Archive: Opinions

EditorialI understand the powerful opposing forces that are currently pulling the Lansing school district in different directions.  On the one hand the district wants to provide the best education possible to its students.  On the other hand substantial threats to school income are forcing school officials to think about cuts.  Lansing taxpayers are pulled, too.  Nobody would argue that our children shouldn't have the best education we can give them.  But in the current miserable economy many people are having a hard enough time keeping their jobs, let alone paying more in taxes.

The two presentations at Monday's school board meeting struck me as odd.  The first was about a new technology program that will replace Industrial Arts with 21st century education on computers that will require new facilities, equipment, and staffing.  The second was about a potential $2 million gap between the district's income and spending for next school year.

As much of a technology geek as I am, I was feeling offended as a taxpayer as I heard school officials discuss the costs of the new program.  My second reaction was to be torn -- I thought how cool it would be to have the program in place, much cooler than spot welding aluminum scoops and hammering out little metal ash trays (I grew up in a time when kids made ash trays for their parents.  I made mine with a circle of aluminum, a wooden mould, and a ball peen hammer).  But I kept asking myself how district officials could even be talking about adding new programs with new costs in virtually the same breath they were saying they didn't have the income next year to fully fund the programs we do have.

I've been brooding over this the past couple of days, trying to put myself in school officials' shoes and to understand my reaction.  In one way I think they have to consider the technology program now.  Lansing has been falling behind in technology education for years, and it has been a topic of discussion for this and past school boards for as long as I can remember.  Evidently the CDC has offered to take on the cost of new computer labs and equipment, so that part is good.

But program costs and staffing needs will fall on the district at a terrible fiscal time, as evidenced by the 'funding cliff' discussion that followed.  I kept thinking, how can they expect us to take them seriously about holding spending down to whatever amount they end up with in revenues if they're talking about spending more now on something that isn't even a core academic program like English or Chemistry?

I had to remind myself how fiscally responsible the current administration has been over the past two years.  This year's budget is estimated to be underspent by about $400,000 due to constant monitoring and working with employees to promote awareness of and responsibility for spending.  For the third time in a row a capital project will be brought to a vote next month that will not cost any additional taxes, but will address serious building issues that were identified five years ago.  This administration has spent a lot of effort building trust with the community.  Nobody's perfect, but even I think they are doing a terrific job.

Like most of my neighbors I am panicked about the very high taxes we have now.  My assessment went up considerably a couple of years ago with the result you would expect in terms of the bottom line at a very, very bad economic time.  On top of that I am naturally fiscally conservative, sometimes to the point of paralysis.  So I expect my outrage Monday had mostly to do with these factors.  It was certainly a knee-jerk reaction.

But I think it highlights the major challenge the school board and administration have right now.  Even people like me who are highly impressed with recent efforts to responsibly manage district finances are likely to turn ugly at the slightest hint that we will have to pay more because the state and other sources of income are paying less.  If New York State can't afford it, how can we?

Between stories I reported this week and stories I've read the outlook is terrible.  The federal government is in debt up to our kids' ears.  The state government wants to delay our tax refunds it's so strapped for cash.  And it wants federal money.  The county budget looks extremely bleak for next year.  And they want state money.  The school district...  well, you get the idea.

Guess who all these governments will be requiring to bail them out?

So I guess that's where my knee-jerk reaction came from.  I think maybe it would be a good idea to put new programs on hold for a little while at least until we all see an actual economic recovery.  Or even discussions of them.  They are too nerve-wracking right now.

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