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Scotts Valley parents asked to pay $36.13 if their kid skips school
Mercury News ^ | Tue, Feb. 13, 2007email thisprint this | Matt King

Posted on 02/14/2007 5:27:56 AM PST by wintertime

SCOTTS VALLEY - Parents whose kids take a day off from school will be asked to open their wallets. That will be $36.13, please.

Desperate to hold on to every penny of state funding, Scotts Valley Unified School District leaders are asking parents to make a donation to the district for the amount it loses every time a student is absent for a reason other than illness.

They say such absences cost the district $223,500 last school year.

``When parents keep their kids out of school, it's difficult for the child,'' Superintendent Susan Silver said. ``But it's also a cost to the district, and when we're in declining enrollment, every single bit of money is important to us.''

State funding for schools is based in large part on a formula called ``average daily attendance.'' Districts aren't paid for how many students are enrolled in their schools, but how many kids show up for classes. So, more absences means less money.

Scotts Valley Unified has 2,722 students enrolled this year, down from a high of 2,846 two years ago. Based on enrollment, the district is eligible to receive more than $14.9 million in state aid, or about 80 percent of its operating budget.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: attendance; california; homeschool; publikskools; school; schoolattendance; schoolfunds; scottsvalley
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1) San Diego is also reporting a decrease in enrollment.

2) Parents who can afford to take their child out of school for Disneyland or a skiing trip can also afford to pay at part of that child's education costs. This is also true if they are driving and expensive new car, or if they are living in a huge house on the hill.

Government schools are nothing more than ADMC&RF ( Aid to Dependant Middle Class and Rich Families). These parents are sucking the life's blood of others ( often less well off than themselves).

Remember, please, as you see the little yellow school buses climb up the hill to the mini-mansions, YOUR school taxes are subsidizing a lifestyle that includes trips to Diseyland, skiing trips, beautiful new cars, and the mini-mansion on the hill.

Change the state constitution if needed. Hand these parents and their little worthies a tuition bill!

1 posted on 02/14/2007 5:27:59 AM PST by wintertime
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To: wintertime
``But it's also a cost to the district, and when we're in declining enrollment, every single bit of money is important to us.''

"We need more money to educate fewer children."

2 posted on 02/14/2007 5:29:29 AM PST by Tax-chick (Every "choice" has a direct object.)
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To: wintertime
``When parents keep their kids out of school, it's difficult for the child,'' Superintendent Susan Silver said. ``But it's also a cost to the district, and when we're in declining enrollment, every single bit of money is important to us.''

Well ... at least they are honest enough to admit they money is more important to them then the child

3 posted on 02/14/2007 5:31:38 AM PST by Mo1 ( http://www.gohunter08.com)
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To: wintertime

IBTZ

None the less, I'm some one who believes public schools should be eliminated in favor of school vouchers.

That way we can get rid of the teachers union, and we can get the schools to start educating again.

Anyways, if their going to charge a family $36 a day when their children are out for other than sickness, then the school system should pay that amount per day back to the parents of kids who send their children to private school since they're not using up the government resources.

What's fair is fair, if they want money for when the resource is wasted, they should kick out when the resource isn't even used.


4 posted on 02/14/2007 5:34:52 AM PST by gjones77
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To: wintertime
Little jealous of those evil rich, are we? Unfortunately, like most punitive measures targeted to hurt the rich, this one will hurt the working class the most.

The wealthy aren't in the public schools, the middle class are getting out as much as they can. So the so-called "dependent Middle Class and Rich" are already paying a substantial amount through their property taxes for a service they don't use.

The people this is going to hurt are NOT parents who are taking their kids out of school for fancy trips, but the folks who can't afford to get their kids out of the public schools at all. They may have a doctor's appointment (or have to wait all day at the county public clinic because they don't TAKE appointments) or some other family emergency that requires the kids to miss school.

Unintended consequences.

5 posted on 02/14/2007 5:36:21 AM PST by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: wintertime
such absences cost the district $223,500

Assuming that's an average for years past, too, those are dollars they've never gotten before! Thus, that scheme is meant as a revenue enhancer!

These are slime puppies, pure and simple.

HF

6 posted on 02/14/2007 5:36:58 AM PST by holden
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To: wintertime; Gabz

Nanny State Ping-Worthy, Gabz?


7 posted on 02/14/2007 5:38:34 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: wintertime
Change the state constitution if needed. Hand these parents and their little worthies a tuition bill!

The state already does that. It is called taxation.

8 posted on 02/14/2007 5:40:49 AM PST by Logophile
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To: wintertime
Parents who can afford to take their child out of school for Disneyland or a skiing trip can also afford to pay at part of that child's education costs. This is also true if they are driving and expensive new car, or if they are living in a huge house on the hill.

Why would my child's education costs he higher, if I take him out of school for a week at Disneyland?

By your logic, I should pay $36 x 180 days to the school district (ON TOP of my school taxes) for the right to hiomechool my son?

I don't follow.

9 posted on 02/14/2007 5:40:56 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: wintertime

What a Hoot! Parents should start demanding schools reimburse them for after 12 years returning to them a student (?) with little or no education....the illiterate graduate!


10 posted on 02/14/2007 5:42:14 AM PST by yoe ("Take No Prisoners" has a lovely ring to it...............)
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To: wintertime
YOUR school taxes are subsidizing a lifestyle that includes trips to Diseyland, skiing trips, beautiful new cars, and the mini-mansion on the hill.

How in the he!! do you figure that?

Is that you, John Edwards?

11 posted on 02/14/2007 5:43:01 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: wintertime

This district is spending $6719 per student, and it is still not enough.

There is no amount of money that will ever be enough.


12 posted on 02/14/2007 5:43:19 AM PST by bondjamesbond (Have you ever noticed that whatever the problem, the government's solution is always "more taxes"?)
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To: Tax-chick

Thats good for a laugh


13 posted on 02/14/2007 5:43:46 AM PST by StoneWall Brigade (THIS IS THE CALL OF THIS GENERATION. THIS IS AMERICA'S HOUR. SEN. RICK SANTORUM)
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To: wintertime

I'd support this if you could take all the school fund raisers back out of the school budget -- how many magazine subscriptions, candy bars, and rolls of wrapping paper does a parent have to buy? If you don't buy the teacher takes it out on your kid.


14 posted on 02/14/2007 5:44:04 AM PST by pikachu (Support Global Warming by buying your future beach front property in Denver today!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I don't have a stupid-alert ping list :)


15 posted on 02/14/2007 5:45:19 AM PST by Gabz (I like mine with lettuce and tomato, heinz57 and french-fried potatoes)
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To: wintertime
Public schools are largely funded by the upper class, middle class and businesses. It is the working class, the immigrants, and the welfare recipients that benefit from the taxes that the upper class, middle class and businesses pay.

If every public school was abolished by a swish of a wand, the middle class children would still get an education, plus the ski trips, plus the house, plus the car, and the ones that would be left on the side would be the above-mentioned groups. Nothing would change for the middle class in terms of school, needs, or luxeries.

At least be honest in your claims as to who is supporting whom here. The working class, the immigrants, and the welfare recipients do not put back the money into the system that the middle class does. The poor benefit from the taxes of others - not from their own contributions.

16 posted on 02/14/2007 5:51:51 AM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: wintertime
YOUR school taxes are subsidizing a lifestyle that includes trips to Diseyland

I'm still trying to parse the logic of this (need. more. coffee).

These folks are ABLE to take a week at Disneyland BECAUSE they don't pay the $36.13 absentee-tax?

17 posted on 02/14/2007 5:52:37 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: wintertime

Yeah, and homeowners who haven't had at least one house fire within a 5-year period should pay a fee to the fire department for wasting their time and resources.


18 posted on 02/14/2007 5:55:17 AM PST by Sloth (The GOP is to DemonRats in politics as Michael Jackson is to Jeffrey Dahmer in babysitting.)
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To: wintertime
Hand these parents and their little worthies a tuition bill!

Oh, so much to say, so little space to say it!

First of all, public school systems are nothing but welfare programs for incompetent teachers and liberal buttheads and provide a less than adequate baby-sitting service for worthless parents that refuse to take responsibility for their own kids.

Second, they suck a huge portion of my, yes, I said my taxes down a sewer hole.

I'm damn tired of paying for the crap that comes out of those places.

Incompetent teacher? Yeah, sure, just try to get rid of one...Ha!

So, since I've homeschooled for the last 5 years, just how much do I owe the stinking system?

Of course, being incompetent myself and unable to raise my own children without the benevolent overseer of the nanny state, I guess the fact that my 15 year old homschooled daughter is now attending college (after getting a dismal 26 on her ACT) is a reflection on how much taxes I should have paid?

Give me a break!

Public schools can go...well, I have no sympathy for them.

19 posted on 02/14/2007 5:55:40 AM PST by OldSmaj (Death to islam. I am now and will always be, a sworn enemy of all things muslim.)
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To: SoftballMominVA

Don't forget the stupid tax - AKA the lottery :)


20 posted on 02/14/2007 5:58:58 AM PST by Gabz (I like mine with lettuce and tomato, heinz57 and french-fried potatoes)
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