can succeed. I believe that it is the most vital investment a community, a state, a nation, can make. Not only for our children, but also for a healthy, diversified economy and vibrant democracy.
7 months ago