School Boards: To tax or not to tax?
The June 19, 2005 edition of the Sunday Raleigh News and Observer has several interesting articles regarding the funding structure of our local schools in North Carolina. Currently, county commissioners fund approximately twenty-five (25) percent of all education budgets in North Carolina. In addition, North Carolina is one of the handful of states that doesn't grant the power of taxation to local boards of education. Each year, it has become an almost annual ritual of bickering and wrangling between the county commissioners and the local boards of education. Both sides trade barbs and mobilize their various publics by threatening to cut programs. It addition, accusations of misplaced priorities and wasteful spending are the norm. No wonder it is often a contentious and difficult process. These various articles make several excellent points on the topic:
1) Funding under the auspices of one organization (county government) would appear to be more effective concerning the various needs of all organizations.
2) County Commissioners are not experts in education and do not understand the needs of educators. However, the same could be said for county commissioners regarding other organizations such as DSS, law enforcement, and public works.
3) The lack of taxing ability by local school boards helps them avert any sort of accountability. Local school boards can simply state that they didn't receive adequate funding and blame it on county commissioners. Maybe we should try a pilot program and give local school boards the ability to raise their own revenue (taxation) and be responsible for academic results.
While I don't see local funding as fully adequate for educators, county governments do make a substantial contribution to our schools. However, it is my belief that our greatest resource isn't a program, a new technology, or an instructional theory. Our greatest resource is our teachers! Let's target our funds towards our most valuable resource - Our teachers that are grinding it out on the frontlines everyday.
Here are the links: The Dollar Drama
The N.C. way is clear, equitable
The Drama
1) Funding under the auspices of one organization (county government) would appear to be more effective concerning the various needs of all organizations.
2) County Commissioners are not experts in education and do not understand the needs of educators. However, the same could be said for county commissioners regarding other organizations such as DSS, law enforcement, and public works.
3) The lack of taxing ability by local school boards helps them avert any sort of accountability. Local school boards can simply state that they didn't receive adequate funding and blame it on county commissioners. Maybe we should try a pilot program and give local school boards the ability to raise their own revenue (taxation) and be responsible for academic results.
While I don't see local funding as fully adequate for educators, county governments do make a substantial contribution to our schools. However, it is my belief that our greatest resource isn't a program, a new technology, or an instructional theory. Our greatest resource is our teachers! Let's target our funds towards our most valuable resource - Our teachers that are grinding it out on the frontlines everyday.
Here are the links: The Dollar Drama
The N.C. way is clear, equitable
The Drama
posted by Sapient Educator at 1:28 PM
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