The Future of Teams With Low Numbers

[Hush1]

You see our system does not work when the overriding objective of our legislators is to get reelected. It perverts the process and creates the abominable situation we have in our public schools today -- a statewide system effectively run by a labor union that places the interests of its members ahead of the interests of students.

Spot on. It'll be a giant obstacle to ever institute any real change in this state (or country, for that matter) due to the labor unions - and it's directly because they care more about their union members who keep voting them in power than they do the future of our society.

Still, this issue isn't going away. Pension costs are going to remain high for the foreseeable future and it's going to keep schools crunched, even if the new slimebag governor throws more money their way. They'll just keep asking for more and giving administrators raises and raising taxes locally. Schools now - at least the smart ones not run by hillbilly board members - know that if consolidation ever were to happen, they better position their schools to be the ones that DON'T get closed, so they'll keep pumping money into renovations and facilities, which they'll pass on to the taxpayer, rather than make room in their budgets.

What a game...

[say_oww]

Democrap, republican, blah blah blah.... Its a local issue. Always has been, and always will be. Force it on people, and you will see more charter and private school enrollments. Its that simple.

[sonofpsycho]

A sickening by-product of public schools trying to position themselves for survival can be seen in the numerous self-promoting TV commercials you see for public schools. WTF. I must have seen 10 commericals for different local public school districts during the bowl games -- Commercials that are funded by our property taxes. Why does a public school district need to run self-promoting commercials???????? What a collossal in-your-face blatant waste of public tax dollars.

It's like these districts are giving the finger to taxpayers.

[say_oww]

You must be referring to the schools with charitable foundations. Believe it or not, people actually donate to these schools because they want to see them continue to thrive. Must be a real wake up call to everyone with an "all taxes are bad" outlook on life. I'm curious as well... just where did you get your edumakashun?

[El-Moldo]

Maybe public schools are advertising "their benefits" because of what private schools are doing; trying to entice public kids to look their way. You got public kids moving on to private schools for REDUCED tuitions or free tuitions, because of numerous "scholarships" presented to them. The LURE of reduced fees may prompt parents of public schools to consider moving children to private institutions. You know the Johnstown area. If it's free (or reduced), they will come. The funny thing is, if public schools loose students, they loose money. But private schools get FULL tuitions for each kid, even if they get a so-called LIFT Scholarship. So the private schools make out like bandits while public schools get hurt.

[TheAnalyst]

Bedford has been advertising for several years now. Since private school competition down here is minimal, their reasoning for spending TAX dollars (not foundation/donation money) was the competition from cyber schools. Here is an explanation from the superintendent Allen Sell:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_jEGk8_OQA

I personally think it was a complete waste of money. From what I remember it wasn't cheap and the public wasn't too happy about it.

[dadw/2sons]

Moldo I don't know what education you received, but you should have said lose money not loose. Loose means not tight, not to lose money

[odoyelrules]

fwiw I've been told is that public schools gaining cyber enrollees can be a very profitable endeavor and that costs don't grow much with additional enrollment...so if a school is going to have a cyber option that they should really try to push to get enrollments and advertise.

Said differently, the 1st cyber student costs the district $. The 2nd and additional cyber students bring the school closer to breakeven / bring funds into the school district.

Additionally the tuition received by nonresidents that physically attend make minimal $ for the school district.

[sonofpsycho]

The public should be outraged. Public schools spending public taxpayer money on super expensive self-promoting TV advertisements is just plain unbelievable and supports the FACT that the public education system in Pennsylvania is run by a labor union that places the interests of it's union members above the interests of the children it is supposed to be educating.

Where the hell are the school boards on all this? How could any school board condone the waste of tax money on such self- agrandizing rubbish? It is bad enough that the PSEA invents school "awards" which are then promoted ad nauseum on billboards and in the paper (again probably with public tax dollars). But spending big bucks running TV ads is criminal.

moldo, the scholarships presented to students in private schools are not funded by public tax dollars. The full tuitions privates get for each student come from tuition and generous individuals who recognize and understand the serious issues and conflicts of interest inherent within a public education system that is run by a labor union. How exactly are the privates making out like a bandit at the expense of the publics when all private funding is coming from individual donations and not from public tax dollars?

[knowitall]

How much are these schools paying for these advertisements? Do you have any idea? Could they be public service announcements and cost very little? The taxpayer is entitled to know what is going on in his district. How should the schools make this information available?

Are you public school educated or did you go to a so called more prestigious academy?