More money does NOT equal better results!!

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From the Saturday, November 22, 2008 Middletown Journal:

ROSS TWP. — Midway into its five-year plan, Ross Local Schools officials say they have met all but one of the goals set in May 2006. 
Goals included increasing student achievement; increasing the use of technology; employing and keeping effective teachers and administrators; increasing community engagement; protecting investment in facilities; and maintaining fiscal health. "
We are the lowest in Butler County on cost per students, yet we are consistently rated excellent by the state and last year earned an excellent with distinction," said board President David Brown.
Cost per student in the Ross district is $8,139 compared to the highest in Butler County, Middletown City School District at $10,808, according to information on the Ohio Department of Education's Web site.
Now I understand all of the info about Urban school districts, etc., but consider that some of the worst performing districts in the nation (in inner city Washington DC and Chicago) have expenditures per student of $15K to $18+K per year!! 

      to the Ross School District, all of its students, all of its teachers and other staff, its administration, and the parents!!!  

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Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: More money does NOT equal better results!! Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 1:02am
	More money does NOT equal better results!! From the Saturday, November 22, 2008 Middletown Journal: ROSS TWP. — Midway into its five-year plan, Ross Local Schools officials say they have met all but one of the goals set in May 2006. Goals included increasing student achievement; increasing the use of technology; employing and keeping effective teachers and administrators; increasing community engagement; protecting investment in facilities; and maintaining fiscal health. " We are the lowest in Butler County on cost per students, yet we are consistently rated *excellent* by the state and last year earned an *excellent with distinction*," said board President David Brown. Cost per student in the Ross district is $8,139 compared to the highest in Butler County, Middletown City School District at $10,808, according to information on the Ohio Department of Education's Web site. Now I understand all of the info about Urban school districts, etc., but consider that some of the worst performing districts in the nation (in inner city Washington DC and Chicago) have expenditures per student of $15K to $18+K per year!! to the Ross School District, all of its students, all of its teachers and other staff, its administration, and the parents!!!

Pacman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pacman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 22 2008 at 11:55am
	For those that don't understand the info about Urban School Districts: Ross Pop: 6448 Middletown Pop: 51303 Students in School system Ross: 1436 Students in School system Middletown: 6645 Median Income Ross: $57125.00 Median Income Middletown : $36215.00 Residents Below Poverty Level Ross: 2.5% Residents Below Poverty Leve Middletown: 12.6% Population by Race Ross: White 98.5% Black .2% Other 1.3% Population by Race Middletown White 86.5% Black 10.6% Other 2.9% Section 8 Housing Ross 0 Section 8 Housing Middletown 1662

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 7:22am
	Pacman When we start discussing education in Middletown we also need to discuss the early childhood education program known as Head Start and the millions spent on this program. This program was put in place in the 1960's to ensure that lower income children would get the extra time and education needed to be ready for school. Why isn't this program doing a better job here in Middletown?

Pacman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pacman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 8:48am
	A better comparison and still Middletown can't seem to compete...WHY? Hamilton Pop: 62285 Middletown Pop: 51303 Students in School system Hamilton: 9737 Students in School system Middletown: 6645 Median Income: $39109.00 Median Income Middletown: $36215.00 Residents Below Poverty Level Hamilton: 13.4% Residents Below Poverty Level Middletown: 12.6% Population by Race Hamilton: White 88.0% Black 7.5% Other 4.5% Population by Race Middletown White 86.5% Black 10.6% Other 2.9% Section 8 Housing Hamilton--Unable to obtain as Hamilton falls within the Butler County Housing authority. Suffice it to say Hamilton probably makes up the bulk of Butler County’s Section 8 Housing, yet it is still significantly less than Middletown’s Section 8 housing. Section 8 Housing Middletown 1662 Hamilton States Indicators met 19 of 30 Performance Index 92 AYP not met District Designation Effective Middletown State Indicators met 5 of 30 Performance Index 80 AYP Not Met District Designation Continuous Improvement Hamilton Expenditures per student $8,985 Middletown Expenditure per student $10,825

spiderjohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749	Post Options Post Reply Quote spiderjohn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 9:04am
	thanx for the stats pacman hopefully the MCSB will act on the audit recommendations as mentioned. That would be a positive step plus--we must find like-minded pro-active citizens capable of challenging Rev.Tyus and Ms.Andrews next fall. Replacing them should not be difficult if we have worthy alternatives

Middletown News Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Apr 29 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote Middletown News Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 10:19am
	Its not the money, its the demographics. Its that simple. If the parents don't support the schools by making their children behave, study and be good students, any amount of money will be waisted.
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Pacman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jun 02 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2612	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pacman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 10:42am
	Jonathan The demographics between Middletown and Hamilton are pretty close, except when you get down to Section 8 housing and school performance.

.308 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: Aug 17 2007 Status: Offline Points: 192	Post Options Post Reply Quote .308 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 4:35pm
	I live in what I thought was a decent part of Middletown on the east end, yet with each passing year the level of vandalism in the neighborhood continues to rise. I would say that if parents cannot keep enough control of their kids to prevent these activities they have little chance of helping them succeed in school.

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 27 2008 at 10:02am
	.308-I agree with your second statement. IMO, if we want to see any progress at all on parental involvement to get little Johnny to behave and to absorb anything that the schools are teaching, we must involve the law with a "get tough" program. We all know that some parents in this school district aren't responsible enough to see that their kids get to school and learn. I'm sure the schools have heard all of the excuses from those parents as to why their kid isn't in school. The schools have tried all of the "kinder/gentler" methods of counseling, phone calls, warnings, expulsions, etc. and I would guess that after all of that, we still have repeat offenders. If we make it painful enough for these parents in a legal sense, and the employer gets involved because the parent is missing too much work because of court dates/jail time, perhaps,(and then again, maybe not) the hardheaded parents will start getting the message to make the kid's education a priority in their lives.Wishful thinking? Probably- but, then again, we've tried about everything else haven't we?