[Winona Online Democracy]
Glen,
It makes me believe there is hope yet in the world when community
members like you "get it" regarding school funding. I have never worked
with so bass-ackwards and frustrating a system as the financial world of
public education. When you come up with your own research and it reiterates
what district officials have been saying for years, perhaps it will be more
believable to the everyday Winonan.
For some reason, when decent public-spirited people cross the line by
election into the political world, we are assumed to be untrustworthy,
incompetant spenthrifts. I am glad that you agree WAPS is in desperate need
of adequate and equitable funding.
Your comments made my day! (Yes, school board members have feelings.)
Sharon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glen & Diane Schumann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 7:09 PM
Subject: RE: [Winona] Special Education Funding
> Gene,
>
> Thanks for the information. I have added some information and comments
> below.
>
>
> "* If the federal government funded its 40% commitment, Minnesota would
see
> a $169 million increase in federal fund. This would provide an additional
> $1,564 per pupil."
>
> Unfunded requirements like this cause school districts a good deal of
> trouble. I wish there was a way to avoid the unfunded part. In many
cases,
> I might very well agree with the requirement; especially if it would be
> unlikely that most school districts would do them on their own lacking the
> federal mandate. My guess is that special education is one of those areas
> which might be shorted without a requirement from the federal government.
>
> "* In Minnesota, the federal government currently provides $1,130 per
pupil.
> The state currently provides, on average, $7,685 per pupil.
>
> * In 2001, the average special education per pupil expenditure nationwide
is
> $13,320. The average per pupil expenditure for general education students
> is $6,660."
>
> In 1998-1999, the average per pupil expenditure in MN was $6695; the Hi
for
> MN was $13,563, while the Lo was $5,227. This data came from a spread
sheet
> I downloaded from the state site a few months ago. I will be happy to
pass
> it along to anyone who is interested. I don't know if there has been a
> $1,000 per student increase over the last two school years. Gene and I
> could be using non-comparable numbers.
>
> For comparison purposes, I went to the Department of Public Instruction
site
> for Wisconsin (where I grew up) and found a spread sheet with by district
> per student costs. Here are a few of the things I learned.
>
> 1. The average figure for WI in 1999-2000 was $8391; the Hi was $17,509
and
> the Lo was $4,948.
>
> 2. The Tomah school district, where my children spent nearly five years,
is
> in the bottom 20% (86th from the bottom of 430) with per student spending
of
> $7,685.
>
> 3. Winona's $6,381 would place it third from the bottom in WI.
>
>
> I draw several conclusions from the information above including:
>
> A. Much of Minnesota's K-12 public education system is under funded.
>
> B. District 861 is grossly under funded.
>
> C. In spite of both states providing large shares of K-12 funding, equity
of
> funding across school districts does not exist.
>
> I will support a referendum for an override levy if one is brought before
> us.
> Glen Schumann
> Winona, MN
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> H: 507.454.3056 W: 507.453.3567 W FAX: 507.454.1440
>
> Visit my Family Home Page: <http://www.hbci.com/~gschuman/home.htm>
>
>
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