Funding Cuts to Arts Programs

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD. THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ANNOUNCED A STRATEGIC BUDGET REALIGNMENT TO DEAL WITH A 46.7 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT TO DECREASING ENROLLMENT. A COUNTY WIDE DROP IN PROPERTY VALUES AND INFLATION. TOM IS JOINING US NOW TO GIVE US THE VERY LATEST ON WHAT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYING ABOUT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT BEING DOWN. >> AND THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BLAMING THE CUTS ON A DROP IN SCHOOL ENROLLMENT. SINCE THE ADOPTION OF HOUSE BILL WON IN 2023, MANY PARENTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FLORIDA TAX SCHOLARSHIP CREDITS OR VOUCHERS TO HOMESCHOOL OR MOVE THEIR CHILDREN AT THE PRIVATE CHARTERED VIRTUAL SCHOOLS. NOW, ACCORDING TO INFORMATION IN THE GOVERNOR'S NEWSROOM ON FLAWED GOV DOT COM. NEARLY 1.4 MILLION ARE NOW UTILIZING SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS, INCLUDING 524,000 STUDENTS IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM SINCE STATE APPROPRIATIONS FOLLOWED THE STUDENT. THAT'S MONEY NO LONGER GOING INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOME SEE THIS AS AN INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THE MOVE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO PRIVATIZED EDUCATION. BUT SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE IN THE UP A LENS HE WARNS NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO PUT THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL. EVEN WITHOUT YOUR ASSISTANCE. >> WE DON'T WANT TO PRIVATIZE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS STRONG BECAUSE NOT EVERY FAMILY HERE IN LEE COUNTY HAS THE LUXURY OR THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THEIR CHILD TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL. SO IF THAT'S THE END GAME THAN WE'RE CUTTING OUT MORE THAN HALF OF OUR COUNTY FROM HAVING ACCESS TO AN EDUCATION. THAT'S JUST THE BEDROCK OF SOCIETY. WONDERFUL EDUCATION SYSTEM. >> TOM, DOES THE ENTIRE BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COME FROM THE STATE? >> NO, IT DOESN'T. JENNIFER MORE THAN OF 860 MILLION DOLLARS COMES FROM THE 5.3, 1, 9, MILLAGE RATE. THE PROPERTY OWNERS PAY ON THE REAL ESTATE TAXES. THERE'S A HALF A PERCENT SALES TAX THAT GOES FOR BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS, RENOVATING EXISTING ONES AND IMPROVING SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO PROVIDE SOME GRANT MONEY. BUT THE CUTS TAKING PLACE IN THE SCHOOLS THAT'S BEING BLAMED ON REDUCE REVENUES COMING FROM THE DROP AND IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT. >> NOW ARE THE CUTS TO EACH SCHOOLS OPERATING BUDGET? ARE THOSE CUTS DUE TO THE DROP IN ENROLLMENT? >> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HASN'T EXPLAINED HOW THE REPORT SHUNNING THE 46.7 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL. BUT IT APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE BOARD. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DISTRICT NOTIFIED EDISON PARK, CREATIVE AND EXPRESSIVE ARTS SCHOOL THAT IT'S REDUCING THEIR BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR BY $700,000. BUT HAS DANIEL HALLORAN REALLY PERPLEXED? SHE HAS A FIRST AND A 4TH GRADER AT ANDERSON PARK. >> EDISON PARK DOESN'T HAVE AN ENROLLMENT ISSUE AND WE NEVER HAVE BACK. WHEN WAITLISTS WERE WORTHING THERE KNOWING WITH FISH UP, WE ALWAYS HAD A WAITLIST, DOZENS D WE DO NOT HAVE AN ENROLLMENT ISSUE. IN FACT, CURRENTLY EDISON PARK IS OVER CAPACITY. STATES STANDARDS CALL FOR 19 KIDS POR K THROUGH 2 CLASS. WE HAVE 23. AND ROLAND IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT PARK, WHICH IS I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THE PARENTS ARE SO UPSET. SO, TOM, HOW DOES A SCHOOL LIKE EDISON PARK ABSORB THIS $700,000 CUT IN THEIR BUDGET? >> ITS THE PRINCIPAL SHERRIE WEPT, WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISION. BUT FRANKLY, SHE DOESN'T HAVE MANY GOOD OPTIONS. >> SO EVERY SCHOOL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WILL HAVE A MUSIC. AN ART TEACHER, BUT OUR OUR SPECIALTY PROGRAMS, WHICH AGAIN HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT FOR 36 YEARS, WHICH IS OUR STRINGS PROGRAM, OUR DANCE AND OUR THEATER PROGRAM. THOSE ARE THE SPECIFIC PARTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IN ORDER FOR HER TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET AT THE SCHOOL AND DECIDE WHO TO KEEP AND WHO TO CUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW TO RUN THE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR WITH THE STEP ASIDE. >> BUT TOM, HASN'T THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON THEIR FACEBOOK THAT NO PROGRAMS WOULD BE CUT. >> THEY HAVE. >> BUT SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE ANY PLENTY OF SAYS TO BE GENEROUS. >> THEY'RE BEING DISINGENUOUS. SO. >> OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S REALLY KIND OF A HALF TRUTH IN THAT SENSE. THEY ARE. THEY'RE NOT TECHNICALLY CUTTING IT. NO, BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY UNDER FUNDING. IT. AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION THERE. THEY KEEP SAYING ALL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EXTRACURRICULARS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO EXTRA CURRICULARS TODAY. BUT WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EXTRA CURRICULARS BECAUSE IT'S A FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD. >> IT'S SEMANTICS AT ONE LEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL THEATER DIRECTOR TEACHERS FOR THEATER CLASS U.S. THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO BUILD SAT THROUGH LIGHTING RE HER SHOWS DURING THE SCHOOL THAT BUT NEXT YEAR SHE'LL ONLY HAVE ONE THEATER CLASS. SO THEATERS TECHNICALLY STILL OFFERED. IT HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT. BUT IN ACTUALITY, THEIR PROGRAM HAS GOTTEN SINCE STUDENTS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PUT ON SHOTS. >> SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC AND NOT SPEAK AND HALF-TRUTHS. LET'S BE DIRECT. LET'S BE TRANSPARENT AND HOW ARE DESCRIBING WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING. >> HOW OUR STUDENTS RESPONDING TO THIS NEWS ABOUT THESE THESE CUTS IN THE ARTS FUNDING. >> I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING TO SOME STUDENTS AT EDISON PARK ON SUNDAY MORNING. HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD. THE SITE. >> MY NAME IS LUCAS. I LIKE TO OURS AND HOW THEY LIKE. THEY MAKE. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LIKE ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING AS A GROUP. GIVE YOU LIKE A GOOD FEEL LEAVE BUT ALSO THE U.S. PREPARES. YOU FLY MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL. THE EVERYONE BE LIKE A BAND OR ORCHESTRA? WELL, THE CHORUS. IT'S JUST LIKE A GREAT FIELD. I'M TELLING YOU NOW FEEL THAT WAY. >> CY IN KIND. AND MATT, IF THEY GO AWAY BECAUSE >> YOU CAN LAND AND ALSO TO STAFF IT HAVE IT THAT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ALL RIGHT. IS THERE STAFF CAN GET BORING AND YOU CAN SEND AIMS FOR US AT THAT. IBM SHOCK THAT THEY WOULD BE TAILING OUT SUCH LIKE A CENTERPIECE OF EDUCATION WITH THE OUT. IT'S THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO MY CHOICE. MIDDLE SCHOOL. I SO YEAH, THEY'VE THAT THEY WOULD BE DIPPING OUT THE CENTERPIECE OF THIS COMMUNITY OF THIS. IT FORM OF EDUCATION. YEAH. >> THE ARTS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THESE CHILDREN, AREN'T THEY TALKED? THEY ARE. >> AND A NUMBER STUDIES BARELY OUT JUST HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO HELPING YOUNGSTERS BECOME WELL ADJUSTED PRODUCTIVE STUDENTS AND CITIZENS. >> KIDS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE. THEN THOSE THAT AREN'T KIDS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS HAVE LESS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. KIDS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WE SEE THAT HERE AT EDISON PARK. OUR KIDS ARE PERFORMING AT CITY EVENTS FOR KIDS ARE PERFORMING AT RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES REPORTING OUT AT THE AIRPORT THERE DOING HOLIDAY SHOWS THAT THE EDISON HOME, IT'S A WELL ROUNDED APPROACH. BUT I THINK REALLY SPEAKS TO WHY THE ARTS ARE SO IMPORTANT HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT WHY IT DOES, IN FACT, HELP TO THE WHOLE CHILD. >> TOM, ARE THERE OTHER AREAS THAT CAN BE CUT OTHER THAN THE ARTS? >> THERE ARE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE INDIA. PLENTY OF SAYS THE CUT IN THE ARTS IS MISGUIDED. >> IN MY OPINION, THEY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO CUT OUR BUDGET. WE KNOW THAT IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING WE HAVE GROWN OUR MINISTRY OF OFFICES IN EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEETING THIS YEAR SINCE AUGUST. THEY ARE ADDING ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT ARE PAYING 6 FIGURES EVERY SINGLE MONTH. THEY'RE GROWING MORE DEPARTMENTS AND WE DON'T SEE CUTS HAPPENING THERE. >> IN FACT, OR A 32 POSSESSIONS TO PAY MORE THAN THE $140,000 THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS MAKES EACH YEAR. SHE CITES QUESTIONABLE EXPENDITURES INCLUDING 1.6 MILLION DOLLARS FOR PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND APPAREL. $270,000 FOR LOBBYISTS WHO HAVE YET TO BRING IN ANY FUNDING AND $64,000 FOR A MALE OR SOLICITING NEW STUDENTS THAT WENT TO RETIRED VOTERS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE ALL GROWN. LAST YEAR. ALSO QUESTIONS WHETHER STUDENT ENROLLMENT HAS REALLY DROPPED. SHE POINTS THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT'S OWN CAPITAL PLAN CONTEMPLATES 10 NEW SCHOOLS AND ONE PORTABLE WEIGHING TO ACCOMMODATE 14,188 NEW STUDENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO POPULATION GROWTH. JORDAN VINE CAN AND HAS A FIRST IN THE 5TH GRADER ANDERSON PARK. SHE HOPES THE CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER STAND WITH PARENTS BY LOOKING INTO THESE TROUBLING ANOMALIES. >> WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO DO WHO I KNOW ARE HEARING FROM THE PARENTS THIS WEEK IS TO STAND WITH THE PARENTS AND SAY THAT THEY WON'T APPROVE A BUDGET THAT FORCES PRINCIPLES INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO CUT OUR SPENDING. SEND IT BACK TO THE DISTRICT, TELL THEM TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT PLAN. TELL THEM TO TRIM THE FAT AT THE TOP AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL SO THAT THE MONEY GOES WHERE WE NEED IT, WHICH IS BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS. >> CALLS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. >> TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND SO MUCH INFORMATION. THANKS FOR SHARING. WELL, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO AIR THIS VERY IMPORTANT STORY. THANK YOU, TOM.