This evening I asked the school board, as they are "signing on the dotted line" -- that they consider doing what they can to ensure our Community does not end up house poor. I provided copies of the attached two charts that reveal our cost per student has far outpaced the cost of living over the last several years. Also, I compared our spending to several competitive districts, illustrating we are ... Far From Frugal ...
As we move forward, something will have to change. The trajectory of spending is not sustainable. Imagine how these charts will look in two years, when they reflect the expenditures on the high school project, PSERS and other increasing expenses.
NOTE: The $3.9MM notation on one of the charts represents the potential savings if our "total expenditures" had been limited to the increases experienced in "instruction expense" ... the bread and butter of the District.
Bill Matthews
MTLSD ADM Analysis
Update: Richard Gideon has provided the following link to Bill Matthews' presentation.
Bill Matthews 01 09 12 comments
Update 2:44 PM The following graph compares Salaries vs. Expenditures.
18 comments:
Bill,
The MTLSD ADM Analysis is alarming, but it's really not a surprise. I'm just wondering what your projection would look like a few years out when the debt service on the high school renovation kicks in along with PSERs, assuming the project comes in on budget (unlikely with multiple contractors) and if enrollment continues a downward trend.
-Charlotte Stephenson
Bill Matthews: THEY DON'T CARE.
Bill, I hope I'm reading your graphs correctly! My conclusion from examining your data...
that this district that proclaims to be doing everything "for the kids" is growing non-instructional spending is larger and growing at a faster pace than instructional spending... correct?
I'm also thinking that if we compare test scores we'll find that for all that escalating spending we'll find little or no gains in results.
Its 11:10.
Ah, yes the wolves are loose and the pig as Bill points out is feeding at the trough.
We should be seeing post from the sheep momentarily.
We could apparently learn a lot from studying nature.
NEW WEST GUEST COLUMN
What Good Are Wolves?
A growing body of scientific research shows wolves are key to the ecosystems of the Northern Rockies. Here's a condensed version compiled by a long-time wolf advocate.
By Norman A. Bishop, Guest Writer, 1-04-11
Wolves cause us to examine our values and attitudes. Paul Errington wrote, “Of all the native biological constituents of a northern wilderness scene, I should say that the wolves present the greatest test of human wisdom and good intentions.”
It's instructive to plot the march of costs vs. enrollment at MTLSD over the years. (I've taken the Average Daily Membership and Total Expenditures lines from Mr. Matthews's "MTSLD ADM Analysis" and plotted them on separate axes.) Since 1998, we started losing enrollment, but costs have only continued to climb.
It's not a pretty picture. The trend it depicts is unsustainable. (Not that the national trends are sustainable, either.)
These charts should be "required reading" for all Mt. Lebanon taxpayers. Mr. Matthews has provided a valuable service to the community in preparing and publishing this data. As far as what the Board will do with it; given that the MLSB's track record in considering information from outside its own circle of "advisers" is dismal, at best, I doubt that it will influence the majority of our directors, if any at all.
Unfortunately, I think the District (and the Municipality) will be buoyed by what undoubtedly will be a modest increase in EIT collections, due to the new tax system (see the post, Smaller Paycheck in 2012). While this may be temporary good news for the District, in the end it is rather like a man who has just about maxed out his credit cards but has just received a $20 a week raise; and then, instead of applying the increase to debt, runs out and buys a new car.
Tom,
I don’t know what the school board is “banking on”. It seems they think that if they place a large investment in the facility then families who can afford costly housing with young children will elect to move to Mt. Lebanon as opposed to other communities within the Greater Pittsburgh area. I have heard that theory mentioned before by board members. I wonder what actual demographic research has been done to support that assumption. Opinions are one thing, but statistics presented in a meaningful and visual way as you and Bill presented here show that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Perhaps I missed the supporting data other than Mr. Kubit's glossy mailer along the way.
The Board has referred to the high school facility as the “crown jewel” of the community. No doubt actual enrollment statistics over time will indicate whether their assumption was correct. Nonetheless, the escalating costs do appear unsustainable. I wonder how many if the ideas presented by community workgroups on cost reductions are being given any further consideration.
-Charlotte Stephenson
"of the ideas", not "if the ideas" on previous post. - Charlotte Stephenson
Tom,
Your chart depicts a falling birth rate from about 1991; it will get worse as years pass.
If you want to see how unsustainable it is in simple easy to understand manner graph school district TOTAL EXPENDITURES from say 1990 to projected 2016. In that bar graph plot along side the expenditures the TOTAL STAFF COMPENSATION (include salary, health care, pensions, vacation pay etc.).
Just looking at it from 2011 to 2016 is frightening. Forget about the number of students.
How come Mr. Matthews comment about being allowed access to the revised building drawings was passed over?
It's absurd given Bill's evidence about how easy, albeit expensive, it is to acquire them that he or any resident should be denied access.
This shines a brilliant light on the board's fallacy of being more transparent!
Thanks Bill, for your hardwork and expose.
First off, I'm flattered by the wolf moniker. They really are fascinating animals.
Second, I would echo Charlotte's sentiment--where is the evidence to support any of the MLSB actions or intentions? If anything, there is a mountian of data suggesting they are on the wrong side of the fiscal discussion. But I suppose we should expect that by now.
And no, Bill, they don't care. If they did, things wouldn't be at this point. In a year or two, maybe people will finally wake up.
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/stuff/2009/enrollment_8_31_11.pdf
See the attendance by grade level in the above URL
Not one middle school or elementary school class level is as large as any of the high school classes graduating in the next four years.
There's an old proverb that states "All good things must come to an end."
We're all about to witness that here in Mt. Lebanon.
The really sad thing is it didn't have to happen.
High taxes are the cure for high property values.
Ah yes, reminds me of another Georgie song!
"In their styes with all their backing
they don't care what goes on around.
In their eyes there's something lacking
what they need's a damn good whacking.
Everywhere there's lots of piggies
living piggy lives.
You can see them out for dinner
with their piggy wives
clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon."
May 2008.
That's when James Fraasch first wrote about the falling student enrollment and the fact he didn't vote for the budget due to the District not decreasing staffing while it was losing a significant student population.
http://lebosbupdates.blogspot.com/2008/05/against-wind.html
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