CNN announced today that the U.S. Government is giving $1.8 Billion to New Orleans Schools. Sounds great… right? We’re not so convinced either. Here are five questions to consider…
“We’re giving you an 8% raise!” That’s the sound every cubicle hugger wants to hear at some point, the fact that their employer is offering more cash. Suddenly, life is great, you’re plotting on that new car, eyeing your new vacation and envisioning yourself on a shopping spree.
Then you realize that 8% is over the course of 12 months, broken in down into two week increments. By the time you take out the taxes and account for those past due bills you recognize you’re only getting an additional $52 in your paycheck… you know… or something like that.
Is this what New Orleans residents can expect? $1.8 billion makes the sound of magnificent education… or does it? Here are five questions New Orleans residents should ask themselves?
5. How much does it cost to build a nice school, anyway?
You’d be surprised. Cities are paying ridiculously exorbitant prices to build grade schools like they are first class hotels. This week, L.A. unveiled a $578 million – yes – $578 million K-12 educational center. Robert F. Kennedy School is the most expensive public school in America, with fine art murals and a marble memorial depicting the complex’s namesake, a manicured public park and a state-of-the-art swimming pool.
There are also schools like this Chicago, Boston, New York and New Brunswick, NJ.
Furthermore, building prices have quietly (and I do mean quietly) gone up. Global raw material shortages caused costs to skyrocket to an average of $600 per square foot in 2006 and 2007 — triple the price from 2002. Costs have since eased to $350 per square foot. On top of that, each project had its own cost drivers.
(Source)
So when schools are costing millions upon millions to build how many can they build? Let’s see.
4. How many people will suspiciously touch this $1.8 billion?
Behind the scenes, contractors, lawyers, shady politicians and businessmen are all salivating at the mouth right now, hoping to get a nice chuck of this money being made to build schools. It always happens like this. I’m sure there’s more than a few Clay Davises in the Big Easy.
3. Will this change the way kids go to school?
Does a pleasantly built multi-million dollar school create kids who pay more attention? Will large windows letting in natural light and installed energy-saving equipment cause better GPAs and SAT scores? Cafeterias are getting fancier, seeking to retain students who venture off campus. Wireless Internet and other high-tech installations have become standard.
Does that mean kids coming from poor and disadvantaged neighborhoods will come to school now? Does it mean less will drop out? It’s an interesting perspective. While these schools desperately need rebuilding, I think it really says something about American life. There are kids in Africa dying for a chance to go to school in huts with dirt acting as the floor. Yet, you have spend millions to get kids to come school in America? Funny.
2. What about the teachers?
Thousands upon thousands of teachers have been laid off in the past few years, and yet billions are being spent on schools. Districts are also facing a billion dollar shortfalls all across the nation and many schools persistently rank among the nation’s lowest performing. So, do the teachers get some of that money?
After all, they are the ones … you know working in those shiny new buildings. Just sayin…
1. Will schools in black poorer, disenfranchised neighborhoods get the same amount funding for school as the white middle class, privileged communities?
As the world watches New Orleans, many are keeping a close eye on those who were victims of broken promises and misplaced action. Just as so many of us are hoping for an opportunity, so many are aware that things conveniently get tied up, turned around and lost altogether.
Will New Orleans resurrect? Only time can tell.
{ 0 comments… add one now }