PISD Bankrupt???

The situation at Paris is not unlike most rural school systems. Champagne taste on a beer salary. Speaking of salaries, have you looked at the starting pay for a teacher in PISD? Paltry is the kind way of putting it. Honestly, I have no idea of how these small school districts operate on the small budgets from the state. It seems to me kind of cold that Allen ISD has built an NFL level stadium and PISD cannot afford an outhouse. You need to live within your means, of course, but there is something fundamentally wrong with school financing in this state. It is much worse than illegals, bonds and politicians with standard slogans. Smaller towns are getting screwed by the state and nobody seems to care. It makes it even worse when the schools keep leaning on taxpayers for luxuries.

docziggy wrote:

The situation at Paris is not unlike most rural school systems. Champagne taste on a beer salary. Speaking of salaries, have you looked at the starting pay for a teacher in PISD? Paltry is the kind way of putting it. Honestly, I have no idea of how these small school districts operate on the small budgets from the state.

You make this sound like schools are operating on money from the state and maybe they are. In that case, what are they doing with all of the tax money from property owners?

docziggy wrote:

It seems to me kind of cold that Allen ISD has built an NFL level stadium and PISD cannot afford an outhouse. You need to live within your means, of course, but there is something fundamentally wrong with school financing in this state. It is much worse than illegals, bonds and politicians with standard slogans. Smaller towns are getting screwed by the state and nobody seems to care. It makes it even worse when the schools keep leaning on taxpayers for luxuries.

We can thank Bill Ratliff for submitting the robin hood plan to finance schools and the legislature at that time for going along with his plan.

Sunrise wrote:

<quoted text>You make this sound like schools are operating on money from the state and maybe they are. In that case, what are they doing with all of the tax money from property owners?
<quoted text>We can thank Bill Ratliff for submitting the robin hood plan to finance schools and the legislature at that time for going along with his plan.

Roughly, schools are financed 1/3 by property tax, 1/3 by sales tax and 1/3 by federal money. You definitely can thank Bill because Paris RECEIVES money from Robin Hood, although I agree it is a very flawed system.

docziggy wrote:

It seems to me kind of cold that Allen ISD has built an NFL level stadium and PISD cannot afford an outhouse.

Allen can build that stadium because the taxpayers were willing/able to foot the bill for the bond that built it. Paris taxpayers want the same thing without having to pay for it. The extra money Allen gets from the state didn't go towards the football stadium.

No, that is true...completely. But the idea of property rich vs. property poor districts demonstrates a totally unfair system. To get that stadium in Allen, it took only a couple of pennies of property value tax. But for Paris, it would take close to a dollar. The property tax system is flawed in favor of wealthy districts. I personally have long been in favor of doing away with property taxes and going to a sales-tax driven school system, but as you know the state can't do anything right, so it would likely be screwed up from word one. We might be reaching that point, though, as the new school funding suit is going before a judge next month in San Antonio. This could be a real game changer and it would be nice if my hometown could afford the same educational tools as rich suburbs.

OK, let's see you have a school district with decreasing population, two schools under utilized and you build a new school and now have two school that your are paying upkeep and utilities on that are under utilized - correct? You build a NEW school to have a better STADIUM?? Then you want to combine school districts to make everyone else pay for your blunder? Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

Sunrise wrote:

<quoted text>Are you serious that the new stadium has artificial turf and an elevator?

Actually the elevator is to the press box and required by code. The turf is pretty much the standard these days and pays for itself pretty quickly with no watering or mowing. Also prevent a lot of injuries.

The being said, not quite sure why we have 3 school districts in a town of this size, but I do like the smaller scale of Chisum. Seem to focus more on academics than athletics. Save the comments on a few rouge teachers and coached.

The thing is, that school funding has been a horrid problem in Texas for many many years.

The biggest problem is the number of districts that are here. Each town as their own independent school district, instead of unified school districts.

The districts need to be enlarged--all of the schools in Lamar County need to be in the same school district, all of the schools in Red River County need to be in the same district, etc.

This would cut down on administration personnel needed and maximize resources. For example, in Red River County, there would be ONE superintendent of schools instead of 4. That is a large chunk of salary funds that would be saved--in addition to the administrative staff salaries (which I have been told that there is a secretary in Red River County that makes very close to a 6 figure salary--athough I have no way of being able to prove this). There would be ONE head football coach instead of 4...another huge savings to the taxpayers. The list of savings goes on and on by pooling meager resources--especially in our areas which are declining in size.

docziggy wrote:

No, that is true...completely. But the idea of property rich vs. property poor districts demonstrates a totally unfair system. To get that stadium in Allen, it took only a couple of pennies of property value tax. But for Paris, it would take close to a dollar. The property tax system is flawed in favor of wealthy districts. I personally have long been in favor of doing away with property taxes and going to a sales-tax driven school system, but as you know the state can't do anything right, so it would likely be screwed up from word one. We might be reaching that point, though, as the new school funding suit is going before a judge next month in San Antonio. This could be a real game changer and it would be nice if my hometown could afford the same educational tools as rich suburbs.

Maybe some folk enjoy the small town without all the hassle, traffic and people you have in Allen or Plano and realize we don't have that type tax base so therefore shouldn't try to act like Allen or Plano. If you want that life style move to Allen or Plano but leave those of us who like little rural Paris to live within our means and enjoy the smaller schools.

All that place needs is fencing and it can be a prison. Sure built like one with the quard towers and all.

Speaking as a Paris ISD product who is proud to be a Wildcat, I agree we have made some mistakes in funding, and the allocation of funds, but North Lamar and Chisum have the big tax paying industries lying within their bounds and when everything moves to the North Campus Hospital the majority of taxes will go to N.Lamar, so basically we are a victim of circumstances in PISD

Paristxproud wrote:

Speaking as a Paris ISD product who is proud to be a Wildcat, I agree we have made some mistakes in funding, and the allocation of funds, but North Lamar and Chisum have the big tax paying industries lying within their bounds and when everything moves to the North Campus Hospital the majority of taxes will go to N.Lamar, so basically we are a victim of circumstances in PISD

You are making excuses. PISD should live within their means whatever they are. PISD has poor financial decision makers including the board and the administration. They are not at the top of the class on other decision, either.

Paristxproud wrote:

Speaking as a Paris ISD product who is proud to be a Wildcat, I agree we have made some mistakes in funding, and the allocation of funds, but North Lamar and Chisum have the big tax paying industries lying within their bounds and when everything moves to the North Campus Hospital the majority of taxes will go to N.Lamar, so basically we are a victim of circumstances in PISD

That makes as much sense as if I was to say I am a victim of circumstance because I don't have as big of a house as a man down the road. Just because his income is much greater than mine does not mean I should not be entitled to the same stuff or better! You reflect the mindset of a demographic that is very unhealthy for this country.

Is it true that they are changing the name of Paris High School to "North Lamar Agricultural and Athletic Division"?

just wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe some folk enjoy the small town without all the hassle, traffic and people you have in Allen or Plano and realize we don't have that type tax base so therefore shouldn't try to act like Allen or Plano. If you want that life style move to Allen or Plano but leave those of us who like little rural Paris to live within our means and enjoy the smaller schools.

Yeah, and his plan for all in one district is fine if you have someone like Dawson who is great, but when you have someone like Trull, it may not be so good. So I am not altogether happy with a all in one scenario.

I always want the competition and I want the people who are sucessful to around when we need help from them... Like right now they should fire Trull and hire Dawson as a consultant and let him run things for the next year. See how better off they are. I am sure Chism has good folk too, I just don't know the people. Dawson is old and about to retire so maybe hire both the superintendent from the two other schools as consultants so we don't kill Dawson with a heart attack. But I'd say PISD could use a little of him right now.

And right here I will say my thanks to Mr. Dawson for keepin NL standards high, keeping the right people to get the job of educating done right and for keeping our fiscals in order. Thanks for keeping us safe and educating us. Thanks for doing your job. Thanks a billion. I hope you enjoy retirement, you have earned it.

happyNLer wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, and his plan for all in one district is fine if you have someone like Dawson who is great, but when you have someone like Trull, it may not be so good. So I am not altogether happy with a all in one scenario.
I always want the competition and I want the people who are sucessful to around when we need help from them... Like right now they should fire Trull and hire Dawson as a consultant and let him run things for the next year. See how better off they are. I am sure Chism has good folk too, I just don't know the people. Dawson is old and about to retire so maybe hire both the superintendent from the two other schools as consultants so we don't kill Dawson with a heart attack. But I'd say PISD could use a little of him right now.
And right here I will say my thanks to Mr. Dawson for keepin NL standards high, keeping the right people to get the job of educating done right and for keeping our fiscals in order. Thanks for keeping us safe and educating us. Thanks for doing your job. Thanks a billion. I hope you enjoy retirement, you have earned it.

PT would be for consolidation but only if he can remain top dog. In that case all of the schools in the county would be bankrupt.

happyNLer wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, and his plan for all in one district is fine if you have someone like Dawson who is great, but when you have someone like Trull, it may not be so good. So I am not altogether happy with a all in one scenario.
I always want the competition and I want the people who are sucessful to around when we need help from them... Like right now they should fire Trull and hire Dawson as a consultant and let him run things for the next year. See how better off they are. I am sure Chism has good folk too, I just don't know the people. Dawson is old and about to retire so maybe hire both the superintendent from the two other schools as consultants so we don't kill Dawson with a heart attack. But I'd say PISD could use a little of him right now.
And right here I will say my thanks to Mr. Dawson for keepin NL standards high, keeping the right people to get the job of educating done right and for keeping our fiscals in order. Thanks for keeping us safe and educating us. Thanks for doing your job. Thanks a billion. I hope you enjoy retirement, you have earned it.

I totally agree that James Dawson has been the best thing that ever happened to NLISD and have been a vocal advocate of Dawson's but guys like him with common sense, drive and intellegence are getting fewer and farther between. NLISD better hold on to him as long as they can. I would say about now though that PISD needs a Dawson in a serious way to correct the deficiencies they have suffered in the recent past in administrative ability.

happyNLer wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, and his plan for all in one district is fine if you have someone like Dawson who is great, but when you have someone like Trull, it may not be so good. So I am not altogether happy with a all in one scenario.
I always want the competition and I want the people who are sucessful to around when we need help from them... Like right now they should fire Trull and hire Dawson as a consultant and let him run things for the next year. See how better off they are. I am sure Chism has good folk too, I just don't know the people. Dawson is old and about to retire so maybe hire both the superintendent from the two other schools as consultants so we don't kill Dawson with a heart attack. But I'd say PISD could use a little of him right now.
And right here I will say my thanks to Mr. Dawson for keepin NL standards high, keeping the right people to get the job of educating done right and for keeping our fiscals in order. Thanks for keeping us safe and educating us. Thanks for doing your job. Thanks a billion. I hope you enjoy retirement, you have earned it.

They don't have any money left to pay him.

docziggy wrote:

The situation at Paris is not unlike most rural school systems. Champagne taste on a beer salary. Speaking of salaries, have you looked at the starting pay for a teacher in PISD? Paltry is the kind way of putting it. Honestly, I have no idea of how these small school districts operate on the small budgets from the state. It seems to me kind of cold that Allen ISD has built an NFL level stadium and PISD cannot afford an outhouse. You need to live within your means, of course, but there is something fundamentally wrong with school financing in this state. It is much worse than illegals, bonds and politicians with standard slogans. Smaller towns are getting screwed by the state and nobody seems to care. It makes it even worse when the schools keep leaning on taxpayers for luxuries.

Wait till Romney/Ryan turns the free lunch program over o the state. There's going to be a lot of hungry kids running around the schools. Some programs are better left in the hands of the government.

lmao wrote:

<quoted text>Wait till Romney/Ryan turns the free lunch program over o the state. There's going to be a lot of hungry kids running around the schools. Some programs are better left in the hands of the government.

You bet! We need more government running things so not as much will be screwed up. Thankfully the Democratic party understands this and have worked hard under our great president to try and increase the size of our government to take in any and all problems we as citizens have. It is a pressing matter that we try to get the number of citizens working jobs better wages so they can contribute more to the needs of our increasing government's need to distribute the wealth of the working more evenly among the non-working. Additionally, we must change the mind set here in Texas and America to be more like Chicago so we understand there is no need to work and contribute when it is better to recieve than to give.
Yes, one little step at a time must be taken to grow and continue to expand government and if lunch programs are one of those steps then yes we must maintain controll at the largest government possible. Great post lmao for bring these matters to our attention.