It’s no big deal that Wichita businessman George Fahnestock doesn’t live in the Wichita school district but will take a lead in advocating that district voters approve a proposed $370 million bond issue. As owner of Fahnestock Plumbing, HVAC & Electric, Fahnestock is a Wichita employer who pays USD 259 school taxes and will pay more if the bond issue passes Nov. 4. And the more Wichita or any city grows, the more likely its prominent citizens will live in its burgeoning suburbs. But the discussion of Fahnestock’s Andover address demonstrates that, to be successful, the pro-bond campaign will need a broad range of business leaders on its side.
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10 Comments
I have a better idea. How about all the taxpayers and business owners who believes this bond issue is necessary goes down to the tax office and signs a statement saying so. After a suitable period, divide up the amount of the bond issue by the number of people and businesses signing up for it, then divide by the number of years the bond issue is to run for…and that becomes each person and business’ share that they are responsible for paying. I wonder how necessary it would be then??
Point is that we need substance, answers, whys, plans and don’t care a whit about where Fahnestock lives. The only bit of info I needed to know is Fahnestock is the same man who headed up the campaign to get the arena built. His judgment isn’t good about how my money should be spent. He may know how to trick people into voting for the unnecessary but we’ve been fooled once already and don’t intend to let the fox back in the chicken house.
How is our current money spent (honestly!)? How many layers of administration are there and what do they add to our student’s educations? How many “teachers” aren’t teaching anyone anything? Why haven’t the most recent test scores been released (they ARE available!)? Are the same people who are financing the “campaign” to pass the bond issue going to be who benefits most from spending the money? Who is giving and who will be assured of having their pockets lined?
Who cares what Fahnestock is doing, or where he lives, or that a bond issue might be really good for his business, though bad for the average taxpayer.
This bond issue is going DOWN in flames.
Our taxes are simply too high.
Remember!!! Without this bond issue USD 259 will still be getting over 605 MILLION DOLLARS this year, that’s over $12,000+ per student, each and every student.
They have more than enough to not only keep the schools up but make improvements….they just don’t and continue to ask for more.
They must be stopped and forced to budget and manage their resources.
He will make plenty of money from the contract.
Boxlock, yes, dividing the total funding received by USD 259 by the number of students in the district does result in the answer you give; an average of $12,000+ per student.
However, that does not translate into the district being able to spend $12,000+ per student. Some of the funds, including a part of the general fund, are for Special Ed; part of the funds are for transportation for which not all students are eligible. I think it might be better in making the calculations to really examine the per student spending in the light of what is spent for the regular education student for whom the district does not receive extra funds for special education; transportation; Title I; and other funds of this nature.
Freely admit that the per student spending for some Special Ed students is well in excess of $12,000+; freely admit that there is a large group of students within USD 259 for whom the district receives funding in addition to the base per pupil funding from the State; also freely admit that the students riding buses to magnet schools bring additional funding to the district in the form of dollars for transportation. However, I will submit that the final two groups’ funding is less than $12,000+ per student in each group.
Given what I know of the tuition charged at two of the private schools here in Wichita (K-12), it seems to me that the appropriate comparison would be the regular ed student funding from the State received for these students, and the tuition charged by the private schools for those falling within that group, as the students at the two private schools of which I have knowledge fit within that grouping. I’ll take a look at the base per pupil funding by the state to be sure, but I’m certain that the tuition at the two private schools is higher than the base per student funding supplied by the state; in one case, dramatically higher.
avtolle,
Thank you for your reasonable response, I don’t get conversation but character attack here usually, especially by a particular USD 259 teacher in particular.
I well realize private schools and public schools are not on a completely level playing field, so to speak but I still believe our public schools are adequately funded.
I sent my children to a private school through 8th grade, that school spends approx. $6500 in today’s dollars total for each student, much more than when my kids were attending. This school’s students far surpass the public schools in test scores across the board in all testing parameters.
I know of no other ‘objective’ way to measure. I subjectively feel they received much more benefit than simply high test scores though.
Also, we simply are taxed enough. Sure we would like to have lots of things but fact is we can’t. The school need to do a better job allocating resources and quit spending everything they can and then asking for more.’
I will vote NO!
I’ll be voting YES
If the bond fails the schools should start canceling sports programs
Or they could look at options and find one that works.
You will need to have the bond issue, the number and this bond issue. The bond issue on this bond issue. These are administration I try to follow a suitable period in and day out.