As schools continue to struggle with balancing our budgets, the pressures of consolidation and collaboration push us to become creative to “reimagine” the educational system for K-12 students. In trying to keep cuts as far away from the classroom as possible, we have to continue to look at how our schools are staffed, how our programs are operating and justify each and every expense to make our schools lean. With the uncertainty of state funding and a current revenue structure that challenges us each year, until the system is changed to make funding for schools sustainable, schools will be forced to continue cutting programs and expenses. As we look forward, districts will likely see increasing costs; as the employee base upon which retirement expenses are calculated continues to shrink due to privatization, the challenges of benefit cost pressures, and the challenges of declining property tax bases and student enrollment.
As our state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said, “We're looking at the new 3 R's. The solution will be a mix of revenues, reforms, and reductions. We need all three.” I agree; we do need all three. However, it appears change won’t happen quick enough to prevent more schools from becoming deficit districts. As we have witnessed in many areas of State government, everything takes time and the schools are running out of time. We continue to do more with less, while we keep our overarching principal of providing quality education.
There are a number of high-powered groups pushing creative ideas and suggestions to work towards a sustainable solution. These include SOS, Save Our Students, Schools and State (a coalition promoting changes in how students are taught, and how schools are funded and operated) and the Practitioner’s Summit, (a coalition of public school officials throughout Michigan taking action to propose solutions).
These issues have a great impact on our schools. The playing field has changed and an emotionally charged atmosphere exists in many schools as we try to do what is right. Unfortunately, what is right is not always easy. While trying to be fair and evaluating what the “minimum” acceptable levels are, while still providing all the required/mandated education curriculum and resources, the uncertainties that surround all these changes are taking a toll on many of us. Staff feel unappreciated and performance can suffer, the work atmosphere can cause an arena of lack of trust and the relationships between the Boards of Education, administration, teachers, custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, etc. wears thin.
The big picture still puts schools in the position of deciding the haves and have nots when it comes to privatization. Privatization can take a number of different forms. It can be through a private company, through consolidation of services with an ISD or through the hiring back of a retired school employee through a third party. There can be tremendous cost savings to schools in privatization, and some employee groups have been subject to this trend more readily than others. But the reality is how far do schools go and at what cost? Currently, a number of schools have either privatized or looked into privatizing substitutes, transportation, custodial services and food service. As the looming cuts continue to pressure schools, there are no sacred cows. Privatization is being considered for many areas not considered before.
The identified cost savings may be great, but the peripheral costs may be greater. There is a balance, which cannot be measured by the bottom line. This is a difficult reality for many schools. Trying to find this balance and doing what is best for schools and students, puts forth significant challenges. Without question, these unprecedented challenges will require a “reimagination” of our K-12 educational system.