Some time ago the question was asked, “why a school across town (usually white) has more money available then another school across town (usually black / hispanic).” And yours truly went on to explain that the only money that is equal is the federal and state money that each student receives. And that is the same across the board in all districts in every State.
Now the big barrel of funding comes from local tax revenue. When one district is property-rich and another is property-poor because none of the residents own anything the local revenue is not there. When it’s time for the local tax bucks to kick in at the affluent zip codes school, it’s considered “extra” money that can be used for extracurricular programs, equipment, etc. at their school. When it’s time for the local tax bucks to kick in at the not-so-affluent zip codes school, the money usually goes to past debts, welfare programs in the school, security and other things that don’t really benefit the students.
Making a long story short, is it fair that the State will now force more property-rich districts to participate in this “Robin Hood” plan? This plan has been going on for some time and many of the poorer districts are still, poor. This may seem like a good idea to some but I think its further crippling poorer districts.
More info on plan here...
http://www.ktrh.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=121300
Replies
Where r u in Texas? Sounds like good stuff. Keep the issue on the table!
I'm in downtown Houston
But I didn’t want to ramble off too early in the discussion.
I'm just hoping this article opens the eyes of people, especially in Houston. It's very simple and could force a student to look into the "property-wealth" thing before complaining about the funding issues. Once you see that then you can ask questions about who makes the decisions, the givers or the receivers. When you're on the receiving end you generally end up on the bottom every time if you don’t have politicians bamboozling the people.
Now a district could have control with heavy outside funding, "IF" they have a voice. But who are the loud mouths for majority black districts like North Forest ISD? Politicians like Shelia Jackson-Lee??? Just compare a poor, white rural district where their political representative’s work for the people and the people WATCH the mofos like a hawk, to NFISD and you'll see my point. That's why I make a stink about North Forest ISD. They have ZERO power over their district.
I see many students, and surprisingly teachers questioning the lack of funding sources and the brick wall called "politics" they encounter when they go beyond the Assistant Principal (always remember, they're NOT your "pal"). I find it annoying that students aren’t being taught the truth behind the operations. Even the new text books cover up the politics lol. But I've been saying this for years on here but I'm called all kinds of Uncle Tom and crap.
That's why that ass-clown Cleo Fields in LA pisses me off through the roof. A person who claims to care about his constituents, does absolutely nothing for them. No money for East BR schools but he can go scream "racism" at the Capitol to keep his boondoggle program funded. POLITICS!
I have to keep a journal of my $16k allowance I get for personal expenses each year. My log for 2009 was 34 pages long with details, receipts and explanations on every company dollar I spent. And I was randomly audited twice during the year.
That Fields LLI organization receives millions of State funds each year and they can only produce a 2-page overview of where the money has gone each year. That crook isn’t the only politician pimping black folks but it hits close because it's marching band-related. But if people forced politicians to do the right thing, it would be a little better.
I say all of this to point out the politics around the decisions made about the schools, which trickles down to funding those extracurricular activities such as marching bands. That "Robin hood" plan has been around since 1993. The money is there to fill the gap for poor districts but who gets it?
I sincerely hope the people in minority districts don’t believe that “wealth equalization” plan was designed for their districts. It was created for poor, white, rural school districts. Now the plan is fair on the front to please Washington. But open the book and you’ll see stipulations for receiving the money. Just how does the State make certain Billy Bobs son school in Jasper ISD has extra funding to fill its gap each year when you have even poorer minority districts grabbing for the same money?
The powers that be have found creative ways to keep the money out of these poor minority districts hands so that the poor, white districts have more.
- “Standardized test scores aren’t high enough? We’re cutting your extra funding.” We all know about the education gap.
- That doesn’t work then an attendance-based initiative is launched. “Students aren’t coming to school? We’re cutting your extra funding.” We all know minority schools have high truancy rates.
Accountability ratings??? I can go on and on…
Take a look at Allen ISD in Texas. The people of that district voted to build a $60-million stadium. Of course people outside questioned the spending but guess what? It’s Allen ISD’s tax-payers money to spend and no one else’s so they can tell nosey onlookers to take a hike.
Now if North Forest ISD built a $6-dollar wooden box, there would be outrage because it’s not their money. It’s someone else’s. And someone else, usually white, tells them what they can and can’t do. Government control is bad, especially financially.
As long as people seek handouts things will never improve, there will be another scam implemented to keep the money from minority districts for every situation. But when the power is in the hands of the districts tax-payers, they can tell the State to fukk off!
at the end of the day... NOPE its not fair..
things will improve is the people in their communities would participate, and inspire school leaders to create for their schools . otherwise it wont happen because folks want their kids to go elsewhere. which it is their choice ..
Got to go beyond the talking points sir. Saying it's "not fair" in an argument goes no where.
Here's a good one....
tax-payer/voter: Our school, G.W Carver's stadium still hasn't been built?
politician: Ummm...
tax-payer/voter : Well, they seem to be lacking funding SIR!
politician: There's no funding and budget cuts.
tax-payer/voter: Thats odd, because we're talking about an actual school here. But that worm-head in Baton Rouge managed to secure a lump-sum of $4-million+ in State funding for his project.
politician runs and you bring more heat!!!
Book said:
Preach! N when sir are you running for office? I live in Houston off of 1960 now. U'd def get me and my households vote!
Chris - Pinnacle of Hummanity... said:
and I dont trust charters....Still waiting on a white charter school...
why does the 4th/3rd largest city in the US have an entire district of 3A, in the middle of the city?
because people who can will send their kids to private schools.
right.. and that's not a bad thing.at all.
B. Mitchell said:
Right, and most of the property-rich zip codes in Houston vote against anything HISD tries to do concerning their money. Their children don't attend HISD schools.
B. Mitchell said:
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