I am the Lorax,
I speak for the trees.
It isn’t just the trees that need to be spoken for. I speak for the students. As a 32-year veteran English teacher, I know what it means to face cuts in spending, “and it ain’t fun.”
When I moved here in 1976, Cook County had a burgeoning population (a whopping 80 graduates in 1975, compared to this year’s 47), a huge fund balance (over $100,000, thanks to some fast and tricky work on the part of administration), and a dedicated staff.
Over the years I saw cut after cut after cut, and it was always the students who were hurt by them. As class counts diminished, funds were cut further. Soon there was little money for enrichment activities. We taught from outdated textbooks. Students paid fees to participate in athletics. The district cut teachers and the students lost electives. Teachers had to write grants for enrichment activities.
Sadly, this trend continues. That’s why we face a levy referendum— again.
Why should the community support the schools with tax dollars? Here’s why:
State contributions to school districts have diminished since 2003 (thanks to Jesse Ventura’s “innovative” school funding system). In 2003 Cook County received $9,672 per student in state and federal aid. That may seem like a lot, but it had to cover everything in the district, from floor tiles to desks, books, staff, and busses. If we adjust for inflation (27 percent from 2003 to 2013), the school should have received $12,4010 per student in 2013 to offer the same services.
In 2013 ISD166 recieved $9,098 per pupil. Do the math. Less funding means more cuts.
Our school enrollment is dwindling for a number of reasons (one being our high cost of living), so the expenses of facility maintenance are spread among fewer students. Also, a calculus class that once had 20 students now draws only eight, and smaller classes cost too much—dropped electives. Students now go online to get courses that were once offered in our curriculum. Some have left the district for schools that offer more options. Less funding. More cuts.
Quality schools improve property values. During the few years I served as school counselor, families and business owners came to me for information about our school district before moving here. I was proud to share that we had a fine system with bright, dedicated staff and students, high SAT scores, and varied offerings.
We still have dedicated staff and students, but less course offerings and services. In an online rating of school districts (niche.com), Cook County schools received a C+ rating based on enrollment, spending, test data and 50 reviews. Most of our shortcomings are due to cuts in programming and support staff (nurse, librarian, counselor, etc.). These cuts hurt the overall quality of our schools, which is reflected in our property values. Do we want more cuts?
Schools need additional support through local levies.
In Minnesota it has become the responsibility of communities to ensure that their schools are well-funded. Tax levies throughout Minnesota supply an average of 29 percent of the funds for local education. In Cook County, our current education tax levy of $724 per pupil constitutes only 5.5 percent of the total per-pupil spending. (According to information from NICHE.com, ISD 166 spent a total of $13,217 per pupil last year.)
This year the school board is asking you to support an additional levy of $800 per pupil, which would bring our local contribution to $1,524 per pupil, or 11.5 percent of the total, still far short of the 29 percent state average.
This levy would cost us an additional $100 per $100,000 value on our homes, precious little for a quality school system. I urge you to do the math— remembering that our children are our future— and VOTE YES on the 2016 School Levy Referendum.
Ann Marie Mershon
Former ISD166 teacher
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