Tax Increase?

Thank you for your reply Mr. Davis. I understand what the State has done and appreciate the School Districts foresight, I personally don't want the children of Walton County to suffer. How will this affect the mandate of the class size amendment?

I am sure Mark can answer better but have you ever done the break down on increased individualized education of 25 vs 18 students in the classroom? I think it adds less than six minutes of possible individual instruction time to each student, if a teacher is doing individual instruction. Why not take the billions that are being spent and try to education people to just spend 10 minutes a day with their kids reading?

I was refering to the one you live in in Walton County. And the others just like it.

I don't live in a million dollar condo. I've never lived in a million dollar condo. I don't like condos. Robert you know better anyway.

I am sure Mark can answer better but have you ever done the break down on increased individualized education of 25 vs 18 students in the classroom? I think it adds less than six minutes of possible individual instruction time to each student, if a teacher is doing individual instruction. Why not take the billions that are being spent and try to education people to just spend 10 minutes a day with their kids reading?

Robert
Its the law, as passed by those who voted for it, whether I agree or disagree is neither here nor there. If its the law those that we elect are accountable to carry it out.

Robert
Its the law, as passed by those who voted for it, whether I agree or disagree is neither here nor there. If its the law those that we elect are accountable to carry it out.

Could you send me a list of when you are going to argue its the law vs. when you are going to argue it is for the good of the employee? I guess if students could join unions I would have a better idea of where you stood, Bob.

Or.............

Didn't someone post on another thread that if FL just collected all the internet sales tax it was due, it would have enough $ to cover the budget?

Could you send me a list of when you are going to argue its the law vs. when you are going to argue it is for the good of the employee? I guess if students could join unions I would have a better idea of where you stood, Bob.

Look, the people have spoken, I asked a question how the particular issue was going to be impacted. I am concerned by the possible loss of jobs as you should be also. Students do have rights as decided by the court. I also asked the question so that I could prepare for a tax increase because I believe it will be difficult to carry out unfunded mandates ( class size amendment) and a reduction in tax revenue from the State at the same time. As far as your desire to argue, I believe I have been pretty consistent in my beliefs and when I change those or make a error in my statements, I am more than willing to correct them here. I respect your right to disagree and your view, and half the problem is we all think we have the answers. Mr. Davis answered a question which brought more, why, because I don't know, so I ask.

Sounds like Walton County is in pretty good shape to weather the downturn. Lets move these guys to Washington. No wait, keep them here!

Education Budge Cuts

I heard a news report this morning that the State Education Budget will be cut during the special session by 2%. If my math is right, and that holds true for our operations budget, the cut will approximate 1.4 million dollars. Again, I think we can absorb that without too much heartache and without lay offs.

To answer another poster, yes, the public will have opportunities to comment on the budget cuts. The first will be at the workshop to be conducted next Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at the School Board Offices in DFS. We can't vote at a workshop, so the cuts will bed presented at a regular school board meeting after the workshop. Not sure when.

As for Robert's questions, I have always supported the class size amendment. Research has shown that test scores (we can argue about the effectiveness of tests all day) do improve when class sizes are smaller. That is especially true in the lower grades. In fact, I would argue that the class size amendment has had as much to do with the State's progress in reading than the A plus for education plan passed by the Bush administration. The class size amendment grew out of frustration from parents in the south part of the state where children were placed in very crowded classrooms (35 plus students) and the local boards were complaining they did not have enough money to build new classrooms or schools. So, to the extent that it forced the State of Florida to build more schools, it was truly a good thing. It has been costly, but, I believe effective.

However, the next reform I believe we need is a longer class day and longer class year. We are constantly being told by the State and Feds we have to add this or that to the curriculum. Yet, we continue to teach the same number of minutes and days each year. The non-FCAT classes are really beginning to take a hit, including band, art, etc. This gets real frustrating.

By the way, Florida still ranks either last or next to last in K-12 public school spending (per student) and dead last in higher education spending (per student). Our system, throughout the State, is not overfunded.

Again, Walton County is in pretty good shape. Next year will be more interesting in terms of budget cuts than this year for our district. Thanks, guys.....

I thought the increase in $$$ for education in Walton since 2004 has been very significant. Did the success of test scores for students increase on the same percentage as the increase in spending? (since we are talking $$$)

Maybe a nice comparision would be 2000 vs 2005

It seems to me that most don't understand the uproar that will happen next year. This year was bad for cuts, but does anyone really think that next year will be the same or better?

It seems to me that most don't understand the uproar that will happen next year. This year was bad for cuts, but does anyone really think that next year will be the same or better?

I can only speak of one state agency that I am very familiar with and they are a department in the Florida government responsible for environmental protection (guess which one ;-)). My understanding is that next year's budget for many programs with dedicated funding sources are going to be severely hit, worse than this year. The reason why is that the dedicated funding source is tied to state taxes collected through the documentary stamp for property sales. As we all realize, property ain't sellin, so the doc stamp revenues are at wayyyy down.

I can only speak of one state agency that I am very familiar with and they are a department in the Florida government responsible for environmental protection (guess which one ;-)). My understanding is that next year's budget for many programs with dedicated funding sources are going to be severely hit, worse than this year. The reason why is that the dedicated funding source is tied to state taxes collected through the documentary stamp for property sales. As we all realize, property ain't sellin, so the doc stamp revenues are at wayyyy down.

As I understand it we know quite a few people. I'll say hi to Lorna for you the next time I see her.

I thought the increase in $$$ for education in Walton since 2004 has been very significant. Did the success of test scores for students increase on the same percentage as the increase in spending? (since we are talking $$$)

Maybe a nice comparision would be 2000 vs 2005

Our operations and capital outaly budget increased since 2000. However, because of the particulars in the state's educational budgeting process, our capital outlay budget (construction, maintenance) increased very significantly since 2000 because of the rapid run up in property values. We asked for and got a half mill transfer from capital outlay to operations. Frankly, that has saved our rear-ends during the budget downturn.

As for spending and test scores, I would love to see such a study completed. I suspect that when spending in operations goes up; so do test scores. You have more teachers, more teacher training, more specialized instruction on the exam and more opportunities for reading remediation without narrowing your non-FCAT curriculum. I suspect the budget changes we are going to see are going to affect the non-FCAT curriculum, i.e., electives, etc. Again, I don't want to downplay the success our students and teachers have had over the past five years on those tests, if you look at the raw numbers, they have not improved dramatically. But, they have improved in the areas that impact school grades and in the current administration and environment, that is all the matters.

It seems to me that most don't understand the uproar that will happen next year. This year was bad for cuts, but does anyone really think that next year will be the same or better?

I agree, next year will be much tougher unless the economy, read sales tax collections, improves quickly....

Robert: We keep hearing that the legislature is going to make the class size calculation a school by school calculation instead of a classroom calculation. Frankly, we comply under either calculation, but, it would help budget concerns in the south part of the state for a school calculation....

I believe that most studies show that the biggest determinant is class size - spending helps, but isn't a definite guarantee of results. Smaller class size is THE best way to achieve results.

Robert: We keep hearing that the legislature is going to make the class size calculation a school by school calculation instead of a classroom calculation. Frankly, we comply under either calculation, but, it would help budget concerns in the south part of the state for a school calculation....

Better yet they need to move it back to a district average. That would really be helpful in overall planning.

Robert: We keep hearing that the legislature is going to make the class size calculation a school by school calculation instead of a classroom calculation. Frankly, we comply under either calculation, but, it would help budget concerns in the south part of the state for a school calculation....

Just curious and would hope the legislature would account for this, but are classes such as gym and study hall excluded from the count?

Better yet they need to move it back to a district average. That would really be helpful in overall planning.

I can't see how that would be in line with the spirit of the law. There are many school districts with very diverse populations and clusters of greater population. Nobody wants to see one crowded school offset by a less crowded school.

A schoolwide calculation would make a lot more sense and still help the schools comply with the amendment in tougher times.

I can't see how that would be in line with the spirit of the law. There are many school districts with very diverse populations and clusters of greater population. Nobody wants to see one crowded school offset by a less crowded school.

A schoolwide calculation would make a lot more sense and still help the schools comply with the amendment in tougher times.

Keep in mind that came from a former candidate for school board. ;-)

Deficit Reduction
Traffic fines increased, land buying program suspended (about time) and canceling 250 million bond and saving 4 million. 10.5% cut in nursing home reimbursements, going to make that up from your federal tax monies. Pulling 400 million from the 650 million reserves. $140 per student cut from education although the way it is reported confuses me, is the 2% of the 466 million the 140 per student or did they cut something else in education. Teacher bonus may be cut but Crist may veto it. 157 million or 4% for higher education. Increase class size in Pre K and for summer session there will be a cut of $438 per student, regular session there will be a $53 decrease. Taking a loan from the Lawton Chiles Endowment to the tune of $700 million, this is one of the items that was to be used for something else, I wonder why we could have not give NWF college the 24 Million and had borrowed from that single purpose fund? No more orange juice at the visitor centers. Developmentally Disable folks 5% cut, 2% cut from nursing home diversion program, I guess the saving they thought were going to be there will be increasing because instead of diverting and providing some in home care they will be placing them in nursing homes. 190 million for low and moderate housing and it appears it won't finish 4000 units. Not filling 1400 State positions, Cancer, heart, stroke, lung disease research cut by 3.75 million. Kids, deveopmentall disabled, elderly and our federal government are all expected to take a beating on this one.

I think the people depend on the goverment for way to much. What was these funded at before the big boom that had everyone wonting the goverment to incress spending for their project???

I don't really think folks who are trying to stay in their homes rather than going to a nursing home are asking for anymore, we just have an aging population. I truly don't think the developmentally disabled or their families hoped that their lives would be this way, and those that are in a nursing home that without State assistance maybe could not afford to be there and then the Nursing Home Businesses are there to make a profit, if these folks decide to shut down because it is no longer profitable then what happens to these folks. So to me those services we are cutting are hurting those least able to deal with it.