The Connection Between Budget and
Racist School to Jail Pipeline
During the
old civil movement of the 1960s, it was shown that the principle of racially “separate
and equal “schools was a myth. The non- White majority schools always got the
inferior funding and resources. Although unlawful there are still attempts to
create racially “separate and equal” public school systems. The beginning of
the charter school movement in Massachusetts was based on the refusal of some White
Boston parents to the desegregation of Boston schools.
During the
1990s the issue of separate and unequal schools based on property taxes was
remedied to some extent by MGL Chapter 70. This statute removed basic school funding
from cities and towns. Under the statute the State would provide a “foundation”
budget for all of the public school districts
The
foundation budget was based on the number of students in a school district. A monetary
figure is assigned to each student. That number is about $6,500.00. So a school
district gets that number of dollars multiplied by the total number of students
in the district.
The
foundation budget did not prevent cities and towns from adding to their respective
school budget based on property taxes.
Of course the more affluent towns added more to their school budget as a
rule, than did the less affluent cities. Last year Worcester added $500,000 to
its school budget on top of the foundation funding provided by the State.
Economic disparities continue.
The
foundation funding from the State has some problems that need correcting. The
first is that more Cities are becoming “Gateway Cities” in which live and work
many immigrants and other newly arrived people. This population is larger in
some cities than others. The resources needed for this population exceed the
$6,500 per student provided by the foundation budget,
Another
population that is underfunded are the special needs children whose costs of
education greatly exceed the $6500. The cost to educate this group of children
is almost two and one half times higher than the foundation funding.
The
foundation funding does not cover some teachers’ benefits such as health care.
The Gateway Cities’ school districts have more teachers and higher teacher
benefits costs. There is little or no property tax money to cover the benefits
needed to attract good teachers and ensure their long service.
The so
called Gateway Cities and other poor communities have large people of color
populations. The cutbacks that occur because of the lack of fully funded schools
causes conditions that exacerbate the school to prison pipeline.
There are
lacks of supplies. Programs such as art and music are cut. Summer and after school
academics are ended. Most importantly the student to teach ratio is increased.
Several teachers has said that 35 students to 1 teacher is not uncommon in
Worcester.
Lack of
teachers, lack of programs, and lack of supplies are setting the conditions for
children to get into trouble. These items also increase the likelihood that
children experiencing difficulties will drop out. Dropping out will increase
the likelihood of problems outside of school.
All children
suffer from the underfunding of public schools. Although some school committee
people are good people and are somethings to mitigate the lack of adequate
funds, some city official do not see themselves as fighters for fully funded
schools and an end to the school to jail pipeline.
The City
officials should see themselves as asserting the rights of the children who can
not do it for themselves. The attitude of “It is not my job “or “color
blindness” will not due.
There is a
need for a coalition of Gateway Cities and other underfunded school district to
be form and pressure the legislature for reform of the Chapter 70 and the end
of the racist school to jail pipeline.
