Posted on 01/17/2011 10:55:00 AM PST by GSWarrior
We learned on Thursday that a Western Slope school is in danger of closing. The De Beque School District 47 JT is exploring options on how to keep its schools open.
Last year, the district tried to pass a property tax increase, but it failed. Without help soon, the school could begin closures as early as next school year.
We spoke with district superintendent Marty Lucas on Thursday. He said, "The bottom line is if we don't pass the election next fall, we are going to have to make a tough decision."
They have tried budget cuts already, but it is only a short-term solution. "We believe that we can manage our budget for another year with further reductions and the use of some of our cash reserves, but we can only do that for a short period of time," Lucas continued.
The problem is that students are leaving just as quickly as the energy jobs. Lucas said that over the past couple years, enrollment has been cut in half.
He continued, "If we don't increase the number of students or increase the amount of revenue somehow, we can not continue to manage a K-12 budget like we've had in the past."
So again, they are asking tax payers for help.
"We attempted to pass a mill levy override last November and lost that election by one single vote."
This was a close call for a district that really needed the money. He added, "It appears we will have to reduce our budget again by nearly the same amount we did last spring which was $240,000.00." The district is putting the mill levy increase on the ballot again in November. It's a last ditch effort to keep the district running.
Finally, he said, "It is likely we would decide not to have a high school if we don't pass the election next fall."
If that happens, kids who currently attend high school in De Beque would have to attend school in either the Plateau Valley School District (50) or the Mesa Valley School District (51). Either way, the students would have to go much farther to get to school.
De Beque is located in the center of the natural gas and oil shale deposits. There is no reason the town's population should be dwindling.
My first and only question - have they cut salaries by 20% like my company did last year? Oh ... they haven’t? Well maybe they should.
Fire everyone in the district and then offer the positions for 1/2 of what the current school employees are making. I bet you would have plenty of people applying for the jobs given the current economy. Problem solved without any tax increase.
“The problem is that students are leaving just as quickly as the energy jobs.”
Elections have consequences.
This district is one of the few in Colorado that isn't funded by the state, but must rely solely on local property taxes. They are thinking of either consolidating the primary grades ( average class size: 7) or defunding the high school. I think there are only like 10 high school students.
Make an offer for bids for a charter school to be formed to take over the teaching duties, with no current school district teacher being eligible to join the charter school.
“”Supt. Lucas said that over the past couple years, enrollment has been cut in half. He continued, “If we don’t increase the number of students or increase the amount of revenue somehow, we can not continue to manage a K-12 budget like we’ve had in the past.”””
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School teachers and administrators are showing their Socialist stupidity by saying there are only two ways to solve this problem—either increase the number of students or increase taxes.
As a Capitalist might I suggest they could easily solve their financial problem by reducing the number of teachers and administrators.
The American Public is getting weary of listening to this same old whining by government employees when they are forced to work for their salary.
It's not viable to operate a high school for only 10 students. They need to either combine with a neighboring school district, or have the kids do cyber-charter school (like K12.com operates) if the commute distance is too much.
When I graduated in the mid-70s there were 12 in my class. I think 5 seniors graduated last year.
Bingo!
For a town that is located in the center of the natural gas and oil shale deposits, why are “energy jobs leaving” the area.
Are crude oil and natural gas prices expected to collapse? Or is this a case of over-regulation by government?
How about reducing the number of school administrators or at least cutting their salaries? In our school district we have both a bloated central administration and every school also has a plethora of principals, assistant principals, coaches who are classified as principals and paid accordingly etc. Perhaps it would be better to contract the running of the district to an outside management firm by competitive bid.
Obvious solution is to pay teachers more. That’s the whole problem you know.
Pretty crappy deal.
Good grief. Time to close the district and consolidate with neighboring districts.
Sounds like a lot of fat needs to be trimmed in this school.
Someone posted:
“”primary grades ( average class size: 7) or defunding the high school. I think there are only like 10 high school students.””
If this posting is true that means there are 56 kids in elementary school and 10 kids in high school.
The news story states:
“”, “It appears we will have to reduce our budget again by nearly the same amount we did last spring which was $240,000.00.”””
That implies the budget is way over $500,000 since they plan to reduce it $480,000.
It seems like it should cost about $300,000 to teacher 66 kids. (4 teachers at $60,000 plus $60,000 for school maintenance)
The old liberal trick. Always make the cuts where the results are most visible — police, firemen, schools, but don’t touch the mammoth bureaucracy.
I don’t know the exact numbers but there are likely around 40 students in 9-12.
My education was at a rural school about this size. I do not feel that attending a small school hurt me in any way.
In fact, I believe I benefited.
School administrators and teachers need to be told by the community that Teacher Union Thuggery is not acceptable.
The problem will be with the Colorado State Education Board. They will decertify the school unless it follows the Teacher Union rules.
This then becomes a statewide issue and the voters of Colorado have shown they like Socialism.
Colorado has probably trillions in energy and minerals. Blame the libs and lib voters for this. Stupid idiots brainwased by TV.
Less than 100 students in the entire district? Sounds like they need to liquidate the assets, buy a couple of school buses, and merge with another district.
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