Letter to the Editor: St. Michael-Albertville School Board Answers Patch Readers' Questions

Dear residents:

The St. Michael-Albertville School Board is encouraged to see constituents discussing the issues surrounding the Nov. 8 vote on the operating levy.

These discussions underscore the degree to which STMA residents care about both the quality of education in our community, and the efficiency with which educational services are delivered.

The board would like to take this opportunity to address a few common questions and perceptions about the levy by providing facts and links to resources that will insure a full understanding of these important issues.

The question: Did the school board fully consider the impact of a tax increase upon residents during a down economy?

The facts: The impact of a tax increase upon residents was a primary consideration during the school board’s deliberations. To assist in “checking the pulse” of the community on this issue, the board formed a 17-member advisory committee comprised of a broad range of STMA residents, including community members, elected officials, parents and school staff. Over a number of meetings, that committee critically reviewed district financial data and practices, and extensively discussed the impact of a possible tax increase on the community. The board concluded that the committee’s ultimate recommendation for an increase in the levy was a fair representation of broader community views, which struck a reasonable balance between ensuring adequate funding for the district and minimizing the impact upon taxpayers, with the added benefit of maximizing state subsidization of the levy (state equalization payments will fund 44 percent of the total proposed levy amount).

The perception: The school district needs to “live within its means.”

The facts:  It must, and it does. Although STMA ranks in the bottom 2 percent of Minnesota school districts for general education revenue per pupil (which for STMA is $500 to $1,300 less than 11 surrounding districts), and despite delays in state payments, the district has maintained balanced budgets, as well as a healthy fund balance for contingencies, and has never resorted to borrowing for operating expenses. But to maintain balanced budgets, the board has already cut over $1.4 million from operating expenditures over the last four years. (See here). While Federal stimulus funds for teacher salaries provided short-term assistance, STMA did not use that money to add new positions, but rather spent the funds to maintain existing staff, thereby avoiding other cuts.

The point of comparisons to surrounding districts is to demonstrate that all schools are not funded equally, and to show that STMA’s comparatively smaller resources have been used wisely, as reflected by our steady increases in student achievement.

In short, our district has been able to do more with less. But budget projections show that, without an increase in operating revenue, far deeper budget cuts will be necessary in the near future. These are cuts that would significantly impact classroom instruction, including likely elimination of a number of teaching positions. The increased levy is designed to simply maintain current class sizes, which the board believes is critical to maintaining our track record of increasing achievement.

The perception: Open enrollment is contributing to larger class sizes.

The facts: STMA has a net gain of 101 open enrollment students across 13 grades, an average of eight students per grade level. Open enrolled students are assigned to specific schools in order to minimize impact upon class sizes at a particular elementary or middle school. The number is small and has minimal impact upon class sizes. In addition, open enrolled students generate additional revenue of $525,000 per year, which is used to pay for materials and hire more teachers, if necessary. Open enrolled students also do not increase transportation costs, as they do not receive transportation unless there are open seats on the bus and the student can be dropped at an existing stop in our district. In the end, open enrollment is a net positive for STMA.

The perception: The district does not provide enough detailed information on how our education tax dollars are spent.

The facts: While it is impossible to provide fine detail in articles such as this, a wealth of very detailed information is just a mouse click away on the district website, where residents can find links to detailed summaries of budgets, staff contracts, technology issues, and other information relevant to the operating levy question. Still can’t find what you are looking for? Feel free to call or e-mail the superintendent, district office, or any school board member (links and contact information are available on the district site, www.stma.k12.mn.us).

The perception: Our district spends too much on technology.

The facts: STMA certainly has made substantial investments in technology, which the board strongly supports for two fundamental reasons. First, keeping pace with advances in technology ensures that STMA students will be fully prepared to enter a world – whether at a college, tech school or in the workplace – in which technology has assumed an increasingly dominant role. Second, using technology in the classroom engages students and increases academic performance. For example, studies show that using SmartBoards (which are now used in every STMA classroom) increases student performance by 17 percent.

An increase in operating funds would not be spent on the “latest and greatest” gadgets, but would instead be used to maintain and update existing technology as part of a strategic, phased plan. STMA does not replace computers “every couple of years.” The hardware currently slated for earliest replacement (approximately 285 computers at Big Woods Elementary) is now more than seven years old. The $300,000 earmarked for technology in the operating levy is less than half of what is needed to maintain current technology, and includes $0 for emerging technologies. Additional details on how technology dollars are and would be spent are available here: http://www.stma.k12.mn.us/operating_levy_information.php

The perception: STMA spends too much on administration at the expense of the classroom.

The facts: As a percentage of total expenditures, STMA spends less than the state average for both school- and district-level administrative costs. In fact, STMA’s expenditures on district-level administration are less than half of the state average. By contrast, STMA devotes 74.6 percent of its total expenditures to classroom instruction and support services, which is above the state average. See: www.stma.k12.mn.us/_document/Operating_Levy_Power_Point.pdf

The question: Is it necessary to replace textbooks every year?

The facts: No, it is not, and STMA does not. Under STMA’s Curriculum Review Process, curricular content, course offerings and resource selection (including possible purchases of new classroom learning materials) are reviewed (with input from a Community Curriculum Advisory Committee) on a six-year cycle. Requests for purchases are then subject to board approval. Current budgetary constraints compelled the board to deny over $100,000 in such requests (including textbooks, science equipment, software licenses and library subscriptions and books) for the 2011-2012 school year. The proposed operating levy would maintain current levels of spending on learning materials. Details on curriculum development can be found here: www.stma.k12.mn.us/curriculum

The perception: The board is using talk of cuts in activities and transportation as a threat to garner support for the levy.

The facts: Strong participation in extra-curricular activities is a hallmark of student life at STMA. 70 percent of our high school students and 85 percent of our 7^th and 8^th graders participate in activities, which includes not only athletics, but academic, leadership, fine arts and career-oriented groups as well. The school board strongly supports maintaining these fine programs, which enrich student lives and build a strong sense of community in our schools.

The board likewise strongly favors maintaining current transportation policies, which are important to the safety of students and the convenience of parents. STMA’s transportation policies are more favorable to residents than the state requires (walking distances here are .6 miles, while the state allows up to one mile for K-8 and two miles for 9-12).

But these programs come at a cost. STMA’s transportation policy, for example, requires seven additional busses (at an annual expenditure of approximately $280,000) to provide services beyond the state mandate. Discussion of possible cuts in these valued programs is not a “threat,” but is simply to advise residents of the board’s priorities for making the deeper cuts that would inevitably be required if operating funds do not increase. Simply put–because the board’s top priority is to minimize the impact of budget shortfalls on classroom instruction, more substantial cuts in other areas, such as transportation and activities, would likely be required.

The question: How much is enough?

The facts: This is obviously a difficult question, about which opinions understandably differ. The proposed levy increase reflects the school board’s best judgment – informed by careful study of budget projections, current funding mechanisms and the recommendations of the Community Levy Advisory Committee – on the level of funding that is necessary to maintain current programs, policies and practices. By maintaining current practices, the board hopes to sustain and continue STMA’s remarkable increases in academic achievement, which is the preeminent strategic goal of our district.

Our Conclusion. The STMA school board sincerely thanks the residents of St. Michael and Albertville for their commitment to quality education. The board hopes that, by utilizing the information presented here and on the district website, all residents will go to the polls on November 8 as informed voters.

Signed:

The 2011-2012 St. Michael-Albertville School Board

Douglas Birk, Chair

Gayle Weber, Vice Chair

Drew Scherber, Treasurer

Carol Steffens, Clerk

Jeanne Holland, Director

Jeffrey Lindquest, Director