Hmm, let’s see. $1.14 million for four Edison schools. We’re closing one, so the total number of Edison schools is dropping by 25%. If we take $1.14 million and divide by four (or multiply by .25), we get $285,000.
But according to the Journal Star today, the school district negotiated only “about a $200,000 savings.” That’s about 17.5% of the total contract.
Well, let’s look at percentage of pupils. The 2007 enrollments, according to the Illinois Interactive Report Card, were:
| Loucks | 374 |
| Rolling Acres | 312 |
| Franklin | 386 |
| Northmoor | 462 |
| TOTAL | 1534 |
|---|
So, 374 divided by 1534 is: 24.3%. But the contract was only reduced 17.5%.
Sounds like a great deal… for “New York-based Edison Schools,” that is. I suppose the administration will say that there are certain fixed administrative costs, so one can’t just cut the contract by 25%.
Or maybe they’ll try to tell us that 17.5% savings is just as good as 25%. After all, they’ve already told us that an 11.5% reduction in the school day provides exactly the same amount of teacher contact time, with music and art thrown in.
It’s the new math.
It’s new magic – SMOKE & MIRRORS
Or the approximately $85K is some sort of penalty for early release from the contract.
Not that this accounts for 25% but it’s possible that some of that is due to one of the Edison K-4 expanding to include a 5th grade and some Loucks kids moving to Rolling Acres – think they said they’d add one more classroom at R.A.
What “consideration” do you suppose Hinton offered Edison to be released from the contract? Can’t believe Edison would do this out of the goodness of their heart – they just lost $200K in revenue.
Good post.
I had to laugh at the Dilbert cartoon today as it fits the 150 spin so well. Just in case the PJS is already a fish wrapper (where it belongs) or on the bottom of your bird cage (another useful purpose – especially most editorial pieces anyway) here’s what it said:
Background shows Dilbert making a presentation and the chart on the wall reads $4,629,873.
First panel he says: ” I didn’t have any accurate numbers so I just made up this one.”
Second panel he says: ” Studies have shown that accurate numbers aren’t any more useful than the ones you make up.”
Last panel someone asked:
“How many studies showed that?”
To which Dilbert replied “Eighty-seven”
Kind of fits 150 now doesn’t it?
^oo^~
I think we need another consultant. As a friend in Brisbane, Australia related today …. Are you familiar with the old adage? if you can\’t do something then become a consultant.
Interesting.
I can do that… offer advice and have no responsibility or investment in the outcome… yeah, I can be a consultant. How much you gonna give me?
There should be calliope music pumped into the 150 administration building.
Mazr,
You mean calliope music threaded in with the current alternating Looney Tunes song followed by Hail to King Hinton? Why not!
^oo^~
I am not sure that I can completely understand your comments. Would you be so kind as to expand on your reasoning a little more before I comment.
Billy, to whom are you talking?
I agree.