Interim Baltimore City schools chief Charlene Boston earlier this month submitted a $1.2 billion operating budget. That translates to more than $14,000 per student, or almost $1,000 more per pupil than last year.
If the school system planned to target all of those funds at proven structural reforms, including merit pay for teachers with highly sought-after math and science skills, those who choose to work in some of those 11 perennially failing schools, and those whose students consistently achieve high levels of academic proficiency, it would be money well spent. But it?s not.
Over $22 million of the extra $78 million in the proposed fiscal 2008 budget as compared to the 2007 budget is earmarked for “Mid-Level Administration.” That more than cancels out the proposed $6.4 million cut from its “Administration” budget.
First, is there some reason why the school system needs two line items for its administration expenses?
Second, and more importantly, by next year student enrollment will have dropped 4 percent since 2006. With fewer students, administrative costs should go down, right? Wrong. Since 2006, total administration costs have risen 34 percent to nearly $157 million. How does the school system justify that increase? Boston did not return a call seeking comment about the budget, slated to be voted on by the school board later today.
Some of the extra funds are aimed at recruiting the highly skilled teachers students deserve, which is a good start. But unless those teachers have a reason to stay, experience shows they leave quickly, making merit pay so important. Other funds are earmarked toward boosting school safety by hiring more school police officers.
A recent series in The Examiner shows teachers regularly endure classroom assaults. Without a safe environment, neither teachers nor students can concentrate on learning, making those funds well spent.
But we think taxpayers deserve to know why they should support an expanding bureaucracy when enrollment figures justify cutting it.
To illuminate where the money is going, Boston should make public a detailed report listing the reasons for the extra $22 million in administrative costs. Better yet, give beleaguered taxpayers the details in a report outlining extensive cuts.
Graduating students well-versed in reading, writing, math and science skills must always be the main goal of every school system. Expenses that do not help to achieve that goal must be eliminated. And until the system proves providing an excellent education is their chief concern, no reason exists not to give every student a $14,000 tuition credit to be used at any school, public or private, where their parents think it is a top priority.
