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Mel wrote:

mrvmax wrote:

Ruark wrote: What’s more important, safety of the children or the football program for little Johnny (or water polo, or volleyball, or baseball etc.) ? They may have to cut things they don’t like and stop spending so much. I guarantee I can walk in there and find plenty of money to redirect to school security. When I took a 1/3 pay cut at my job in order to have a way to move up I cut deep and got rid of everything not essential. I did what I had to at the time and the schools need to do the same. I can think of numerous luxeries at the high schools around me. Do they need these natatoriums? What about these massive stadiums? I’m sure smaller districts in poorer areas have less and that’s an issue that will need to be addressed and it can be done without raising taxes.

Unfortunately I don't think you will find anything more important than Football programs at high schools. On my drive to the gym I have to zig-zag among potholes at less than 20 mph on a street than hasn't been repaved in over 25 years. At the end of that street sits a multi-million dollar high school football stadium.

I know, I'm pretty sure people will get really irate if the football programs would have to be cut in order to provide security for the schools.

Ruark wrote:I worked for 15 years with state and federal school finance, and budgeting will be a core issue here. Many schools can barely afford to replace their light bulbs, much less pay a professional security guard $50,000 a year. And what about larger schools that are scattered out, with 10, 20 or more temporary classroom buildings? Stoneman Douglas covers 45 acres. That's as big as the University of Texas at Austin. What are they supposed to do, hire 40 armed security personnel, all of which will spend their time standing around waiting for a shooting that, statistically, will never happen? Even if you had them, would that stop a lunatic who is going to shoot himself anyway?

If they get the priorities straight then they will find the money. I’m certainly not familiar with it like you are but I do know two things. First, my property taxes that fund public schools have never gone down since I’ve owned my house. They are getting plenty of money (the schools around me). Second, they need to prioritize and cut waste first then programs they cannot afford it they want security. What’s more important, safety of the children or the football program for little Johnny (or water polo, or volleyball, or baseball etc.) ? They may have to cut things they don’t like and stop spending so much. I guarantee I can walk in there and find plenty of money to redirect to school security. When I took a 1/3 pay cut at my job in order to have a way to move up I cut deep and got rid of everything not essential. I did what I had to at the time and the schools need to do the same. I can think of numerous luxeries at the high schools around me. Do they need these natatoriums? What about these massive stadiums? I’m sure smaller districts in poorer areas have less and that’s an issue that will need to be addressed and it can be done without raising taxes.