School district needs lesson in budgeting

The Cedar Rapids Community School District might want to consider an audit from average moms who are use to balancing a budget. The district doesn't run its finances the way the rest of us do. While hurting for cash, they build fancy buildings and justify expenditures. The staff is the highest paid in the area, yet it seems to be a foregone conclusion that a raise will be negotiated whether the district has the money or not.

This is not the way my mom ran our household. If there wasn't any money, there wasn't any money. Things waited and she would get several bids on any projects that needed to be done.

These are not the only numbers that moms seem to be more interested in than administrators. When asked what data the school has gathered in the 12 years of providing the two year-round schools the answer was “none.” They were quick to add that Polk's former principal said the program had good social effects but no proven academic benefit. How could it be they have not collected any data? Nothing can be proven either way!

We want education to be the No. 1 concern. Instead, the administration tries to prove they are right at every turn. Will you close a school just because you won't admit you're wrong?

Olivia Robinson

Cedar Rapids