A commenter here writes…
Maybe this is why CCUSD can't provide the programs and technology that the districts surrounding can - these are tax rate comparisons for 2010-2011 (combined Primary and Secondary taxes)
He\She then goes on the list the tax rates for surrounding districts. The same information can be found at Learn Yes and its campaign to support the CCUSD Override Election in November.
We appreciate the open dialogue and the point that the commenter is trying to make but this person needs to dig deeper and stop being spoon fed the party line.
We are here to set the record straight. Consider this our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on Tax Rates and spending in CCUSD.
1) These comparisons are unfair because of the size, locale (urban\suburban) and the SES populations vary widely among the districts.. See the state auditor general report on school district spending where districts are compared with their peers.
2) The Sonoran News does a great jod explaining why 5x3 is the same as 3x5. Be sure to read it here…
LearnYes.org fundraising, campaigning to pass a November override
3) We will further the Sonoran News’ point by showing that tax rates and poverty rates have little correlation between spending and teacher’s salaries with this chart (despite the complaining from CCUSD that it does not get enough federal funds because we do not have enough students who are poor [what a horrible situation]):
See, top tax rate does not equal the top spending or teacher pay. Bottom tax rate does not result in the lowest amount of spending or the lowest teacher pay, and the poverty rate shows little to no correlation either.
4) In Cave Creek Unified, per pupil pending is up 38.4% and teacher’s salaries in Cave Creek Unified are up 48.5% over the past 10 years and that includes all those state budget cuts in 2008 and 2009. See the numbers here.
So commenter, we would love to seriously hear what you think about this information and if this is helpful to you at all. Thank you for your input.
Just a question about your point 4 - how much did the other districts that you are using for your comparison increase per pupil spending and teacher salaries in the past ten years?
ReplyDeleteCCUSD was just one of three districts that I have had kids in in that time period. That same complaint has been cited in all three districts. It times pretty well to NCLB demands, unfunded mandates, and loss of some federal funding. While your federal taxes may have gone down around the same time, more burden shifted on local governments, local districts. But, isn't that the idea of the right - dismantle fed government since local citizens have a better idea of what works in their own backyard and will fund it as necessary.
Also, am not sure that the teachers in CCUSD are at the point where they can be described as overcompensated despite any growth in salary.
Oh the changes we could make with a law like this in ARIZONA!!!!Parents for Super Schools...what do you think of this?
ReplyDeleteA proposed state law would give New York parents significantly more power over their children's schools.
The so called "trigger law" would allow parents who gather a majority at any persistently failing school to either fire 50 percent of the teachers, fire the principal, close the school or turn it into a charter school.