Wanna Be a Steader!

Public School Spending vs. Homeschool Spending

Homeschoolblogger, Sonya (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homemakerscottage), has a great blog!!  One of her entries I'm going to post below...THEN...after you read that...you MUST visit her blog, scroll down to where her introduces the subject of her local library (in Eastern Tennessee) changing their mind about letting her host a homeschool discussion/book signing...because...get this...the MAYOR (prompted by the local superintendent) decided that HE DIDN'T LIKE THE SUBJECT!!  You will love it and be frightened by the story all at the same time!  But...when God gets involved WONDERFUL things happen!!

Because part of the reasoning behind the denial of the library as a meeting place was that homeschoolers take money from the public schools (sound familar?!), Sonya did a little research and then posted the entry below. 

Tax payers have GOT to start asking their districts where all that money goes!!  Our little village school district spends $7,500 per student...I have homeschooled for 15 years and we have averaged $500-$600 per year...TOTAL for all the girls!!  So, read Sonya's entry, below, and I hope it inspires you to ask some questions, too.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Here is some food for thought.  You can figure these numbers with your own children with the amounts for your own school district.  This is a fun activity to show how money can be misused.  (Then you might want to look over your own budget and see if you can make improvements.)

I am certain this is going to make some people mad (not homeschoolers), but you know what, this is PUBLIC information and we can let the truth speak for itself. 

The following is taken from the Oct. 4, 2007 Washington County Board of Education meeting. 

On a motion by Ms. Silvers, seconded by Mr. Mabe, approval was given to increase the mileage reimbursement rate to .46, effective 1 October 2007.  Motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.  OK, if you drive a car that gets 30 MPG and you travel 100 miles, you'll get a check for $46.00, but if you pay $3.00 for a gallon of gas, then you've spent $10 on gas, right.  That means that they are clearing $36.00 for every 100 miles.  There is no vehicle I know of that needs $36 for "wear and tear" for every 100 miles.  Can anyone say - "WHERE ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS GOING?"  Have you ever wondered why some of these guys live in much nicer homes, take expensive vacations, drive fancy cars, etc.?  DO THE MATH.  It's OUR money.  So don't talk with me about $7,000 for my child to go to public school.  I am paying bills for the leaders of the public school system to pad their pockets.

Ms. Silvers moved for approval of the Committee’s recommendation to increase the per diem rate for meals to $7.00 for breakfast, $11.00 for lunch and $18.00 for dinner for a total of $36.00 per diem.  I wish I had this kind of money to spend on my own food each day!  I just took all five children (none eat free now) to Golden Corral.  The bill for six of us was $20.65.  Now if these people go on a week long trip and eat at a reasonably priced restaurant for each meal, they aren't starving, and it might cost $19 a day ($4 for breakfast, $5 for lunch and $10 for dinner).  When they are reimbursed for their $36 per diem allotted, then they are making a clear PROFIT of our tax dollars of $85.  Which of us couldn't use an extra $85 per week?

Mr. Hardin moved to amend the motion to increase the reimbursement to $8.00 for breakfast and $12.00 for lunch so the rate would be the same as for the County.  Mr. McLain seconded the motion which carried unanimously on roll call vote.  Oh, I should have waited to make my comment...  THIS is really the amount I would like for my own food each day.  It's more than the previous amount.

Now this wasn't in the board meeting minutes, but it IS public information as well.  Superintendent Grant Rowland makes $110,456 per year!!  I can't imagine what my own family would do with that kind of money.  But again, MY taxes are paying HIS salary and meanwhile we struggle to get by and buy books and supplies, give our kids great educational experiences, and pay the bills.  As of the last census I could find for Washington County (2000), the median household income for Washington County is $33,116.  This is difference of $77,340.  The difference is still twice as much as most of us make!!

So, the next time one of them says that they want that extra $7,000, everyone needs to ask the question - "Are they thinking of the best interests of the children or will they use this same money to increase meal rates and give their leaders another grand?"

Homeschoolers spend about $550 per year for each child on educational expenses and our kids are smarter, better socialized, and more well-disciplined.  So it's not about needing more money.

Sonya

Untitled Comment

06:53, 2007-Nov-7 .. Posted by morningsunshine

we jsut lost a school voucher vote here... not that as a homeschooler I would have taken part ,even had I been allowed, but the MAXIMUM on a income-level sliding scale that a FAMILY (not a child) could get was $3000. but the schools spend 7500 per student....
but the teachers unions said that we couldn't lose that 3000 (the schools would keep the balance)