How to Rise Above the Cut

 

Budget cuts in public schools have real-world consequences for both students and teachers. In these hard times, it is important to know there are options to support these people through their struggles.

 

Budget Cuts:

 

Budget cuts occur everywhere as the economy shifts. Occasionally the decision is made to cut funding to schools resulting in a reduction in the quality of education. To understand why these budget cuts are so detrimental we have to recognize several factors. School budgets are used to finance things such as pensions, upkeep for the buildings, transportation, supplies, and current staff salaries. When a recession or a global pandemic occurs the economy can shift and inflation can rise thereby reducing the purchasing power of the dollar. When this occurs people are less likely to take risks with their money. Because “Taxpayers are struggling to make mortgage payments and are reluctant—or unwilling—to pass bonds and levies that will raise property taxes” this means less money makes it to the schools (Cortner-Castro). Add the growing distrust between political parties, who can’t agree on policies, spending, or budgets, and you can glimpse how budget cuts make their way to something as important as education. It gets worse when you consider how these budget cuts negatively affect both teachers and students. 

 

Funding and the Impact on Students:

 

Budget cuts negatively affect public schools because they result in lower salaries for teachers, larger class sizes, and fewer supplies and/or extracurricular options for students. Public school funding has been restructured over time to help alleviate some of the inequalities apparent in school districts located in poorer neighborhoods. Since state and federal reforms have taken place we have seen “an increase of 10% in per pupil spending, which led to 0.31 more completed educational years, 7% higher wages, and an astonishing 3.2% reduction in adult poverty incidences” (McMullen). Another “study found that increasing the per pupil annual spending by $1,000 for 10 years led to higher test scores and higher high school graduation rates” (McMullen). When schools and teachers have the funding necessary to provide their students with the essentials needed to learn they perform at a much higher level. If funding is cut then students may not be provided with the essentials necessary to participate in their education. This was evident when “The Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 led to a sharp drop in local funding for school districts that heavily relied on state taxes. As a result, one study showed that a 10% drop in local funding for these schools reduced test scores by a significant amount (i.e., a 7.8% standard deviation). Another study, summarized in the Vegas and Coffin report, found econometric specifications where increased per-pupil spending resulted in better student test scores and outcomes” (McMullen). Students need the proper materials to take part in and be successful in their education. Most dedicated teachers understand this and end up covering the cost of classroom essentials for their students. 

 

Teachers are Left Holding the Bill:

 

Teachers are not in the highest-earning profession despite how important their role is in society. Fewer people are now pursuing this profession due to the low wages and out-of-pocket expenses related to running a classroom. Why would anyone want to be a teacher when you consider the following, “Teachers earning between $35,000 and $50,000 buy on average $715 worth of supplies with their own money. Teachers who work in high-poverty schools, where 75 percent or more students are eligible for free- or reduced-price lunch, also are more likely to spend higher amounts on supplies—an average of $761” (Heubeck). This is an average that could easily be subsidized by the community in which they live. If these factors aren’t dealt with they will only perpetuate the issues faced by school districts with a teacher shortage. A plethora of information is out there on how to secure these funds for the classroom. All we need is to be willing to support these pillars of the community. Whether we are the parent of a student, a teacher, or a local business owner there is something to be done.

 

 

What Can Be Done!:

 

There are several options available to overcome the burden of budget cuts. These options include a variety of fundraisers such as bake sales, craft sales, GoFundMe, and Amazon wishlists. These are just a couple of options for raising funds. Countless other options can be found online on sites such as The Top 76 Most Profitable Fundraising Ideas for Schools (charitysafaris.com). By incorporating these fundraising events you and your students will gain the funding needed for a successful school year.  Getting the parents, faculty, and local businesses involved in these events is a great way to build community bonds. When a community stands together they are more capable of producing the results necessary to provide their students with equal education outcomes.

 

What could I reasonably do?:

 

Amazon Wish List:  The wishlist is an easy-to-set-up and easy-to-distribute option that can yield a huge return on investment. Teachers who use this option can choose the specific items they want or need for their classrooms and students. By shopping through Amazon the purchaser is provided the added benefit of knowing where and what their money is going towards. While this may be a convenient option for some for others it can be confusing and overwhelming. Parts of the older generations might not be able to navigate to your wishlist to purchase items. Others may find this method impersonal and refuse to place their banking information online. Both of these instances isolate a section of the community that might have otherwise been willing to support their local school district. 

 

Crowdfunding: GoFundMe is arguably the most trusted platform for crowdfunding. It allows you as the teacher or advocate for a classroom to set up a fundraising platform online for people across the internet to donate. GoFundMe, like the Amazon Wish List, is a great way to distribute information to a wide range of potential donors resulting in more funds being raised. Like Amazon, it too may isolate the older demographic who is not familiar with online donations and online banking. An additional drawback of GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms arises because there is no guarantee that the money donated will go to the cause pledged. This can result in fraud being performed by a third party who is not associated with the school at all. 

 

Personal Donations: A donation made personally by you to the school or classroom of your choosing is a great way to ensure the money you spend goes towards school supplies and makes its way to the classroom or school district of your choosing. Making a personal donation allows you as an individual to get directly involved with your local school district. It also ensures your student or teacher has the items they were lacking, such as pencils, kleenex, or sanitizer. Donating in this manner can be beneficial from an individual level but does not get the community involved and in most cases will not provide enough funding for the entire school district. 

 

Host a Public Fundraising Event: Hosting this type of event allows for collaboration between the community and the school district. Local businesses, local leaders, and the community could be invited to participate in this fundraising event at a local venue. The event could be hosted by any of the community members or businesses at any location that is convenient for your participants. By partnering with a local business you could save money on renting a venue while at the same time connecting your community with local businesses. Ensure that the event is family-friendly and welcoming to all demographics. It can be promoted online and through the use of flyers set up by local businesses. This event also holds a wide range of possibilities for raising money. Options for personal donations of school supplies, crowdfunding on the events page, and the sale of raffle tickets and baked goods can all result in more resources being funneled into the local school district. The possibilities for how to host a public fundraising event are endless. The endless possibilities can be overwhelming and require the participation of a community to be successful. 

 

Final Remarks:

 

School funding is necessary to ensure teachers and students acquire the necessary materials to succeed in the classroom. If we fail to provide our children a proper education this can negatively impact the success rate of students. It is necessary to increase the financial support going to our schools since they educate the future generations and prepare them for the job market. As a community, we can take a stand and help our local school districts meet their financial needs. I urge you to use the examples given to help ensure your students and teachers are properly supported. 

 

About the Author:

 

Paul Skinner is a U.S. Navy veteran and current student at U of M - Flint. He is in his junior year of college and is actively pursuing a degree in English Education. He hopes to use this degree to be placed in a secondary school setting. His wife is also a teacher and they hope to provide their children and communities with the education that they deserve.

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Sources Cited:

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Cortner-Castro, Christy. “Trimming the Budget: How to Make the Cuts.” School Business Affairs, Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). 11401 North Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190. Tel: 866-682-2729; Fax: 703-478-0205; e-mail: asboreq@asbointl.org; Web site: http://www.asbointl.org, 30 Nov. 2008, eric.ed.gov/?q=Trimming%2Bthe%2BBudget%3A%2BHow%2Bto%2BMake%2Bthe%2BCuts.&id=EJ919353.

 

Heubeck, Elizabeth. “Most Teachers Spend Their Own Money on School Supplies. Should They?” Education Week, Education Week, 25 Aug. 2023, www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/most-teachers-spend-their-own-money-on-school-supplies-should-they/2023/08#:~:text=Teachers%20earning%20between%20%2435%2C000%20and,supplies%E2%80%94an%20average%20of%20%24761. 

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McMullen, Kim. “School Funding and Student Achievement: How Money Impacts Education Quality.” Education Advanced, Inc.., 23 May 2023, educationadvanced.com/resources/blog/school-funding-and-student-achievement-how-money-impacts-education-quality/. 

 

“The Top 76 Most Profitable Fundraising Ideas for Schools.” Charity Safaris - Hunting Trip Donations for Charity, 18 July 2023, charitysafaris.com/76-profitable-fundraising-ideas-for-schools/.