Extracurricular Activities Costs
I believe this discussion is a prime example of the need for accurate financial information about our schools from the school board. At the last board meeting, Hope Boren and I encouraged our board to publish a special edition of the School Bell prior to the election with financial data of the last three years of income and expenses by line item and a pro forma income and expense statement again by line item for the next three years. In addition, we encouraged the Board to publish the entire four pages of the proposed extracurricular budget for FY04 by activity and by expense per participant. I have it in a pdf file if anyone wants the extracurricular budget (feel free to e-mail me). The PATA webmaster may want to publish it under your home pages.
First to correct false information by 'It's Being Considered' who wrote 'it costs an incredible amount to bus the football team & marching band to games & competitions - not an amount that can be easily split up amongst a small group of parents.' The actual taxpayer cost for transportation is $2,813.59 for football (cost per player is $17.37) and $5,378.33 for band (cost per band member is $16.65).
In FY 04, the total cost of extracurricular activities (minus athletic directors salaries and academic supplements) is $1,228,922.29 providing 4,867 opportunities for students in high school, junior high, middle school and elementary school at an average cost of $252.12. Of the $1.2 million, 93% of the cost is in supplemental contracts for teachers and non-teaching staff persons and 3.6% is in transportation expense that the taxpayers furnish 1/2 of the costs.
Most of the extracurricular activities cost the taxpayers little or no cost. A few dollars in a participation fee would cover the costs 100%. Examples are: National Honor Society (cost per participant $38.45); Peer Mediation (no cost to taxpayers); Student Council (cost per participant of $50.89); Science Club (cost per participant of $4.19); German Club (cost per participant of $24.79); Instrumental, Band & Vocal Ensemble at the Junior Highs (cost per participant $13.66); and Chess Club, Yearbook, Band & Orchestra at the Middle Schools (cost per participant $6.37).
Bruce Rigelman, a board member, was recently quoted in the Columbus Dispatch indicating he paid over $1000 for his daughter to participate in marching band last year. However, the actual cost to the taxpayers of the 323-person marching band is $36,425.14 and a participation fee of $112.77 would cover 100% of the taxpayers costs for the band. I believe Bruce may have included airfare and lodging for his daughter to participate in the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Tournament last winter, which was an outstanding opportunity but completely optional.
For all non-athletic extracurricular activities an average participation fee of $110 would cover 100% of the costs for the $322,824.19 taxpayer costs providing opportunities for 2955 students. For athletic costs, we proposed a $250 for high school sports and a $75 fee for junior high sports using the $110,000 already budgeted in the athletic cancellations fees in the FY 04 budget. In addition, we proposed to the board, supplemental contracts (again 93% of all costs) should be reexamined, reduced and consolidated for sports with fewer athletes and a small use (less than $100,000) of $2.6 million interest monies moved into general fund on February 10, 2003.
Our proposal would immediately reinstate all extracurricular activities, provide relief to the taxpayers, and generate over $700,000 in user fees for our schools.
And, Bruce was correct. The board did not listen. Our politicians have taken the position that it is either the board's way or the highway. In fact, following the massive defeat of the levy last year, Board President Monhollen even wrote on November 12, 2002, ''If you do not agree with the board, then you should move elsewhere.''
I believe this discussion is a prime example of the need for accurate financial information about our schools from the school board. At the last board meeting, Hope Boren and I encouraged our board to publish a special edition of the School Bell prior to the election with financial data of the last three years of income and expenses by line item and a pro forma income and expense statement again by line item for the next three years. In addition, we encouraged the Board to publish the entire four pages of the proposed extracurricular budget for FY04 by activity and by expense per participant. I have it in a pdf file if anyone wants the extracurricular budget (feel free to e-mail me). The PATA webmaster may want to publish it under your home pages.
First to correct false information by 'It's Being Considered' who wrote 'it costs an incredible amount to bus the football team & marching band to games & competitions - not an amount that can be easily split up amongst a small group of parents.' The actual taxpayer cost for transportation is $2,813.59 for football (cost per player is $17.37) and $5,378.33 for band (cost per band member is $16.65).
In FY 04, the total cost of extracurricular activities (minus athletic directors salaries and academic supplements) is $1,228,922.29 providing 4,867 opportunities for students in high school, junior high, middle school and elementary school at an average cost of $252.12. Of the $1.2 million, 93% of the cost is in supplemental contracts for teachers and non-teaching staff persons and 3.6% is in transportation expense that the taxpayers furnish 1/2 of the costs.
Most of the extracurricular activities cost the taxpayers little or no cost. A few dollars in a participation fee would cover the costs 100%. Examples are: National Honor Society (cost per participant $38.45); Peer Mediation (no cost to taxpayers); Student Council (cost per participant of $50.89); Science Club (cost per participant of $4.19); German Club (cost per participant of $24.79); Instrumental, Band & Vocal Ensemble at the Junior Highs (cost per participant $13.66); and Chess Club, Yearbook, Band & Orchestra at the Middle Schools (cost per participant $6.37).
Bruce Rigelman, a board member, was recently quoted in the Columbus Dispatch indicating he paid over $1000 for his daughter to participate in marching band last year. However, the actual cost to the taxpayers of the 323-person marching band is $36,425.14 and a participation fee of $112.77 would cover 100% of the taxpayers costs for the band. I believe Bruce may have included airfare and lodging for his daughter to participate in the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Tournament last winter, which was an outstanding opportunity but completely optional.
For all non-athletic extracurricular activities an average participation fee of $110 would cover 100% of the costs for the $322,824.19 taxpayer costs providing opportunities for 2955 students. For athletic costs, we proposed a $250 for high school sports and a $75 fee for junior high sports using the $110,000 already budgeted in the athletic cancellations fees in the FY 04 budget. In addition, we proposed to the board, supplemental contracts (again 93% of all costs) should be reexamined, reduced and consolidated for sports with fewer athletes and a small use (less than $100,000) of $2.6 million interest monies moved into general fund on February 10, 2003.
Our proposal would immediately reinstate all extracurricular activities, provide relief to the taxpayers, and generate over $700,000 in user fees for our schools.
And, Bruce was correct. The board did not listen. Our politicians have taken the position that it is either the board's way or the highway. In fact, following the massive defeat of the levy last year, Board President Monhollen even wrote on November 12, 2002, ''If you do not agree with the board, then you should move elsewhere.''
