Quote of the Day

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

-William Butler Yeats, Irish poet and dramatist

Education Finance is Still a Concern

School finance is an issue that is too big for just one blog. It's too big for one book. It's too big for one person to be able to explain, but I'll do my best.

The tradition on school finance is that the Legislature waits until the state gets sued and then tweaks the system based on the ruling from the courts. However, the school finance system they created in House Bill 1, our current system, is so bad that the Legislature is likely going to be proactive and try to fix the obvious flaws in the system.

The biggest flaw in the current funding system is the so-called Target Revenue per WADA that each district was assigned. In clearer terms, each district is assigned a revenue value for its daily attendance and receives funding based on its Target Revenue and enrollment. In mathematical terms, the equation is:

Target Revenue * WADA Enrollment = Revenue

The problem is that each district has a unique Target Revenue, and the target revenues vary widely from district to district. It's sad to say that Westphalia ISD ranks 5th lowest out of 1,025 districts in the state in Target Revenue per WADA! Westphalia ISD has a target revenue per WADA of $3,990. Compare that Rosebud-Lott ISD, our neighbor to the east, which has a target revenue of $4,321. Using the above equation, that means that 10 students in WISD generates $39,900 and 10 at RLISD generate $43,210, a difference of $3,310. If you take into account that an average class size is 20 students, that is over $6,600 more revenue per classroom in RL than in Westphalia. For a school of 150 students (which is what we have in WISD) that is almost $50,000.

The sad thing is that RL is not even close to the state average ($5,076 per student) or the median ($4,781 per student). Compare Westphalia to Rogers ISD ($4,634), Belton ISD ($4,804), Bremond ISD ($7,479), or the highest district in the state, Westbrook ISD ($12,725), it becomes clear that the funding system is inadequate. If Westphalia ISD had the state average in Target Revenue per WADA, we would generate an addtional $270,000 per year!!! Imagine the great things that could be done with that much additional revenue.

Something needs to be done. Is it equitable that a student in Dallas or Houston or even in other districts in Falls County generates more revenue for a district than a student in Westphalia? If we're going to base school funding on enrollment, shouldn't all students be able to generate the same revenue?

These are the questions that the Legislature will have to answer. I hope they are able to come up with a system that provides adequately for all students. We are not asking for much. Just the ability to provide students with the education they deserve.

Weekly Happenings Feb. 23-27

Here are just a few of the things that are going on in WISD this week:

• Students in grades K-3 need to turn in their 6 Flags reading forms to their homeroom on Tuesday. Great job reading!
• Reminder that there is an early release for students on Wednesday at 11:45 am. Teachers and staff will have professional development in the afternoon.
• Don't forget the TAKS test is only one week away. Good luck to students and we're proud of all your hard work.

Message of the Week: Clear your mind of "Can't"!

Have a great week, or not, the CHOICE is yours!

How the Stimulus Package Affects WISD

There has been lots of talk recently, in newspapers, on the radio, on TV, about the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (better known as the Stimulus Package). President Obama signed the 1,000+ page law on Tuesday, and everyone wants to know how it's going to affect them. One of the major tenets of the bill is to help with infrastructure, including the building of schools, and it targets low income students in need better schools.

While the details of the bill are not fully known, it is known that the bill will have an immediate impact on 2 specific areas in education: Title I programs and IDEA programs. Title I programs are programs designed to improve the education of students of poverty. IDEA programs target students who qualify as special education.

Because of the low number of free and reduced lunch students (those who qualify for Title I) and our overall low number of special education students (less than 10%), the stimulus bill does not have the same impact on WISD as some of our neighbors. The last numbers I've seen, and these are definitely not the final numbers, is that WISD will get approximately $11,670 this year and an additional $13,559 next year towards those two programs. This $25,229 is required to be spent on those specific students and programs.

While a mere fraction of a percent in the overall $787 billion dollar package, $25,000 goes a long way in Westphalia. We hope to be able to use this money to better serve our students and will use it to continue our goal of excellence in education.

Parent Letter

Spring always represents a busy time for me and my family. For whatever reason, it just seems as though our obligations and commitments increase as the temperature rises. Maybe it’s the fact that activities increase with the better weather, but for some reason I seem to be barely staying ahead.

I know a lot of and students feel that way as well. As the pressure for the TAKS test mounts, teachers seem to put more emphasis on tutoring and homework. Students who have coasted through the first part of the year now seem to realize that it’s time to buckle down and get serious. The stress level of students seems to be on the rise.

Parents also feel the effect of the stress that is caused by spring. Whether you sense the anxiety in your child, or your own pressures increase, people seem on edge during the springtime.

I think that’s one reason why things like spring flowers and warm weekends happen. There are few things that can relax someone like a walk through a field of bluebonnets or Indian paintbrush. I believe that the sights and sounds of spring serve a purpose of helping relax people in a stressful time. All things happen for a reason, and I think the beauty of spring happens to help off-set the stress that occurs during this time of year. I encourage you to enjoy the beauty and release the stress.

Weekly Happenings Feb. 16-20

Here are some things that are going on in WISD this week:

• Report cards for the 4th 6 weeks will be issued on Wednesday.
• There will be a School Board meeting on Thursday at 7:00 pm in the Library.
• WISD collected 5,235 boxtops, which raised $523.00 for the PTO. This is a new record since the school began collecting in 2000. The 2nd grade wins the popcorn/soda party for the most boxtops collected. They turned in 1,087 boxtops. Great job WISD students and parents!
• 4th - 6th graders who are attempting to earn a free trip to 6 Flags by reading need to turn in their forms to their homeroom teacher by the end of the day Tuesday. Students in grades K-3 have until next Tuesday, Feb. 24, to turn in their forms.

Message for the Week: Cooperate with a Smile!

Have a great week, or not, the CHOICE is yours!

Quote of the Day

The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident.

-- Charles Lamb (1775-1834) British Essayist

Weekly Happenings Feb. 9-13

Here are some of the events going on in WISD this week:

• There will be a lock-down drill on Monday afternoon. This drill is to prepare students for what they should do in the case of a school lock down. One can never be too cautious, so this exercise is a good way to ensure students are as safe as possible.
• The annual "Box Tops" drive ends on Thursday. Students are asked to bring any box tops to school by then. This is a great way to raise funds for the school and we hope it will continue to be a success this year.
• The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) will have their second service project of the year on Friday. NJHS students will travel to Temple to help out at that Ronald McDonald House and a local nursing home among other things. A big thanks to Mrs. Bringman for her continued efforts with our students.
• Friday also marks the end of the 4th 6 weeks. There will be a Good Behavior Reward drawing on Friday morning.

Message for the Week: Your Actions Speak Louder than Words!

Have a great week, or not, the CHOICE is yours!

Weekly Happenings Feb. 2-6

Here are some events going on at WISD this week:

• The first planning meeting for the Falls County Relay for Life is Monday at 6:00 pm. WISD has raised over $5,000 over the past 2 years for this great cause and hopes to continue the tradition this year.
• Girls and Boys basketball team pictures will be on Thursday morning (Feb. 5) during 1st period. Make sure you have your uniforms and picture money on Thursday.
• There will be a parent information meeting for Middle School parents who have a son/daughter interested in running track this year on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 6:00 pm. All parents of students who are running track should attend.

Also, I'd like to congratulate Kyle Hoelscher, Michael Heise, and former student Rachel Wright for advancing the the next round of the Knights of Columbus' Free Throw contest. All three students will be competing in Austin at the next round of competition. Great Job!

Message for the Week: Excellence is a Habit!

Have a great week or not, as always, the CHOICE is yours!