Meridian School District’s New Math: 2 + 2 = 2

In reaction to competition from public charter schools, Meridian School District recently mass-mailed a full color brochure highlighting their efforts to expand education choice. Unfortunately, the brochure is disingenuous in comparing funding between the district’s magnet schools and public charter schools. The table on page 4 reports that North Star costs taxpayers $383 more than the Christine Donnell School of the Arts. This is true only if Superintendent Linda Clark pretends that there is no such thing as property taxes.

Unlike the Meridian School District, public charter schools don’t get any property tax funding. Property taxes generally add another $2,500 to the cost per student. So why does Linda Clark always forget to add property taxes when comparing costs between the district and charter schools?

Any charter school would be happy to trade $383 in state funding for $2,500 in property tax funding the district gets. Does the superintendent really feel than $383 is more than $2,500? Given this kind of “new” math by the district, its no wonder that the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reported only that only 30% of Idaho’s 8th graders are “proficient” in math. Before Meridian School District does their next mass-mailing, it might be a good idea to have a first-grader at a charter school check their arithmetic.

What is also interesting about the table is that the charter school the Meridian School District operates is 46 percent more expensive than North Star. This is before any costs for the district’s building or site are considered.

To illustrate the cost difference between charters and districts, look at building costs. According to the recent bond election literature the Galileo magnet school cost $20,000 per seat to build. North Star was built for less than $5,000 per seat. Why the huge difference? Since North Star had no property tax funding it had to be much more frugal and cost-conscience.

Linda Clark routinely mischaracterizes charter schools because they have proven that new public schools can be built without increasing property taxes. The fact is Idaho’s charter schools are creating more choices and lowering taxes. And this is bad for business, especially if you want to continue to raise property taxes.

Linda Chooses Black

The Meridian School District recently mass-mailed a full color brochure highlighting their efforts to expand education choice. They are to be applauded. It’s obvious that competition from charter schools is creating more choices in public education.

However, there is something very strange about the district’s new mantra of “school choice.” Superintendent Clark used the word “choice” no less than ten times in her column in the brochure. Unfortunately she sounds an awful lot like Henry Ford when it comes to “choice.” Ford is notoriously remembered for saying, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, so long as it is black.” The superintendent is essentially saying, “Parents can choose any school they want, so long as it is one the Meridian School District owns and operates.” In other words, “Choice is good, so long as I am the only one that chooses.” George Orwell would surely laugh at her definition. Meridian School District’s idea of choice is like the choice the post office gives you when it allows you to pick which kind of 39-cent stamp you like.

School choice means much more than just parents choosing from a limited menu from one monopoly provider. Real choice means that entrepreneurs can choose to enter the market and create innovative and specialized new schools for parents. One of the great values of real school choice is that it lowers the cost of public education by eliminating inefficient monopolies.

Meridian School District should look to Utah for ideas on improving public education productivity. Utah spends far less per student and gets much higher academic achievement growth than almost all other states. The Utah Legislature recently created a voucher program that allows parents to pick the best school for their children. The Beehive State has realized that harnessing the power of American entrepreneurship improves quality and lowers the costs of public education. The early Mormon settlers made the Utah desert bloom. With vouchers, they now have a chance to bring life and productivity to their public education system.

While the state has a legitimate role in funding public education, it does not follow that the state must also be the monopoly provider as well. After all, the government provides significant funding to college students who then freely choose from a variety of public and private colleges and universities. This kind of healthy choice and competition has made America’s higher education system the best in the world.

If the Meridian School District really believes in “school choice” then it should offer vouchers of $4,500 to parents so they can make their own school choices. This makes sense since parents are in the best position to know what is best for their children. Another benefit is that vouchers would reduce the pressure to impose higher property taxes to pay for new buildings. Charter schools have proven that new public schools can be built without increasing property taxes.

The next time Linda wants to increase your property taxes by $100 million for new school buildings, ask her why she doesn’t believe in the proven benefits of “real choice” in public education. Our public education system desperately needs more colors than just a few shades of black. Time for real choice and diversity.