DCPS is misusing at-risk funds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The key to this issue can be found in the following quote from the article:

Grosso said schools with small and falling enrollment — which tend to be in low-income neighborhoods — have higher overhead costs and their budgets do not stretch as far. Those are the schools where at-risk funds are mostly likely to cover basic staffing.

The District's use of student-based budgeting most likely to blame for this situation.

Actually, what DCPS is doing is the opposite of student-based budgeting -- it's giving every school set staffing, whether its enrollment merits it or not. Those of who follow schools' budgets closely saw that Perry Stein omitted a LOT of context here. Even the title is galling -- is giving poor kids ART TEACHERS a MISUSE?!

No, that's entirely consistent with SBB. SBB pretty much sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how using at-risk funding to pay for staff is misuse of funds.

It's supposed to be for specific types of staff that are focused on at-risk kids.

These funds are supposed to supplement the existing budget, not supplant. There are a lot of accessible articles about this out there.

[Anonymous]

I think we've gotten to the point where parent donations are causing pretty serious distortion. PTAs are paying for staff that serves a core function, such as. teacher aids. If PTAs could not fund this, then there might be actual pressure to fund this directly for all schools.

Yes, this! I was shocked to learn PTA/PTO money is used to pay for actual regular employment at DCPS or DCPCS. It is ridiculous, DCPS should be providing enought money for all staffing needs. And PTO/PTA money should NOT be allowed to fund staffing positions, after staff or programs. Or any other basic function or programs need by the school functions or support. PTA & PTO funding should be for extras... extra bonus enrichment (all scools should get a couple field trips per year), school/class parties, teach appreciate days, family nights, field days etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think we've gotten to the point where parent donations are causing pretty serious distortion. PTAs are paying for staff that serves a core function, such as. teacher aids. If PTAs could not fund this, then there might be actual pressure to fund this directly for all schools.

Yes, this! I was shocked to learn PTA/PTO money is used to pay for actual regular employment at DCPS or DCPCS. It is ridiculous, DCPS should be providing enought money for all staffing needs. And PTO/PTA money should NOT be allowed to fund staffing positions, after staff or programs. Or any other basic function or programs need by the school functions or support. PTA & PTO funding should be for extras... extra bonus enrichment (all scools should get a couple field trips per year), school/class parties, teach appreciate days, family nights, field days etc



Talk about ridiculous. What if a PTA considers a class aide a more useful enrichment than parties or field days? Obviously, DCPS does not consider aides to be core functions beyond kindergarten. Just because DCPS doesn't consider them prioritize them, no one else should?