Sunday, July 14, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
YES! MILLINGTON CAN AFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS!
By Ernest W. Carter and Jim Mitchell
On June 18, 2013, a report
was published which questioned the financial ability of the City of Millington
to establish and maintain a municipal school district. The author of that
document, James Knipple, admitted in the report that his “…knowledge of school finance is very limited.” Further, Mr. Knipple
encouraged “…anyone to check my numbers.”
At the request of several
Millington citizens and elected leaders of the City of Millington, the Knipple
financial projections have been carefully reviewed for errors in facts or
assumptions. Two individuals, Ernest W. Carter and Dr. Jim Mitchell were asked
to conduct the review. These individuals are very experienced educators and
have extensive knowledge of Tennessee school district finance. Their conclusion
is yes, the City of Millington can afford to operate its own municipal school
district.
Ernest W. Carter is a
lifelong Millington resident and a Millington Central High School graduate. He
also holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Mr. Carter served Shelby
County Schools (SCS) for more than 33 years, including 12 years of service as
the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent for Business and
Finance. He successfully developed and administered the entire school
district’s annual operating budgets. In addition, he expertly managed the school
district’s day-to-day business operations with average annual operating budgets
of more than $250 million.
Dr. Jim Mitchell served
Shelby County Schools for almost 34 years, including two years as principal at
Millington Central High School, 9 years as Assistant Superintendent for
Operations and 5 years as Superintendent of Schools. During the years of
Carter’s and Mitchell’s service, the Shelby County School District operated
with annual balanced budgets and annual operating surpluses. Unfortunately, neither
Mr. Carter nor Dr. Mitchell was consulted by Mr. Knipple prior to the release
of his report.
The Knipple report contained the following errors in
facts or assumptions:
- Assumption-Revenues will increase at 1% per year. Incorrect. The Tennessee Basic Education Program (BEP) provides the single largest source of school district revenue. By state law, the BEP revenue amount sent to each local school district is adjusted up annually for inflation. Other school district revenue sources also are expected to increase. An “assumption” of 1% revenue growth is not appropriate.
- Assumption-Salaries and fringe benefits will increase at 1.5% per year. Incorrect. This assumption would mean that both the Millington Board of Education (MBOE) and the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) would have to approve spending 50% more than the amount of revenue they had available. Tennessee law requires the local school board to submit a balanced budget each year. The BMA has final approval of the school budget and sets the local property tax rate. The local school board will not have the authority to levy any taxes or set the local property tax rate. Only the BMA has that authority.
- Assumption-Millington would have to pay extra to establish a teacher retirement system. Incorrect. All teachers currently pay their share into the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, and no additional premium must be paid to create a new school district.
- Assumption-Health insurance premium costs will increase at a rate that is 100% more than the assumed rate of revenue increases. Incorrect. The Millington Board of Education (MBOE) will determine the type and scope of all health insurance plans offered to employees. The MBOE will be able to monitor costs and to determine the amount that employees will pay and the amount that the Board of Education will pay for health insurance.
- Assumption-School transportation and bus costs were not included in the SES Feasibility Study. Incorrect. The 2012 Southern Educational Strategies, LLC feasibility study projected that 27 bus routes would be used, and the projected costs to provide this service were based on actual SCS costs or the costs to sub-contract transportation services to a vendor who will own the school buses.
- Assumption-Millington has old school facilities and will have to build new school buildings. Incorrect. The City of Millington has some of the newest school buildings and will need to operate only two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Other than E. A. Harrold Elementary, each of the existing Millington school facilities was either built or renovated in recent years.
In summary, the City of Millington can afford to
operate a city school system. In fact, because the citizens recently approved a
½ cent sales tax increase, Millington actually will receive more local revenue
per student than the unified Shelby County Schools.
Currently, 27 other Tennessee
cities successfully operate their own school districts, including cities in
West Tennessee which are smaller than Millington such as Alamo, Bells, and
Humboldt. The Millington Board of Education (MBOE) is required to operate within
its annual revenues and must submit an annual balanced budget. Each year, the
Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) must review and approve the school
budget, and the BMA will have full control of the property tax rate.
It is not logical to assume that over a ten year
period, both the Millington Board of Education and the Millington Board of
Mayor and Aldermen would approve annual school district expenditures that
exceeded their annual revenues by 50 percent. However, that was the logic that
was used in the Knipple report. The assumptions in the report are not
reasonable, and the facts about revenue growth and retirement expenditures are
wrong. Therefore, the conclusions stated
in Mr. Knipple’s report are incorrect.
YES, MILLINGTON CAN AFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS!
Friday, June 28, 2013
"From The Heart" by David Pickler, Unified School Board Member
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to present this week's
edition of "My Two Cents." This is a weekly publication filled
with insights, anecdotes, and reflections on topics that I am passionate
about. It is also an opportunity for me to share my personal thoughts and
experiences with my friends and associates. If you would like to
unsubscribe from this email, please feel free to send me an email. I hope
you will enjoy this edition and enjoy your weekend.
Sincerely,
David Pickler
Reply to: picklerda@aol.com
From the
Heart
"The
Legacy of Shelby County Schools"
SHELBY
COUNTY SCHOOLS
1867-2013
The End of an Era
This is a very difficult column for me to write because I have had the honor
and privilege over the past fifteen years to serve and advocate for one of
America's greatest school systems, Shelby County Schools. As many of you are
aware, on July 1, Memphis City Schools ceases to exist, forcing a
"merger" with Shelby County Schools. This transfer of the
responsibility for educating the 110,000 public school children within the City
of Memphis from MCS to SCS is the direct result of the actions of the MCS Board
of Education on December 20, 2010 to vote, in a narrow 4-3 decision, to
surrender their charter. This action was ratified by vote of the people of
Memphis in a referendum that saw well less than twenty percent of registered
voters cast ballots to "transfer the administration of MCS to Shelby
County Schools." Most voters believed that they were transferring
responsibility of the education of their children from a struggling MCS to the
primarily suburban, high-performing SCS. Unfortunately, that is not what
occurred.
Almost immediately, legal strategies were implemented to effect a
"hostile takeover" of the Shelby County Schools governance,
administration, and policy structure by the majority MCS interests. Within the
Memphis and Shelby County area, two school systems had been operating for well
more than a century. Memphis City Schools was created as a type of
special/municipal school district to serve the children of the largest city in
the county (as well as the State of Tennessee). Under Tennessee law, absent a
municipal or special school district being in existence to serve the
educational needs of the children, all public education is administered by the
County School District for each of Tennessee's 95 counties. At the time of the
surrender of the MCS charter, approximately 110,000 children were served by
Memphis City Schools. It was a predominantly urban district with significant
challenges due to poverty concerns, but also due to a lack of leadership and
direction from its dysfunctional school board and revolving door of short term
Superintendents, each with their own reform agenda. Shelby County Schools was
predominantly rural and suburban, serving nearly 50,000 children. While
receiving dramatically less funding than MCS on a per pupil basis, SCS had a
legacy of excellence, with very high graduation rates, parent participation and
engagement, and student achievement performance. SCS was considered to be one
of the best school systems in the nation, due at least in part to a track
record of consistent leadership by district administration and the school
board. When the surrender ratification vote was taken, suburban residents were
denied the right to have their voices heard at the ballot box.
Over the next
several months, the Memphis legal strategy was to move to dismantle the
leadership structure of SCS. As a result, on October 1, 2011, a federal judge
ordered the creation of a new school board with 23 members, the seven former
members of the SCS Board, the nine former members of the MCS Board, and seven
new Board members to be appointed by the County governing body. This action set
into motion the process that has seen virtually every vestige of a once great
school system to be methodically destroyed and overtaken by the policies and
personnel that doomed MCS to mediocrity.
As we approach the formal "merger" date, very little remains of the
administration that the people of Memphis had voted to transfer control of
their district. Both Superintendents have demanded buyouts and left. Many senior
administrators and school leaders have voted with their feet and left the
district. The former MCS is slowly being taken over by Charter school operators
and State-run Charters. And the people of Memphis and Shelby County have begun
their own personal exodus to surrounding communities and counties. The long
term implications of these decisions to relocate residences and spending
patterns to areas where educational choices are more attractive is potentially
disastrous to the economy of the region.
For nearly 150 years, Shelby County Schools built a legacy of educational
excellence and student achievement that was the envy of districts across
America. Strong leadership, visionary and supportive Boards of Education,
engaged parents and families, committed community and business investment, and
highly dedicated teachers and staff all were essential ingredients to creating
an environment for excellence. While SCS was traditionally one of the lowest
funded school systems in the country, its academic performance and commitment
to maintaining a culture of mutual respect and family empowered this little
district to achieve true greatness. The last act of the independent Shelby
County Schools family of Administrators, Board members, parents, community
stakeholders, faculty and staff was to achieve District-wide accreditation.
This recognition of the excellence of SCS was the culmination of a three year
review process of deep and wide research into SCS operations and academics.
This accreditation validated and memorialized the true legacy of a great school
system, as a place where every child was empowered with the opportunity to
achieve their dreams and fulfill their potential.
As we move into this "shotgun wedding" of a merger, the future of
public education in Shelby County is uncertain. It is highly anticipated that
each of the six suburban municipalities that comprised SCS will establish their
own school districts prior to the 2014-2015 school year. With the Tennessee
legislature removing any limits to Charter school approvals and severely
limiting the ability of local Boards of Education to effectively limit Charter
school approvals to only those most qualified to operate high quality Charters,
and with the State continuing their move to takeover under performing former
MCS schools with State run Charters, delivery of quality public education will
be significantly challenged in this community.
That is another ultimate tragedy
of the political motivations that propelled four members of the MCS Board to
push so hard for the charter surrender. Their zeal to destroy Shelby County
Schools and promote further urban-suburban division may have, as its ultimate
consequence, the utter destruction of public education as we know it in Shelby
County. This could destroy Memphis' long term economic prospects . Memphis and
Shelby County are filled with dedicated community servants who care deeply
about their city and region. As is often the case, education can be used as a
political pawn in the chess match of governance. Unfortunately, that can result
in check mating the educational opportunities for those most at risk. And that
is the ultimate defeat. Shelby County Schools legacy of excellence will be
reborn in the six suburban communities. The resolve of suburban residents to
fight for educational excellence and legislative success to empower the
independence and autonomy of their schools is a testament to their commitment
to their future. God Bless Shelby County Schools.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
TOWN HALL MEETING
**********CALL TO ACTION!!************
TOWN HALL MEETING
to discuss our Millington School System
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Civic Center
6:00 p.m.
Mayor Jones will be discussing how we CAN support a school system. Please come out in support of Millington Schools! Bring signs and wear your buttons! We must show solidarity in this turning point in Millington history.
**********COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT**********
Retirement Reception (surprise)
to honor
MR. JOHN PRICE
Sunday, June 23rd (today)
Patriot Bank, 8376 US Hwy 51 N
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
After 41 years of service at Millington Central High school, Mr. Price is retiring. He has been instrumental in raising the success rate of our students in upper math courses. Whether you were fortunate enough to have had him as an instructor or are just a Millington resident, please stop by today for a minute to thank him for his service to our community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)