The Huntsville Times ran an editorial by John Ehinger today entitled “Schools scraping by.” The gist of the column is not that school tax revenue is falling, although Ehinger leads off by saying there is a “downturn in the taxes collected to pay for public education in Alabama.” In the third paragraph you get the real story.

For the first nine months of the current budget year, education taxes grew only by 1.4 percent. But the budget passed by the Legislature had estimated a growth rate of 5 percent.

So there isn’t a downturn in taxes. Tax revenue is actually growing. The problem is that the legislature increased the education budget beyond the growth in the tax base.

But whether or not tax revenue is increasing, decreasing, or flat is beside the point. Ehinger claims our schools are “scraping by.” I say give me a break.

In FY 2008 the Huntsville city schools had a total revenue of $270,287,292. That’s right, over a quarter of a billion dollars. They have about 23,000 students enrolled. (The most recent number I could find on their website was 22,724 from a 2005-2006 report, but recent reporting suggests that number is still pretty close) That works out to a per pupil revenue of $11,752. That is the amount of money they received for every student they have. Let’s compare that to some private schools in the area to see if they are really “scraping by.”

We’ll start at the top with Randolph Academy - easily the area’s premier private school. Their operating budget is $11 million and they have an enrollment of 876 students which works out to $12,557 per student. That’s right, the best private school that money can buy operates on less than $1000 per student more than Huntsville’s city schools.

Madison Academy’s annual budget is $5 million with an enrollment of 785 pupils, which equals $6,369 per student.

Catholic High School doesn’t have it’s operating budget listed on its website, but tuition, which is a reasonable proxy for per student revenue depending on the amount of help from the church, is only $6,075 per year.

Schola Maxima, a very well regarded school for elementary school age children, only costs $4,250 per year for the first student and $3,750 for each additional student.

Here’s the summary:

• Randolph Schools: $12,557
• Huntsville City Schools: $11,752
• Madison Academy: $6,369
• Catholic High School: $6,075
• Schola Maxima: $4,250

So the government run schools in Huntsville get about the same financial support as the area’s best private school.  They get roughly double two other good area private schools.  When you get down into elementary education the government schools cost roughly triple what good privately operated schools cost.  Yet despite the considerable funding, the Huntsville school system includes four high schools defined as “dropout factories.”  People don’t pay $12k to send their kids to a privately funded dropout factory, but the taxpayers are paying that amount for the city of Huntsville to operate four.

Huntsville’s government schools get about half of their revenue from the state.  What if the state simply cut them off completely?  I’m not talking about increasing their contribution less than planned or even decreasing it just a little.  I mean what if they flat out took it away?  Then the city of Huntsville’s schools would have to get by on about the same amount of money that two very good area high schools get by with.

Are our schools are “scraping by”?  Give me a break!  Our schools are flush with cash.  If Dr. Ann Roy Moore complains about needing any more money I say we just shut down their whole operation and ask the people who run Randolph School to take over.  They manage to provide a much better education for the same money.

A five year old child was killed at today’s Huntsville Air Show when a freakishly powerful “microburst” of wind toppled a number of tents. The child’s name has not been released yet.

Details are still a bit sketchy at this time. I have read that the child was killed by either a portable air conditioner unit or a generator. WHNT is reporting that the event coordinators would not allow tents to be staked into the pavement. Instead they had to be restrained with water barrels. I’m not sure if that is standard for these types of events. I wouldn’t be too excited about a bunch of tent pegs being nailed into the pavement at my facility so I can’t blame the decision from that perspective. But you can guarantee that if a lawyer can show that the barrels provided less tie down force than pegs and that injuries could have been avoided if the tents were anchored more securely that there will be some serious lawsuits.

It goes without saying that this is a terrible tragedy. It’s hard to even think about such an event tearing apart your life.

Update: The family understandably wants the victim’s ID withheld overnight so that they can notify family. I just saw a news clip on WAAY about the story. The camera was surveying the damage and briefly focused on a woman, visibly wailing and crying, on her hands and knees in the grass. The anchor stated that they understand that she is the mother of the boy who died. Maybe it’s just me, but I thought it was unbelievably tacky to show a clip of her grieving for her son who just died in a freak accident and point her out during the broadcast.

Update x 2: I thought WAAY was classless by looping the video of the grieving mother until I switched over to WAFF. They led off their newscast by releasing the name and hometown of the boy who died despite the family’s request for that information to be withheld overnight. Twelve hours - is that too much to ask? I hope that WAFF producers are happy with themselves if some of the kid’s relatives learn about his death from the evening news instead of family. Jerks. Absolute jerks.

The testimony in the sentencing phase of Benito Alberran’s trial for killing Huntsville police officer Daniel Golden concluded today. Now the jury is charged with recommending a sentence of either the death penalty or life in prison. Earlier the jury convicted Alberran, who was in the U.S. illegally, of murdering Golden back in 2005.

The details of how Golden was killed are particularly horrific. Golden was responding to a domestic disturbance when Alberran brandished a gun. Shots were fired and Golden attempted to return fire when his gun jammed. Alberran shot Golden in the chest from a distance of a little over an arm’s length. While Golden lay on the ground pleading for his life Alberran stood over him and shot him twice in the face at point blank range .

This wasn’t simply a murder. It was an execution. A heartless, cold blooded execution.

Golden is survived by a wife and two children.

During the sentencing hearings the defense presented a video of Alberran’s 11-year-old daughter lamenting that she hasn’t been able to visit her cop-killer father because children must be 12 to visit someone in the Madison County Jail. She said that when she turns 12 next year the first thing she will do is visit her father.

I’m sorry, but I do not find that at all compelling. Unfortunately for Officer Golden’s children there isn’t a mere age restriction preventing them from visiting their father. Because of Benito Alberran they will never see their father again. For every weeping relative or friend pleading for Alberran’s life to be spared all I can think about are their counterparts in the Golden family who will never see their loved one again regardless of how many tears are shed.

I am strongly in favor of the death penalty in this case. Alberran’s guilt is not in question; the murder took place in broad daylight with numerous witnesses. The Innocence Project will not have to spend 10 seconds reviewing this case to determine Alberran is guilty. To let him live his life out in prison would be a grave injustice. I only wish they could drag him straight out of the courtroom and get it over with immediately.

Update: The jury made the right decision: they recommended the death penalty.

The Huntsville Times article Sales tax hike unlikely in cities provides the following opinions and quotes from public officials (thanks to The Times for getting them on record):

Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer has not considered asking the council to approve one.

(Madison) Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said with 57 percent of Madison residents voting against the recently proposed half-cent sales tax, it was clear to him that Madison residents don’t want it.

“I’m not in favor of raising taxes on the people, certainly not with everything going out of sight like gasoline and food prices,” said (Huntsville) Councilwoman Sandra Moon.

(Huntsville) Councilman Bill Kling said the nearly 2-to-1 defeat of the sales tax, coupled with the city’s special tax districts that have provided more than $75 million in recent years for new and renovated city schools, also makes him not inclined to support a sales tax hike.

(Huntsville) Council President Glenn Watson wants to know specifically how city schools would spend the money before committing to a position on a higher city sales tax… he’s more in favor of helping schools with a TIF (tax increment financing) plan than with additional sales taxes.

(Huntsville) Councilman Mark Russell seemed receptive to a sales tax hike for schools, but only if the money is shared for other city needs such as roads and improvements to the Von Braun Center… “I’d like to see the school system make some changes, which they seem to be in the process of doing with consolidating schools and maximizing their resources”.

(Madison) Councilwoman Cynthia McCollum said she believes that for a sales tax increase to work it would have to be a regional effort.  “I think what has perhaps been lacking is that all of us, the County Commission, Huntsville and Madison all need to sit down together and hammer out a solution to this problem and if that solution means a collective sales tax for the entire region then I would support it”.

(Madison) Council President Steve Haraway said based on how Madison residents voted on the issue in the June 3 election that he would not support a city sales tax increase.

(Madison) Councilman Jerry Jennings said he has serious reservations about the consequences of a unilateral sales tax increase…  He said if Huntsville agreed to it, he’d have no problem following suit.

(Madison) Councilman Tim Cowles said he’d rather see a citywide ad valorem increase. “I just don’t think a sales tax increase is a good idea,” Cowles said. “And the reason why is because we can float bonds against ad valorem taxes and if it’s going to be used for infrastructure, really the way to do it is through bonds.” Cowles said regardless, he’d want it to go before the residents for a vote.

(Madison) Councilman Tommy Overcash said he believes after the results of the recent election that “I would really have to look at all the information before making a decision.”  “It hasn’t been asked for yet and I know they’re regrouping and looking at their options and who knows, it could be a countywide push for an ad valorem tax increase…”

(Madison) Councilman Larry Vannoy said he wants to understand more about the financial straits the system is facing before he gets into a sales tax conversation. “I’d like to see what other solutions might be out there and have a public debate on the issue,” Vannoy said. “If the public is going to support it, I think they need to be more informed and be assured that it will fix the problem.”

(Madison) Councilman Bob Wagner said he would only support it if a vote of the people showed they wanted it.  “In the recent election it was overwhelmingly shot down by residents of Madison”.

Madison School Board President Sue Helms said she expects the board will approach city leaders about a city sales tax increase after the Aug. 26 elections. Regardless of what happens, she said the portables that will be needed at Bob Jones High School will be put out front, not hidden behind the school.

Keep in mind that Municipal Elections are coming soon… August 26.

UPDATE:

 The Madison County Record in Commission fends off talk of tax increase gets the Madison County Commission on the record (thank you to the Record):

Commissioner Roger Jones, District 1, said he wanted to put an end to the rumors the commission may pass the tax even though the voters had said no… “The voters voted and they voted overwhelmingly in support of not putting this tax on, almost two to one, and I respect that vote”.

Commissioner Faye Dyer, District 2, agreed she would not vote for a sales tax increase unless the voters of Madison County approved it as well. “The people have spoken”.

Commissioner Bob Harrison, District 6, said he would entertain the idea of a sales tax but he would have to see how it would benefit the people of his district. “The caveat that my district has given to me is that there should be a no vote unless there is something in it for them”.

Commissioner Mo Brooks, District 5, wanted to see if there was any way to lock down the tax so it would not come before the commission again during the next four years…  “If there had been a way for us to do that it would have been important for us to do that so the school boards will know that they need to address their problems with their mayor and their city council’s”.

The Flint River Conservation Association, the City Of Huntsville Operation Green Team, and WAAY TV  sponsored the Flint River Clean Up today as part of the National River Clean Up. Thanks to The Huntsville Times for promoting the Clean Up in Thursday’s newspaper.

Turn out was good, with about 40 people showing up to canoe and pick up trash. City Ecologist Soos Weber was well-prepared with canoes from Redstone Arsenal, gloves, grabbers, trash bags, and plenty of water and sunscreen.  I got to meet some great people, including a like-minded fellow from Harvest who enjoys helping Mother Gaia by clearing brush with his chainsaw.

WAAY TV (Channel 31) sent their new reporter Haley Baker to cover the Clean Up, which should air tonight.  They got some great footage of the pile of garbage - just imagine what that pile would be like in smell-e-vision.

Most of the Flint River Watershed lies within Madison County District 1 (Roger Jones - D) and District 3 (Jerry Craig - D), with just a little bit of District 5 (Mo Brooks - R). 

Mo Brooks was kind enough to respond to the Flashpoint Madison County Commission questionnaire, which asked about “protecting the Flint River”:

Two things can be done to help protect the Flint River. First, Madison County needs a sewage system that will help minimize pollution of ground water supplies and storm runoff into the Flint River. Second, Madison County needs the power to restrict or prevent siphoning of water from the Flint River during low water flow periods.

Bob Long, GOP candidate for District 1, was also kind enough to respond:

I live directly on the Flint River, my family and I canoe, fish and swim in the Flint River so I have a vested interest in protecting this valuable natural resource. I will work hand-in-hand with conservationists to make sure the river is clean, safe and environmentally balanced (new construction, industrial growth, and recreation). I would ensure that as necessary, I will provide support to some of the volunteer and state organizations that are chartered to preserve the Flint River such as; the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Flint River Conservation Association (FRCA).

Protecting our natural heritage is good public policy.

A committee chartered to determine how to consolidate some of Huntsville’s schools gave its recommendations to the board tonight.  Here they are:

• Consolidate Terry Heights and University Place elementary schools and build a new school for the consolidated student body in the area.
• Merge Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools after construction of a new school in the area.
• Combine East Clinton and Blossomwood elementary schools after construction of a new school on the Blossomwood campus.
• Consolidate West Huntsville and Morris elementary schools as soon as possible. The committee recommended renovating Morris by 2012 to accommodate the students.
• Move students at Stone Middle School to the larger Westlawn Middle School campus. Renovate the consolidated Westlawn building by 2013.
• Make better use of Butler High School. With about 700 students, Butler is at about 35 percent of its student capacity and costs $3 million a year to operate.

Closing six, building three, and renovating two would be a good start.  I’m eager to see the numbers behind the recommendations.  How much will it cost/save?  What capacity will the schools operate at afterward?  Will elected officials even have the political will to follow through with these modest recommendations?  Lot’s of questions…

From AL.com:

A Marshall Space Flight Center employee was killed today when a woman being pursued by Huntsville police crashed into the man’s truck on Redstone Arsenal.

The woman’s vehicle T-boned 50-year-old Darren Spurlock’s truck at Martin and Rideout roads. He died at the scene, police said.

Five other people were injured in the chase on Memorial Parkway and Martin Road that ended about four miles inside Gate 1.

…

Officers in unmarked cars pursued the women down South Memorial Parkway, where the suspect’s car sideswiped a Buick LaSabre in front of the old Ramada Inn, Johnson said. The Buick’s driver was taken to Crestwood Hospital with minor injuries.

Marked patrol cars joined the chase and followed the vehicle west on Martin Road. Redstone Arsenal employee David Williams said he saw the tan car swerve, almost on two wheels, between the concrete barriers at the gate.

“They were going at least 30, 40 miles per hour,” he said. “It’s all I can do to thread (the barriers) at a slow speed. Then they hit that concrete curb and left the car’s bumper behind.”

Williams said security guards waved Huntsville police officers through the gate, where they continued pursuit.

Authorities would not say whether officers were still chasing the women when they hit Spurlock’s vehicle.

Terrible tragedy.

I hope that the police terminated the high speed pursuit once inside the Arsenal. Without going into details that could compromise OpSec, there are means by which they could have made sure the suspects did not escape the Arsenal once they managed to enter. The police and MPs could have (relatively) calmly surrounded the suspects from multiple directions without causing a multi-car accident involving lots of innocent people.

Madison County Tax Assessor Fran Hamilton wants you to know Madison County Property Tax Facts.

Huntsville pays 27.5 mills school tax (Huntsville City Schools); Madison pays 27 mills school tax and Triana pays 25 mills school tax for their combined school system (Madison City Schools). Rural Madison County, Gurley, OXR, and New Hope pay 16 mills school tax for the Madison County School System

The Madison County Schools are the ones pushing for the sales tax hike.  I don’t doubt that they need more money for County Schools, but if Madison County School Board members need money so badly, they should look to their own property tax rates before raising Huntsville, Madison, and Triana sales taxes. Note that Madison County (5 1/2 %) also pays less in sales tax than Huntsville or Madison or the other municipalities (8%).

Huntsville City Schools don’t appear to need the sales tax money. IIRC about half of the City schools are at 30% - 50% capacity (although Grissom is at 140%).  Huntsville City Schools need to better manage what they’ve got and consolidate / close some underused schools. Note that they’re fixing to think about looking at it.

Madison City Schools may need more money, but they haven’t exhausted other remedies yet. Madison City should get the Legislature to create TIFs to fund their school construction. Plus, they could stop annexing Limestone County land that they can’t support. Planning to build schools in Limestone County with Madison County sales taxes is just wrong.

From AL.com:

A group of tearful and emotional school teachers from around Alabama, including Huntsville and Decatur, made a plea today for the Legislature to act quickly on the state’s education budget.

At a press conference arranged by the Senate Democratic Caucus, more than a dozen teachers told of their personal plight since receiving their pink slips.

Victoria Lemiux, who was an 11th- and 12th-grade teacher at Lee High School in Huntsville, said 20 of her students who graduated this year were on a school bus that fell off an Interstate 565 ramp on Nov. 20, 2006, killing four.

“I had the pleasure of watching them walk across the stage,” she said. “I received my pink slip before that monumental moment.”

…

Alison Lovell, who was an elementary teacher at Huntsville’s Rolling Hills Elementary School, said she got her second pink slip in two years.

But wait just a minute!  WAFF has a conflicting story:

The clock was ticking until the end of the school year and now that it’s here, were any let go?

No.

Huntsville City Schools spokesman Keith Ward says, “No pink slips.”

That’s for both Madison County and Huntsville City school systems.

Ward says each system was given a budget and a projection was based on the 3% cut the house passed.

So here we have some teachers going to Montgomery - almost certainly at the behest of the AEA - and giving sob stories during a publicity stunt, but their employer is refuting their claims.  The Huntsville City Schools’ spokesman flatly said that no pink slips were handed out.  At least two teachers in that system claimed to have been given pink slips.  Who is struggling with the truth here?

There’s gonna be a new face at The Huntsville Times and it’s got a scruffy goatee. Welcome to Huntsville, Kevin Wendt.

My hope is that he’ll turn the paper around and get rid of the leftie bias and incurious reporting.  Huntsville needs a good newspaper, and deserves a better one than what we’ve got.  I know that many people have just stopped getting the paper, because of the stench of liberalism that permeates the Times.  In my own love-to-read family, we went from four full subscriptions to one weekend-only subscription, and think often of cancelling that.

Here’s the story of how Wendt became a journalist (must read):

Call it destiny or dumb luck, but the fact Kevin became a journalist at all can be traced to a chance meeting at Subway on freshman move-in day. He ran into Star sports editors Jason Schaumburg and Ryan Byrne. He and Jason had grown up together in Elgin. Even though Kevin was a chemistry major, Jason asked if he’d be interested in covering women’s soccer.

“Of course, I thought, ‘Hmmm. Women … soccer.’ So I started doing it. It was a good way to make some money. I didn’t have any when I went to college.”

Mercury News memo:

Kevin will be among the youngest newspaper editors in the country, and it’s no surprise to any of us. Since his arrival at the Mercury News in 2000 — wearing a degree from Northern Illinois University and a black eye delivered by some thugs he exposed in the campus newspaper — Kevin has shown an incredible aptitude for this business.

The Huntsville Times memo:

He has experience helping develop the newspaper’s convergence efforts between its newspaper and online operations. Among other stops in his career at the Mercury News has been executive news editor, assistant business editor covering internet/technology companies as well as the sale of the former parent company, Knight Ridder, and news design director, responsible for the overall visual report for news, local, business and sports sections.

The Society for News Design published an Interview with Kevin Wendt:

I was just really impressed by the Huntsville area, and I was really enthused by some of the things I saw the paper doing and imagining the potential to grow in print and online…  my age (30) allows me to not accept “Well, that’s how we’ve always done it” as an answer to any question…

Visually, you just look at the sophistication of design and packaging these days (insert Apple reference here), and producing a product that feels authoritative — both in print and online! — is so important. And that’s not just design. Our stories must be clear and concise, and written with an authoritative voice. We must package our news in the most user-friendly way possible…

Journalism and newspapers are too important, and there are too many talented people still affiliated with both, for us not to create a sustainable business model that supports what we do.