In the next weeks, the Escanaba Board of Education will wrestle with how to put forth a budget for 2010-2011 that maintains academic programs, opportunities, safety, and ultimately STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. The District has been monitoring our state legislature while they haggle over how to fund schools. It brings forth anger, disappointment, and concern to me, as I try to lead our district into the future. I have blogged about this before--that no cut is a good cut.
How can we be fair? If we are fair to one special interest group over another--is that fair? If we make every cut "equal"--is that fair?
What should be our measuring stick to determine "what we fund and what we do not fund?"
I will advocate for putting the priority on keeping programs and opportunities for students.
These will be difficult weeks, and many times we will need to ask, "What would I do if my own child will be affected?" Imagine, we have approximately 2700 children--do we love one of our children more than our others?
So, who should we be fair to? Our children. As much as possible.
If this whole idea of our school funding crisis bothers you as much as it does me--please know, we are not alone. All school districts in Michigan are suffering. To get a current picture of the state funding crisis for schools and to learn what YOU can do about it, check out the video below: