Craig Brooks asked for information on the PHASED speaker, Charles
Spieker, from MN Dept of Ed(see disclaimer at bottom).
I've pasted in the handout he shared after his
presentation. Randy Schenkat
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES FOR
EDUCATION
(A Collection of Thoughts to
Stimulate Discussion)
c.a.speiker
Across the country and in virtually
every state, discussions are underway on the topic of
funding education. Within
those discussions one is hard-pressed to find more than a handful of
people who will entertain school finance in any way other than raising
taxes at the state and local levels; generating new or greater fees
for parents and students; and, getting involved in a myriad of
fundraising activities. Clearly, local boards and administrators have
to put on their business hats and create alternative funding sources.
But, more than that, they need to totally shift their paradigms to
allow for a new schooling organization to emerge.
The State of Schools
Thomas Friedman in the New York
Times quoted Bill Gates in a speech at the summit of the nation's
governors. ..."American high schools are obsolete.. .1 mean that
our high schools- even when they are working exactly as designed-
cannot teach our kids what they need to know today." Friedman
said that for the first time in history, we are going to face
competition from low-wage, high-human-capital communities embedded
within India, China and Asia.
Do we have the motivation and
leadership in the state to make fundamental changes to the way things
are going? Can we change our notions of funding completely so that
survival and then quality education will grow in to great? Check out
Jim Collins Good to Great.
There is no culture in the schooling
or legislative process to get to a discussion of the big ideas,so we
may be doomed to traditional mediocrity. Excuses include:
Don't rock the boat. (the current
risk-free culture)
There really isn't anything wrong
(never mind the data).
But, we have always done it that
way.
My contract is quite clear on my
duties.
Where is the passion and drive to do
the BEST?
Is there any group of employees in
the traditional schools that would be willing to risk it all to move
to a concept of new funding and new products? Parents are! Look at the
charters. Dr. Ouchi in Making Schools Work suggests that all
principals become entrepreneur.
All discussion on alternative
funding has been a regrinding of the sausage meat. Funding is state,
federal and local, ...it is general and categorical.. .so, we move the
pieces around within this precast and arcane framework. A legislator
can make political gains by promising some categorical aid for
schools, buying technology and a host of other "red herrings"
to get votes. If the bill gets passed, the money goes to the district
and gets lost, rather than let the money go to the buildings to get
the jobs done.
How about this.
...........
Privatize all schools and make the
corporations figure out their own funding
Fund all children with a revenue
voucher from casinos and other gambling
Apply the 1/2 billion in funds for
extra curricular activities to more productive ends
Turn all schools into a form of
charter school with no more than 200 children per site,
run
by people who have
"special skills."
All schools are providing services
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year.
Public employees participate in the
generation of revenue for the common good
Conditions necessary to Launch the
Discussion-the safe one!
If alternatives to traditional state
aid and local levies are to be seriously considered,
WITHOUT GOING AROUND THE BEND, then
several conditions must be set in motion prior to that activity. Some
of those conditions that need to exist are:
1. All the partners in
education must participate fully.
2. Alternative funding must
have a return large enough to warrant the expenditure of valued and
scarce resources.
3. The discussion of
alternative funding must explore all dimensions of the
topic.
4. Employee unions need to be
apprised of the possibility of alternative funding.
5. A fundamental shift in
mission paradigms must be entertained.
6. A fundamental shift in
operations paradigms must be entertained.
7. A fundamental shift in
geo-political paradigms must be entertained.
Criteria for Generating Options-the
safe ones!
1. A funding source is
sustainable over time.
2. A funding source has
a large return on investment justifying the investment).
Examples of Alternative Sources of
Funding
Restructure state funding and
concepts
Foundations, 'Fees,
Services
Cost centers for teaching areas.
Computer lab (41% of schools offer some on-line learning)
Contracts to other agencies,
organizations (administration and bus garage) teach businesses
specific skills needed (post secondary options)
No part of this topic delivered
either in writing or orally is intended to in any way represent the
views of the Department of Education. Further, it is not quite clear
if many of the ideas represent the views of the speaker.
--
Randy Schenkat 1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn
55987 507-452-7168
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
