Ain’t No Surplus When It’s Gone*
Okay, we all know that the state revenue forecast has Indiana in some pretty dire straits and Governor Mitch Daniels is calling for $300 million in cuts from education. Now while some people may argue that the dark clouds have finally hit, I maintain there is a ray of sunshine in all this.
Maybe, just maybe, we can use this opportunity to talk about consolidating the ADMINISTRATIVE, NON-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION functions of schools. I put that in all caps so there is no confusion as to what I’m talking about. How many human resources, janitorial services, lunchroom cafeteria, supply purchase people does a school district need? Couldn’t some of that be consolidated or outsourced?
And instead of laying off teachers, how about school districts share them to teach classes which they could not afford on their own? And how about using the latest technology to teach multiple students in multiple districts.
This financial crisis is the perfect opportunity for educators to unlock their creative potential and deliver education in an effective and efficient manner.
Think of this as a teaching opportunity.
*My apologies to Bill Withers and The Capitol Steps.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:29 am
[...] don’t think Abdul is wrong when he suggests that this is a good time to look for waste and creative solutions in school [...]
December 16th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Trying any of those ideas you mention means the giving up of either political power or control for administrators. As I'm sure you already know, expect these fish to fight the hook all the way into the boat.
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A related note. The idea of turning IPS over to the Mayor (or any Indy Mayor) is bad, bad, bad. First stupid thing I've heard out of the State Superintendent.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Maybe we should discuss the elimination of school administrators who are paid far too much and do far too little.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Why is Higher Education being cut by only $150 million while K-12 is being cut $300+ million?
Higher education has the luxury to have multiple revenue sources from tuition, local, state & federal government funding, alumni donations, corporate sponsored research, athletic programs, etc..
K-12 is pretty much TOTALLY reliant on state and local government funding.
Cant Higher Education Be Cut Much Deeper?
December 16th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Bing. IU and PU each have the ability to raise significant amounts of money quickly. Both have demonstrated this with reaching BILLION dollar fundraising goals ahead of schedule IU in 2009, PU in 2008.
These two state universities have reeped the benefit of the state purchasing resources for them. Its time that they start using those resources to become self-sustaining. If we just eliminate university funding for operating and capital costs, and only fund through Indiana student scholarship we could easily eliminate this $300M.
I understand that some places like IPFW and Vincennes can't support themselves through fundraising, but IU and PU certainly can. It's time for them to grow up, find a job and leave the house.
December 16th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Whether publicly funded education, health care, or hospitals, the taxpayer wants to know where the money's already going before chipping-in more. The eternal “compassion” pitch is common to all: “But, (sob), it's for the A)children B)teachers C)poor”. All can be legitmate pleas, except that none of them will be fulfilled if the funding mechanism (the wallets of you and I) are busted.
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Therefore, I have sympathy for national health care, a new Wishard hospital, and optimum facilities and staffing for public education, but not without INFORMATION. If whatever level of government for whatever project is not forthcoming with the WHOLE story, I no longer care because they obviously don't care enough about the citizens who fund them enough to tell the whole truth.
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We should not have to read a 2000 page health care bill at breakneck speed to figure-out where they're trying to get over on us. We should not have to conduct interviews and unearth documents to ascertain that the cash flow and bonding arrangement for Wishard is more shady than presented. We should not have to beg and plead for a definition of “administrator”, salaries, and head count-per-pupil over comparative school districts to find out if we're getting reamed or not.
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We all want good education and goverment programs from our tax dollars, but the days of a blank check without supportive documentation are gone. I suggest these programs and projects will have more success ahead with explicit communication and facts.
December 16th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Taxpayer, you are absolutely right.
I've read the healthcare bill–as it stood a weke or so ago. I have not kept pace with amendments. On the whole, I approve. Although I don't like parts of it. Mostly, the reform forced on health insurers roped me in. If only we could get hospitals to stop overbuilding…evidence by the rapid expansion of Cadillac hospitals around 465, operating now at 20-30% capacity, but boy, they're purty.
As for school budgets, I've posted ad naseum on this subject. Suffice it to say, until we bust the Superintendent Cartel, we're screwed. It really is that simple. At the Poker Game of School Budgets, they own the cards, the table, the dealers and most of the doorkeepers. We're the bank. And we've bene getting raped for decades by this expensive cartel. It stopped working efficiently 20 years ago. And only gets worse.
Lots of state university hating here. Don't hate–appreciate. University budget cuts are tough, too…but the point is well-taken.
A possible explanation: there are about one-tenth of the students in the state collegiate system. It's also not mandatory, like k-10 education (or more appropriately, k-age 16 schooling).
December 16th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Why doesn't the Teresa Lubbers start the conversation about IU spinning off or closing some of its “community college” campuses?
IU needs to rationalize its delivery system and IVY Tech should not be allowed to go on a building spree creating redundant facilities around the state.
I'm sure there are even more consolidation opportunities that involve other higher education institutions.
December 16th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
It's brilliant that you can get 2 years worth of credits at Ivy Tech and transfer them seamlessly to IU. However, tuition likely won't remain a bargain for long if Ivy Tech goes on a building spree.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Tis tis tis tis tis. Abbie Abbie Abbie. Apparently you are unaware of the causes that you support. You failed to mention that today, December 16th is the a very special day for you and the anti-government/establishment folks/conservative Glenn Beckers. Today, in 1773, place Boston. Remember the Tea Party?!?!?!. Funny, I heard no one from your (and other conservatives) local tea party organization. Where has the cause gone????? Too cold??? Not too cold in Boston in 1773. Oh well, there is always another populous knee jerk cause just around the corner. Tis tis tis tis tis
December 16th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Melyssa, I've had two children take math and writing courses at Ivy Tech in the last two summers. One is a senior at Purdue, the other a freshman at IU.
None of the courses transferred easily. It was like pulling teeth. The rela reaosn, frnakly, was the intellectual rigor of the Ivy Tech courses was hugely inferior.
Seamless it wasn't. I had to get my state representative involved. I later learned my story was oft-repeated.
Ivy Tech is generally not prepared nor capable of transferring credits for many solid academic subjects. They're really good at some of the allied health professions, body shops, welding, technical trades, etc. But they suck at the areas I've mentioend…despite promises to the contrary in advance.
Nick, please name one regional IU campus whose delivery system costs the state one dime. Those regional campuses are economic development engines in their communities, and they generate far more ebnefit than you'd believe. Plus tens of thousands of students (i.e., income). All the building programs are bonded via tuition or fee support, not state general revenue.
Learn before you type.
December 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Think Again,
They are all funded with tax dollars.
The proliferation of IU's communities college campuses was fueled by a nasty battle with IVY Tech over who was going to provide a community college network in Indiana and a desire by IU to reward powerful legislators for favorable financial treatment.
IVY Tech appears to have won the community college battle.
Its time to make the system work and clean everything up.
That means breaking up the cartel that uses universities as conduits for local building projects.
That means raising the educational standards and graduation completion rates with IVY Tech.
That means hiring full time professors at IVY Tech instead of going on the cheap with mostly part time teaching staff.
That means making clear education paths through IVY Tech to 4 year degrees at state and private universities.
That means seriously considering the consolidation of high education facilities and possibly even entire state funded higher education organizations.
December 16th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Well, Nick, you're partly right. But not one IU building program, on those regional campuses, was funded with tax dollars. They're all bonded, guaranteed via tuition, fees or other sources. Ask any IU parent…fees have increased dramatically in the last 15 years…way betyond inflation.
I'd like to see the community college system in Indiana. But it's very expensive to start one, when you don't have one. Our feeble-minded legislatures of the 40s-60s missed the boat on that one. Our midwestern friends in Iowa and Minnesota and Wisconsin did it. And it works. Remarkably well. Typically, most CC degree programs do not duplicate the larger state universities' established programs, with some exceptions.
As for Ivy Tech winning the “community college” battle, if there ever was one, are you stoned? On no planet is that true.
Ivy Tech has cheaped out on HR and maxed out on buildings. Which fits their prototype–hell they owned Garton for 30 years, they own Bauer and several other legislators. It only stands to pass that they'd have about whatever they wanted.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
We appear to agree on more than we disagree.
i.e Olives belong in both Bloody Mary AND Martini ;-)
December 16th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I grew up in Wisconsin and went to college there, as did numerous relatives and friends. The state-wide university system there is phenomenal, and more students get a great college education pretty close to home if need be. Each campus has a unique mission so there is little redundancy. If you don't go to the campus in Madison, you go to a smaller campus based on its strengths and your career path. Indiana really, really missed the boat on this.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Take a look at the http://www.ipsb-s.blogspot.com under the title “brace yourself for budget cuts” someone has gone through board reports to highlight the money the board has approved for consultants,
December 16th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
It is a teaching moment. Time to teach the kids about what it means to go hungry, and perhaps to have done a better job about selecting their parents. Time to cut-out all them free lunches. Give `em a little “free-market” incentive to not be so dependent all the time. Always lookin' for a hand-out, them little heathens are. If them damned bleeding-heart liberals wouldn't have put an end to child labor sweat-shops, we wouldn't have this problem.
All them “social” programs got us into this mess, so we need to go back to social-Darwinism to make everything right. Let the poor eat them chillen's they can't provide for. This is what happens when you take God out of schoolins.
If a teacher can teach 1 kid something, he can teach 200 kids the same thing at the same time. Or for that matter, all of them. Should only need 1 teacher per grade, per school.
We need to teach them kids what true conservatism is all about, saving $ and fend for yourself cuz society is not all about helping an individual, so get over your self and end the pity-party.
December 16th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Sorry Abdul; It seems that my imaginary friend has gotten access to my computer. I think he's on drugs, or at least drinking again. I don't know where he gets the money and my stash is no smaller. I also suspect him of being a conservative, and likely a homo too if he runs true to the breed.
We haven't been speaking much in the last 2 weeks, something about a traumatic experience in his childhood which he apparrently holds against me. (he's 11 yrs. younger and it has something to do with Halloween, I'm not clear on all the details) I'll try to keep him off of here in the future. Rest assured, he is grounded.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:10 am
“All the building programs are bonded via tuition or fee support, not state general revenue.”
This is just a numbers game they play. IU sits on a billion, but wants the state to pay for this and that. The state says OK, which allows IU to use less of its billions, and raising tuition, to build the buildings. Not only that, they buildings they build are ridiculous, especially the new campus center. Why the hell is half the building an open air, five story atrium? When the first opened the building in the winter, it was freezing cold at the floor level, extremely hot at the upper levels. There is nothing green about this building at all. Wasted space, horrible climate control, etc.. But it is what someone wanted, so it gets rubber stamped.
“As for Ivy Tech winning the “community college” battle, if there ever was one, are you stoned? On no planet is that true.”
We may not have a “community college,” but Ivy Tech won the non-traditional student battle. The amount of weekend college classes down at IUPUI has dropped significantly. I have heard a few reasons why this is:
#1: IUPUI, and IU as a whole, wanted to be thought of as a traditional university. Bloomington had that identity, but not IUPUI. Having a bunch of working adults taking two classes a semester after work on on the weekends didn't build the bond they want between the student and the school. My guess is that they figure the stronger the bond, the more likely they will donate money to the school later in life??
#2: Last year, IUPUI's full-time student population grew to the largest it has ever been, while the part-time student number dropped. My understanding is that the state is no longer writing checks based solely on enrollment, but now they are factoring in retention. Well, you are more likely to retain a full-time teenage student than a part-time adult with kids and a full-time job to deal with. All you have to do is head down to IUPUI and see how dead it is now on the weekends, just a handful of classes are held on the weekends now.
“All them “social” programs got us into this mess, so we need to go back to social-Darwinism to make everything right.”
Funny how the leftist want to force the teachings of Darwin when it comes to history, but heaven forbid we actually put his teachings into practice. Hey, even I don't want people starving. It doesn't really matter though. We have too many 24 year olds who have four kids, all with different daddies, and who will continue to pop out more and more mouths to feed. All the while, my friends who are actually productive can only afford two kids. Eventually, demanding all the productive people's money is going to force their kids to see that being productive is being a slave, thus many of the off-spring of the productive will choose the poor, inner city life because to be productive is to be a slave given how much debt you have to take on to be productive (college costs) and the amount of the fruits of your labor are stolen to pay a six-figure wages to K-12 administrators. There is a breaking point. We saw it with the property tax issue a couple years ago. The need for that money didn't go away, the state just spread the costs across all 92 counties (Thanks Mitch) to prevent a damn riot and white, rich liberal flight to the suburbs.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:21 am
No, John, you're wrong. It's not a numbers game the universities play.
In my example, the bonds to pay for new construction were guaranteed entirely with non-taxpayer money.
Except the money they got from this taxpayer that paid for my kids' education at IU.
Make no mistake–there's fat in the IU budget. Galore. But the construction side of things is a different story. They cleaned up their act on that a long time ago.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Hear Bill Withers singing, “Ain't no surplus when it's gone…” Let's build a song.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
[...] Indiana Barrister reports that there is a ray of sunshine in the revenue forecast that Gov. Mitch Daniels calls dire. The Web site also has audio from the governor explaining the situation. [...]
December 18th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I don't know about the townships (we here so little of their dirty laundry) but we all know where the fat is in IPS and it's not in the classrooms. Remember all these principals who lost their jobs and were moved downtown? All those folks making hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a separate, more expensive insurance package from teachers! Why not freeze or CUT administrators salaries, and reduce their benefits? One of them easily equals two teachers in terms of pay!
What about using the public bus system for transporating students? Why pay teachers their hourly rate for individual instruction of homebound students when this can be done online?
Cutting cafeteria workers, teachers aids… doesn't impact the budget enough to matter.
Has anyone checked the IPS bugdet for waste or even ghost employment? Oh, yeah. We don't need to look at the budget!
December 19th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I don't know about the townships (we here so little of their dirty laundry) but we all know where the fat is in IPS and it's not in the classrooms. Remember all these principals who lost their jobs and were moved downtown? All those folks making hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a separate, more expensive insurance package from teachers! Why not freeze or CUT administrators salaries, and reduce their benefits? One of them easily equals two teachers in terms of pay!
What about using the public bus system for transporating students? Why pay teachers their hourly rate for individual instruction of homebound students when this can be done online?
Cutting cafeteria workers, teachers aids… doesn't impact the budget enough to matter.
Has anyone checked the IPS bugdet for waste or even ghost employment? Oh, yeah. We don't need to look at the budget!