City school board discusses uniforms, textbooks

[Vanessa]

I get so angry when I see education covered in the news around here. Today's T News has this article: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20100716/NEWS/100719734/1007?.... The school board is debating uniforms, yet it can't cover the cost of textbooks...not even close.

Granted, I'm not from Alabama, so my point of view is skewed. But in what alternate universe can a city that charges 9% sales tax not be able to cover the cost of books (among other basic needs)?!?

As my child enters kindergarten this year, our family is seriously considering moving out of this school system. Its priorities are not aligned with the needs of its students, clearly.

[Moozle]

It's sad. Unfortunately, though, changing school systems probably won't help much. These budget cuts have not only been statewide, but nation-wide in many instances. I'm not saying uniforms are the answer, because I'm not a fan of mandatory school uniforms at all, but I do not think it's unheard of to not be able to afford textbooks. It's a shame, but doesn't surprise me.

Our taxes can never come down as long as our property taxes remain so low. And with so much of Alabama controlled by land owners, the property taxes aren't going to increase.

[Vanessa]

I know...I just get frustrated when I see articles about the sad state of education in this system. Priorities are just so screwed up.

I kind of like the no-brainer idea of wearing uniforms personally (yay for no more planning/spending money on outfits!), but someone is going to have to pay for them, whether it's parents or the school system. So why not take that cash and use it for something worthwhile?

Only $15 and change is being allotted for books, out of a needed $60 or so per student. Sigh.

[Kelly Horwitz]

Hi Vanessa,

Education financing is a Byzantine world that I did not fully appreciate until I got on the school board last year.

One percent of the 9 percent sales tax is designated locally for our schools. Until last year, all of that money had to go to capital expenditures (i.e., buildings). This past year, the County Commission agreed that that the local schools could use 15 percent of that for operational costs.

Most school systems in Alabama are highly dependent on the funds that they get from the state (rather than local funding) and most of those funds come to us with instructions as to how that money is to be expended. As the News story explains, the state designates a certain amount per pupil for textbooks each year, but then has significantly reduced that amount in recent years through pro ration when the state's budget didn't meet projections. The amount budgeted to begin with often doesn't cover the actual amount of textbooks, so when that then gets significantly cut by the state, we end up falling into a textbook "deficit" situation that's hard to dig out of.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools are extremely fortunate in that we get additional funds from the city. Those funds largely have been used to pay for additional teachers (above and beyond what our state allocation would provide) and to finance a citywide pre-K program.

I moved here from elsewhere and one thing that took some getting used to w/r/t education funding in Alabama is that it's much, much more dependent on volatile tax sources than some other states which rely on property taxes to a greater extent that we do here. The vast majority of school funding comes from sales and income taxes, both of which take a nose dive in a recession. As a result, we've endured serious cuts in the last three years. We were just starting to see a glimmer of hope that things would even out when the BP oil spill killed tourism on the Gulf Coast (and related sales and income tax revenue) and budget projections got thrown off yet again. Before the fiscal year ends at the end of September, the state may impose another 3 percent pro ration which means our system will have to return to them about $1.5 million that we had other plans for.

Most systems in the state currently are in a precarious situation and are having to borrow money just to pay their teachers. We're fortunate to be among a minority of systems that still is on sound financial footing. Next year will be even worse, though, for all involved b/c that's when a special allocation of federal money that was handed out to help offset the pain of the recession will come to an end.

The city system will soon be proposing its budget for the next fiscal year and will have at least two public hearings on the issue. I know it's probably no one's idea of a fun time, but I hope people will take advantage of that opportunity to learn more about where our system's money comes from and goes and to get a sense of the stark choices that may lie ahead. If you are on Facebook, I have a special Facebook page dedicated to city school news and announcements about things like our upcoming meetings.

Hope that helps shed some light on the crazy world of school financing. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions about school issues.

Kelly Horwitz
Tuscaloosa City Board of Education - District 4

[Vanessa]

I was hoping you'd jump in on this, Kelly! :) Thanks for all the information; it's very helpful...and in a roundabout way sort of explains why we got our Alabama tax return just last week. Haha.

Stark choices, indeed. Sounds like locally, we're doing what we can to combat a statewide problem. I am grateful that Mayor Maddox (who happens to be my neighbor ;)) places such an emphasis on education and has made the strides, however moderate, that he and the board have made in their tenure.

I think parents can be a strong resource, and it's a shame to see so few get involved, even the ones whose children attend the "good" schools in the system...

How else, besides attending meetings and getting involved with PTAs, would you recommend parents get involved?

[Kelly Horwitz]

I'm *thrilled* that you're asking how to help! That's the attitude that we need!

Please, please encourage people you know to attend our meetings and involvement with the PTAs. I would love to see more public involvement and awareness of what we're up to. I think there actually are a lot of positive things in the works and an openness to more input from the community.

I understand the challenges that the News is up against in reporting on education. Our meetings can run 2-3 hours (not trying to dissuade you from attending!) and cover a wide array of topics. The reporter then has to pick one or two things that he believes people will be most interested in, but some of the other more seemingly mundane (but very important) issues get left behind. Also, it then results in some strange juxtapositions (i.e., uniforms and textbooks).

Last night is a good example. This was our monthly open work session, so we get reports from all the departments and discuss items that will need action at our board meeting next week. That means we discussed probably a half dozen personnel policies, school uniforms, a job description for truancy officers, a huge number of routine contracts for things like special ed services, our fiscal situation, textbooks, creating a memorial for deceased school personnel, use of our facilities by outside organizations like the YMCA (for an after-school program), the schedule for getting feedback on our facilities 5 year plan, and when we'll move forward with some additional Board training. (I know, your eyes are glazing over as you read this.) A real mish-mash of issues, but running a system for 10,000 kids and 1,300 employees throws a lot at us in any given month. But I digress....

Another suggestion re: what to do to help - when you get upset about what you read, email the Board. When we can clarify things, we will. When we're off course, we need to know and make adjustments.

We have some great, great resources here in Tuscaloosa, parents being perhaps the most important. We can't afford to leave any of our resources underutilized, so please get involved in whatever way you can. As a mom, I realize how hard that is, but getting involved in education will pay off for everyone's kids and is worth squeezing in that extra commitment.

OK, I'll get off my soap box now.

(And, PS, we just got our tax refund last week too!)

[Vanessa]

Believe me, I'm on the wagon! As a former teacher, I know the effect that involved (and more often, uninvolved, unfortunately) parents can have. And I've been to city council meetings, which also cover myriad topics in a relatively short (not..haha) span. When I taught journalism as an adjunct at UA, I sent my students to whatever open city meetings they could attend, in the hopes they'd glean some newsworthy information about which to write, and it was super random stuff!

I plan on being as involved as possible in my daughter's school and helping out at other schools in the system (I'm in the Jr. League, and I love helping out at Holt Elementary, our adopt-a-school!). Just wish more parents would be vocal and involved. I'm not sure how to change that...

[Kelly Horwitz]

Wow! You are light years ahead of me then on education issues. I'm so glad you're involved in the Adopt-A-School program. I forgot to mention that. It's another wonderful way to make a difference in our local schools.

I think getting parents involved is a one-by-one process. I'm encouraged that I'm seeing more and more people come forward to attend our meetings.

Does the Jr. League ever do luncheons or other events with speakers? If so, I'd be happy to help line up people to talk about our local schools, budgets, anything that might help get the issues more on people's radar screens. I know some other civic groups have done things like that. Just a thought.

I'll be the first to say that there are ways in which we need to improve as a system. That's one reason I ran. But that change will come about more quickly and be more successful the more ways we can find to reach out to people and get them on board. I'm open to any and all suggestions on that front any time!

[Vanessa]

That's a fantastic idea -- we had the mayor come to our May meeting, and we have monthly meetings starting in August, at which we can always use speakers! Let me see who does that scheduling and get back to you...I'll friend you so I can PM you about it later if that's OK.

You rock! We're obviously lucky to have you -- on the board and at TuscMoms. ;)