Let's Focus on Realistic Legislative Proposals

In the last couple of weeks have seen a flurry of activity as work at the state capitol continues. As is always the case prior to the first funnel, a lot of bills are introduced that are unlikely to advance. I can only speculate as to the motivation for some of the more, shall we say eyebrow raising proposals that are suggested. Perhaps it is to fulfill a campaign promise or to address an obscure issue of a single constituent. Maybe it is to shine a very bright light on a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Or, perhaps it is nothing more than an opportunity to grab a headline. There have certainly been a number of those. One such bill suggests the installation of live stream video cameras in each classroom, and that school districts fund this using resources that are already at our disposal (in other words, an unfunded mandate). The fact is, there are so many issues that make this proposal unworkable that we shouldn't spend too much time worrying about it. Granted, it is a bit annoying that I just spent a couple of sentences discussing something so outlandish, but yet perhaps that was the goal of the proposal?

The important work, or that in which we must pay attention to, are those ideas that are advanced from a subcommittee or a full committee; and those that originate from the governor's office. This last week we started to see some realistic policy proposals begin to take shape. Note: realistic policy proposals doesn't necessarily mean that they are good ideas. 

Bills dealing with supplemental state aid (SSA) were introduced last week. Senate Republicans introduced their SSA bill (SSB 3090) calling for a 2.25% increase. House and Senate Democrats are asking for 5%, while the Governor and House Republicans (HSB 658) both came out initially at 2.5%. The reality is that SSA is going to land somewhere between 2.25% and 2.5%. As I mentioned two weeks ago, we most certainly have a stake in the SSA discussion. As a growing district, we do have some unique challenges. First and most important, we need to ensure that we are hiring staff at a rate to keep up with our enrollment growth. This means not only greater capital outlay, but that we need to ensure our compensation package is competitive. Under a draft budget proposal the board is set to review next week, the 2.25% SSA rate that was proposed in the Senate could cause the  unspent balance to drop by $91,266. Heck, if they set the rate at 3%, we could still see a decrease of $40,318. The alternative would be to delay some hiring decisions and depress wages; the consequences of which might mean losing good people or not providing important student services and programs. However, since we have the need and the resources, I suspect we'll move forward. It would appear the legislature also has the resources, albeit a different philosophy of how they should be allocated.

Also worth noting this week is the governor's omnibus education bill, which was released last week and is now working its way through the Senate. The voucher proposal is what gained the most media attention. The proposal would call for 70% of the state cost per pupil being put into an educational savings account for qualifying students to use at the private school of their choice. The remaining 30% would be redistributed to small rural schools around the state, specifically those with budget enrollments of 500 or less. Any private schools who accept the voucher money would not be required to alter their educational program or admissions policies, and it would prohibit the state from imposing any 'undue burden' on private schools who accepts the voucher. In other words, these schools would be permitted to operate under a separate set of rules than public schools, and without any semblance of transparency. This legislative proposal does nothing to support the public school system in Hudson, and in fact would be detrimental. Imagine if, instead of a voucher appropriation, this was instead appropriated to SSA? It would be a real game changer.

High School Task Force Begins its Work

As I shared back in December, we are now preparing for the next construction project in our school district, which is the renovation of the high school. At 24 years old, the building is beginning to show its age. Like our K-8 attendance center, some of the work that needs to be completed is identical to its counterpart across the street: we need to replace the HVAC system, the windows are largely inoperable due to parts no longer being available, and our lighting needs to be converted to an energy efficient LED system. Cosmetically, the ceiling tile needs to be replaced and floor coverings throughout should be updated. Perhaps these are the most pressing of needs, yet are not the only components of a larger scale project the district is considering. Indeed there have been a lot of ideas floated over the course of the last several months. The trick is going to be identifying priorities and coming to consensus on that work. 

Like the K-8 building, a strong case can be made for a secure entrance that would eliminate blind entrances. In so doing, it would open up the current office space for other uses. Remodeling the media center could enable us to expand learning spaces. An academic wing built off the northwest corner of the building could provide much needed space as enrollment grows. The auditorium is, well snug. Gym space is always in premium demand, and as enrollment grows we may need the ability to offer multiple physical education classes concurrently. Of course with more students, logistical challenges with serving lunch and having enough space to do so become a bit more interesting. Some folks have suggested a new wrestling room is a definite need. Did I mention parking? 

Truth be told, there is no shortage of ideas. This is why we have established a task force to explore the high school, consider multiple ideas, and come up with a plan that everyone can get behind. This is, no doubt a tall task. With their first meeting held just last week, I am excited at the diverse array of ideas that was discussed. At the same time I am confident they will be able to separate needs from wants and come up with a solid plan the entire community will be able to support.

Because at the end of the day, while the list of ideas may be infinite, our ability to execute on them is limited. Ultimately, this project is going to take an investment from our entire community. And in order to move the investment forward, we'll need to demonstrate the investment is going to pay the dividends that in the end make it worth the time and money. I'm excited to get to work!