Online Chat - Emporia School Board President
October 22, 2009
Emporia School Board president Mike Crouch will answer your questions about the USD #253 School District.
Moderator: Our guest today is Mike Crouch of the Emporia school board. Mike was elected in 2005 and became president of the board this past July. Mike's day job is executive director of advancement for the Flint Hills Technical College. He and his wife, Kimberly, have four children. Let's get started.
tbluma: Why does the board think it is necessary to spend 1.6 M on astroturf for a practice field?
Mike Crouch: I supported the field improvement project because I believe it is a good investment for our students and our community. First, the improvements will involve much more than new turf; we will have a new football and soccer field and a new track. Lighting and additional seating is part of the project. Secondly, this is not a practice field. Many teams will use it as their primary playing field. Currently, the field is overused and unsafe, and the track has been out of use for several years due to its poor condition. Artificial turf has no limits on its use so it will not be damaged by ongoing use by middle and high school football and soccer, physical education classes, band practice and Emporia Recreation Commission activities. For the first time in many years, the middle and high school track teams will have a track to practice on and a place to host meets. The complex will be available for post-season tournaments which draws visitors to our city. At the same time, we will save approximately $42,000 a year in watering, mowing, reseeding and field preparation. The field turf is part of a much bigger energy conservation project that will be completed across the district next summer. Equipment upgrades will allow us to save energy costs with more efficient lighting, HVAC systems, water systems and new windows. Custom Energy guarantees us a saving of $7 million over 20 years. These savings will be put back into the general fund and used for instruction – teacher salaries, textbooks, classroom supplies and other student supports. The district also has taken advantage of a very low-cost financing option through the federal stimulus program that can be paid for with the existing capital outlay levy. No tax increase will be needed locally.
quarterback: In the teacher salary negotiations how common is it to have an impasse? How often have they happened in Emporia? Do you think teachers are paid too much?
Mike Crouch: The last time we filed impasse was 2000. According to the Kansas Association of School Boards, 56 districts have not settled negotiations and 26 have been or are at impasse. Teachers have a tough job and society places more and more requirements on schools. During my time on the board I have learned that teachers work harder than most know. I do not think they are overpaid and our board has always supported better compensation for our teachers. Unfortunately, with cuts in state aid to schools, and more recissions expected for this fiscal year, the district has limited money this year to increase salaries.
moderator: What are the greatest challenges facing the school district?
Mike Crouch: When the board met this summer for a day-long retreat, we identified three goals that we consider to be our biggest challenges. First we have to maintain a healthy and responsible budget in spite of future financing difficulties. We fully expect the state to consider more cuts to our current year funding. Second, we must maintain the progress we have made in student achievement and making AYP. Student achievement in our district has made great progress in reading and math the past seven years and we have made AYP the past two years. Several schools are meeting the State Standard of Excellence in reading and/or math. But each year the bar moves higher. Our teachers and administrators are under a lot of pressure to keep improving. Third, we are in the final year of our strategic plan and the board wants to evaluate the progress we have made on that plan and work on a new plan. To address these goals, we have completed the energy audit and building maintenance study that I’ve already discussed. We also are in the middle of an efficiency study that is looking at facilities management, human resources, support programs and ancillary services such as busing and food service. The efficiency study will be used as we plan the 2010-11 budget. After the first of the year, the board will decide how to evaluate and update the strategic plan.
moderator: How does the USD #253 mill levy compare to other school districts our size? What towns do you compare us to?
Mike Crouch: We look at a variety of districts as comparisons. Comparing 2008 school levies in the county shows that Emporia is in the middle: North Lyon County 43.35 Emporia 49.18 South Lyon County 59.95 We also look at other league schools: Junction City 43.25 Manhattan 43.43 Emporia 49.18 Shawnee heights 50.34 Auburn-Washburn 50.87 Seaman 54.43 Topeka 54.72 Similar sized districts with a regent’s school offer a different comparison: Emporia 49.19 Pittsburg 51.37 Hays 51.8 We are demographically similar to Garden City and Dodge and use them as a comparison as well: Garden City 36.40 Emporia 49.18 Dodge City 56.76
powercat: Do you think the teacher impasse was brought on by your action of approving $1.6 million dollars for a new artificial turf field and track?
Mike Crouch: I cannot speculate on the causes for the impasse, but I have found that many people do not understand that capital outlay funds cannot be used for general operating expenses including salaries. The capital outlay fund can only be used for improvements to our buildings and grounds and for equipment. Salaries and other operating expenses are paid from the general and supplemental general funds.
powercat: How much time do you put in as school board member and do you think it should be a paid position?
Mike Crouch: As a school board member it is important to fully dedicate yourself to the position. The amount of time spent each week on school board activities varies depending on what is taking place in the district and the amount of time and research that is needed to make informed decisions. I do not think that school board members should be paid, it is important to have members that want to serve to do what is in the best interest of the students in our district.
moderator: What are some the projects on the district's facility improvement list? If you had to close a school which one would it be?
Mike Crouch: The district just completed a review of building maintenance needs and the board has accepted a five-year plan brought to us by the District Capital Outlay Committee. At the top of the list are: a new roof on Walnut School; removing carpet and wood from the walls, painting and remodeling at Walnut School; interior improvements at the Transportation Center; carpet replacement at the high school, and door and window replacement at several schools. As far as closing a school, I would expect the board to do a lot of study before making such a decision. Other alternatives such as boundary changes would need to be considered first.
oohay: How is it decided who has to pay for athletic uniforms? Which team? Shouldn't the budget be divided by each sport or activitiy...why should the Music Dept. have to sell cookie dough to buy their new robes etc?
Mike Crouch: These are budget decisions that are made at the building level, in this case Emporia High School. The Board of Education sets the overall budget and tax levy and district administration establishes a building budget for each school. It is the responsibility of the principal to manage the building budget. At the high school, each department receives a budget. At the high school level it is not unusual for parent boosters and students to raise money for purchases that exceed the department or activity budget. There is a 6-8 year rotation for athletic uniforms, but teams may raise money independently if they want to replace uniforms more frequently. In the case of band and orchestra, these purchases are done less frequently and usually involve a special allocation of district funds.
oohay: Why would EHS dismiss ONLY the senior class on 10-19-2009 for a reward for meeting the state standards? Hardly fair when if you looked at the stats I believe it is due to the Sophomore class that helped push it over the edge? When they were 7th and 8th graders they finally met State Standards and last year they were the freshman that "pushed" it over to meet standards. Hmmm not really fair.
Mike Crouch: Successfully meeting AYP is determined in the spring by the test scores of the Junior Class. Successfully meeting the Standard of Excellence is based on those same scores. This is the first year that Emporia High has attained this in mathematics. Freshman and sophomores that have taken the state assessments and scored at the met standards or above have their scores banked until the spring of their junior year of school. Our students have shown tremendous growth and we are very proud of how all of our students have been progressing. When the seniors were released it was because they collectively made the Standard of Excellence in math, next years seniors have the same opportunities and we are looking forward to continued success in all areas of making AYP.
mythoughts: What is the Board doing to ensure teachers can keep pace with cost of living increases? Why do I hear about teachers having to buy supplies and books out of their pockets so they can do their job?
Mike Crouch: As I answered in the previous question, the board is committed to providing the best salaries possible to our teachers. This past year, we suffered a loss of over $2 million in our general fund budget. Fortunately, most of this had been planned for in the previous year, but it limits our ability to provide salary increases to teachers. Even so, we will try to find ways to provide the best we can for our staff. Adjusting school budgets by some factor of the consumer price index is something that has been discussed at the state level and was even put into law a few years ago. The state's fiscal crisis caused that law to be put aside by the legislature. All districts are being affected by the state budget crunch. A report on the KASB website indicates that the median salary increase in Kansas this year is 1.2%. Last year we were able to provide our teachers with a 3% salary increase. Textbooks, consumables, intervention materials and supplies are paid for from district and building budgets. Staff are provided with the materials and supplies needed to do their jobs. I know that many teachers like to do extra things for their students and may purchases additional items out of their own pockets.
upsetcitizen: Do you think that there is a bullying problem in Emporia? If so, how do you think the statistics compare to the bullying in smaller schools? Does the school board have a policy in place to prevent this and if so what are the consequences for this.
Mike Crouch: The board has asked the administration for a report on the number of bullying incidents that have occurred since we passed a new policy last fall. We have increased emphasis on identifying and stopping bullying. Schools have implemented programs such as Positive Behavior Supports at the 5-8 level to teach students appropriate behavior in an attempt to decrease the number of incidents and make school safe for all children.
Moderator: That's all we have time for today. Those were thought-provoking questions. I know I learned some things about AYP and mill levies. Our thanks to Mike Crouch for spending time with us today.