April 10:  A Critical Day for Our Students

Section I Must Pass to Maintain Current Level of Student Services

After over a decade of stretching its dollars and after more than 12 years without asking voters for an increase in operating taxes, the Christina School District Board of Education has determined that it must ask District residents to support a local school tax increase on April 10. 

This vote is important for the future of our children's education.  This increase in operating taxes is crucial for the District to be able to continue offering the variety of instructional, enrichment and extracurricular programs now offered. With these funds, we can continue making improvements to instruction and other services that help students learn, grow and achieve. 

Christina is the largest school district in the state, operating 28 schools and serving nearly 20,000 students. Our schools are a second home to many students, and they are often a source of inspiration and hope. Good schools also form the foundation for strong, vibrant communities. Parent participation and community volunteerism in our schools is reaching new heights, with several schools winning national awards for student mentoring programs.  All of these efforts lead us to our common goal of providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

By voting FOR this referendum, residents can help support our goal to continue offering students strong and challenging academic classes, and the kinds of extracurricular activities that help develop well-rounded youngsters who are ready to go on to higher education or join the work force.  Without voter support for this referendum, serious cuts to student programs will have to be made this coming school year.

Need to Maintain Student Programs, Build Reserve
The costs of educating our students and operating our schools have been outpacing our revenues since 1996.  Between 1996 and 2001, instructional expenses alone have increased by more than 35%.  At present, roughly $8,000 is spent per year – or $8 an hour – to educate each child.  Since 1996, the District has had to use part of its reserve fund to cover year-round expenses.  Every school district has a reserve fund as part of their normal operating budget, which allows them to meet expenses between July 1 and November 1 since school districts receive limited tax monies during this time.  The reserve fund also is used to cover unforeseen operating expenses.

Covering rising education expenses has caused the reserve fund to drop from $23.8 million in 1996 to a projected $2.8 million at the end of this fiscal year on June 30, 2003. The District can no longer stretch its dollars and needs the public to support an operating tax increase that will ensure our students’ educational needs continue to be appropriately met.

The Ballot has Two Sections
It is critical that District residents approve Section I of the referendum.  Section I allows up to a maximum 26¢ increase per $100 of assessed property value over the current rate. This will ensure the continuation of the current level of basic operations and educational services.  "Section I is the base-level increase that the District must have just to recover from the deficit, rebuild the reserve, and maintain current programs," said Tim Yetter, chief financial officer for the District.  "The Board of Education has worked closely with staff and a Financial Advisory Committee to carefully review revenue estimates and fine-tune expenditure projections in an effort to develop a tax proposal that meets students needs and still keeps the proposed rate change as low as possible.  If Section I does not pass, the District must reduce expenses by putting an operating plan in place that includes cutting teachers and other staff, instructional programs and services, extracurricular activities, and much  more."

Section II of the ballot asks for an additional 10¢ increase per $100 of assessed property value to fund initiatives to strengthen academic achievement and support the Strategic Plan 2001-2006. (See New Initiatives to Strength Academic Achievement for more details).  If approved, these initiatives would be phased in beginning in 2004.  Section I of the ballot must pass to implement Section II.  If Section I fails, the outcome of the vote in Section II is null and void.  It is important to vote on both parts of the referendum.

Without Increase, Cuts Must be Made
Since the District no longer has enough funds to sustain the current level of student programs without additional operating revenue from a tax increase, the majority of  voters must approve Section I, OR, an operating plan that includes cutting staffing, school budgets, and student programs and services would be implemented.  

If Section I is NOT PASSED, potential impacts include:

	Larger class sizes due to teacher cuts at all grade levels
	Fewer specialized and Advanced Placement course offerings
	Limits on the number of students who can participate in extracurricular activities, such as the number of players on football teams, drama and musical programs
	Scaling back on academic field trips
	Reduced number of support staff to address student behavior problems
	Reduced number of secretaries and assistant principals to handle school operations, staff, parent and student needs
	Reduced number of reading specialists to assist struggling students
	Reduced number of paraprofessionals who aid student learning
	Potential reductions to elementary strings program
	Fewer maintenance and custodial staff to maintain the condition of facilities

District is Containing Costs
The Christina School District currently has one of the lowest combined tax rates in New Castle County.  The District’s total administrative expenses are only about 4% of the total operating budget.  Administrative staffing levels, as compared to total staff, are the lowest ratio in New Castle County, according to the Department of Education and the State Board of Education Report of Educational Statistics 2000-2001.

Costs continue to increase, and we must make sure that all of our children have the same chance for outstanding achievement as every other child in our state – and our nation.

  YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

Top of Page