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Editorials
As someone who is known to rag on the Lancaster Central School District (LCSD) for imprudent spending, it is satisfying to commend the district for not only gaining four spots in the overall 97 district ranking, but for setting out on a course several years ago that will bear more fruit next year.
It was LCSD’S intent several years ago to focus on and improve education proficiency at lower grade levels and patiently to await the results down the road. This program is working.
Examining the data provided by Business First (BF), one can be misled if that individual does not have a clear understanding that the formula for determining academic performance has changed over the years. In its publication BF states that when it began ranking school districts in 1992, only ten statistical indicators were utilized. “We now use four years of Regents diploma rates, as well as results from 21 tests, considering the percentage of students who exceeded or met state standards on each. The grand total today is 172 indicators; 43 factors/year x 4 years – proprietary formula on weighting. The current year is weighted most heavily and weighing descends by year.
District facts and performance indicators according to BF
The LCSD serves a population of 37,622 and has a student enrollment of 6,232.
The pupil-teacher ratio is 13.7*
Teacher Experience – 25% early, 15% advanced
Teacher Salary - $33,724 start, $44,725 median, $81,300 peak**
Budget - $70 million***
Spending Rate - $10,901 per pupil****
Twelfth is the highest Lancaster has ranked since BF began the rankings in 1992. Lancaster has improved dramatically through the years (ranked #91 in 1992 and still at #58 in 1997. Since 2005 the school district has hovered 14th and 16th place.
This is LCSD’S fifth appearance on the Honor Roll; one of 19 school districts receiving such honor. Unfortunately, no subject awards were received for placing within the top ten districts in any of the four categories (fourth and eighth grade Math and English).
Lancaster was again considered the most cost-effective school district. BF looks for districts that achieve educational excellence despite spending a relatively low amount of money.
Regents Diploma – 53% advanced, 95% all. All meaning Regent diplomas, local diplomas, IEP, etc.
Next Step – 54% to four year schools; 32% to two year schools; 9% into the working force; 3% into the military. The school district is taking serious steps to increase the number of graduates entering four year educational institutions. Lancaster has scholastically improved to the point where 4 year schools are now seeking out their students.
4th year Basic – 82% English, 96% Math (NYS Test Assessment scores)
8th year Basic – 78% English, 89% Math (NYS Test Assessment scores)
Regents Basic – 96% English, 97% Math, 96% Science, 94% Global, 95% U.S. History
Considering the following data provided by LCSD that will be used in determining next year’s BF school district rankings, test score improvements indicate LCSD should do even better next year.
Scores are from the 2006 – 2009 school years
ENGLISH 3rd Grade - 77 - 82 - 86 - 89
ENGLISH 4th Grade - 77 - 81 - 82 - 85
ENGLISH 5th Grade – 86 - 82 - 90 - 92
ENGLISH 6th Grade - 70 - 80 - 82 - 93
ENGLISH 7th Grade - 72 - 78 - 89 - 91
ENGLISH 8th Grade - 58 - 75 - 78 - 90
ENGLISH 11th Grade- 93 - 93 - 96 - TBD
MATH 3rd Grade – 95 - 95 - 97 - 99
MATH 4th Grade – 87 - 94 - 96 - 97
MATH 5th Grade – 89 - 92 - 95 - 98
MATH 6th Grade – 79 - 89 - 95 - 97
MATH 7th Grade – 73 - 88 - 96 - 97
BF data relevancy and accuracy
When examining the data, some didn’t make sense. With the help of school administrators, School Board members and Scot Thomas (BF), it was made clear and understanding that BF data is not always current and dependent on the information provided by NYS Department of Education. The following are some facts and observations gleaned from the data and information provided by the aforementioned parties:that can be shared:
*Pupil to Teacher ratio does not indicate class size. It is simply the number of staff required to educate children of all needs (includes Special Ed and AII). Class sizes in LCSD average 18 for K, 22-23 for grades 1-3, 23-25 for William Street School (4-6), 23-28 for the Middle School and 24-30 for the High School.
**BF listed the teacher salary structure for LCSD classroom teachers for the 2007-08 school year as $33,724 start, $44,725 median and $81,300 peak. In the 2007-08 school year, according to the Teachers Association contract, teachers with a BA started at $32,805. Teachers with a MA start at $36,600. So, the $33,724 is a credible number. According to the contract, teacher salaries in Lancaster currently max out at $80,800. That may change as the school and teachers union are now in contract negotiations.
Where it gets dicey is trying to determine what is considered “median” pay structure. If you were to consider the point between starting salary ($$33,724) and max salary ($80,800) that would average out at $57,302. If you were to consider years of service as an indicator, it takes a teacher 21 years to earn $80,800. If you were to consider the 11th year as mid-point, the Association contract calls for $50,400. This is for a Teacher with a MA, which is required of all LCSD teachers after their third year of service. The BF quote is for a teacher with a BA.
Scot Thomas of BF explained that the number takes into consideration the percentile of teachers at each salary grade when coming up with a median salary figure. LCSD has a young staff. As it ages and salaries increase, LCSD’S cost effectiveness ranking will be adversely impacted.
It should be noted that there is a staff of 495 teachers and others that provide myriad student services; teachers, assessment, counseling, social workers, etc.
***BF lists LCSD’S budget at $70 million. LCSD’S budget for the 2008-09 school year was $81.53 million. In fact, it was $76.37 million in the 2007-08 year and $71.68 million in the 2006-07 school year. BF I getting the $70 million budget number from the NYS Department of Education.
**** BF listed the Spending Rate to educate a LCSD pupil at $10,901. If the budget were indeed $70 million, and you divided that number by 6,232 (number of students) the resulting number is $11,232. Where does the difference come from; sloppy math or a reduction from some source?
Even if the NYS Department of Education used the 2007-08 budget number of $76.37 million, that would yield a spending rate of $12,254. Are you as confused on this as I am? At least it makes more sense than when the spending rate was based on the property taxes paid. I was chastised by a school teacher who told me it only cost $5,400 (at that time) to educate a child in Lancaster, not the $10,000+ I was reporting.
BF does not rank the five elementary schools in the LCSD as there is no fourth grade in that classification in Lancaster.
One thing that LCSD property taxpayers overlook is that the district pays for private school busing, texts, hardware, software and nursing staff.
The Cost of Quality
You don’t have to be a quality engineer to understand that quality improvement comes with a cost; a cost that is either absorbed by the supplier or the consumer purchasing the product. In the private world, the supplier increases productivity, eliminates employees or lowers wages to offset those costs to stay competitive and/or in business.
As we all know, the government and public sector is not a business and/or is not run like one. The public sector believes it has an unlimited source of funding; we, the taxpayer
Although BF ranks LCSD as #1 in cost effectiveness, many Lancaster taxpayers have a difficult time understanding how that’s possible considering the amount of spending that has taken place in the past several years.
In the 200-01 school year, the budget was increased by 6.18% to accommodate for growth and was $55.9 million. From then to the 2004-05 school year (a four year span) the budget increased by 7.1 million to $63 million, a 12.7% increase or an annual average of 3.2%.
The budget increased from $63 million (2004-05) to $81.53 million in the 2008-09 school year; an increase of $18.53 million over this period; a 29.4% increase in spending – 7.75%, 5.61%, 6.55% and 6.75 annual budget increases over four years.
The recently approved 2009-10 budget increased spending by 3.9% and the budget is now $84.71 million. Using the current school enrollment number of 6,235, spending per LCSD pupil in 2009-10 = $84.71/6,235 = $13,586. That number is less when subtracting LCSD spending for the services provided to private schools within the district.
There were bumps along the way in the last four years, the C4E program and other. However, taxpayers are disturbed to hear during these times of budget spending, several times the rate of inflation, school board members make remarks like: “It’s a value budget”; “We cut materials, not people”; “It’s for the kids.”
The buzz word for 2009-10 was, “We all had to sacrifice.” State aid had been reduced by $1.8 million. Yet it was higher than the previous year by $1.6 million and LCSD received $1.3 in stimulus money. (State aid in 2004-05 at $20.7 million; property tax at $33.24 million; sales tax at $4.1 million. State aid in 2009-10 at $32.35 million; property tax at $39.49 million; sales tax $5.05 million.)
This year, Lancaster residents were spared an increase in school property tax because of town growth, increased state aid, federal stimulus money and use of school district reserves., our school property tax is increasing. There will be stimulus money again for the 2010-11 budget, but then what? LCSD should be looking to that day or heaven help us all.
Salaries and benefits
Somewhere around 85% of the budget is mandated. There is nothing to be done that can affect this pool of money, or so we are told. Yet salaries and health benefits are a big chunk of the mandated costs and are negotiated at the school level (which is happening right now) and the state is looking to have the public sector contribute more or longer into the retirement system.
While on the one hand thanking teachers for the marvelous job they perform, we can’t help but wonder whether they realize how fortunate they are in today’s economy crisis world where they are well compensated and receive benefit and retirement plans that most of us can only dream of.
While many individuals in the private sector are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts or receiving no wage increases for years, losing pension and health care programs, they are being told they will have to make up a shortfall in the state retirement system so that public sector employees can continue to receive generous retirement distributions that are not state taxed.
Readers should also understand that school staff retirement benefits also include wages earned for myriad extra pay activities – summer school teaching, sports, orchestra, etc.
Their health plan includes dental and vision. Their pension factor equals a) 1-2/3% per year if they have less than 20 years of service at retirement, or b) 2% per year if they have between 20 and 30 years of service. Under Tier 4, they receive 1-1/2% for each additional service year beyond.
Yes, we all want children to have the best opportunity to get an education and succeed in today’s world. We can no longer afford our over-bloated government. How much longer can we afford to spend the way we have in our school system without making employee cuts and/or addressing a salary/health care/retirement program that is no longer affordable and takes up 85% of the budget?
Taxpayers are continuously being reminded by school system advocates, “It’s for the kids!” Rightfully so, but it’s now time for school system employees to take a position that “It’s for the taxpayers” and consider making concessions.
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