October 21st, 2006 by Atomictumor
The Oak Ridger reported yesterday that City Manager Jim O’Connor sent an email out to the School Board to have a pow-wow over how the school board does the budget.Â
What hasn’t been commonly reported (other than here, and Netmoms site, and a few other places not afraid of working off the record) is that back in August, Jim-boy met with Mayor Bradshaw, Superintendant Bailey, and School Board Chief John Smith Jr. to discuss the matter, directing them not to make a big thing out of the budget this year like they did last year. It was advised that they stop giving teachers raises (Oak Ridge has done a great job keeping teachers, who get raises on a periodic scale, so because we have a lot that have been around for years and years, we pay em more. Circle of life), or put the can on a few teaching jobs, in order to make the budget work in a media friendly way, and prevent people from being voted off the council this coming year.
Wait, hold on. I told myself that this wouldn’t be a one vs. the other kinda post, and that I’d be fair and balanced, just like Rupert. Why, Atomictumor WHY, do you always have to dig at the Council! You’re such a closed minded, liberal bastard, and I think your opinions are petty and simple.Â
Sorry about that.
As I was saying, Jimjam wants to have the board and the council meet, sort of a West Side Story with pizazz. They’ll snap fingers at each other, and sing songs about how one side doesn’t know how to use the other sides money, but I don’t think there’ll be a knife fight.Â
There certainly will be some wondering how the City Council expects the school board to have a very meaningful dialogue vis a vis this years budget when they don’t expect to have any thing close to the numbers and expenses required to make a budget for another few months. Hmm.Â
I’d be interested in seeing what happens at this meeting. I want to see if everybody involved is going to be involved for the best of Oak Ridge, or if they’re going to be involved to try to make themselves look good. I don’t see why they necessarilly have to be exclusive, but thats why I’m not in politics. I’m a gadfly, remember?
Finally, what really got me thinking about this matter is the discussion (I didn’t see the meeting, myself) during the meeting asking if Oak Ridge really wants to commit to excellence in the school system. The word “complacent” came up, which I think is a very interesting word to use in the situation.Â
Is Oak Ridge complacent about the schools? Do Oak Ridge citizens, in 2006, really care if they have the best school system in the state/country/county/whatever? Where are the priorities there?
Well, according to our little very, very, highly informal poll on the website, the schools aren’t much of a priority compared to general housekeeping, like bringing in business, or repairing blighted neighborhoods. Should we deal with the city as a whole, get something put in that albatross of a mall downtown, get some decent businesses in town, fix up shitty parts of town, and come back to the schools in a few years?
We’d only be sacrificing the education of some of the kids?Â
October 21st, 2006 at 10:25 am
” . . . the schools aren’t much of a priority compared to general housekeeping, like bringing in business, or repairing blighted neighborhoods. Should we deal with the city as a whole, get something put in that albatross of a mall downtown, get some decent businesses in town, fix up shitty parts of town, and come back to the schools in a few years?”
One hand washes the other. Yes, schools are a big factor in the decision about where to live, so the fortunes of OR businesses are tied, to some extent, to the success of the schools. But the available jobs, as well as amenities and the perception of “a good place to raise kids” are important to most folks as well, and so the property taxes that fund the school system are tied to the business climate. They are inextricably bound together.
It is my impression, however, that OR is fighting an uphill battle. The historical status of OR schools as among the best in the state owes itself to two historical artifacts: payments in lieu of taxes by the federal government and a parent demographic highly skewed to the academic and highly motivated. As those legacies have dissipated, and as the population of OR homeowneers has shifted towards fixed income retirees, the financial strain of maintaining an extraordinary school system is, it seems to me, becoming insurmountable.
It has been said that Americans want Democratic benefits paid for at Republican tax rates. From where I sit, OR looks like a microcosm of this American attitude. The folks on the ‘tuma look to me like an exception. But it will take a large influx of upper income residents and high end businesses to subsidize this lifestyle.
How’s that for provocative?
October 21st, 2006 at 11:40 am
Hmmm. Joel already covered my initial thoughts (more eloquently, even).
As far as “Democratic benefits at Republican tax rates,” one of the primary tenents of the Republican philosophy (which, I know, many elected Republicans seem to have forgotten) is that the best government is the one closest to the people. In other words, do as much locally as possible — for the local taxes we pay, we get 100% of the benefit. At the state level, some is lost in the bureaucracy, and at the federal level, it tends to be a “one size fits all” approach that doesn’t fit much of anyone very well except in a few instances like national defense and social security.
Just this year, Oak Ridge gave a 3% raise to teachers. Knox County gave 4.5%. Blount Co., Maryville, et al gave about 4%, I think. We’re no longer as far ahead as people think we are, and we’re losing ground.
The quality and reputation of Oak Ridge schools have a great deal to do with the future economic prospects of the city.
October 21st, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Great thoughts, Joel and Netmom. Joel really sums up what has become my thinking, in that being single minded on school excellence, while commendable, may not be entirely realistic. I might be among a group unique in the city in that my children are at the ages where any slacking in the school system will affect them.
Thing is, smart kids get into good colleges from crappy schools. Smart kids (ahem, like me) drop out of state colleges after graduating from excellent schools.
Joel also hit it on the nose about the changing demographics. I’ve never perceived Oak Ridge the way you guys do. Hell, I didn’t even realize what Oak Ridge was back in the old days (scientists on every road) until I started talking with ol’ Daco. Its not that town in 2006.
October 21st, 2006 at 12:32 pm
NM, I was under the impression that Oak Ridge worked on a set floating raise package for teachers. Are you referring to the starting salary for new teachers?
October 21st, 2006 at 4:23 pm
You see…this is why I visit this place. You guys are all so smart.
Excellent post Joel.
The changing demographic is what scares the crap outta me. Not only the ever increasing percentage of retired folks, but the ever increasing percentage of non-professionals. Not only does the tax base decline, but the importance placed on our beloved school system is diminished.
Joel absolutely nails it in this statement…”One hand washes the other. Yes, schools are a big factor in the decision about where to live, so the fortunes of OR businesses are tied, to some extent, to the success of the schools.”
Why in the world would the future plant manager or CEO of a prospective business move to Oak Ridge if we don’t have an excellent school system, above average police protection (meaning a low crime rate), good retail shopping, diversity in housing options(all in clean safe neighborhoods), relatively low property tax rates, etc?
The point is they won’t choose Oak Ridge without most of those options available to them. The fact is if the school system sucks or is in a declining position there is absolutely no way they would choose Oak Ridge over a competing community. No matter how great the mall is or how cheap the property taxes are.
October 21st, 2006 at 4:26 pm
PS…I think you are reading your poll all wrong AT.
It doesn’t tell me that education isn’t important…it just tells me that you only gave us one opportunity to cast a vote for what we thought was important.