The following is excerpted from an article in The Pueblo Chieftan written by Colorado's Lt Governor Jane Norton. Colorado MUST pass Amendment 39. For the past 6 years taxpayers have shelled out record amounts of cash... and still the Schools cry for more money. It is high time that we DEMAND to know what is being done with what they have already been given.The entire article is located here:
http://www.chieftain.com/editorial/1159077600/1
(Do the math on this one: Its over 2.3 Million annually for 24 Administrators)
"Colorado Springs School District No. 11 - with an average household income of $44,771 - has 24 administrators making more than $100,000. This includes a superintendent ($272,000), two deputy superintendents ($203,000), four executive directors for instruction ($139,000), a community relations director ($113,000), plus 16 others making more than Colorado's governor"
"Since the passage of Amendment 23 in 2000, Colorado schools have received record funding. But educational excellence isn't simply based on how much money we're spending on education, but on how much education we're getting for our money.
Unfortunately, we're not getting our money's worth. As a statewide average, Colorado classroom instruction receives only about 58 percent of operational funds, ranking Colorado 47th among all 50 states. That's just embarrassing."
"Doing better starts with knowing where our education dollars are going. We have asked school districts to tell us how many cars do they own or lease? How many administrators make over $100,000? How much is spent on lawyers, lobbyists, and public relations? How many millions in taxpayer money that could have been spent in our classrooms are instead spent on dues to the Colorado Association of School Executives or the Colorado Association of School Boards?
The answers aren't forthcoming. They won't tell us."