EDITORIAL: BOE goes silent in fiscal crisis
So now the truth comes out. The Jackson County School System is over $900,000 in the hole because it is spending far more than most other school systems on a per student basis.
There’s no excuse for that. The school system has been on a spending spree, loading up on highly-paid administrative staff and over-building new schools, some in the wrong locations; schools that are half-empty and extremely costly.
As a result, the JCSS is in a financial mess. It is one of the few systems in the state to be in a hole financially.
So where is the Jackson County Board of Education? Where is their leadership?
Not to be found. Apparently, they don’t want to answer to taxpayers for their mistakes.
Consider this: The state average for per student spending is $8,895 per child. Jackson County’s spending per student is $794 higher at $9,689 per student. If the county system got its spending down to just the state average, it would save Jackson County $5.5 million per year and the county wouldn’t be in a financial hole by over $900,000.
The BOE has let costs get out of hand and when the economic downturn hit, was slow to react. While the system has made some cuts, it has not gone far enough to stem the flow of red ink.
Now is the time for the Jackson County BOE to get off its duff and stop the overspending. There is no reason for the JCSS to spend more than the state average. It’s simply a lack of fiscal discipline by school officials.
So where is the BOE?
Funny how school board members are quick to take credit for building new schools. They crowd to get in photos of ground-breakings and ribbon-cuttings. And when standardized test scores go up, BOE members pat themselves on the back so hard you’d think their arms would break.
“Look what we did!” they crow when good news abounds.
But when their decisions go awry, BOE members suddenly go silent. They have nothing to say. They disappear from view.
The Jackson County School System is broke and not a single board member has anything to say to taxpayers?
Maybe at election time, taxpayers should have something to say to BOE members.
Mike Buffington is editor of The Jackson Herald. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com.
As a result, the JCSS is in a financial mess. It is one of the few systems in the state to be in a hole financially.
So where is the Jackson County Board of Education? Where is their leadership?
Not to be found. Apparently, they don’t want to answer to taxpayers for their mistakes.
Consider this: The state average for per student spending is $8,895 per child. Jackson County’s spending per student is $794 higher at $9,689 per student. If the county system got its spending down to just the state average, it would save Jackson County $5.5 million per year and the county wouldn’t be in a financial hole by over $900,000.
The BOE has let costs get out of hand and when the economic downturn hit, was slow to react. While the system has made some cuts, it has not gone far enough to stem the flow of red ink.
Now is the time for the Jackson County BOE to get off its duff and stop the overspending. There is no reason for the JCSS to spend more than the state average. It’s simply a lack of fiscal discipline by school officials.
So where is the BOE?
Funny how school board members are quick to take credit for building new schools. They crowd to get in photos of ground-breakings and ribbon-cuttings. And when standardized test scores go up, BOE members pat themselves on the back so hard you’d think their arms would break.
“Look what we did!” they crow when good news abounds.
But when their decisions go awry, BOE members suddenly go silent. They have nothing to say. They disappear from view.
The Jackson County School System is broke and not a single board member has anything to say to taxpayers?
Maybe at election time, taxpayers should have something to say to BOE members.
Mike Buffington is editor of The Jackson Herald. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com.
A lot of school systems in North Georgia built new schools from 2000 to 2007.
A lot of school systems were facing the same fiscal pressures as the JCSS.
But here's the fact: None of them are in the red by over $900,000. The JCSS is the 4th worst in the state in its financial condition (see 12-16-09 issue) and is the only school system in North Georgia in the red.
The issues you outline are excuses; if other school systems can handle growth pressures without going broke, then why couldn't Jackson County School System?
Could it be that the JCSS overspent on new schools and put them in slow-growth areas away from the main growth corridor such that it will take years for them to fill up?
Jackson County really hides the way the schools are run, we couldn't find anything on the net about the schools other than they were great. Can't be great if the leadership stinks and we are in the hole...it is going to effect the kids!
Sorry, but the "fast growth" excuse doesn't work when you have clear examples that show it is just a bad excuse.