Archive: Opinions

EditorialFor a long time it seemed that Anne Drake was the only school board voice for the taxpayers.  As school finances spiraled out of control in the wake of the revolving door in the superintendent and business administrator offices, it seemed as if our excellent school system was losing its way.

Today the district has two very strong advantages.  The first is a young administration that seems committed to 1) staying to provide consistent leadership over a period of time and 2) actually listening to the community and all stakeholders in the district and using what they learn in their decision making processes.  The second is a school board with enough fiscal conservatives to make a difference.

That is not to say this board wants to sacrifice quality for lower taxes.  In my observation quality of educational programs has continued to be a top priority for the board during the national economic crisis.  But balancing what we need to provide Lansing's traditional high quality education with what the community can afford in a responsible manner is new.  And exactly what the doctor ordered.

Superintendent Stephen Grimm has made it his mission to listen to the community and to be a part of it.  He seems to understand that there was a breach of public trust that needs to be restored, and between earnest cuts, two capital projects that don't add additional taxes, and this year's pledge for a 0% rise in the tax rate he has walked the talk, showing in deeds that he means to restore the balance.

If the schools couldn't operate cutting the tax rate would have been irresponsible.  But the district has enough money.  The excess cash from conservatively underestimating revenues and underspending this year's budget will not only pay for a potential revenue loss from reduced property valuations (currently in court) and charter school tuition, but in the worst case scenario (which isn't likely) would leave a good half million dollars in the pot.

By lowering the tax rate this week the Board Of Education showed in deeds that they are beginning to consider the schools as part of the community as a whole, rather than a figurative taxable island.  And it was great to hear a consideration of the future in both financial and programmatic terms in the tax rate discussion.  I think school board member Glenn Cobb summed up the issue succinctly shortly before the board voted to lower the tax rate.

"We're obviously spending more than we have," he said.  "We're getting a stimulus package.  If that goes away can we afford to operate if we continue to increase the amount of money we spend each year as a school district?  Are we spending more than we should per student?

"We have a decision to make.  We have to try to thin down the budget we have as painlessly as we can year to year so that if (the stimulus money goes away) have we leaned down enough that we can survive without impacting the quality of the education to our students?  I think you've got to lean down as much as you can.  It also helps the community and prepares us.

"For now we've got to be responsible and try to reduce it as much as possible, not so much because we want to give it back to the community as that we've got to learn to live within a budget we can afford."

To me that statement melds our ideals with reality.  A lot of Lansing people are hurting financially, but we are all proud of our school district.  The quality of education here, sports, the arts, the values taught here is something we should be proud of, and something we should not throw away just to cut costs. 

But cutting costs is a necessity in today's world.  Lansing spends more per student than the other districts in our county.  That is something to be proud of and to be afraid of.  If there is one thing that impresses me about our community it is its ability to do so much more with less.  I have confidence in the creativity of our teachers and am beginning to have my confidence in the administration and school board restored in that regard.  Monday's vote to cut the tax rate yet still fund what the district deemed important was the right thing to do.

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