Letter to the Editor: Why We Should Consider Killing Pre-K in Mamaroneck
With rising costs in the school budget threatening to choke the system, where do we go from here asks a local parent.
Editor's Note: The below letter does not necessarily represent the views of Patch media.
Letter to the Editor:
Got your attention!
The word went around last week that the Mamaroneck Pre-K program housed at Mamaroneck Avenue School (MAS) was on the list of potential chopping block programs. Well it should be! Not that I want to see it go, but we can’t have any sacred cows and this headline item got the attention of many people. So I say it was a great that we considered closing this program. It’s the start of what is going to become a big topic of debate in Mamaroneck Union Free School District (MUFSD), what are we going to cut?
Even if it had not been for a tax cap, we would still be talking about five to seven percent annual increases to fund our schools. For those without context on a $130,000,000 (that’s millions!) we are talking $6.5 to $9 million in increases each year. How are we going to decide? Do we…
- Cut Pre-K? A program that gives a head start to many children that in the long run cuts costs to the schools system in remedial work? A program that for outsiders looking to relocate with young families is a huge selling point for the town?
- Increase Class Sizes? National major studies have shown that class size is not a determining factor in success, but this community prides itself in the great student/teacher ratio and parents are up arms if just .2 students increase in a class.
- Cut out more athletics! How many professional athletes does MUFSD put out?
- Cut PACE and elementary band and chorus? Do we have a Diva or a Yo-Yo Ma to sing about?
- Cut out A/P classes in the high school? Let’s make it an even playing field for all kids going to college.
- Cut the bussing out? Hey it’s only 2 ½ miles to school, if they leave the house at 5 a.m. they will make it on time (My father told me he walked up hills both ways when he was a kid).
Where will the debate end? What is it that we will do? We must create a sustainable way to maintain costs in our schools. No one program is essential, but the overall combination of these programs is. We must have a well-rounded education system that gives opportunity to all. Let the children gravitate to the areas that excite them to give them the self confidence and sense of achievement they need to succeed in both school and for the rest of their lives.We are at the beginning of a process and I implore you to be involved, to be educated and to be an advocate for your child.
Learn what we are up against from a fiscal standpoint and have a broad view of the systems objectives. Watch and attend board meetings, learn about all that the system offers our children and learn about how the unsustainable spiral upward of costs related to our most important asset our employees is going to reshape the entire landscape of our schools over the next few years. Unfortunately folks, it’s not a pretty picture. Stay tuned for more….
Jonathan Sacks is a member of the Mamaroneck Citizens' Finance Advisory Committee, a community group that supports the school board in fiscal, budgetary and operational matters.
Karl S
1:27 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I would think it makes sense to tackle the largest and fastest increasing expenses in the school budget. Are the items noted in the article in these two categories? If not, which are the largest and fastest increasing expenses in the school budget?
JS
2:38 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Over 82% of the costs in the school and the largest increasing items are payroll, benefits and other mandated costs. Currently the school district is operating without a contract 3 of it's bargaining groups (the largest group is the teachers union). The balance of the 18% is considered discretionary. In the 2011-12 budget Salaries and Benefits alone will total $99.8mm. These alone have averaged 5%-6%/year.
Karl S
3:37 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Something has to give. There's only so much you can cut from 18% of the budget. We already have the highest taxes in the country. How much higher do our taxes need to go before taxpayers have had enough? We need REAL changes to the 82% of our budget - public employee payroll, benefits and pensions. Unfortunately the unions are so powerful in New York that I see my taxes going up 50% over the next 5-10 years before any REAL changes are made to 82% of the budget. Time to leave New York. Last one out turn off the lights.
BG7
9:25 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Again - state mandates - most of the budegt is already tied up - we're squabbling over the scraps. Get on Cumo to fix the state mandates. And rein in pensions, I say an $85K inflation-linked cap for a start. Otherwise, the district increasingly becomes an entity to look after adults instead of educate children.
LMF
12:28 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
JS, The future is here..PROBLEM SOLVED! Let's see, there are about 4,500 school-age kids in the district with pre-k,( minus the private school kids..they're rich enough to take care of themselves...) Budget of $130M. First we give each kid ,pre-k to 12, a new computer with internet access (each,kid, not each family,why be cheap). Then we SHUT DOWN every school building except maybe one (for concerts, plays, lab, etc...). Then we get rid of all support personnel (custodians, consultants, Asst Superintendents AND Superintendent). Then we get rid of ALL the teachers EXCEPT for 1, maybe 2 from each grade/subject who conduct all classes, lectures, tests, etc...via internet. Of course the parents have the responsibility to see that their own kids get proper exercise/sports. Mandates go out the window, buildings get sold, staffing is minimal....A WIN-WIN SITUATION..FOR A FRACTION OF PRESENT-DAY COSTS! As Lionel (channel11 news )sez..."comment as you see fit!"
Karl S
1:09 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
LMF, Reading your post took a minute of my life that I'll never get back. Thanks.
LMP
12:16 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Then Karl S., put that minute of reading to good use. Failure to think, failure to educate students to think outside the box, and failure to plan for the unexpected and the surprisingly possible got us in a mess. Silicon Valley could never have been were it not for those who said "Yes we can." Good luck to Technion/Cornell in their newest venture.