The legislature still hasn’t settled on a final number for school districts despite a hearing on the school finance bill on Monday.  Fortunately, the budget cut number is most likely on its way down, perhaps as much as $90 million, according to bill sponsor and House Education Committee chair Rep. Tom Massey (R-Poncha Springs).

Rural districts on starvation diet
Rural areas are hurting from severe cuts, says Massey.  Paula Stephenson, the executive director of the Colorado Rural Schools caucus, said “schools are as lean as we can be.  Teachers work across subjects and programs.  We’re on a starvation diet.  Cuts have long term consequences.”

Westcliffe school district in Custer County is losing 10 percent of its budget.  Unlike metro area school districts, Westcliffe gets most of its funding from property taxes which have been declining across the state. 

Superintendent Lance Villers reported the district will lose $250,000 in 2011, which will be a  “big blow.  It’s not sustainable.  Our economy depends on tourism and construction.  We’ve doubled our free and reduced lunches from 25 percent to 50 percent.  There’s no professional development, no supplies budget, increased lunch prices, benefits and pay cuts.  There’s going to be a brain drain out of Colorado.”

Aurora Chief Financial Officer, former military man, gets committee's attention
Casey Wardynski, chief financial officer with Aurora Public Schools, painted a similar story.  “This situation can persist for years, but students’ education can’t be put on hold while money decides to get here.  The purchasing power fo our funding is where it was shen computer power was just beginning and No Child Left Behind was in its infancy.”

Rep. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield, told Colorado Teacher of the Year Michelle Pearson that he would be more inclined to invest in the system if he felt it yielded better results.  “What would be the one thing that would really make a difference?”  “Give them a classroom with five fewer children,” she replied.

Bipartisan efforts may bring more money to public education

Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Douglas County, reflected that the state may need to raise more money for its public school system, referring to Sen. Rollie Heath’s  initiative.  Rep. Robert Ramirez, R-Arvada, questioned whether the state’s oil and gas industry shouldn’t contribute more.  “Wyoming puts its kids through school all the way through college on revenue from the oil and gas industry.”

Rep. Massey turned away amendments from Democrats to reduce funding cuts in the school finance act at the heaing.  He will bring his amendments to the House second reading next week.  PEN  4 19 2011

This post was published on April 19, 2011. Permalink »