Superintendent Gault says that Forsyth County Schools believes that "65%" is a solution in search of a problem that does not exist...
The 65% solution that is now before the Governor to sign into law calls for school districts to spend at least 65% of their current operating budgets on direct instructional costs. Personally, as a tax payer, this sounds great on the surface. I am sure that it even gets a lot of politicians some much needed publicity during an election year.
But in looking deeper beyond the spin of 65%, I am disturbed at what our state elected officials do NOT consider "direct instructional costs". These include media specialists, counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, therapists, principals, assistant principals, media center materials, school nurses, technology specialists and technology in the classroom, school resource officers and other safety-related expenses, costs for lighting, heating, cooling and cleaning classrooms, bus drivers and the buses needed for transporting children to and from school, professional learning programs to improve teachers' skills and effectiveness, school lunch and breakfast programs, and instructional support personnel to enhance the quality of teacher performance. Defined 25 years ago by the National Center for Education Statistics, the definition of "direct instructional costs" used by the Governor and General Assembly does not represent a 21st century classroom nor the significant school reforms made since 1980.
To many of the people in these careers, to the classroom teachers who see the direct relationship between student achievement and having these key positions, and to the local tax payers that have asked for these positions and resources for their children, this "solution" is an insult.
Forsyth County Schools believes that "65%" is a solution in search of a problem that does not exist. We know of no valid research that correlates increased achievement with spending 65% of education dollars on instruction. The 65% solution is also in conflict with the accreditation standards for schools defined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This legislation could place all Georgia systems and schools in jeopardy of losing accreditation.
At a time when we expect our teachers to deliver personalized instruction to each student and recognize the value of this approach, it seems strange that state officials would impose the exact opposite "one size fits all" mandate on very different school systems with very different children with very different needs. Allocating more dollars for instruction is something that school districts should and have been working on. There is no connection between a minimum percentage of spending on instruction and student achievement. It is irresponsible to hold schools accountable for student achievement without the financial decision-making needs to bring about improved student performance.
Forsyth County Schools has lost $14 million in funding from the state over the past four years because of "austerity reductions". The cost of funding public education has shifted to local tax payers, who now fund 56% of Forsyth County Schools' budget. We believe that only state money should be subject to state spending controls.
We, the school system, working under the direction of a community-led strategic plan, believe that local taxpayers and local schools are best suited to determine our student needs. We don't need an unproven, feel-good gimmick, pushed by non-educators who apparently have little regard for local taxpayer control, valid research and professional judgment. Education of our students should not be used for political gain.
Paula H. Gault, Superintendent