Pam Ellison wrote: >>If you want to go after the big bucks take a look at Administraitive costs of the district. I have had people tell me that we run lean in comparison to other districts. However, I have to say, that somehow Administrative salaries of Superintendents need to be reviewed.
This came up last year. We tried to go to OUTSIDE sources of information to document district performance, either way - whatever the data showed. The results are still posted at _http://www.stpaulneat.org/QUESTIONS.html_ (http://www.stpaulneat.org/QUESTIONS.html) According to the State Auditor, Febr. 2004 With respect to cost of Central Administration, SPPS ranked 123 out of MN 168 School Districts With Over 1,000 Enrollment According to the State Auditor, Sept. 2003 Saint Paul ranked third behind Minnetonka and Minneapolis in Total Superintendent Compensation for Metropolitan Superintendents for FY02. With respect to Area Supes, The district has taken some action to streamline/downsize, making ALC and Community Ed Executive Directors not Area Supes (note: don't know how that impacts cost of function); last year's conversation also included some discussion of span of control I'd like to get past these three issues this year to some deeper questions, e.g., according to the same Febr 2004 Auditor's report, SPPS ranks #1 in Pupil Support Services Expenditures. Defined in the report as, "Expenditures for all noninstructional services provided to students, not including transportation and food. Includes expenditures for counseling, guidance, health services, psychological services, and attendance and social work services." I'd like to know more about what these are, which legally mandated, which not; where the district is at when compared to industry standards (e.g., secondary guidance counselors, media services); which can be rolled out of central administration to schools, etc. The district's full budget is posted at _http://www.businessoffice.spps.org/index.asp?SEC={0B817057-0118-4C10-93BD-E31 7B95D4E88}&Type=B_BASIC_ (http://www.businessoffice.spps.org/index.asp?SEC={0B817057-0118-4C10-93BD-E317B95D4E88}&Type=B_BASIC) if any would like to pursue. I'd also like to get to a more substantive conversation about, What should it cost to deliver an excellent education? and Was it fiscally responsible for the state to assume the liability of public education without providing a stable source of revenue? and How is it the state continues to describe funding shifts as increases when Parents United Network is rolling out data that shows they're not; according to the Network, public education revenue has increased at an average rate of 1.4% for the past 14 years, not enough to keep up with inflation. See April 2004 - Education Funding in Minnesota â How Did We get Here? (PowerPoint) at _http://www.parentsunitednetwork.org/Legislative_Action.html_ (http://www.parentsunitednetwork.org/Legislative_Action.html) A live debate would be fun. Maybe we could invite Mary Cecconi, John Gunyou and Governor Pawlenty to give everybody a chance to have their say. Gotta run! --Jennifer Armstrong Payne/Phalen _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
