Get Tuned In

Superintendent Calvin Baker wrote the following article for the Spring 2009 edition of the SouthEastSide Connections newsletter. As always, you are welcome to join the conversation by leaving your questions or comments on this blog post…

Where Are We Going to Land?

Reflections on the Federal Stimulus Package and the Vail School District 09/10 School Year

Peering anxiously through the windows of the small plane, we scanned the horizon for a glimpse of the runway.  The challenging factors of blowing snow and darkness were increased by a “landing guidance system” that consisted of a coffee can of burning fuel oil placed at each corner of the runway.  Once the flickering lights were found, the bush pilot lined up the plane to touch down just after the first two burning coffee cans, while aiming for the spot between the next two.  The system was exciting, but not fail-safe.

I have vivid memories of this activity, which I experienced many years ago as the principal of a school in Northern Alaska.

Planning for the 09/10 school year brings back those memories.  Just like being in an airplane, we have no choice but to land somewhere.  In July, just over two months from now, thousands of Vail students will be showing up for a new school year.  The parents of those students will expect us to have budgeted and planned for: teachers, classrooms, and all of the necessary accommodations and amenities required to educate those students effectively. 

Unfortunately, the budget “runway” for the 09/10 school year is not yet visible.  We can see the flickering light of federal stimulus dollars, but we don’t know just how many of those dollars will make their way to Vail.  We don’t know for certain what those dollars can be used for and we don’t know what restrictions they may bring.

Simultaneously, we see the flickering light of various budget proposals being developed by the Arizona Legislature.  Some of the proposed budgets include tax increases.  Some of them include massive cuts to education.  Each proposal is different. None of the proposals currently have the support necessary for passage by the House and Senate, and signature by Governor Brewer. 

We are choosing to line up on a “runway” that includes a reduction of about 4 to 8% of our budget.  Fortunately, we do have some reserves tucked away due to conservative money management … and we are still a growing district. As such, we expect to be able to keep most of our employees.  Unlike most other districts, we have not sent out “pink slips” to any regularly certified and contracted teachers. 

Even though our plan assumes almost all employees keeping their jobs, it is not without pain.  Without a pay increase, our existing employees will have to absorb the additional load of new students.  In brief, they will need to do more work as the ratio of students to employees (including students to teachers) may change in Vail for the first time in many years.  Of course, if cuts to education are lower than we expect, the ratio of students to employees may be fully or completely restored.

Clearly, the system is not fail-safe.  Please know, however, that as we wait for State Government to turn on a full set of runway lights (determine how much money will be available to educate students in Vail next year), we will do our best to plan in a responsible manner with the information we have available.