Rigging School Governance

Education began as a clear local government function. This is why most schools have local school boards to govern local schools. This is no longer the case. But why?

Prevent voting:

Local School Boards have virtually nothing to say in school governance. (see ‘School Mandates’ here) Electing the School Board is an illusion of local control. It’s theater. 

Limit voting options:

One of the theater props is the school budget vote. If a proposed budget passes the vote is accepted. However, a NO vote is not acceptable. A second vote is required. That budget proposal can be revised or left the same as the first. However, if voters reject that second proposed budget the school MUST adopt a ‘contingency’ budget which could be set so the property tax is less … OR EQUAL to the current property tax. In other words, the laws are such that it becomes pretty unlikely for a community to tax itself LESS than before. 

Buy votes:

School capital projects (buildings & infrastructure) are included in school budget votes. Voters may not want to support and be taxed for such projects. So state or federal laws exist to help fund such projects and so influence voter decisions. People who would not vote to spend $10 million on school infrastructure would be OK if the project cost was paid mostly with someone else’s taxes (state or federal funding).  

Incentivise spending:

Furthermore, BECAUSE voters are less disposed to raise their taxes from the current (base) amount, school administrators hesitate to cut spending for fear of not getting it back in the future. "Spend it or lose it." So they are not incentivized to lower budgets by cutting staff, programs, or retiring debt.

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