Back to Strategy
March 18, 2010
What is an effective strategy when you know you will have less money to work with next year? First, we need information – what does the community want Saline Area Schools to look like in the future?
The opportunity to share your thoughts is coming:
6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30th in the Harvest Cafeteria
or
6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, April 12th in the Middle School Media Center
These Community Budget Forums will provide an opportunity to share thoughts and opinions on the budget priorities for Saline Area Schools.
6 Comments
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Scot Graden's Blog 
One district in Washington is helping defray costs by allowing advertisements on school buses and its working! This may be something we may want to consider with some of the local/area merchants/businesses. Has any consideration be given to this?
This bus idea sounds like a good one to me. It not only brings in revenue, but it also helps promote local businesses.
Anther idea to consider is voluntary half days. In this senario, parents would be allowed to have their children attend for half days for their major subjects. Students would be allowed to earn physical education, music, art, and other classes outside of the school system. All such programs would be approved by the school district. If this was to be voluntary, we could reduce class sizes. There could be am & pm classes offered.
In Michigan, it is illegal to advertise on school buses.
The idea of a voluntary half-day option is interesting. The most similar program that I am aware is the Community Resource program from Ann Arbor Public Schools. They award community-based credit for specifically approved programs.
Interesting. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal comparing the amount of time spent in school by children in various countries and the academic outcome of their time. The findings lean towards MORE time in school, rather than less!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704207504575130073852829574.html
According to the following report from the Mackinac Center on Public Center, this might not be true when comparing schools within Michigan…
ttp://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/article.aspx?id=10856
We should also consider that what might be at work in the article from the Wall Street Journal is a different variable, such as the rigor of the curriculum.
If an educationally sound program was to be put together AND was voluntary, then it could be a great money saving tool for the district. This is one of those items that definately needs to be the right fit for the right child. This definately is not for everyone.