School Choice Program
June 29, 2006
Bridgewater
Raynham
Easton
East Bridgewater
West Bridgewater
Massachusetts
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Bridgewater-Raynham Schools
Massachusetts
USA
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Opinion/Analysis
Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
As I understand Chapter 70, the students who leave for School Choice are counted in the base calculations to determine the Net School Spending. They are later subtracted at the rate of $5000 per student in the bottom half of the equation. So, in a way, the story is correct.
Now, comes the tricky math part, and one that I discussed a year ago. The base for B-R Chapter 70 equates to $7,389 per student, or $41,451,272. The formula to determine each town's Wealth leaves the amount as the top line of the Cherry Sheets, or $19,619,790; or $3497 per student.
From this $19M, we subtract for the School Choice students of $441,055. But, as I said in the first paragraph, we credited revenue for the children prior to the deduction.
There are therefore many ways to look at this:
(a) BR receives $3497 per student for 83 students or $290,251. We then deduct the $441,055 for a net loss of $150,804.
(b) BR receives $7389 per student for 83 students or $613,287. We then deduct the $441,055 for a net gain of $172,232.
(c) Something in between, but not easily computable because of incremental changes.
The best answer is best expressed by (c). The simplest way to understand in everyday life is the airline industry. No two people pay the same fare. Further, prices typically decrease as it is closer to flight time since it is better for the airline to receive a half-price fare then to have an empty seat. The plane is still going to fly whether there are 47 or 48 passengers.
Likewise, a teacher is still needed whether there are 24, 23 (if one student leaves via School Choice), or 25 (if one student is added via BR's School Choice) students in the classroom.
Mathematically, both (a) and (b) could be argued to each be true. Only by studying the exact details (fixed and variable costs) would an exact answer be determined - one that I would surmise to be somewhere in between the two choices - probably a negligible net effect plus or minus.
Beyond all of this though, is the story's underlying tone of why we are doing School Choice, whereby our decision is disparaged. The piece concentrated on a couple of mathematical calculations only. We elected to adopt School Choice:
- as a Pilot Program, to learn and understand if it is something we would later expand
- to address certain student issues that create problems based on residency
- to send a message that we believe the schools are heading in the right direction
- to generate some funds to supplement the educational programs and supplies offered to the students
