Interesting notes of interest from various newspapers across the State of Texas:
U.S. APRIL BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY FILINGS INCREASE 49% - If some business owners in Camp County get a 40% increase in their property taxes then look for the doors to shut. Now, one must understand that the chains want shut for they have more locations to help average out the additional tax increase should the bond pass. However, if one of these chain stores is marginal in regards to profit and loss performance then the bean counters will have the lights turned out!
25% OF 8TH-GRADERS FAIL TAKS MATH - Being a non-TAKS proponent; however, one cannot argue with the fact we have a failure problem.
DONUTS, PIZZA AND PLAY TIME AT North Texas Transportation Authority - Must have got their playbook from the PISD in regards to the donuts and pizza!
More Shopping Bag Woes
You're paying as much as 69% more over the past two years for common kitchen staples, like eggs, bread, milk, chicken and more. (Figures are based on the U.S. city average as of Mar. 31, 2008, from the Department of Labor's CPI.) - Guess those in favor of the bond will argue their shopping bag has not increased in price. Must all be on diets!
Goldman Sachs prediction for $200 oil - Who said it could not go higher? The PISD should be doing some advanced planning in regards to energy prices. With $200 oil the price to fuel bueses goes higher, utilitiy costs continue to increase, and the price of goods and services continue to increase.
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How Much Longer Can We Afford Inefficient Public Schools?
Although, the school bond election has been given most of our attention, there are larger related issues, which should be considered before anyone votes yea or nay.
It is well known that most of our existing public schools were not designed to be energy efficient, to be adaptable to technological change, or operated in a cost effective manner. It also well known that many of our educators face the almost impossible task of adequately educating all students. As educators attempt to comply with unfunded state and federal mandates the spending per student has escalated.
Clearly there is a need for our schools be operated in a more cost effective and efficient manner.
Over the years tax payers have supported providing adequate educational opportunities for all students, but recent changes in our economy are causing more and more of us to question the limits of our commitment to a system that that is too slow to adapt to innovations and more cost effective methods of operation.
The total cost to taxpayers to send a student to our public schools for 12 years can be estimated using the compound interest formula and a few estimates for food, clothing, shelter, and other expenses. A student entering the first grade in 2008 should be able to graduate from the 12th grade in 2020. If the spending per student in 2008 is $10,000, it will be about $20,000 in 2020 assuming a 6% increase in spending per year. The actual cost to society to educate a student for 12 years is much higher and varies from family to family. The average cost has been estimated to be over $200,000.
Perhaps the question that our young people should be asking today is can they afford children? Perhaps the greater question is how future generations will live? It seems unlikely that most wages will increase enough to support wasteful government programs an economically inefficient public education system.
At this time our most pressing problems are energy related. The president of OPEC recently predicted that the cost of oil will reach $200 if the devaluation of our currency continues. Currently the cost of oil is about $115 per barrel. It is now estimated that a 1% decline in the value of our dollar translates into a $4 per barrel increase in the cost of oil. One way to estimate the devaluation of our dollar is to follow the exchange rate of the euro. In 2002 the exchange rate was about $1dollar per euro. Currently the exchange rate is about $1.56 dollars per euro. When the exchange rate becomes $2.00 dollars per euro the cost of oil will be about $200 and the cost of gasoline will be about $7 per gallon. You can do the math. An increase of 2 cents per euro is about a 1% decrease in the value of our dollar.
Can we afford the increase in the costs of everything related to the cost of oil. How much longer can we afford inefficient public schools?
Bob Roe
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