Muriel Bowser leads the Defund the Schools Movement

[Anonymous]

Schools across DC are losing staff positions next year because the Mayor will not fund schools at the appropriate amount to maintain already bare bones staffing. We know schools are the best social net that we currently have for our at - risk kids, so maybe the Mayor is the one who is responsible for the problems in this city? I dunno, maybe that's where I'd raise my ire.

[Anonymous]

Oh FFS. Most schools are getting an increase. Yes, costs are up, but it's hardly de-funding. Our school is +$1 million over last year.

[Anonymous]

It's a fair point to link school funding with crime prevention.

[Anonymous]

Does OP understand how much $ per pupil DC spends as compared to the rest of the country? Isn't it like the highest spent per pupil in the country? And Mayor Bowser is asking for a 12% or so increase in funding for this coming school year--that's "defunding the schools"? Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does OP understand how much $ per pupil DC spends as compared to the rest of the country? Isn't it like the highest spent per pupil in the country? And Mayor Bowser is asking for a 12% or so increase in funding for this coming school year--that's "defunding the schools"? Get a grip.

Budgets increased by ~12% at a time staffing costs increased by 23%, so yes, the schools are being defunded. Part of the reason staffing costs aren't as well aligned is because the mayor refuses to sign timely contracts so personnel spending is hard to budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does OP understand how much $ per pupil DC spends as compared to the rest of the country? Isn't it like the highest spent per pupil in the country? And Mayor Bowser is asking for a 12% or so increase in funding for this coming school year--that's "defunding the schools"? Get a grip.

Budgets increased by ~12% at a time staffing costs increased by 23%, so yes, the schools are being defunded. Part of the reason staffing costs aren't as well aligned is because the mayor refuses to sign timely contracts so personnel spending is hard to budget.

DC is facing massive budget shortfalls. Which other city services do you recommend cutting in order to fund schools to the level you prefer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does OP understand how much $ per pupil DC spends as compared to the rest of the country? Isn't it like the highest spent per pupil in the country? And Mayor Bowser is asking for a 12% or so increase in funding for this coming school year--that's "defunding the schools"? Get a grip.

Budgets increased by ~12% at a time staffing costs increased by 23%, so yes, the schools are being defunded. Part of the reason staffing costs aren't as well aligned is because the mayor refuses to sign timely contracts so personnel spending is hard to budget.

DC is facing massive budget shortfalls. Which other city services do you recommend cutting in order to fund schools to the level you prefer?

Do I need to get a grip or do I need to be in charge of budgeting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does OP understand how much $ per pupil DC spends as compared to the rest of the country? Isn't it like the highest spent per pupil in the country? And Mayor Bowser is asking for a 12% or so increase in funding for this coming school year--that's "defunding the schools"? Get a grip.

Budgets increased by ~12% at a time staffing costs increased by 23%, so yes, the schools are being defunded. Part of the reason staffing costs aren't as well aligned is because the mayor refuses to sign timely contracts so personnel spending is hard to budget.

DC is facing massive budget shortfalls. Which other city services do you recommend cutting in order to fund schools to the level you prefer?

Do I need to get a grip or do I need to be in charge of budgeting?

I didn't say "get a grip." I am just pointing out that DC has less money than it needs to do all the things it needs to do. I have a child in DCPS and I am not excited about our school having to make the 12% increase stretch to cover increased staff costs (even though I also think staff deserve the increase). We're Title 1 so I think there is more leeway, but it will still be tough.

But schools are not the only city service my family utilizes. We also have a huge crime problem (I live on the East side where the crime issues are very pronounced and I want those extra patrols and personnel we are being promised to address this issue). The homelessness issue has worsened since Covid and requires money. We have a lot of infrastructure in the city that needs repair and replacements. And on and on.

I get being unhappy about the modest increase in the face of rising costs. And I don't even like Bowser! But I don't understand screaming about "defunding the schools" when there is a very practical problem, which is that the city has a budget shortfall. If we do a 20%+ increase in school budgets, that money will need to come from elsewhere. Where?

[Anonymous]

DC already spends more per pupil per year than anywhere in the entire country (possibly the world?).

And I think it’s obvious that there will be budget cuts as high earners gradually leave the city limits due to crime and quality of life issues.

That said, I think they should cut the middle management layer and administrative costs before cutting any spending that would affect students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh FFS. Most schools are getting an increase. Yes, costs are up, but it's hardly de-funding. Our school is +$1 million over last year.

The money goes up but doesn't match staff funding costs. These people think that we'll just accept talking points that the money is going up when the staff numbers are decreasing. School funding doesn't educate our kids, staff do. I can't believe we get this game recycled every damn year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC already spends more per pupil per year than anywhere in the entire country (possibly the world?).

And I think it’s obvious that there will be budget cuts as high earners gradually leave the city limits due to crime and quality of life issues.

That said, I think they should cut the middle management layer and administrative costs before cutting any spending that would affect students.

This! And for what, exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Budgets increased by ~12% at a time staffing costs increased by 23%, so yes, the schools are being defunded. Part of the reason staffing costs aren't as well aligned is because the mayor refuses to sign timely contracts so personnel spending is hard to budget.

The math isn’t so simple. If, say, staffing costs are half of total costs, and other costs stay the same, the 12% budget increase covers the total cost increase. I’m not saying those are the facts, just that we need to know more before calling it a cut.

[Anonymous]

I can pick a whole lot of spending that I think is a waste:
1 - Why do you need a DC Middle School Basketball Championship?
2 - Why do you need a DC Elementary School Basketball Championship?
3 - Paying for students to take the SAT. The SAT is known as a test that is biased against urban/low income students - why doesn't DC pay for all students to sit for the ACT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools across DC are losing staff positions next year because the Mayor will not fund schools at the appropriate amount to maintain already bare bones staffing. We know schools are the best social net that we currently have for our at - risk kids, so maybe the Mayor is the one who is responsible for the problems in this city? I dunno, maybe that's where I'd raise my ire.

Why would she do the?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can pick a whole lot of spending that I think is a waste:
1 - Why do you need a DC Middle School Basketball Championship?
2 - Why do you need a DC Elementary School Basketball Championship?
3 - Paying for students to take the SAT. The SAT is known as a test that is biased against urban/low income students - why doesn't DC pay for all students to sit for the ACT?

MS sports need more funding and other resources! Maybe basketball is in shape? But most MS sports have a tiny amount of practices and competitions.