Bringing 3-D reality to the screen

Amount Massachusetts has allocated since 2000 to decrease class size and increase teacher pay: $1,200,000,000

"Historical illiteracy is a threat to the health of the republic. Our ignorance of the key events and basic concepts of the nation's development is a matter of statistical fact, and despite years of warnings we continue to show little interest in how the past determines contemporary choices."

Spend, Spend, Spend........ was not one of the key events nor one of the basic concepts with regards to our nation's nor state's development. School districts in this state are now faced with bringing the excess of 3-D spending over the past many years to a reality. The lavish life-style must now be scaled back to conform to reality.

Over the past several weeks there have been a number of quotes from various individuals working to protect the rights of school districts to spend, spend, and spend your money. They say the evil taxpayer is working to put school districts out of business and put people out of a job. Not the case - for the taxpayer knows that this will do more harm than good. However, the taxpayer does want accountability and reality considered in every spending decision.

"We say to businesses all over the state, 'Come to Texas but leave your kids because we don't want to fund them?'" Frisco ISD board member Richard Beaver wins Bone Head award for this quoted statement in the Dallas Morning News a few weeks back. Evidently Mr. Beaver fails to comprehend that if a business is already in Texas they don't need to relocate to Texas, and their children are already here and the associated funds are being spent on their education.

"We need a dedicated statewide resource to fund public education......". This quote comes to you from John Fullinwider a parent of a student in the Dallas ISD. Mr. Fullinwider is also a teacher in the DISD system. Someone should check his credentials......Texas has a dedicated statewide resource that is supplemented by local property taxes. It is true the state has cut back on their percentage; however, the burden shifted to local property owners has broken their backs and they have closed their pocketbooks due to excess spending on sports complexes, indoor golf training facilities, F-350 King Ranch transportation for transportation directors, etc. School officials call these items prudent spending in tough times.

Mr. Fullinwider goes on to say "Let this designated state resource pay for the entire foundational school program of all school districts." This came real close to winning the Bone Head award. The state already funds the basics of an "entire foundational school program for all school districts." Bringing 3-D to reality and understand that some school districts have more property values than others. Having higher property values allows a district to provide beyond the foundational. Here lies the problem and the reason Mr. Fullinwider did not win the Bone Head Award for educational stupidity. Mr. Fullinwider has suggested a policy debate about what goes into the basic foundational school program. Should the expense of a charter bus to an athletic contest be a part of the basic foundational school program? These are the types of spending issues that school officials need to debate. Bringing 3-D to reality!

For every teacher employed by a school district in this state there is likely one additional staff person on the payroll as well. Are all these staff people really needed? Bringing 3-D to reality!

The OECD recently presented data at a conference for governors that shows nations with powerhouse schools put a greater premium on quality teachers rather than smaller classes. It was also noted that nations with strong school systems attract, select and develop excellent teachers. This sure sounds a lot like the way things operate in the world of real business. Recruit, select and develop to create excellence. Are we asking schools in Texas to become Fortune 500 companies? You can't qualify for the list, but you can follow the examples and learn from how the Fortune 500 operate. You want to know how to run an efficient school? Mentor with any struggling small business owner. Bringing 3-D to reality!

Schools are not going away - just need to restructure. Many a company has taken on bankruptcy in order to restructure and come back to life. Over the past two years there have been several examples, i.e. General Motors, Six Flags, Pilgrim's Pride, etc. All these and many more have managed a come back.

3-D to reality!