Katzes’ giving
9-R lucky to have such generous people, but funding schools is everyone’s job
Monday,
the Marc and Jane Katz Family Fund announced that it is giving $250,000
to Durango School District 9-R. There are several ways to respond to
such an act of generosity, but the simplest and most direct is usually
the best. So, on behalf of Durango’s parents and children, thanks to the
Katzes!
At the same time, such
generosity should embarrass us. The voters have no right – and no
legitimate expectation – to think that a few philanthropists are the
answer to school funding.
In
absolute numbers the Katzes’ gift is a big deal, and it is an even more
important contribution in the context of recent events. District 9-R
Superintendent Dan Snowberger said the gift comes at a critical time for
public education in Durango.
It’s a big gift,” said Snowberger, “We’re looking at a $1.6 million annual deficit, and this is significant.”
There
is no denying that. With property tax revenue down because of lower gas
prices, and state money cut back because of the financial downturn of
the last few years, District 9-R has been scrambling to make ends meet.
And with last month’s defeat of Amendment 66, there is no immediate help
in sight.
With this new influx of
money, however, 9-R can still move forward. It will be able to spend
$50,000 on innovations and teacher training while devoting another
$200,000 on School Vault, a software tool to help teachers measure
student progress, particularly in mastering state curricula.
All
that is welcome, all the more so in that this is not the Katzes’ first
contribution to local education. Marc and Jane Katz founded Mercury, a
local technology and payment company.
As that firm has grown and
prospered, they have generously and repeatedly shared their good fortune
with the community. In addition to this year’s gift, in the previous
three years they have also donated another $450,000. Beyond that, they
got new computers for El Diablo, the Durango High School student
newspaper, as well as arranged for a bus to take students to community
college.
The Katzes have helped 9-R
and this community immeasurably. And it takes nothing away from their
generosity, their values or their obvious understanding of the critical
importance of education to point out that this is still no way to fund
education.
As Snowberger said,
District 9-R is running a $1.6 million annual deficit. Everything the
Katzes have given – and again, bless them for it – still totals less
than half of one year’s deficit.
The
math just is not there. And with that neither District 9-R nor any
similar entity can count on running on what amounts to alms.
Moreover,
windfalls such as the Katzes’ gifts could be used to fund special
programs, travel, one-time events and other mind-expanding efforts that
regular funding cannot cover. Using what amounts to found money for
day-to-day expenses wastes the chance for expanded opportunities.
Worse,
it could foster the attitude that whatever happens, the Katzes or some
other concerned philanthropists will bail us out. To think so would not
be only presumptuous, but irresponsible.
We
thank the Katzes again for their generosity and concern. And should
anyone wish to step up and join them in their giving, we thank them as
well.
But the rest of us cannot use
such examples as excuses not to pull our weight – especially at the
ballot box. Public education is the public’s responsibility – and that
mean all of us.
See the story here: http://www.durangoherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131203/OPINION01/131209881/-1/Opinion01&template=printpicart
