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Locals balk at gov's plan
The effect of Amendment 23 on the Douglas County School District will be less dramatic than on other districts where there is little growth and poorer economic conditions, said Superintendent Rick O'Connell.
By By: Tom Herman
The effect of Amendment 23 on the Douglas County School District will be less dramatic than on other districts where there is little growth and poorer economic conditions, said Superintendent Rick O'Connell.
Questions have been raised about how much the government should have to say in the spending of the funds as opposed to letting the individual districts spend the money.
"The main thing I disagree with is the governor saying how the money from Amendment 23 will be spent," O'Connell said. "There was nothing in the amendment that said he will determine the spending. The funds should be given to the individual 176 districts to use as they need."
Douglas County voters recently approved a $178 million bond issue for 10 new schools and expansion or improvement of nine existing schools in the next five years.
"Our growth concerns have been met with the bond issue," O'Connell said. "If we have to follow [Colorado Gov. Bill] Owens' plan to reduce class sizes, it will cost us $6.4 million for 160 more teachers and $80 million for more buildings to house an estimated 180 classrooms. That's over and above what we have already planned."
Owens has a seven-point education plan using the estimated $4.6 billion that will be raised for schools over the next 10 years.
Owens' plan, which will be presented to the Colorado Legislature next month, calls for the following:
q Reduced class sizes in kindergarten through third grade to 17 pupils at a cost of $375 million over 10 years. In Douglas County those class sizes now are at 23.
q New textbooks at an estimated $41 per student or $29.2 million in three years. O'Connell said Douglas County does not need that provision.
q Full-day kindergarten for low-income families at $12.9 over four years. Douglas County would have to double its 75 classrooms. O'Connell said this is not well thought out.
q School improvement block grants of $100,000 a year for two years to improve scholastic performances. The cost is estimated at $5.6 million. This is not needed in the county, O'Connell said.
q Special education funding for schools to provide programs at $6.5 million annually.
q Buildings for charter schools through a $372 per pupil fund for construction. Over four years, it is expected to cost $28.4 million.
q Teacher pay incentives as performance bonuses and recruitment bonuses at a cost of $51.3 million over four years. Douglas County already has problems finding teachers so it wouldn't really help, O'Connell said.
Owens said he would consider it a success if four or five of the proposals clear the Legislature.
"I think the governor will have a tough time getting most of the plans passed in the Democratic Legislature," O'Connell said. "There is a lot of opposition to not letting the local districts control their funds."
The best thing Owens did was to eliminate the A to F grading of schools, O'Connell said.
"It is not fair to compare inner-city schools to Douglas County," O'Connell said. "Each school needs to stand on its own and compare its improvement to itself."
Questions have been raised about how much the government should have to say in the spending of the funds as opposed to letting the individual districts spend the money.
"The main thing I disagree with is the governor saying how the money from Amendment 23 will be spent," O'Connell said. "There was nothing in the amendment that said he will determine the spending. The funds should be given to the individual 176 districts to use as they need."
Douglas County voters recently approved a $178 million bond issue for 10 new schools and expansion or improvement of nine existing schools in the next five years.
"Our growth concerns have been met with the bond issue," O'Connell said. "If we have to follow [Colorado Gov. Bill] Owens' plan to reduce class sizes, it will cost us $6.4 million for 160 more teachers and $80 million for more buildings to house an estimated 180 classrooms. That's over and above what we have already planned."
Owens has a seven-point education plan using the estimated $4.6 billion that will be raised for schools over the next 10 years.
Owens' plan, which will be presented to the Colorado Legislature next month, calls for the following:
q Reduced class sizes in kindergarten through third grade to 17 pupils at a cost of $375 million over 10 years. In Douglas County those class sizes now are at 23.
q New textbooks at an estimated $41 per student or $29.2 million in three years. O'Connell said Douglas County does not need that provision.
q Full-day kindergarten for low-income families at $12.9 over four years. Douglas County would have to double its 75 classrooms. O'Connell said this is not well thought out.
q School improvement block grants of $100,000 a year for two years to improve scholastic performances. The cost is estimated at $5.6 million. This is not needed in the county, O'Connell said.
q Special education funding for schools to provide programs at $6.5 million annually.
q Buildings for charter schools through a $372 per pupil fund for construction. Over four years, it is expected to cost $28.4 million.
q Teacher pay incentives as performance bonuses and recruitment bonuses at a cost of $51.3 million over four years. Douglas County already has problems finding teachers so it wouldn't really help, O'Connell said.
Owens said he would consider it a success if four or five of the proposals clear the Legislature.
"I think the governor will have a tough time getting most of the plans passed in the Democratic Legislature," O'Connell said. "There is a lot of opposition to not letting the local districts control their funds."
The best thing Owens did was to eliminate the A to F grading of schools, O'Connell said.
"It is not fair to compare inner-city schools to Douglas County," O'Connell said. "Each school needs to stand on its own and compare its improvement to itself."
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