Jennifer Armstrong
Subject: A Crazy Way to Fund Schools
Dear Governor Pawlenty, Speaker Kelliher, Senate Majority Leader Pogemiller,
I am appalled by the amount of time, energy and dollars parents across the state are investing in passing local levies. Why aren't we home helping kids with homework?
Why?
Lack of state leadership.
Our current state leadership from the Governor's office through the House and Senate failed to:
1. Clearly define the issues
At heart, there isn't clear consensus about the state vs. local role in funding schools. We may say it's the state's role, constitutional obligation – that we want all Minnesota students to have equal access to a quality education (equity and adequacy); but the reality is there's a lot of folks who really don't believe that.
2. Use the data to make informed decisions
This is where I think I have the biggest issue with leadership. Failure to use the data. To whit, state leadership needs to accomplish the following efforts:
- Basic Budgeting.
Factor inflation into revenue forecasts. Don't like to presume inflationary increases? Fine, produce two runs, one with and one without. But when I look at our household revenues and anticipated expenses (braces, athletic fees, medical insurance!, etc.) you bet I have to factor in inflation to make sure we'll have enough.
- IPD vs. CPI – The data is in. Why aren't you using it?
This session pass a legislative mandate: Require the MDE (all government units?) to use the IPD in inflation-adjusted historic fiscal analyses and forecasts.
- Look at both sides of the ledger. Am I the only one who's appalled the MDE produces only revenue data for public distribution? Do you realize we haven't seen an expenditure analysis since June 2006, and that by the State Auditor's office?
Parable of the CEO: I'm the CEO of a large publicly traded company making my presentation at the annual stockholder's meeting, "We're doing great! Gross revenues are up by 65, 75, 195%!!!"
Do you really think I'm going to walk out of that meeting without a shareholder asking, "What about net revenues after expenses?" Do you really think I would have a job the next day if I refused to provide that information?
3. Quit producing spreadsheets and do a cluster analysis.
One of the problems that we have in Minnesota is that everybody keeps trying to give us the data without much (or any) effort to give it meaning. Hence, we all get to muddle through Bob Porter's spreadsheets to try to figure out what he's trying to get at.
The lack of statistical sophistication at the state amazes me. Do you not hire statisticians?
Here's what you need to do: come to some agreement on the variables (transportation, utilities, health care), student characteristics (special education, ELL, poverty), community characteristics (sparsity, local tax capacity, local cost differentials – housing and wages); and then do a cluster analysis to identify high cost and low cost school districts.
Then you can have an informed conversation about equity and the state's role in leveling the playing field.
At heart citizens are like shareholders. We want to know we're getting the best return on investment for our tax dollars. Neither we, nor you, can answer that question unless you start using 21st Century financial modeling tools to give meaning to the data.
Do you think schools are stuck in 20th Century industrial economy paradigms? Do you think various state agencies need to use 21st Century technology to transform the ways they do business?
Do you think this will happen from the bottom up?
It's past time those at the State Capitol – the Governor, the House and the Senate – get their own house in order.
Activating an army of parents and local community members to pass school levies isn't leadership. It's passing the buck.
Use the data.
To identify the needs.
To implement strategies for improvement.
That's leadership.
Thank you.
Jennifer Armstrong
Gilbert, MN
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