Analyst says 'non-educational spending' a problem in Ypsilanti schools; administration disagrees
A financial analyst brought in by the Ypsilanti Public Schools' teachers union Monday night blamed much of the district's financial woes on non-instructional spending.
Arch Lewis, a financial analyst with the Michigan Education Association, said expenditures on teachers’ salaries and benefits have mostly stayed the same in the past five years, while spending on other areas has gone up.
“It’s not education expenditures that’s causing the problem,” Lewis told the crowd of about 50 people gathered at Ypsilanti High School. “If the district is experiencing financial difficulty, it must be from something else.”
District administrators said Lewis' presentation was not accurate, and that the bulk of non-educational spending goes to special education.
The school district faces a $4.9 million budget deficit and is considering unpopular cuts, including closing schools and laying off teachers. The district was required to submit a deficit-elimination plan to the state.
Lewis, brought in by the Ypsilanti Education Association, gave an hour-and-a-half-long presentation Monday night of graphs and percentages on the district’s spending habits from the past five years. He said those numbers were based on state-collected information and independent audits.
“We can use that information to make a better choice to take control of the district’s finances,” he said. “How schools spend money is much more important than how much money schools have to spend."
Lewis said contracting out for services, specifically, rose from 5 to 9 percent in the past five years and has wasted a lot of money.
He said using general fund dollars on non-educational spending such as athletics and renovating buildings was also a problem. He likened the spending to a person putting money in a Florida vacation account before paying for basic utilities.
“You’ve got to set priorities,” he said.
Lewis said the district should not cut instructors and student programs. “The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its staff,” he said. “The school system cannot be better than the people who work here.”
Members of the administration were not impressed by Lewis’ presentation.
“I’m saddened that a major bargaining agent would go to these lengths to mislead the public,” said Chief Financial Officer David Houle. “I’m disappointed.”
Houle said contracting out for substitute teachers has saved the district a lot of money.
Superintendent Dedrick Martin also said the presentation was misleading. “People can play with the numbers, and if you do it long enough and hard enough you can almost justify anything,” he said. “I think there was some accuracy but a whole lot of general overstatements and a lot of stretching.”
Some parents expressed mixed feelings about the presentation but were more concerned with protecting their schools, especially Chapelle Community School which is one of the schools the district is considering closing to save money.
“I thought the presentation was very informative, but I think it came a little late in the process,” Chapelle parent Karen Barren said. “I wish I would have seen this presentation in February or January.”
Maria Cotera, another Chapelle parent, said both the administration and the teachers union have presented numbers to support their position.
“This is not a question of playing with numbers,” she said. “This is our children’s future.”
Erica Hobbs is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2537 or via e-mail at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.
Comments
snapshot
Wed, Mar 17, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.
All this ambiquity. Everybody has their own interpretation of the facts and use them to justify their own agendas. The system is broken AND broke. There is no way that the parties charged with the responsibility of making the system work can do so. There is just too much self interest and as such, the best interests of the taxpayers, parents, and children are not being properly, or honestly represented. It is sad, but we can't turn a blind eye to the problem. It must be resolved. A bankruptcy and recevievorship offers a disinterested investment in the future viability of a public education. Right now, that future is being jeoperdized by the very parties charged with its success.
mrmmrm
Wed, Mar 17, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
Okay, so we can play the blame game and he said she said... bottom line is that the district is in trouble, as are ALL districts. Of course the teachers are trying to save their jobs and salaries, who wouldn't... especially in today's economy where jobs are hard to come by. No one wants to lose their job. I found it interesting that no one mentions the school just hired a top paying administrator with lots of benefits and perks. No one has looked at the teacher salaries of this district compared to others and the pay of the administrators compared to other districts. I also found this interesting "District administrators said Lewis' presentation was not accurate, and that the bulk of non-educational spending goes to special education." Okay, since when is the education of our students with disabilities not considered education... if I remember correctly, these individuals were students as well and deserve the same education as others. I also find it interesting that no one has the same impression when listening to Mr. Houle, who is the financial officer that is in the back pocket of administration... are the teachers not supposed to fight back?
Jimmy Olsen
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
From the Educational Action Group - Arch Lewis certainly gets around spreading the MEa gospel.. MEA MUTED IN NOVI The Arch Lewis Budget Show is having trouble finding an audience, at least in Novi. Hometownlife.com reported last week that the Novi school board formally asked the teachers union to reopen negotiations on the existing collective bargaining agreement. As in many districts, the board hopes to gain some contract concessions to help wipe out a budget deficit. Before responding, the union asked the board to sit and listen to an MEA financial analyst probably Lewis explain to them how they should be spending taxpayer money. The board declined, pointing out that the teachers contract only gives local union officials access to the boards meeting agenda, not the MEA big shots from East Lansing. The local union responded by filed a grievance which will likely go nowhere. Three cheers for the Novi board. They must have known what they would be missing. Lewis, the MEAs financial guru, has been traveling around the state in recent months, telling school boards they should eliminate expenses like bus transportation and school sports, so there will be enough money to maintain annual teacher raises and expensive MESSA insurance. And Lewis apparently doesnt take criticism well. According to reports from a recent board meeting in Montabella, he had a meltdown when a board member asked challenging questions and accused the board member of belonging to EAG. Given all of that, we cant blame the Brighton board for skipping Archs gasbaggery. They know their own budget. They dont need the organization that created the problem explaining the problem to them.
Emma Jackson
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 5:10 p.m.
I would just like to confirm Forest City's comment. In 2007 the Ypsilanti voters approved a bond to be used for YPS building improvements and for the installation of new technology. By law these funds can only be used for building upgrades and technology and cannot be used for salaries or other general fund expenditures.
Ypsi by Choice
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 12:59 p.m.
Smiley, not all things left in this world revolve around materialistic self gain. It might seem impossible to fathom, but there are still people out there that fight for causes and scrutinize the information given to them to protect their children. I am not nave, I understand that many business perimeters and motivations can permeate from these dire economic situations. Although, the last time I checked, this was about closing schools that happen to have children in them.
Smiley
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
The claim that this is all about the children is absolutely despicable. It's about self-interest, plain and simple. I'm not saying self-interest is bad, but when I hear claims that it's all about the children, it turns my stomach in the way evil does. It involves using the children for self gain.
snapshot
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.
File bankruptcy and let a judge decide. Only when these manipulators of information are forced to testify under oath with the threat of perjury hanging over their heads, will the truth emerge. A judge will determine who goes, who stays, and where the money is spent. It is the only way taxpayers will be assured that their money will be spent for its original goal, education of our young.
wln15
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
This story just ticks me off. I know the message I am getting from the teachers' union!! Whether it's true or not, it sure does make them appear greedy and unwilling to make any cuts. I want to see the benefits breakdown for YPS. How much do employees pay for health care? They have guaranteed pensions for goodness sake! They should be responsible for at least 30% of their health care premiums!
AJACK
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
Well, well, well. Pursue this story, AA.com
xmo
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.
Nothing like an un-bias consultant who is paid by the teachers union. The results were predictable. What is the message that the teachers are sending to the community and students? It's ok to try and scam the public?
Forest City
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.
From what I understand, a millage passed recently which specifically was earmarked for technology, which included building improvements. So of course, they spent the money on that. By law, the money could not be spent on teachers or salaries. Try again.
stunhsif
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
Arch Lewis is a financial analyst with the MEA which is married to the YEA and we are supposed to believe anything he says? What a joke! Both the teachers union and the administration are rearranging deck furniture on th Titanic as she is going down.
ypsilanti
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 7:37 a.m.
The reporter does not make clear that this "analyst" was a hired "expert" retained specifically to enhance the YEA's negotiating position. This is a game played at every contract renewal where the district's administration takes a hard line that there is no money for teachers, and the teachers take a hard line that the district's priorities are wrong. This context ought to be clearer in the article. It's not like this is something new -- this dance goes on when the economy is good, too.
jmac
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 : 7:12 a.m.
The story does not make clear exactly what the Ypsilanti Educational Association is. This is an organization primarily comprised of teachers. Not to say Mr. Lewis' analysis isn't correct, but not sure he can provide an unbiased analysis considering who 'paid' for his services. That said, his points about capital expenses, including building renovations, are well-taken. These incur enormous expenses that clearly were not fully covered in the district budget. So how did the district originally intend to pay for all this?