The Homer Tribune :: Homer, Alaska

The Weekender: What's Happening This Weekend in Homer?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

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OPINION

• Editorial

• Letters to the Editor

Fun with funding

Homer's July weather continues to cluster on the chilly side of the bank thermometer so far this summer — as evidenced by tourists in parkas and wool mittens huddling together along Pioneer Avenue. Soon enough, August will rear its autumn head and the crunch of football pads will begin ushering in cool, crisp evenings.
While it may seem a bit early to look at anything remotely related to fall and back-to-school chaos, now is a good time to look at our schools before we're too busy shelling out the cash for activity fees, school pictures, sports, yearbooks…and Kleenex.
Remember when you didn't have to bring your own boxes of Kleenex to kindergarten because the school provided them for you? Well, those days are long over. Today's teachers — at least the ones in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District — spend their days fighting layoffs, managing overflowing class rooms and struggling with limited resources and supplies to grab the attention of easily distracted youth.
It's nothing new. And even with Gov. Sarah Palin's budget proposal that included a base student allocation of $5,580 and district cost factor of 1.088 percent, the district anticipates a reduction of 14.5 full-time-equivalent certified staff positions district-wide because of reduced enrollment projections.
According to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, the preliminary revenue budget for fiscal year 2009 is set at $119,228,860. In its "Budget at a Glance" report online, the district makes it clear that it is basing this budget on various "anticipations."
For example, the preliminary revenue budget "anticipates continued local funding 'at the cap' from the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and "expects $14,640,379 in Legislative funding to help address the District's Public Employees Retirement System and Teacher Retirement System unfunded liability."
So before we get all excited about a $500,000-increase in co-curricular allocations — and experience the very brief thrill of not having to sell, bake or buy cookies and cakes, or wash another 45-foot RV — we should probably look into a few of these "expectations" and clear up the "ifs."
Let's face it: It's a corporate jungle of public school fundraising out there. Special interest groups abound — each looking for ways to raise money in order to participate in something they enjoy. Everyone wants his or her favorite activity or sport added to the school's curriculum. If you're going to have a football program, you have to have a volleyball program. (Precluding any Title IX issues) The same follows with things like baseball, chess club, debate and synchronized swimming.
But should the borough be held accountable to all the special interest groups out there? Should the soccer team get more money than the Latin club, just because their numbers are higher? Which activity is more "worthy" of the money? Who decides what's fair?
We've got plenty of budget questions and issues to address and iron out before we get too far into the 2008-09 school year. We — the community — continue to say we won't allow our children's educations to suffer because the State refuses to step up and foot the bill. But are any of us actually doing anything about it?
It continues to become more and more obvious that the only way our children are going to receive anything outside of a minimal education is to provide it for them ourselves. Maybe in the future, we'll develop school programs offered through cooperatives, or discover new ways to subsidize co-curricular activities. In the meantime, however, we've got some work to do.
At last glance, there were no fewer than seven coaching vacancies at Homer High School . Here is your chance to step up and show our local youth that you have time for them; That all the political corruption, lingering oil sludge catastrophes and monetary motivation in the world isn't really what we had envisioned for their futures.
Sure, times are tough. Gas and heating fuel prices keep climbing. Winter is imminent. Work is busy. So what?
Grab a pair of sweats, strap on a whistle and get out there to do your part to provide a little direction, positive influence and fun for our youth.
It's better than jury duty.

2008-09 Homer High School Coaching Openings

• Assistant Cross Country Running Coach
• Assistant Wrestling Coach
• Head Boys' Basketball Coach
• Girls' C Team Basketball Coach
• Head Track and Field Coach
• Assistant Track and Field Coach
• Girls' Varsity Soccer Coach

To apply, visit www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/ and follow the "employment openings" link at the top of the page to "Co-curricular" positions.

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