Armed with 112-page workbooks - not to speak of many other hand-outs and documents - the volunteers began their first full-scale work session since an inaugural meeting back on Dec. 7. Their goal: produce a workable spending plan for Ames elementary schools by March 27. At that time, the elementary group - and three others, dealing with the Middle School, High School and "district operations" - will submit their proposals to the Ames School Board.
A final budget is to be approved by the board by mid-May.
It was from the elementary budget council, although its membership was different, that a proposal came in spring 2004 to close a pair of elementary schools - a move that continues to reverberate in the community, particularly among parents who once sent their children to the now-vacant Roosevelt Elementary School. Northwood was the other school to be closed in a budget-cutting move approved in May 2005 by the school board.
The level of scrutiny and public participation is sure to go up this year. Although the elementary council worked without much of an audience, its discussions will be reviewed by the school board and the public Jan. 23 in the first of three "budget updates" approved by the board in December.
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For now, though, the volunteers moved through the early steps of "getting their arms around" the budget and the task before them. Thursday's meeting was scheduled to last two and one-half hours. They plan at least three more meetings on Jan. 17 and Feb. 8 and 21.
Sawyer Elementary Principal Randy Podhaski, who serves as the group leader, said any budget cuts must be made with state administrative codes in mind.
Podhaski reviewed the council's last meeting and ticked off various suggestions that would add to the elementary program, including: a possible sixth elementary school (it has been suggested that Roosevelt might reopen); a downtown education site (similar to one proposed last fall by a resident group advocating for a charter school); and a guidance counselor in each building.
Budget changes are complicated, noted Podhaski.
The school board will make the ultimate decision, "but there are other things to consider, as well," he said. "You have to think about the Instructional Leadership Team (comprised of administrators and faculty, a group that will review any new program), about the human resources and contractual issues that will come up."
Listing priorities
Podhaski unrolled some large (three-foot square) pink sheets of paper for the groups to use as they began prioritizing budget issues. He asked the groups to list important information they might need in order to make up their minds.
The council then split into three round-table groups. Among the issues:
Table 1: One volunteer wondered about saving some money with the upcoming retirement of the district school/community relations person. She suggested the position be "self funded" through continuous grant writing. Local money spent on that job could be diverted to the classrooms instead.
Table 2: There was a lot of discussion about class size. Council member Sue Crull cited research she had done showing the benefits of limiting class size to 17 students. With Roosevelt School available, the goal is easily met, she noted.
But there were other comments. "I went through the entire Ames school system with class sizes of 28 to 30 students," said another member of the group, "and we got a good education."
Another member suggested that 17-student classrooms was an "ideal goal" and wondered where in Iowa such ratios actually occur.
Table 3: Each elementary school would benefit from a guidance counselor if the funds could be found to pay them, participants agreed.
Does the benefit justify the cost, one member asked?
Member Duane Reeves said yes. He said he has a relative who consults for Minneapolis schools. "For every $1 you spend (on counseling), you get $10 back in benefits," he said.
Next step: templates
Council volunteers will refine their approach to a new budget in future meetings. They will do so using budget "templates," which show each program in the budget, who runs it, which students are served, how many employees work within the program and their responsibilities.
Podhaski said the district administration is completing a new set of templates for the 2005-06 school year.
Each template lists all of the course offerings in each subject area, including state and/or district requirements. There is also an explanation of how national educators regard each subject, and a breakdown of salary, non-personnel "categorical" (programs with specific sources of government funding) and other costs.
BUDGET MEETING
What: School Board 'budget update' When/where: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, Ames High School multipurpose room Why: Program-based budget councils can report to the board on their progress. Open to public? Yes. Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in discussion.
IOWA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
¨ Lists minimal education requirements for schools to meet; ¨ To access on Internet: ¨ go to www.ames.k12.ia.us ¨ click "Curriculum" tab ¨ click "Laws, Rules and Regulations" on right hand side ¨ click "Minimum Curriculum Requirements"
Bob Zientara can be reached
at 232-2160, Ext. 487,
or rzientara@amestrib.com.
