tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13308710.post306956829364567698..comments2023-10-01T07:09:54.195-04:00Comments on Schools, Politics, and Common Sense: Why Contracting, and Why Now?Rob Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078551548669786649noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13308710.post-13621292129805308702008-05-12T10:30:00.000-04:002008-05-12T10:30:00.000-04:00Great to hear from a historical father of Birmingh...Great to hear from a historical father of Birmingham! <BR/><BR/>In fact, Mr. Perry did see the ultimate fate of the funding <BR/>mechanism at the early stages of the Proposal A reform. Even with that, no one could have foreseen just how dark the economic climate would become in Michigan. Chide us for the past but understand - this board member (as do most others) do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. We started the process of looking at all costs years ago, and we make decisions after careful analysis to ensure structural support designed to enhance the success of implemented changes - the same as in the corporate world. <BR/><BR/>As to the tuition example - I find it hard to support subsidizing tuition for out of district residents when our funding formula is so disproportionately supported by local tax revenue ($3,877/student via the local "hold harmless" millage). And you're correct, the issue is much more complex due to foundation allowance release issues, compliance with the State school aid act, and disparities between the costs associated with elementary, middle school, and high school programs. <BR/><BR/>And Mr. Bradway - if you're interested - our tuition rate of $12,188 for high school is FAR below competitive costs in the area. People choose private schools for many different reasons, cost is only one metric. Thanks for your well considered comment.Rob Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07078551548669786649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13308710.post-20051620595226875082008-05-06T14:23:00.000-04:002008-05-06T14:23:00.000-04:00Congratulations on making the right move to privat...Congratulations on making the right move to privatize and save the district $3 million annually despite the public outcry. I do of course have a small bone to pick about the privatizing decision.<BR/><BR/>Since, I think the late nineties, I heard the monotoned “Mr. Perry” tell us this day was coming. So why did you wait? By my reckoning you could have save $3 million for 10 years. Instead you dithered until you had to. You would have taken the same amount of guff from the public/staff then as now. I know I am being somewhat unfair, I don’t think you were involved as early as that. Hard decisions are by their nature hard to make. But what begs the question now is how many other hard cuts are you postponing until the last gasp? Follow the corporate example, take all the bad news now and look good later.<BR/><BR/>As long as I have keyboard in hand I have another issue. I believe the district accepts tuition students for about $11,000 a year. A figure that is roughly the operating cost divided by enrollment. Surely, an organization which wanted to increase revenues and hold costs constant would use a difference pricing model. It seems to me to be lunacy to set pricing at a fully loaded capital cost. A more logical approach would be to charge the desired additional revenue per pupil plus the marginal cost of having that student. For example, the district has say 8100 students, which is about 40 classes of 20 kids each. So if you added 1 student per class, it seems to be this could be accomplished without increasing your costs for teachers etc. If you charged say $5500 per student you would be looking at an additional $2.2 million annually. <BR/><BR/>Now I know things are never quite that simple. But if the school system is as good as you say it is, given the current private school costs, it seems to me that you could accomplish these kinds of numbers. I do know it would cost very little to find out. (Assuming you can do a pilot without 2 vice principal, 3 course co-coordinators, 5 key communicators, and consultant) <BR/><BR/>Yours <BR/><BR/>Judson BradwayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com