Funding For Schools: Needless Turmoil |
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Every February the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) publishes preliminary budgets for each of its 118 schools ahead of the release of the Mayor’s proposed budget. And each year, we hear from many school communities that their budgets are being reduced, and schools are feeling forced to reduce critical staff and programs to accommodate the proposed budget cuts.
And every year the Chancellor moves money around, or the Council finds additional funds when it adopts the budget, so that many if not most of the proposed school cuts are restored. This process is messed up. It is needless turmoil.
This year, 46 DCPS schools have been told their budgets will be cut. Rather than wait for the budget process to run its course, last week I decided to hold a public hearing to examine why school officials force schools to consider cutting English teachers, math teachers, librarians, social workers, etc.
I wanted to provide a public forum for school communities, through their ward education councils, to state how the preliminary budgets would hurt their schools. I also wanted DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee to justify this process and explain why he thinks cutting school budgets promotes school stability.
Two things that are important for education to be successful are: (1) parental involvement; and (2) a good, healthy, robust school community. And a healthy school community embodies active parents, a stable budget, and long-term employees.
This year, once again, parents are upset and faculty are fighting for their positions. Undoubtedly some – both parents and teachers – are thinking “I give up! I’m leaving. I’ll go to a charter school. Or the suburbs. I don’t need this aggravation!” Why not? Schools shouldn’t be going through this turmoil and this threat to their community and their ability to grow and build on their educational accomplishments from one year to the next.
Schools are not like a typical government agency where what we see year after year, and what I believe is appropriate, is that the Mayor gives the agency a mark – usually a mark that forces them to look at a cut or otherwise justify their programs and workforce. But schools are not like those agencies. And should not be treated like those agencies. Schools should instead be able to rely on stable funding.
I just don’t understand how we can expect a business to succeed if every year it’s forced to face budget cuts and fleeing employees. And there is no reason why the analogy of a business doesn’t apply to a school. Each one is its own entity; a business unto itself, offering the service of educational success. Not only do we impose the instability of funding and staff, but we threaten its customer base – the parents – who shouldn’t have to fight for decent service.
Some 20 years ago the Council tried, through the budget, to hardwire minimum funding levels for schools. In spite of this guarantee, what we saw was that DCPS shifted some costs that it had been paying out of Central Administration for school support, shifted those costs to the individual schools, so that Central did not get cut.
A few years later the Council tried a different tack: we legislated that no school could have its budget reduced by more than 5%. That sort of sounds ok, but if you think about it, 5% of a $5 million budget (somewhat typical for an average-size elementary school) equals $250,000 – perhaps 3 classroom teachers. So we need to reexamine that. And regardless of that 5% limit, we still see DCPS shift expenses – two years ago it was security.
Some will argue that enforcing per pupil funding per school is the solution. Per Pupil funding is important to ensure equity between DCPS and charter schools, but as long at there is a DCPS Central Administration, per pupil funding per DCPS school will never work. Nor is it the only solution. Guaranteeing that each school’s budget builds on last year’s budget, and then adding to it to meet additional programming such as for at-risk students ensures stability and growth.
A month ago Mary Levy testified before my committee: “The number of central office employees has decreased a little recently, but is still much higher than in years much earlier when enrollment was much higher. Surely some of that cost could go to services in the schools. The number of central office full-time equivalent staff performing the same functions that DCPS now performs rose from 516 in 1981, when we had 95,000 students to 626 in 2007, when we had 52,000, and as of last month to 705 for 50,000. They include 4 Executive Directors, 9 Chiefs, 24 Deputy Chiefs, 75 Directors, 165 Managers and 41 Analysts.”
I repeat: surely some of that cost could go to services in the schools.
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POLICE REFORM:
THE NEXT ROUND
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-------Last week I spoke at the Police Reform Commission’s presentation where its members released and discussed their final report and recommendations for improving policing in the District of Columbia.
I am going to begin by making three points. The first is that the role of police in our society is something that is necessary and of value. Second, regardless of the value, the police power is alarming, when considered against our democratic principles because a police officer has the power to summarily deprive liberty and even take life. Third, it is therefore incumbent upon us to continually examine the proper balance for police authority.
What we have seen as we look across our country over the past year, and also in our city, is that we have expanded the role of police and increased their presence to the point that we can say there is over-policing in America. We look to our police officers to stop the bank robber, but we also look to the police officer to issue parking tickets, direct traffic, and resolve mental health crises.
It is necessary that we have police, but it is also necessary that we take a critical look at the service and find the right balance.
The Council directed me to appoint a 20-member Police Reform Commission last summer. When I made the appointments, I looked for individuals who, together, would represent a broad range of experience as well as perspective with regard to law enforcement and criminal justice. I wanted individuals who were serious, sincere, and thoughtful about public safety. I wanted a representation of our community, because, if you think about it, policing is about protecting us, and so “us” should be the ones designing it.
To be effective, policing must be sensitive to, and supported by, the community it serves. One example illustrates this: whether people will call the police or come forward as witnesses depends on whether they trust the police. It’s not hard to see, then, that harsh or abusive policing can be counterproductive to public safety.
Members of the Commission met as a whole and as subcommittees for the better part of six months and interviewed numerous practitioners and experts both here in the District and from other cities (by zoom, not travel). They issued their report, with 90 recommendations, on April 1st.
So even if the recommendations are edgy, we need to consider them seriously. The goal is public safety, and justice, and we can do it better. Perhaps there truly is a greater reliance on police than is necessary, and a greater acceptance of abuses than we should accept. And perhaps there are better strategies to reduce gun violence and homicides in our city.
I do want to note, because I have jurisdiction over schools and education as chair of the Council’s Committee of the Whole, that the Commission recommends eliminating police as school resource officers and makes other recommendations regarding school security. We will have a public hearing April 21st on School Security in both DCPS and the charter schools. The hearing will not deal solely with the recommendations of the Police Reform Commission, but also at the transition of the school security contract – directed by the Council last summer – from MPD to DCPS.
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---This week we learned of the tragic death of Washington Teachers Union President Elizabeth Davis.
---My thoughts and condolences are with Liz’s family and friends. It’s always unfortunate to lose someone. It is especially difficult when the death is an unexpected accident.
---Liz worked extremely hard to represent the working men and women of DC schools. Indeed, she was a fierce advocate. Her advocacy and zeal for excellence in education will be missed.
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CONSTITUENT SERVICES CORNER
---An after-school program contacted our constituent services team to find out why they had not received the emergency grant funding that had been approved for them by DC Government. The school had been operating virtually with donations but was in desperate need of financial assistance. That's when our team sprung into action.
---Our team immediately contacted the Office of the Chief Financial Officer with the application number and approval information.
---In just two weeks, the after-school program had their $50,000 grant check in hand and they can now continue serving children, youth, and families in need.
---If you have personal or business funds in limbo, get in touch with our team. We'll make sure your wishes are granted!
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Upcoming Hearings
of the Committee of the Whole
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Committee of the Whole Meeting
April 6, 2021
12 p.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
Legislative Meeting
April 6, 2021
1 p.m. or Immediately Following Committee of the Whole Meeting
via Virtual Meeting Platform
Committee of the Whole Meeting
April 20, 2021
12 p.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
School Security in District of Columbia Public & Public Charter Schools
April 21, 2021
12 p.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
For More Information on How to 'Attend' a Virtual Public Hearing & Meeting or to Testify for Public Hearings
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UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION |
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The District has failed to collect hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of dollars in property taxes.
News4 spoke to Chairman Mendelson about the issue
[Click Below]
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CHAIRMAN MENDELSON'S STAFF |
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The majority of the Chairman's Staff has shifted to telework during this public health emergency. Should you need to contact them, use the following information: |
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