Reducing Overall Costs Through School And District Consolidation

Studies have shown that art programs help the development of the brain by improving “mental representations of what is observed or imagined; symbolic, allegorical and metaphorical representations; careful observation of the world; and abstraction from complexity”(How the Arts). So why would the school board or government allow budget cuts in school art programs if it helps improve a child's development of the brain? Even though language arts and mathematics are important and basic courses that every student may need in the future, art programs should not have budget cuts because it helps improve a child’s learning ability and understanding of the world around them. It also helps students and children in low income communities that may not have

First of all, in recent year, the Department of Education has been regarded as one of the least successful cabinets. The standard of education for American students has not improved for years, and many of its projects have been major failures, including, but not limited to, Common Core, School Improvement Grants, and No Child Left Behind. By eliminating this, as well as other redundant agencies that are costing an astronomical amount of budget, the size and cost of the government will be considerably shrinked.

I am providing an analysis of “School Consolidation and the Politics of School Closure Across Communities” by Zorka Karanxha, Vonzell Agosto, William R. Black and Claudius B. Effiom (2013). The principal at Roosevelt Neighborhood School, Brian Jones, faced a state wide economic recession, which led to the merge of his school with Scott Magnet School of choice,

Funding for Oklahoma schools has fallen dramatically in recent years, with Oklahoma spending $706 less per student in inflation-adjusted dollars that it did in 2008, and Oklahomans are worried about it, and rightly so (Gene, 1). In looking toward a quick-fix, many have argued that Oklahoma need only reduce its administrative costs, thus

Since last spring, Philadelphia school district leaders have been sounding the alarm about this year’s fiscal budget. Even after months of discussions and headlines, schools have opened with fewer resources than last year. On March 28th the School Reform Commission approved a lump sum budget which showed a need for an additional $220 million in revenue in order to provide schools with same resources as the “wholly insufficient” 2013-14 school year (McCorry). There will be many inadequate funding impacts on the quality of the education. Classroom resources would be stripped to untenable levels. The district would reduce as much as $2.2 million funding to the districts’ multiple pathways to graduation program which affects estimated 300 students. Another $1.5 million could be reduced from the elimination of preparation and professional development time for teachers at the district’s high needs promise academies. The district’s building maintenance budget could have reduction in amount of $9.6 million. Schools will be cleaned less frequently as a result. Building maintenance will also be curtailed as a result. District’s school police budget could also have reduction in amount of $2.4 million. School police officer vacancies will be unfilled, leaving an additional 27 elementary schools to share an officer.

The National Conference of State Legislatures said, “School budget crunches have been a trend over the past couple years and span the entire nation” (qtd. in Van

One of the earlier shifts in design resulted from the consolidation of one-room district schools in rural areas. Local elementary schools were first built just far enough apart to permit scholars to walk from their homes. Consolidation of population, the wide use of automobiles, and a reduction of the number of farm families made it possible to build United schools that were large and more efficient.

Oklahoma as of today is ranked 49th nationally in per-pupil expenditures and ranked 48th in teacher pay (Klein 2). Putting Oklahoma as one of the worst states to be educated in the United States. “Oklahoma is consistently ranked near the bottom for education funding and teacher pay” (“Investing In Education Is Key For Growth And Job Creation” 3). When there are state cuts that need to be made, the departments of education are one of the first that usually tend to suffer. Since the 2008 economic crisis, Oklahoma has continued to cut the budget for education; even though the economy has since then gotten better (Perry). Budget cuts in education affect all parts of the education process for the students. “Some school districts have ordered teacher layoffs and shorter sessions” (“Oklahoma Makes the Poor Poorer” par 4).Schools are now struggling to keep their heads above water. Each year from the budget cutting, schools have had to lay off teachers, cut entire programs, and have limited resources used to educate the students. Even the teachers’ retirement system is suffering, being one of the top poorly funded pension programs nationally (Ash par 3). Seeing as that the schools have to cut down classes and programs, administration has had no other choice than to increase class size, overwhelming teachers tremendously. “Oklahoma has 1,500 fewer classroom teachers and 40,000 more students since 2008-2009” (“Investing In Education Is Key For Growth

Educational funding for school districts is an ongoing war. A war that will be fought till equality is achieved. A school district’s wealth is affected by a number of reasons such as its property wealth, the race of the people who live there and their socio-economic status. Some districts are wealthier than others. Wealthy districts get more funding than poor districts because they have more property wealth and people with high socio-economic statuses. The wealth of a school district determines how much resources the school gets and just how much education the children in that district receive.

Are Classrooms in today’s society sized correctly? Classroom size affects student’s ability to learn. When classrooms are engulfed with students, students don’t have the learning opportunity they should; smaller classes have proven to lead to more academic success. Across the nation school districts struggle to provide appropriate learning conditions for students, school districts are even breaking state class size reduction laws. In the fall of 2014, the School district of Brevard County, Florida surpassed more than $100,000 in fines due to the inability to size classrooms within the state’s sizing limit mandate (Petrilli). Florida school districts approved of a mandate that places a cap on the number of students allowed in a single classroom. These new requirements mean that school districts must reduce pupil-teacher ratios in every classroom to 18-to-1 in prekindergarten though 3rd grade, 22-to-1 in grades 4-8, and 25-to-1 in high school, or face financial penalties from the state department of education (McNeil). School districts like this one, struggle to provide the classrooms and teachers needed for students to have an equal opportunity of success due to lack of funding. Without proper funding schools are unable to hire enough teachers, leading to very high pupil-teacher ratios. If school districts employ more teachers, class sizes would decrease, essentially leading to more academic success among students.

Budget cuts in schools cause turmoil and stress among the students and faculty. Drastic changes in the budgets have caused schools to negatively impact the people around them. With the lack of funding, schools are facing difficult decisions on what to do to stay within their budget. Supervision is facing much scrutiny on how to handle the lack of funding in their school districts. A solution needs to be made to improve the distribution of funding to our schools in order to keep them operating and thriving for our children to obtain their education. Budget cuts in schools have shown negative effects on employee positions, supplies, extracurricular activities.

Since the law has acquired the school to do more or provide more, schools seem to have less money to afford what they need. In other words, schools have needed more money to pay their budgets. For instance, it is said “ … schools now must provide special

District leaders and school officials believe that combining schools can help save money. Their idea is that consolidation creates a decrease in overhead expenses and costs. They believe that pooling resources leads to increased production and efficiency for schools. This increase in production and efficiency cannot be measured only in dollars and cents, for there are other expenses to be

In today’s economic environment even the wealthiest states and districts are having to cut funding for education, while districts which were already teetering on the edge are now in an even worse position. In some schools children have to face not having enough books, paper for copies, severe overcrowding,

Many parents feel their children are not being challenged enough in public schools. Some of these children are doing well but clearly could do more, could be stretched intellectually. From their parents' point of view, they spend far too much time watching television, wandering around the mall, or playing games on their computers. Many parents are consequently drawn to private schools because of the academic rigor that comes with smaller classes, more personal attention, and teachers who nurture and promote each child's talents. There is no question that private schools offer smaller classes than most public schools in the country. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 1998-99 the median student-teacher ratio in NAIS schools was 9 to 1 while that in public schools was 17 to 1. Smaller classes make it difficult for a student to hide or slide. In a room with only 14 other students, it is difficult to remain uninvolved or consistently unprepared. Teachers can get to know 15 students much better and faster than 30. Smaller classes promote more faculty member-student interaction, and most kids