Spokane7
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February 21, 2010 in City
Levy would finance battle against Spokane high-school dropout rate
Effort seeks to establish Children’s Investment Fund
A high school dropout can cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in social services, one study shows. Dropouts are 63 times more likely to be institutionalized and three times more likely to be unemployed than high school graduates.
Yet one in three kids in Spokane drops out of high school, a ratio Spokane leaders call a “crisis,” and one that needs a plan of action.
Volunteers will gather signatures starting Tuesday to put a levy before voters in August to establish a Children’s Investment Fund. The money would be used to support early childhood learning, abuse and neglect prevention and treatment programs, mentoring programs and before- and after-school activities.
Supporters say enhancing those types of programs could improve Spokane’s graduation rate by up to 20 percentage points.
“Right now the community sees this as a school issue; it’s not,” said Ben Stuckart, executive director of Communities in Schools, a business-funded nonprofit that’s trying to tackle the dropout rate. “This is a community issue.”
The six-year levy would raise $5 million annually and would cost property owners about 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
A recent poll of Spokane voters and the city’s history of supporting children give initiative backers hope that city residents would agree to fund the effort. But others say voters may be feeling overtaxed.
Red Lion Hotels Chairman Don Barbieri, who is chairing the Children’s Investment Fund steering committee, said he views the issue as “absolutely fundamental to Spokane’s social and financial future.”
Meanwhile, Spokane Public Schools officials are concerned about the competition for taxpayers’ attention and dollars, despite losing $7,291 in funding for each dropout.
“Of course we want what’s best for children, but yes, we are worried about the next levy,” said Terren Roloff, spokeswoman for the district.
Modeled on programs elsewhere
Footwork on the Children’s Investment Fund began last spring during a high school dropout summit, Stuckart said. It’s modeled after successful initiatives in Portland, Seattle and Miami.
Seattle’s Families and Education Fund was first approved by voters in 1990 and has continued to receive voter approval. Portland voters approved a similar levy in 2002 and again in 2008.
School districts are already doing what they can, and something more needs to be done, said Mary Ann Murphy, executive director of Partners with Families and Children in Spokane and a member of the local Children’s Investment Fund steering committee.
“No one else is going to do this for us,” Murphy said.
To date, 37 organizations have joined the effort to help get the levy on the ballot and passed, Murphy said.
Children’s Investment Fund backers had hoped that the Spokane City Council would recommend putting the levy on the ballot without requiring signatures. But according to the city charter, the City Council can’t put two tax measures on the ballot within six months of each other, said Councilman Richard Rush. Right now, the council is considering putting a fire bond before voters in November.
Rush added that the council “traditionally doesn’t recommend putting initiatives such as this on the ballot.” But, he said, “it seems like an excellent investment in our city.”
If voters approve the levy, an 11-member committee will be appointed by Spokane’s mayor and approved by the City Council to oversee the fund.
“Getting the money would be competitive,” Murphy said. “The committee members will be watching this to see who is moving the (dropout) numbers. We want this to be a game-changer.”
Three accountability measures are built in: a six-year sunset clause, a 5 percent limit for administrative pay and an annual audit. The six-year clause means citizens would have to vote to renew the levy or it would end, Stuckart said. Barbieri, chairman of the steering committee, is optimistic.
“I think the voters will pass it. When it comes down to our children, Spokane does not ever give up,” he said. “We just need to get the best and brightest involved to help.”
Said Stuckart: “We are not going to get out of an economic melee if we don’t invest now.”
Continued support for school measures
While Washington limps through the recession, voters across the state have continued to support children.
According to a recent report by the Seattle Times, 165 school districts asked voters to approve a total of $4.6 billion in maintenance and operation levies earlier this month. Eleven districts had bond issues on the ballot, four districts asked for transportation funds, and another 32 districts asked voters to approve $835 million in capital levies. A majority of those passed with great support.
Locally, voters approved bonds and levies by more than 60 percent for six area school districts, including Cheney, Medical Lake and Rosalia.
The trend has been mirrored nationally, according to various news reports.
But asking Spokane voters to support this fund now, “I would call that ill-advised,” said Kate McCaslin, former Spokane County commissioner.
The economy is still shaky, the state faces another revenue shortfall, and locally, taxpayers could be asked to help finance a new jail, replace firefighting equipment, continue support of emergency medical services and possibly pay more money for animal shelter services.
“I think voters are in no mood for new taxes,” McCaslin said. “Most voters will think it’s patently unfair because the burden falls on property owners rather than asking for a general sales tax increase.”
Deana Brower, campaign co-chairwoman for Spokane Public Schools’ 2012 levy, said, “Our community has always supported education and educational programs, which is fabulous.” But she said the state is failing to pay for education basics right now and the levy is needed to make up the difference.
“You hate to see two entities fighting over money for the common good of children,” Brower said. “On the one hand, I’d like to say, ‘Let’s fund everything for kids,’ but on the other hand, we need to fund the basics.”
If the Children’s Investment Fund is approved, the next chance to vote – six years – is timed to avoid competing with the school’s next bond, Stuckart said.
To gauge how voters might react to the levy, the fund’s steering committee hired Robinson Research, which conducted a phone survey of 400 Spokane voters in September. Some 62 percent indicated they would be in favor of the investment fund.
“The Children’s Investment Fund stands an excellent chance of becoming a reality if it is supported by a vigorous, focused and well-funded campaign,” the study states in its conclusion.
Kerry Lynch, one of the initiative’s campaign consultants, has been key in getting several levies passed in Spokane, including those for the convention center and new swimming pools.
Said Lynch: “If you educate the voters (and) you don’t confuse them, they are supportive.”
Recent stories by Jody Lawrence-Turner
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Enter to win tickets to see Adam Carolla at the Knitting Factory 
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ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 21 at 4:41 a.m.
Ms McKaslin is clearly out of touch with the realities of how our children are doing… (or she really does not care).. from her high end vantage point her views on issues are much different than mine. As a person who volunteers daily with the “end product” the broken lived street people, the recently jailed, the drug dependent, the student who is in need of a different approach to school, etc I concur with all of the statements in this article.
I have an open invitation to have ANY City or County elected official come on down to Central Methodist Church, or House of Charity to serve on the food line or help in the kitchen.. Councilman Jon Snyder and Mayor Mary Verner are the ONLY two to do so in my four years of service as a volunteer.
I’d welcome Ms McKaslin as well. 220 4534
The group Communities in Schools, which i also volunteer with is currently doing some fine grass roots on the ground interventions, but this is not enough. Money is not always the answer to social problems…. but saying we can’t afford it right now shows a poor choice of priorities in my opinion. Dr John A. Olsen aka ChefGus Spokane Wa
(don’t forget that Ms McKaslin was one of the huge proponents of the process to change how initiatives are effected by our City Council… which would have made it more and more complex for regular citizens and community organizers to bring forward their ideas… Gus
Albert on February 21 at 8:12 a.m.
I just received my property tax bill - you’ve got to be kidding!! Another Levy?? I can’t afford the tax bill I now have and “they” want more money for yet another “good cause”? PLEASE give us a break - we can’t afford another tax increase, i.e. levy. “A few dollars here - a few dollars there” and I am paying $3000.+ that I don’t have. I had to borrow the money and it will take me months to pay it back. Take a look around good friends at the empty houses and tell me that “things” are getting better. Good Chef I completely understand what you are saying and appreciate your service. However that is the benefit of the non-profits who pay their staff “reasonable” wages and use great volunteers like you. This “levy” will insure yet another hardship on taxpayers and more pork in top heavy salaries to the proposed staffing. I can’t afford one more dollar in taxes - PLEASE.
skime on February 21 at 9:09 a.m.
As soon as I found out the CITY’S mayor and the council were going to apoint their friends to the 11 member committee,to over see the fund, that’s when I say NO! The high schools need more councilors to help guide these kids.
polistra on February 21 at 9:22 a.m.
The usual idiotic reverse logic:
“Dropouts are 63 times more likely to be institutionalized and three times more likely to be unemployed than high school graduates.”
Think about this. Do you really imagine that the ACT OF QUITTING SCHOOL magically transforms a solid and untroubled kid into an unemployable delinquent? Ridiculous. Quitting school is just a parallel symptom of the same underlying problems that cause crime and lack of employment. Keeping these kids in school will not change their lives, it will only make school worse for the solid kids. What’s more, keeping them in school will waste money that could (in theory) be used for better approaches like apprenticeship.
I say “in theory” because better approaches are never actually tried; we only continue spending more and more and more and more and more on practices that are known and guaranteed to fail.
edmitch on February 21 at 9:38 a.m.
The article (and some reports such as this one - www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/cr_27.pdf) report that 67% of students graduate from high school in Washington and 33% do not graduate. According to the Seattle Times the report I link is the basis for this claim of a high drop out rate (see http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020828&slug=dropout28m)
Yet the US Census says that nationally 84% of adults 25 or over report having a high school diploma or equivalent (www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p20-560.pdf). The Census report also says that in the State of Washington, the figure is 89% of those 25 or over have a high school diploma. This estimate is based on a population survey.
Both estimates cannot simultaneously be true unless a portion of the story is missing. The SR report says 1 in 3 kids drop out of schools - how many then re-enroll later? How many complete high school “late”? How many are simply lost in the data collection?
The Seattle Times notes in the linked story, above, that OSPI says many drop outs are simply marked as “unknown” because they are unable to determine if the student re-enrolled or transferred some where else to another school (including out of state). The “unknowns” get marked as drop outs.
Drop outs are indeed a problem. But we could be chasing a bogeyman created entirely out of poor data. Until these “officials” reconcile the large discrepancy in the reported drop out rates, I will not get excited about yet another “crisis”.
bbetzen on February 21 at 9:50 a.m.
Dropout prevention does not have to cost a lot of money. A credible focus on the future makes a priceless difference!
First you must know real dropout numbers. An annually updated 10+ year enrollment by grade spreadsheet, with annual graduation numbers, will provide this. Such spreadsheets should be on every school and school district web site to track progress as dropout rate numbers go down from the second step below.
Second: bolt a 500-pound vault to the floor in every secondary school lobby to function as a 10-year time-capsule focusing students onto their own plans for the future. The vault stores letters students write to themselves the last month in school. They then plan for a 10-year class reunion at which they retrieve those letters and plan to speak to the then current students about their recommendations for success. They prepare for questions such as: “What would you do differently if you were 13 again?”
Since 2005 this simple $2/student project has helped to produce the largest graduation classes on record for two old, inner-city Dallas high schools!
The 11th and 12th grade enrollments in the 32 high schools in Dallas ISD went up 5% from 2005/2006 to 2009/2010. This is in spite of total district enrollment going down 2.5% during the same years! However 55% of this gain is from only two of the 32 high schools in the district, the two who received the 700+ students who had placed a letter into a vault in 2006 and 2007. See the details for this $2 per student dropout prevention project at www.studentmotivation.org.
liarsinnews on February 21 at 10:28 a.m.
If the fools handling taxpayer money stop their reckless spending habits there would be money to help out. And where are the parents? I can`t afford any more tax increases. I`d vote NO to any tax increase. NO, NO, NO.
Liberty_Bell on February 21 at 10:40 a.m.
They already have program’s that work, and they really don’t cost much.
Like at President Lincoln High School?
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/21/1079565/school-within-a-school-lincolns.html
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 21 at 11:18 a.m.
I was a volunteer at Odyssey Youth Center for four years until just recently.. and the good work done by the people running the programs is done on a shoestring budget… many many volunteer hours and small salaries for three part time persons and a VOA volunteer assigned there.
Our program at Shalom survives on 50K a year, and we feed youth as well as adults.. and I/we oversee 200 or so different persons as volunteers in our service. Without the community services provided by volunteers this community would be a lot less stable.
Funding for education should not be overseen by the silly city council.. they have very little expertise in that area… perhaps none… the Communities in Schools might be the best bet there. I am sure anyone who wishes to participate in that program could contact Ben Stuckart on their web site.
John
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 21 at 11:21 a.m.
Oh.. our only “salaried employee” Holly Chilinski is funded at a low hourly rate for 25 hours a week.. the rest of our budget underwrites the utilities and pays for food and cleaning supplies.. the heavy lifters are four retired men ( two of whom are from the Spokesman Review) who happen to have had military experience and truly enjoy serving our homeless veterans.. gus
deacon46 on February 21 at 11:33 a.m.
We need hamburger flippers and dropping out of school is choice. Maybe sometimes not. But regardless NO MORE SPECIAL INTEREST TAXES. Lets fix the general population issues, like roads.
SugarShane on February 21 at 11:57 a.m.
Dont worry, the military still accepts GEDs, and they’re always hiring. I doubt this fund will do much to affect the dropout rate.
benstuckart on February 21 at 11:58 a.m.
Albert points out that his tax burden is already too high. His tax burden is too high already because he is paying for services for citizen’s who did not graduate from high school in the past. Current unemployment figures for high school dropouts are over 10% and 60% of jail inmates in Spokane County are high school dropouts. The sooner we get more kids to graduate the better our local economy will become and the lower his tax rates in the long run. The fund will not create more top heavy salaries but create more opportunities for students to have a safe place to be after-school, more mentors , and more children coming to school prepared to learn.
Lyle is concerned about the appointment process. The current Human Services Advisory Board is appointed by the mayor as are many more. There is an application and then a careful vetting process. The Human Services Advisory Board currently does an excellent job and so would this Oversight Board. I agree that high schools need more counselors BUT we also need more resources for child abuse and neglect services, early childhood learning, mentoring and after-school programs.
Polistra misunderstands the point of a Children’s Investment Fund. The fund would fund programs that result in the children staying in school by changing them. The research is not idiotic and clearly shows that if you invest in early childhood learning, child abuse and neglect services, mentoring and after-school programs children change their behavior and other signals that eventually lead to dropping out, committing crime and other delinquent behaviors. Keeping them in school is the end result of programs that change lives.
Edmitch is concerned that we may be creating a problem “dropouts” when there is not really an issue. The data that Spokane Schools use and the People for the Children’s Investment Fund use all comes from OSPI and these numbers agree with what the Gates Foundation and the US Department of Education use. High School dropouts are more likely to be sick, unemployed and in jail. They do not live as long. The numbers have been trending worse in recent years. Some students in their 20’s go back and get GEDs. All of these reasons explain the general population discrepancy versus the actual and very real high school dropout rate.
Bbetzen has a low cost alternative. I will read more on this alternative but there is no independent research that shows that the results being seen correlate to the project. We do know that the longitudinal studies all show that investing in early childhood education and interventions, child abuse and neglect prevention, mentoring and after-school have a huge return on investment. I would suggest these are not expensive alternatives either. We will be asked to pay $250 million for new jail soon. We are asking the taxpayers to pay $5 million a year so we do not need a new jail every 10 years. The average home is worth $197,000, a cost of only $69 a year for the median homeowner.
For a great video on why we should be investing in our youth visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSp88PBe9E
To learn more visit: http://www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.com/
benstuckart on February 21 at 11:59 a.m.
Dick Adams is concerned about spending practices with no accountability. I could not agree more. That is why the Children’s Investment Fund has a 6 year sunset, is subject to an annual audit and limits the amount spent on administration to 5 percent. The Children’s Investment Fund will not only save the taxpayers enormous amounts of money in the long run it will provide a new model for government accountability.
Liberty_Bell has a great article on the school within a school model in Tacoma. This is great for some students. This also costs money that the school system does not have resources to implement in Spokane. This would be a great part of the solution, just as the current discussion regarding a new alternative school opening in 2015 is a part of the solution. The solution also lies in interventions at an earlier age and throughout school. The Children’s Investment Fund will provide these services.
William is concerned about roads and does not like special interest taxes. I understand that point of view BUT a UC Santa Barbara study in 2008 showed that each high school dropout costs taxpayers over $392,000 over the course of their lifetime. This comes in the form of unemployment insurance, jail costs, and emergency room visits. We can save money by investing in our children.
For a great video on why we should be investing in our youth visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSp88PBe9E
To learn more visit: http://www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.com/
richardthelionhearted on February 21 at 12:18 p.m.
This group is missing the mark totally. This we are going to fix society, never works. Second, kids do NOT drop out of High School, they drop out of about the 4th grade. Those who will dropout you can usually trace this behavior back to the 4th grade or before. Don’t believe it? My 28 years in the classroom will easily be able to prove it. How can you fix the little girl or boy who is focused on their parent in prison for a long time. That consumes their thoughts and you expect them to be “engaged” in school? Am I a total expert in this area? No, but I do have alot of experience in these matters. One more thing. The person that said that High School personnel take care of this problem….the ones I have seen spend most of their time with those college requirements, college placements,, grants, scholarships etc. Little or no time addressing this problem! Why….it is a personal choice and they have little or no effect on changing the kids mind. There is my 2 cents worth! Have a great day!
hmoffsuite on February 21 at 12:44 p.m.
Parents accepting personal responsibility. Solves the problem.
edmitch on February 21 at 1:42 p.m.
Ben - in your response (thank you), you write that “Some students in their 20’s go back and get GEDs”.
Something happens between the age 18/67% and age 25/89% data points. Do you agree with the age 25/89% figure of the US Census?
The discrepancy between the official data remains unexplained with allusions to GEDs, “5th year seniors”, “unknown” and “measurement error”.
There is also good news here - 89% is probably the highest high school graduation level ever seen in US history! (Source: http://www.census.gov/population/www/pop-profile/educattn.html - not yet brought up to 2010 however).
The OSPI dropout rate information is available here:
http://www.k12.wa.us/dataadmin/
OSPI reports are different than the 1 in 3 rate used in the news report above. I am confused as to why the difference?
You have said the “numbers are trending worse in recent years”. Per a sampling of OSPI reports, these are the State wide on time/extend rates for
2003-2004: 70%, 74%
2005-2006: 70.4%, 75.1%
2007-2008: 72%, 77%
The State as whole is showing improvement - this would be good news! I was not able to determine the data for the Spokane district only for sufficient years. Is it getting worse? Where can we see the Spokane data?
According to the OSPI 2007-2008 report, “Over half of students who dropped out have an “Unknown” enrollment status. Some may have dropped out, received a GED, or moved out of state without confirming a transfer to a new school.”
Working with the 2007-2008 numbers, we have an on time drop out rate of 28%. Of those, “over half” may have an “unknown” status (e.g. transferred out of state). Let’s say 14% or exactly half.
0.72 + 0.14 is 0.86 or 86% - very close to the US Census estimate of those who have graduated from high school in the State.
I read the claim that 1 in 3 high school students drop out as implying they never graduate from high school. Seemed odd to be so different than the Census data. Being a numbers person, I looked to the raw data sources which indicate that about 1 in 10 ultimately fail to graduate (over the extended period), not 1 in 3. I apologize for being a stickler to details and a numbers person who spends much time pouring through detailed financial statements - and besides its Sunday so I have time to look these things up:-)
Completely agree that dropouts are a problem. I do not want to see any students dropping out either. But can we please work with an accurate representation of the full story?
Is the problem 1 in 3 students drop out “at some point”? The article does not make this clear. Or is that 1 in 3 do not graduate from school? Or do not graduate “on time”? In view that we now likely have the highest graduation rate in US history, is this better or worse than the past? I dunno.
spokanada on February 21 at 1:45 p.m.
I think you mean “parent” and not “parents” in a lot of these situations.
And good luck trying to get parents to accept responsibility. Make abortion more available so unwanted kids are not born into situations where they face an uphill battle with long odds.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 21 at 1:50 p.m.
R the Lion Heart.. thank you… you have made Ben’s points better than Ben did.. all you said is ample and true.. that is why intervention at an early age ( abusive homes with toddlers, and grade school kids) will actually work. Once the damage has been done there is often only one in a hundred that can turn it around.
In my four years at Odyssey Youth Center we saw 14 and 15 year olds go from perhaps “thinking about getting a GED” to end up going to Olympia to Lobby the state representatives and senators.. and from thinking about their future’s they now talk about “when I graduate from College, or Graduate School”
It is anecdotal, but was observed by my clinically trained and practiced eye to see lives turned around by steady consistent two or three days a week mentoring. Big Brothers and Big Sisters ( which I did 35 years ago for five years made a palpable difference in many many boys and girls lives. dr john
benstuckart on February 21 at 1:57 p.m.
Edmitch
I will do some research and get back to you early tomorrow. Thanks for being a stickler. I appreciate it.
Ben
edmitch on February 21 at 1:58 p.m.
Ben,
Does the “1 in 3” figure come from the 67 percent graduation rate estimated in the original 2002 Manhattan Institute report?
That report, in spite of methodology question was a wake up call that led to improved reporting of graduation data. Prior to that, states were usually reporting only the 12th grade drop out rate.
Since then, OSPI changed its methodology - and schools implemented retention programs - so that today the on time graduation rate is 72% and the extended graduation rate is 77%. In reverse, the drop out rate including the half that are “unknown” is then 28% or 23%.
I am wondering if you may be using using 8 year old data and would be more accurate to use contemporary OSPI data to represent today?
spokanesausage on February 21 at 4:15 p.m.
Don’t we already spend almost half of the state budget an millions more locally on K-12 education? Why don’t we fix the system rather than dumping more money at it?
hmoffsuite on February 21 at 4:21 p.m.
Major problem are the labor unions.
zelda on February 21 at 4:29 p.m.
Lots of interesting comments ranging from glib to profound. I agree with edmitch that we don’t want to be reacting to a contrived crisis.
That said, what I have observed at the higher ed level are lots of kids, knowing that getting a college degree is important, choose dummy majors that send them into a brick wall career-wise.
Hey, I’m all for soaking up the vast richness of human experience. If you want to major in art history, philosophy or comparative religion, more power to you. I totally dig the scholarship needed in those disciplines and having a passion for living the examined life.
But please, someone, for the love of God, save us from all the communications majors and organizational leadership master’s degrees. These “fields” are blatant revenue sources for colleges. They accept almost anyone, the course work is easy and in the case of communications studies, one college I know gives a higher number of credits per class than a business or science course. It’s like college lite — less fillling, tastes great.
I always wonder about the lack of data when I read articles about how more people than ever are going to college. The big question is what do they pick for a major?
The fields of study they choose say a lot about how well they did in high school, not to mention the influence and inspiration of parents, peers, teachers and counselors.
Lulubelle on February 21 at 4:46 p.m.
I don’t understand why the concept of “common good” doesn’t seem to be on the radar of a lot of Spokane citizens. It’s always, I got mine, if it costs me a dime, to hell with you and yours. Always with the excuse of “wasteful spending”, not my responsibility, blah blah blah.
The $5 mil/yr seems like a good investment if it helps keep kids in school and out of the $250 mil jail they’ll soon be asking us to fund. $69 per year isn’t going to kill anyone….and if your house is worth more than $200,000, kick in a few extra bucks.
eagleproducer on February 21 at 5:57 p.m.
1/3 of Spokane students are now to be considered, “special interests?”
I believe the 1/3 figure is restricted to District 81, not the entire region. Districts like Mead, Lakeside, Central Valley, Freeman, etc. enjoy much higher graduation rates. Also, if you check the graduation rates as reported for No Child Left Behind you’ll discover District 81 has much higher rates than 1/3 for Native American and African American students.
There is enough money in District 81 to address this problem. From my experience as an educator, the issue simply revolves around allocation of resources.
This levy is basically saying we no longer have faith in the leadership of District 81 to confront the problem of abysmal graduation rates. Instead of self-imposing another tax wouldn’t it be much more advisable to seek leadership change at both the board, superintendent and building administrator level first? This is a management problem, not a funding problem.
eagleproducer on February 21 at 6:04 p.m.
hmoffsuite bleated: “Major problem are the labor unions.”
That statement might be true if it weren’t for the fact that every state that requires mandatory union membership for their teachers outperforms every right to work state in terms of student achievement.
Google it dude, it’s true.
eagleproducer on February 21 at 6:10 p.m.
The difference between the census numbers for 25 years olds and high school grad rates for those 18 is that the numbers in the census are inflated because of self-reporting. Isn’t it simply a box people check on a form?
eagleproducer on February 21 at 6:12 p.m.
richardthelionhearted: Please. To claim individuals are formed by fourth grade makes me glad you are nearing the end of your career as an influence in the life of children. People can check out of the “curriculum” at any time, you are living proof.
Shylock13 on February 21 at 7:09 p.m.
I believe that the state Constitution requires the state to put education as its prime duty. The state clearly has NOT done that (see the recent State Court ruling). What the proposed levy wants to accomplish is admirable. But I think it falls under the Constitution’s mandate for the state to to pay for education.
I have read all of the previous comments. Most have said something to consider.
However, my wife and I are very senior citizens, on a very modest pension and very low Social Security—neither of which is increasing, although our medical costs are. We own our home. But any increase in taxes will force us to remortgage our home.
We believe that the taxpayers in Spokane, in Spokane County, in Washington, and in the USA are paying way more than we should pay, and more most of us way more than we can pay!
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 21 at 8:10 p.m.
My 89 year old mother.. who lives quite comfortably on her social security and a modest “draw” mandated by law from her IRA at Fairwood Village in the Mead district. Her property taxes are reduced considerably based on her income per year not her net worth… so anyone who is retired and on limited income, with a fee simple interest in real estate that is taxed might want to look into the reductions possible from the County Auditor.
Even at the full rate of 35 cents per thousand of assessed value it does seem manageable for most folks with that sort of asset pool. $70 a year is less than 20 cents per day… ( or 10 cents if you are a married or a partnered couple) That’s one less latte’ every 15 days… good grief..
j
richardthelionhearted on February 21 at 9:23 p.m.
Spoketucky: Wow, are you showing YOUR inexperience! Yes, kids DO form their personalities and lives at that young age. When I said that they drop out of the 4th grade, that is actually a quote from former Supt Gary Livingston. It is so true. The more you talk the less you show any experience at all especially about the “curriculum” remark. That had nothing to do with the conversation. I would guess Spoke you are a frustrated sub from the “sub list” with no chance of ever moving up…..I hope.
mommie5324 on February 21 at 9:47 p.m.
You know i have read all the comments and only a couple people asked this very important question. Where the hell are the parents to all these kids that are dropping out? Why should we as already highest paying taxpayers pay for another program to try and get these kids to graduate? These kids are not 2 years old they are 15,16,17 and yes 18 and need a swift kick in the ass is what they need. And the parents need even a bigger swift kick. Sorrry if i offend anyone but holy cow people. These kids are old enough to make personal choices bad or good and there parents are who the hell knows where probably having a martini and some social function. Im not an expert on this and dont claim to be. But I know what i am and thats a parent. I have a special needs kid at home in a wheelchair and hes 18 years old and guess what hes still in school. He will be until 21. He goes to high school and a special services classes at the collage. He isnt thrilled to get up at 5 am to get ready for school and i dont like getting up at that time either but we do cause he knows if you dont go and get the most out of your education youll never get anywhere in life. AGAIN PERSONAL CHOICE. And trust me he faces way bigger challanges than most of the regular kids in society. they just dont care they want what they want when they want it and if it dont go there way they quit. Yes we have a big progblem with kids nowadays and it aint just dropping out of school it was never like this when i was young. The parents are at fault not us we didnt have anything to do with this. The parents have Chose not to be involved in there child’s llife and know what there kids are doing where there at and when they should be home. Take away the cell phones from them spend time with them do things with them be a PARENT!! But to have the audacity (sorry sp) to ask that we pay more taxes kiss my ya know what. NO NO NO
nslopeofw on February 22 at 12:32 a.m.
You will notice most of the yes, yes, yes crowd are teachers. Not you Gus, who appears to be the mother Theresa of Spokane, you really are one of the few.
Do you yes, yes, yes people think it would be just as important to levy taxes for a motocross track for kids to spend their time. Or, how about golf? Or, is it only in a place where you also benefit?
Like it as not, people CHOOSE to drop out. It’s their choice, and it should be on them to fix it. Spend the money on the ones that want to be there, and are using school for their future. If the dropouts figure later on that they really do need an education, the can CHOOSE to get a GED.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 22 at 4:40 a.m.
Mother Theresa?? I smoke and drink and carry a concealed weapon… I have very little “allusion” about the realities of the folks that we serve at House of Charity and Shalom and other ministiries../volunteer programs… Some of them are really really bad people… there are 120 or so listed Sex offenders within a half mile of the church… ( that’s the listed ones)
What I do know from my years of experience in the trenches with “damaged kids” starting in high school in 1958… is that “nurture” or complete lack of it early on alters a person’s life in ways those of us that have not been damaged can imagine… Many many do live through complex child hoods to get to a reasonable life… but many many do not… and they still get married, have kids and reproduce.. and the “Family Template” ie how you were raised is all to often how you will raise your own….
I have also studied this formally, and informally and the key is what someone said above… “A point on the horizon outside of the present ( a la Victor Frankel) and one reasonable adult, and one other person ( usually a younger brother or sister) to protect and care for is often the key to a better life.
The spending of money won’t do it… not many kids are as fortunate enough to have mommie 5324 in their camp…. and i’d bet a dollar that with her as a mom there are other kids that drift in and spend time in her presence… she is the unsung hero and saint… i just deal with the collateral damage…. j
Liberty_Bell on February 22 at 7:10 a.m.
Yes Mahaney
“I believe that the state Constitution requires the state to put education as its prime duty.”
A Prime Duty?
However as mentioned here previously, the Prime Duty of parental guidance is also in many, a serious missing link.
Article I, section 1, of the Washington Constitution is the real Prime Duty, the “Individual Right” to be either educated or not.
Like Mommy 5324 said; “AGAIN PERSONAL CHOICE.”
No one is required to be educated, and the individual choice has, and always will overide the educational prime duty.
There are many who believe that spending money solves all problems?
Look at some of our Harvard Grads, that proves that even the elitist education, leaves way too many children behind, just go look at Ted Stevens, Senator for Alaska, Indicted, along with Obama, who also attended the same law school, that used to produce some great Lawyers and Judges, back in the days of real education.
“Three generations of Imbeciles are enough.” Justice Holmes, who never finished Harvard, to make sure they didn’t suck out all his intellegence!
IHike4Fun on February 22 at 7:17 a.m.
“Supporters say enhancing those types of programs could improve Spokane’s graduation rate by up to 20 percentage points” …
And this statement/prediction is based on what evidence exactly???
Why should we throw money at a solution when we don’t even know the question yet?
austindepaolo on February 22 at 10:05 a.m.
Even though Early Learning Programs, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Mentoring and After School Programs are no silver bullet for addressing the drop out problem research has shown that kids involved in these programs have better grades and attendance and fewer behavioral referrals (btw this is true for all kids not just low income). Over time, in six years at least, if all other things stay the same we should see a reduction in drops out. 20% is the campaign’s goal. I hope that helps IHike4Fun.
austindepaolo on February 22 at 1:11 p.m.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers facebook post: Reflecting on Spokane Boys and Girls Club banquet where Denise Stanton received deserved national recognition for her local efforts. In my speech I said, “Every life is a gift, every life has a purpose, and one of the greatest purposes of all is to help our fellow man.”
Well put Cathy.
edmitch on February 22 at 8:19 p.m.
Spoketucky asks, “The difference between the census numbers for 25 years olds and high school grad rates for those 18 is that the numbers in the census are inflated because of self-reporting. Isn’t it simply a box people check on a form?”
That would also raise the question - can any Census data then be relied upon?
A little checking at the Census.gov web site reveals that it is a violation of Federal law, punishable by fines, to lie on the Census forms. Only a few people have been prosecuted - which could mean few people lie or that few people are caught lying and are prosecuted.
Second, the Census bureau uses a variety of methods to cross check and correct for a variety of data problems. They also use the Current Population Survey to update estimates in between the once every ten year census. Lacking contrary data from a reputable source, I believe we should use the Census data.
After reviewing what data I can find, I believe the 1 in 3 claim is from a report completed in 2002 by the Manhattan Institute. This report is the basis for many subsequent reports by many agencies.
School systems undertook many measures to more accurately track the graduation rate and worked to reduce the number of drop outs. In the absence of contrary actual data, I believe the best estimate to use at this time is the OSPI estimate for 2007-2008 of approximately 72% on time graduates and 77.4% as “5th year” graduates. The Federal government has mandated steady improvements in the graduation rate and the state is making progress with the Federal goals.
I recommend that proponents of the measure use a “1 in 4” drop out rate as a supportable statement. At this time, the “1 in 3” rate appears to be based on old data, not contemporary data. Problems with using the “1 in 3” value include
- comes across as hype or dishonest
- enables the proposed program to claim they are making great progress in their first year by then using contemporary data
- comes from a 2002 report that is not being updated. The OSPI numbers are updated annually.
Some one asked, above, about the program’s goal of achieving “20% improvement” (presumably 20 percentile points, not percent). If they use an incorrect starting point (67%) and then switch to the 2007-2008 rate of 77.4%, they are already half way to their goal :-)
By the way, “1 in 4” is a bad drop out rate too and I would think sufficient to justify measures to address the problem.
benstuckart on February 22 at 9:51 p.m.
A couple more responses to some of the postings and items to remember:
• The fund would save us money in the long run. All credible studies show that spending money on preventions saves taxpayers enormous costs in the long run.
• This is an issue we cannot ignore. During the 2007-2008 school year the drop-out rate in Spokane Schools was 39.4% (OSPI numbers), each of these dropouts costs us over $300,000 over the course of their lifetime
Richardthelionhearted discusses this as a non-solution because the problems start at a young age. Correct, problems start early, that is why the fund would not only fund after-school programs and agencies that provide mentoring but also early childhood learning and child abuse and neglect services. We need our children showing up at school ready to learn or we suffer the long-term consequences.
Hmoffsuite misunderstands the point of the Children’s Investment Fund. We are saying we have a problem and need to fix it or we all suffer the consequences. We are not allowed to just say “that is the parents fault” and turn our heads. We all pay for the problems and we all must come together to fix it.
Edmitch should contact me off line (ben@cisspokane.org) to get the data on the dropout rates. OSPI clearly shows that more than one in three students are dropping out of school each year. I am not sure where the disconnect between the census and the school data is BUT I do know that during the 2007-2008 school year 999 students dropped out of Spokane Schools. We need to address the situation.
Spokanada falls into the same trap that hmoffsuite does. Telling us that it is “someone else’s problem” does not begin to solve a problem that affects all of us!
Spokanesausage wants to lay the blame on the education system. But the schools are being asked to do more and more when they are not trained to offer the services that will be provided by community partners funded by the City under this initiative. We need to recognize that this is a community problem and requires the community to step up.
Zelda Krup insults people like myself who have Master’s Degrees in Organizational Leadership but adds nothing germaine to the discussion.
Spoketucky also wants to lay the blame on the education system. This concern is answered under the spokaneausage response above. We are recognizing that issues outside of the school system affect student success, no loss of faith but a helping hand. A University of Arizona Study in 2007 confirms that students that exhibit risk factors of dropping out as early as 3rd grade.
Please visit our website at www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.com
benstuckart on February 22 at 9:53 p.m.
A couple more responses to some of the postings and items to remember:
• The fund would save us money in the long run. All credible studies show that spending money on preventions saves taxpayers enormous costs in the long run.
• This is an issue we cannot ignore. During the 2007-2008 school year the drop-out rate in Spokane Schools was 39.4% (OSPI numbers), each of these dropouts costs us over $300,000 over the course of their lifetime
Lliam Mahaney is concerned about his/her taxes. This is a valid concern but you are paying for the dropouts now, you will pay less in the long run if we move towards solving the problem. We are only asking that property owners pay a 3% increase. This calculates out to less than .20 per day. Spokane’s taxes are 50% of Tacoma and 65% of what they were in 1995. We can afford to pay a bit more to invest in our future.
Mommie5324 talks again about parental responsibility. I answered that in response to hmoffsuite.
Nslopeofw is not addressing the results of these actions. If we can pay for preventions such as early childhood learning, abuse and neglect prevention, after-school, and mentoring we can save money in the long run. Oftentimes the at-risk youth fall into a trap before it is a choice (lack of resources, coming to school in kindergarten unprepared), all outside of their realm of control. We need to provide the support that would allow them to thrive and not drop out later.
Please visit our website at www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.com
eagleproducer on February 23 at 8:11 a.m.
Isn’t it telling that the group’s website is a dot.com instead of a dot.org?
I’m just saying…
benstuckart: I am not blaming the education system I am blaming District 81 and its leadership. Why can districts like Mead, Lakeside, Central Valley, et. al. produce more and better graduates than the larger district that they border? This is a leadership and allocation of resources issue. As an educator I welcome more involvement from the community, but I have also been around long enough to see the interest in these initiatives/programs wane when the reality of working with some seriously f’d up kids becomes too taxing for most.
benstuckart on February 23 at 8:39 a.m.
Spoketucky…we can be reached at .com and .org. Not sure that it is relevant or not….
Districts such as Mead and surrounding districts have higher graduation rates because their rates of poverty in their districts are lower. If you look at maps of districts and indiivdual school the higher the rates of poverty the lower the test scores. The higher the rates of poverty the lower the graduation rates. Precisely the reason to not lay all the blame at District 81’s feet, but accept societal responsibility and get involved in our children’s lives.
In the past these type of initiatives involving the community have waned because they were funded by year to year grants. This is sustainable funding!
www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.org
ChefGus/ John Olsen on February 23 at 8:55 a.m.
Nothing i can find in the online paper about how the council dealt with the intiiative process last evening… Help us out with that?? j
cowboy on February 23 at 9:17 a.m.
There is all ready a program in the schools to combat against dropouts. It is a federal program that pays tutors to be in the classroom with the problem students making sure they understand and do the work. I had my son in the program for 3 years. Every year we had a meeting with the schoolteacher, tutor and I and they would tell me what next year’s goal would be.
This leaves them in the class with their peers and gives a helping hand. But the parent needs to be concerned enough to go to the school to get into the program.
A new fund will simply go into someone’s pocket for another ineffective high salary position.
Wildflower on February 23 at 9:33 a.m.
It is common knowledge that the dropout rate for students with disabilities is approximately twice that of general education students. Most of you think of a “disability” as something along the lines of Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, etc. But the majority of students receiving special education services today are qualified under the “learning disabled” category.
Almost every school district in the Spokane area has a “severe discrepancy” model in their special education programs. This means that a child must have a “severe discrepancy” between their IQ and achievement levels before they receive intervention services. This typically involves allowing children to fall 2 or more grade levels behind before they qualify for special education. Along with that qualification comes a label that will follow children for the rest of their lives—the label is most commonly “learning disabled.”
The good news is that there is an alternative to this system—it’s called the RTI model. It is a school support system that helps children get academic intervention services before they fall too far behind and end up in special education for the rest of their lives. Too many children are “curriculum casualties” (i.e., victims of poor instruction and lack of early intervention) and never need the “learning disabled” label.
We need the public to become more educated about issues like these. If you’re opposed to paying more taxes, perhaps you should be taking a role in your community to advocate for more effective school programs and systems. All of us should be pushing for an RTI model to replace the severe discrepancy model. It will save ALL OF US money in the long run because a student enrolled in special education year after year certainly costs more than a child that needs a 6-month intervention and then finds success in the general education curriculum. Not only will it save money, but it will increase the quality of life for so many children that have fallen behind academically simply due to their home environment being a place that does not foster academic achievement. We need to stop telling children that there is something wrong with them (“learning disabled”) and start taking responsibility for the fact that our system has failed them.
We need stronger schools, we need stronger community outreach for at-risk students and we need more citizens to think and act on a community level. This initiative is important and necessary, but it won’t alone fix the problem. We need stronger advocacy for our children within the school systems. We need to make sure that our tax dollars are being spent on research-validated curriculum. Do some research on curriculum being used in this area, and you will find that some of the biggest players in Spokane K-12 education are wasting our money on programs that don’t work.
The truth is hard to swallow sometimes. Especially when we have no one to blame but ourselves—it is OUR job to make this community stronger, whether we have school-aged children or not. I am not a parent, but I will always be an advocate for children in my community. And I will be so bold as to say that all of you should too.
Please call a local school district today and ask them to adopt the RTI model if they have not already done so. East Valley and Freeman School Districts are the only two in the area that have.
eagleproducer on February 23 at 9:48 a.m.
There is a great op/ed piece in the NY Times today by Bob Hebert about several successful pilot charter schools operating in Harlem.
The focus towards improving schools has always been to improve program elements like curriculum, class size, etc. Instead, these schools who have dramatically improved student achievement in a very short time span, focus upon getting talented and motivated teachers in the classroom and removing the untalented and unmotivated.
To often schools simply try to replicate program elements from successful districts instead of working to develop people. Removing nepotism and the good ol’ boy network of “coaches” cloaked” as educators would be a great place to start reform.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/opinion/23herbert.html?ref=opinion
eagleproducer on February 23 at 9:50 a.m.
A few quotes from the op/ed:
“The majority of the youngsters come into the middle schools performing at three to four years behind their grade levels. Within a very short time, they are on the fast track toward college. In 2008, when the math and science test scores came in, Ms. Kenny’s eighth graders had achieved 100 percent proficiency. It was not a fluke.
What’s ironic is that the teachers are doing everything but teaching to the tests. Ms. Kenny’s goals for the youngsters in her schools are the same as those that she had for her own three children, who grew up in a comfortable suburban environment and are now in college. Merely passing a standardized test was hardly something to aspire to.
“I had five core things in mind for my kids, and that’s what I want for our students,” she said. “I wanted them to be wholesome in character. I wanted them to be compassionate and to see life as a responsibility to give something to the world. I wanted them to have a sophisticated intellect. I wanted them to be avid readers, the kind of person who always has trouble putting a book down. And I raised them to be independent thinkers, to lead reflective and meaningful lives.”
It never crossed Ms. Kenny’s mind that a rich and abiding intellectual life was out of the reach of kids growing up in a tough urban environment.’
austindepaolo on February 23 at 11:30 a.m.
February 23, 2010Kids’ fund backers will need signatures
The Spokesman-Review Backers of a property tax aimed at lowering Spokane’s dropout rate will have to collect signatures if they want their proposal considered this summer.
The Spokane City Council voted unanimously Monday not to place the tax on the ballot on its own. That means the political action committee supporting the creation of the Children’s Investment Fund will have to collect about 8,400 signatures by April 16 in order to qualify for the August ballot.
Under the proposal, taxes would be used to support early childhood learning, abuse and neglect prevention and treatment programs, mentoring programs, and before- and after-school activities.
The group has proposed a six-year levy that would raise $5 million annually and cost property owners about 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Jonathan Brunt
benstuckart on February 24 at 8:35 a.m.
I just wanted to post one last time so there are no misconceptions about the dropout rate:
High School Dropout definition: Using a cohort of students entering the 9th grade, the drop- out rate quantifies how many youth in the 9th grade cohort have left school by the time graduation occurs in the 12th grade, and do not graduate in 7 years. This is the definition used by the Gates Foundation, Former Secretary of Education Spelling and current Secretary of Education Duncan.
1) On-Time Graduation Rates
Spokane County public high school on time graduation rates remained nearly unchanged between 2003 and 2006, from 72% to 73%. In 2007, however, the on-time graduation rate declined to 69.2%. This is nearly the same as the 2008 figure of 70.4%. They were higher than the Washington State average which increased by four percentage points between those same years, from 66% to 70%, but in 2007 and 2008 fell below the State rate by 3.3 and 1.6 percentage points, respectively. From 2003 to 2006, graduation rates on national level have dropped slightly, falling from 73.9% to 73.4%.
In 2008, the high school graduation rate for Spokane County public high schools was 70.4 percent. Over the last five years, except one, the graduation rates for the City of Spokane, as represented by Spokane School District, have been below the County by 7-10 percentage points. In 2008 the City of Spokane’s was 60.4%
http://www.communityindicators.ewu.edu/moreInfo.cfm?id=108
2) Extended Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates
This indicator measures the percentage of students graduating from high school including those taking longer than four years to earn a diploma. A student in Washington has up until age 21 to achieve a high school diploma, which is approximately 7 years based upon the average age of a student when they enter high school. Students are excluded if they turn 21 on or before September 1st of the new school year. A student who turns 21 in the middle of a year (e.g., turns 21 in April) can finish out their school year.
Location 2007 2008
Spokane Schools 0.612 0.619
Spokane County 0.725 0.729
Washington State 0.775 0.77
The dropout rate in the City of Spokane (100% less extended graduation rate) for 2007 was 38.8% and for 2008 was 38.1%. In 2008 this represented 999 dropouts.
http://www,k12.wa.us/DataAdmin/ 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Report, Appendix B
aeguy on February 24 at 1:18 p.m.
I would not be the least surprised to find out that the child’s parent’s are or have been on public assistance for the majority of their lives. I can understand why the child would look at dropping out as an option as their parents still get taken care, no matter if they are not even in pursuit of a job. I was raised on a small farm outside Deer Park. My family who still operates the farm, full time, had their property taxes skyrocket due to such programs. If the parents don’t show their kids the value of a hard days work, their is no reason the kids should know. I put the blame on the parent’s and “LIBTARDS” who support them.
edmitch on February 24 at 4:10 p.m.
Ben - Thank you very much for the data specific to the Spokane Schools. Much appreciated.
Looks like the Spokane School District has some serious problems with a drop out rate much worse than the County and the State. Note also that the County rate, overall, is pulled downwards by the Spokane School District.
Elsewhere, the Pew Research Center reports that college enrollment has hit an all time high and dropouts have reached a record low in young adults (age <=24). They write “there is a record low in the share of young adults who are high school dropouts — 9.3% in 2008, less than half the figure (19.8%) in 1967 and down nearly a percentage point from 10.2.% in 2007.” This further points to problems inside the Spokane School District if elsewhere is improving.
Reference: http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/747/college-enrollment-hits-all-time-high-fueled-by-community-college-surge
What, specifically, is the problem or problems in the Spokane School District that cause a much higher drop out rate?
edmitch on February 24 at 4:41 p.m.
FYI - you can learn more about the initiative at
http://yesspokane.wordpress.com/
Ben - how can individuals not in the city or the school district help?
(FYI - I already volunteer at 3 high schools out side the city).
benstuckart on February 24 at 5:59 p.m.
Edmitch
Right now the two most important things ANYONE can do are
help us gather signatures and help fund the campaign. We need 12,000 signatures in 7 weeks.
To get involved in the signature gathering campaign call the Spokane Alliance at 532-1688 and they will get you set -up!
To donate money send checks to Spokane Children’s Investment Fund PO Box 704 Spokane WA 99201
If you would like to learn more about the fund visit:
www.ourchildrenfirstspokane.org
I do not pretend to be an expert on the differences between Spokane and other local districts but as I mentioned in one post the higher the rates of poverty in a community the higher the drop-out rates. The Children’s Investment Fund is an excellent opportunity to end the cycle of poverty by investing in our youth!
eagleproducer on February 25 at 10:41 a.m.
edmitch: You can start by voting no if this levy makes it to a ballot, which it won’t.
Throwing more money at the problem without addressing the source of the problem is just plain stupid. The problem is District 81’s leadership, building administrators who aren’t accountable to their students, and poor teachers at every level of schooling.
Yesterday a school district in Rhode Island fired 80% of the staff at a chronically failing school. By fired I mean they won’t be offered contracts next fall. That should begin to get people’s attention. How many of you in the world outside of public schools would retain your jobs if your efficacy rate was in the 65%-70% range?
That’s what I thought. I am an educator and I strongly believe it’s time to clean house at every level of our staffing. We need to decertify the classified employees union and contract janitorial and food services to private concerns. There is no reason why a custodian in a school should be making more than fifty grand a year with benefits or a lunch lady taking home the same pay, but their are large numbers of these types of employees that suck money away from student services.
This initiative is akin to closing the barn door long after every animal has flown the coop and ignoring that the farmer and his helpers are the ones who left the door open in the first place. You can’t effectively change large institutions without changing the individuals who people them.
ben: “Societal” responsibility has been accepted, and a long time ago. That occurred when the citizenry agreed to be taxed for compulsory education and left professionals within that institution to implement the policies and procedures required to educate the populace. This levy does not hold District 81 accountable for poor student performance and using the excuse of poverty, et.al. is still just an excuse. Both of my parents were dirt poor as children and both used education to become licensed professionals, one an MD. and the other an RN.
localgrad on February 25 at 2:42 p.m.
Spoketucky, your comments on this list have ranged from rational to reactionary. Your last post is just plain bitter.
I was at a signature gathering training on Saturday and this group has over 50 volunteers and 40 agencies, unions and churches committed to gathering the 8400 valid signatures.
From looking at their website Don Barbieri is one of the chairs of the campaign and Tom Stevenson, one of the most influential accountants in town is also backing this proposal. Someone told me today that Scott Morris may also be co-chairing the campaign. Sounds like the cart is leaving the barn without you.
If I were a betting man this is going to make it on the ballot.
It is naive to think that the only place students are affected by issues that lead to dropping out is the k-12 system. As a society we have seen a breakdown of the family and a breakdown of community. I suggest you try reading “Bowling Alone” for a more comprehensive view of our issue’s.
And finally, no matter who is at fault, we best do something because I sure do not want to pay $250 million for a new jail every 10 years. This is one way society can act and I for one support this effort!
gkambs on February 25 at 8:13 p.m.
Ed Mitch - The Spokane data is on the OSPI website you just have to click, dig, call, & have them fax or email you some stuff. It’s buried.
We all know that:
School District 81 leads the State in Dropouts
But also:
School District 81 leads the state in suspensions
Are their suspensions discriminatory in anyway?
6.9% of white students are suspended; 14.8% of African Americans are suspended.
(anyone know the ratio of white students to African American students in Spokane?)
School District 81 leads the state in suspensions with children with disabilities
School District 81 leads the state in home schooled children with disabilities.
School District 81 exceeds the state limit in suspensions of children with disabilities.
I can really appreciate what this new organization is doing (well done) the children are our future. But when Ben Stuckart, says “Right now the community sees this as a school issue; it’s not,”
I would have to respectfully disagree, it is a school problem. Dr. Ross W. Green in his book “Lost at school” shows how the School Zero Tolerance polices that started in the 70’s to reduce drop out rates and gang violence has actually back fired. School district 81 is Washington States star pupil of how the Zero tolerance-Authoritative Rule approach to school discipline has failed us at every level. It did not work for Otto Zehm and it sure does not work with all our children, black, white, disabled, misunderstood you name em it does NOT work compared to (CPS) Collaborative Problem Solving where the adult and the student engage in a process of resolving a problem, where the adult actually talks to the student in a nondiscriminatory method as a human being in a mutually respectful way. It is proven to work with all students especially the black ones and ones with disabilities they seem to be the biggest problem for District 81
Yes, some kids need suspended at times but not to the excess as District 81 has taken it.
Someone could come to District 81’s rescue and say Spokane County has “unique issues” thats the reason for all the drop outs and suspensions. Lets look at that. 71,984 Students in Spokane County 29,207 of those in District 81 (40.57%) 1,537 Total County Suspensions 1,115 of the in District 81 (72.54%)
Someone above mentioned Tacoma School District 29,026 students 520 suspensions. How about Seattle School District 45,024 students 282 suspensions.
If it seems like I am attacking District 81 I am not I am just providing the numbers and offer a solution to a problem.
Spokane County is not the problem but the city of Spokane is. I hope this organization will consider this and focus their efforts therein. Our schools are a part of our community and most of the problem lies within those beautiful brick walls.
eagleproducer on February 26 at 11:47 a.m.
localgrad: I have read “Bowling Alone” (I accept the book’s observations but not its thematic premise) and I still think enough money is being spent within District 81 to tackle and fix their abysmal graduation rates. Why don’t we actually hold them accountable first and then, if that doesn’t work, look for an outside solution? You can call my previous post bitter if you like, but I call it honest. I don’t believe District 81 is accountable to the community and that needs to be addressed before asking taxpayers for more.
There are already plenty of services/plans/programs/whatever in place to address this problem. Successful models from inner urban charter schools show the way. Graduation from high school or having success at anything is about personal responsibility. This initiative further removes schools from being personally responsible for their performance. Trust in public education will not be restored with such measures, but diminished. It’s a way of saying you’ve given up on the system when perhaps all is needed are changes in leadership, reallocation of resources into the classroom and out of the board room, and allowing teachers to be the ultimate arbiter of their classroom.
The argument that the Mead school district is more resource rich than District 81 is laughable and incorrect. Mead has a lot of children who are poor as well, they just don’t use them as an excuse for not doing their jobs.
http://www.schoolmatters.com/schools.aspx/q/page=dl/did=2496/midx=SpendingRevenue
http://www.schoolmatters.com/schools.aspx/q/page=dl/did=2593/midx=SpendingRevenue
The data in those links shows Mead spends $1700.00 per student LESS than District 81 yet boasts much higher graduation rates and other indicators of student achievement like college acceptance, national merit scholars, and test scores. District 81 spends $1000.00 MORE than the state average per student. I say they are to be held accountable first before another dime is asked from the taxpayer.
I’m talking to you as well, members and leaders of the Spokane Education Association.
eagleproducer on February 26 at 11:55 a.m.
localgrad: This initiative isn’t a way for people in the community to “act.” Being taxed isn’t “acting.” It’s being taxed.
If people cared enough to “act” they’d hold District 81 accountable and not “re-elect” the board members each election cycle. I put “re-elect” in quotes, because I don’t believe even one of them was originally elected to the board, but appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy and then reaped the benefits of “incumbency” come election time. But surely you know all of this, as a “localgrad.”
mommie5324 on February 27 at 10:11 p.m.
Benstuckart,
I only mentioned parent resposibility once. My MAIN point was about these kids making PERSONAL CHOICES. And the parents or lack of cause there selfish and really the only reason they have kids is for a tax credit called EIC! Again there not 2 years old there just Dumb Asses making dumb ass decisions that effect there whole life because of PERSONAL CHOICES. And what about their life there the ones that arent gonna be able to get decent jobs. I got my job and i aint worried about some dropout taking my job away.
Why should we have to pay higher property taxes with our HARD EARNED MONEY that we work every day full time to put food on the table and a roof over our head and clothes on our families backs. And some of us have the stress and worry about the busineses we work for closing there doors cause of the econemy and YOU have the odacity to ask us to pay higher taxes for your program. Im really trying to be politically correct here so ill just say take a hike.
eagleproducer on March 01 at 8:53 a.m.
Hmmmm…
The supporters of this initiative sure have been quieted by facts.
I will campaign long and hard to have this initiative defeated should it reach the ballot. Once the public is aware of how much more money District 81 spends per student compared to other area schools AND still produces horrible graduation rates and test scores, they’ll look at the Castle on the Hill occupying the corner of Main and Bernard instead of their wallets for a solution.
Superintendent Sowell of District 81 has a base salary of $176,000.00 per year. With a healthy benefit package that includes top notch health care, retirement, et.al. she is taking home over two hundred grand a year. Her base salary is ten thousand more than the governnor and fifty grand more than her boss, the Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has multiple underlings making in excess of six figures as well, including a mouthpiece, Terren Rolloff, who pulls down more than $75,000.00 a year and issued less than a dozen releases in all of last year! Rolloff is also the one who made the decision to not release information to parents concerning a second grader who brought a knife to school last week that was later brandished on the playground by another kid.
One would think with all that high priced talent at the headquarters the citizens and ones paying the bills would see improvement in both grad rates and test scores. But not so. Yet contracts keep getting renewed, the same leadership in buildings remain and the culture of failure marches on. District 81 has only one school making adequate progress under No Child Left Behind, yet every district that surrounds it does make adequate progress. Are there less poor people in the Valley? Does family dysfunction in southern Stevens county or Mead not exist?
I
jimmahoney on November 04 at 10:31 a.m.
Talk about profiling. “Just another little teensie weensie tax increase…to be borne by already burdened property owners instead of an increase in the general sales tax, carried by all the citizens.”