Money Does Not Equal Performance

To the Editor:

Beating up the town side of the budget to favor the schools will not improve our schools. Because money alone does not guarantee improved school performance. Just look at all the money we spent the last ten years. And realize in the 1960s schools used to be the “The Little Engine that Could.” Now they have become the engine that can’t! Many don’t realize the United States was number one in the world in education in 1962.

Although education spending has increased 600 percent (an average of 12.5 percent per year for 48 years), today we have dropped to about number 22 in education results worldwide, while becoming number one in spending. Not a good track record.

Automatic budget increases due to contracts should be renegotiated during prolonged recessions. A smart BOE would understand this.

The proposed town side of the budget has been cut three times now, but the school portion has only been cut once. Now with money added back to the school side of the budget, schools will get more, while the town side is cut below this year’s budget. Is this what schools mean by “Their fair share?” They want their increase, while taxpayers and the town get zero.

Our BOE should have thought twice before over-building the high school addition with declining student population or giving administrators such excessive bonuses last time.

Money alone will not improve education. Improving student’s academic proficiency requires better decisions regarding teaching and curriculum by the BOE. Parents beware, classes below the honors level fail to effectively prepare children for college or competition in life.

Only by electing new BOE members who will efficiently manage the balance between the school’s budget and academics and also address the drug problem instead of ignore it, will academic proficiency of every student improve. Better leadership is required to return schools to what they once were, and what every parent hopes them to be again, Blue Ribbon-approved.

We need to reject threats by school officials to cut teachers and see the problem for what it is, a faulty administration that puts failed policies before students’ welfare. Only by voting No on the proposed school budget can we change the school system one step at a time and give our students a better future.

Wake up, the economy will not improve this year or next and people are still losing jobs. Connecticut and 43 other states are writing with red ink. Our property values have dropped 40 percent and spending more on schools will not change that. Additionally, Connecticut’s credit rating has been cut, and some 88,000 businesses have either closed or left the state. Ultimately this means less money from the state for every town. Increasing spending and raising taxes beyond two percent only exacerbates the problem.

While the majority of Americans disapprove of our growing national deficit, they need to realize that the fix starts with them. Waiting until after our country or Connecticut goes bankrupt will be too late.

Daniel Kormanik

85 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                                   May 28, 2010