Ypsilanti Public Schools and the Superintendent Who Cried Wolf

Our little school district, 4000+ students strong, apparently operates on the brink of financial crisis. Last spring, the superintendent commissioned the Citizens Advisory Panel (comprised mostly of friends and supporters of the superintendent rather than of parents and teachers active in the schools today) to evaluate the district in all areas and make suggestions for improvement. The CAP members were concerned because the superintendent had warned them of a looming financial crisis. The panel responded with suggestions of draconian cuts, like shutting down the high school pool, to avert disaster.

In June, the superintendent proposed a balanced budget for 04-05 that reflected a mere $600,000 in cuts in a $45 million budget. Financial crisis? Who said anything about a financial crisis? How silly to contemplate shutting down the pool.

Then, a few weeks ago, the superintendent announced in a press release that because the district had an unexpected loss of 440 students (a loss that was actually predicted by my friends Ann and Chris), which translates to a loss of roughly $3.3 million in state aid, Ypsilanti Schools were in a financial crisis. (Interestingly, the news was released just prior to the special election for a Special Education millage increase. Coincidence? You make the call.)

Last Thursday at a special Board of Education meeting, the superintendent announced that the district is not in financial crisis after all. We lost 334 students rather than 440. The district will take a one-time deferment on $1.6 million in expenses and will receive roughly $1.2 million from the newly passed millage.

Whew. What a rollercoaster ride.

At last night's Board meeting, I proposed a Financial Security Alert System so that we can better keep track of how near we are to the brink. I proposed an alternate, but similar, system that the Administration might prefer, considering how well they think of parents in this district.

I also dropped on the table a chunk of sidewalk concrete. It seems to me that if your budget assumptions are conservative and consistent, your budget proposals will be based on something solid, not on ether.

Finally I demonstrated a prototype model of the Last Resort. When all else fails, get back to basics.

Despite my over-the-top performance last night, I'm serious about our loss of credibility. Why would parents bring their children to a school district that appears to live on the brink of financial ruin? How can the teachers trust anything the Administration says in their contract negotiations?

If I recall my parables correctly, The Little Superintendent Who Cried Wolf only had two chances before he was abandoned by the villagers. Perhaps this is a cautionary tale for Ypsilanti.