|  | Saint Paul Public School Board Announces Approval of Referendum for Continued Excellence in Schools
8/1/2006 10:10 PMSaint Paul, Minn. — The Saint Paul Public School Board today voted to approve the Saint Paul Public Schools' (SPPS) proposal to bring a referendum to the Nov. 7 general election ballot. The ballot question will ask Saint Paul voters to approve an increase of $13.5 million per year over the existing referendum, scheduled to expire in July, 2007, for the next six years.
"We're at a turning point," said Elona Street -Stewart, Saint Paul Public School Board Chair. "To build on the successes we've had in the last five years, and address the challenges we face, we must make a choice to support our schools. The state and federal governments haven't made that choice, so now we have to ask the people of Saint Paul to make an absolutely necessary investment in Saint Paul Public Schools."
During the last five years, SPPS has cut more than $58 million from its operating budget, cutting staff and programs in the face of rising costs. Another $8 million had to be trimmed for the 2006-'07 school year, resulting in widespread cuts to early childhood and family education programs, as well as adult education and diploma programs.
The purpose of the Referendum for Continued Excellence in Schools is to provide a stable funding source to continue the success of the last five years and further establish SPPS as one of the premier urban school districts in the country. This will allow the district to focus more resources where they'll make the most impact and provide significant return on investment. These areas include:
preparing students to enter the first grade
readying them for post-secondary opportunities.
Focusing on these areas would allow the schools provide students with the knowledge base they need to succeed throughout their educational careers before they ever enter primary school, and better prepare graduating SPPS students for post secondary options, whether they're joining the military, going to college, taking vocational training, or joining the workforce.
"It's imperative we invest in education," said Dr. Meria Carstarphen, superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools. "We need to ensure every student in Saint Paul is ready for first grade, with the knowledge required to be successful and achieve to their full potential in their academic career. And the work doesn't stop there. We have a responsibility to prepare our students for post-secondary opportunities - the real world. We want them to be work-ready when they graduate from our schools."
The cost of the referendum for the owner of a median-priced home in Saint Paul ($174,000) would be an additional $84 per year, which is just $1.61 per week -- barely the price of a cup of coffee. Compared to other metropolitan school districts in the area, SPPS currently ranks last in referendum dollars per pupil among metro school districts, despite being the second largest school district in the state. If the Referendum for Continued Excellence in Schools does pass, SPPS will still be ranked among the lowest in referendum dollars among metro school districts.
"My commitment to the school board and the community is to be a good steward of the public trust -- to provide accountability for each and every dollar Saint Paul provides to us through the Referendum for Continued Excellence in Schools," said Carstarphen. "We will gather information and data about the way this money is spent and ensure the community is informed every step of the way."
Four years ago, Saint Paul voters demonstrated their support for education by passing the school district's referendum. And in 2006, there seems to be growing recognition that schools are a vital part of the community. According to a poll conducted by the Committee for Schools, nearly 65 percent of voters surveyed said they would vote for the referendum "if the general election was held tomorrow."
"Everything starts with education," said Carstarphen. "It's gratifying to see that the Saint Paul community recognizes that, and knows how vital it is to support our schools."
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