MUSD’s problem is lack of parent involvement

I will not support the MUSD override for several reasons. The first reason is that increases in per pupil spending do not equate to higher graduation rates. In fact, Washington D.C.’s school district has the second highest per pupil spending but has a low graduation rate.

By contrast, Utah is the state with the lowest per pupil spending and has a pretty high graduation rate. Locally, MUSD has a higher per pupil spending than the Sequoia Pathways charter school district. Sequoia is also better performing. This shows that it is possible to do less with more. Charter schools typically show better performance on a tighter budget.

Teacher salaries are also lower at charter schools. So rather than trying to rationalize why they need to maintain their current level of funding, MUSD needs to look at other districts such as Sequoia and find out how they are doing less with more.

My daughter was attending Santa Cruz Elementary on a 504 plan, legislation that specifies a child with a disability cannot be excluded from participating in federally funded programs or activities in schools.

Despite several assurances that she was doing well, her report cards were always coming back with failing grades and this was reflected in AIMS testing as well. We moved her to Sequoia the following year and now she is bringing home good grades and has even made honor roll. Her AIMS testing is now on track again.

I think the real problem MUSD faces is not a financial one. I believe the problem is parental involvement. I think people choose charter schools when they feel the public schools are not meeting the standards expected by the parents. This naturally means that more parents get involved with their child’s education at charter schools. If MUSD really wants to see improvements, they would try to find more ways to increase parental involvement.

Once they have more parental involvement, there should be an increase in student success. Only then can they really ask for more money or to maintain the current level of funding. Nobody wants to spend their money on a school system that is not meeting their needs.