Do you really know where the money goes? How do you know?

Every year people question the funding about their school, system, district, organization, or agency and every state provides the information differently. Georgia has the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounting (DOAA) where Internet users can access various reports. 

Every year someone in an authoritative position tries to have the GA DOAA site and/or information blocked or strongly discourages individuals from viewing the information available. The RCSS website states, "The Mission of the Richmond County School System is to educate students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens".

1. Every person has the right to a quality education.

2. Education is the shared responsibility of the individual, home, school, and community.

3. Every person can learn.

4. Respect and acceptance are essential for learning and personal development.

5. A safe, healthy and orderly environment is essential to learning.

6. Communication is the key to understanding among people.

7. Excellence cannot be compromised.

The Augusta Chronicle has a section for the local (Richmond, Columbia County [GA] and Aiken, SC) boards of education, which links associated articles about schools and events for the district.

RCSS has the eBoard site. 

Richmond County tax information can be found here and selecting the county.

Augusta, GA Government provides access to GIS online where you can view properties and associated taxes with that property.

Georgia property tax information.

So here is the Open Georgia about us description:

Open Georgia is a gateway for obtaining information and key documents about how the State of Georgia spends tax dollars and other revenues to provide services to Georgians. The information maintained on this site comes from various state agencies and is updated annually.

Here is a screen shot of the search for Richmond County Board of Education, where Internet users can view, sort columns of data, and download annual reports in csv or pdf formats based on the determined fiscal year dates.  Here is the link for the pdf shared in Google Docs for the Richmond County Board of Education, July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010.

Options are available to create reports for: State Agencies, Boards, Authorities and Commissions, Units of the University System and Georgia Military College, Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA), Technical Colleges, Local Boards of Education. Go ahead and learn about your local board of education, community and technical colleges and/or RESAs by creating your own report.

Are you quick to jump on the hype presented by media or do you conduct some type of analysis before jumping into the blame game of educational funding? How do you know where the educational funds are being spent for your local educational organization? Do you really know how and where the money is being spent? How much of the state, local, and/or property taxes that you pay are dedicated to education?

I know we did not learn this in school, but how do you learn where your pennies go whatever your role in the community may be?

JMHO...comments are always welcome.

July 2008 RCSS Superintendent Dr. Bedden warns of tech crisis...

On July 11, 2008, the Augusta Chronicle featured an article, "Bedden warns of technology crisis" and "According to the school system, about $3.85 million is allocated in the general fund for technology, including personnel. Another $1.4 million comes from sales tax revenue". 


In my last post, I shared information about the Department of Defense Computers for Learning program. One issue I have with all Richmond County schools is their disconnect with Fort Gordon, Georgia, home of the Signal Corps, even though many of us are parents, tax payers, volunteers, educators, administrators, and supporters of RCSS in countless ways. 


As a Signal Soldier, one of the numerous mottos we live with is, "They can talk about us but not without us" regardless of the type (analog, digital, or IP) of communications we are working with. One of many things that has been a frustrating to me is the disconnect and the lack of technology in the schools of Richmond County. So for $chieße and giggles, I wanted to see how many of the RC schools were approved in the DoD Computers for Learning program. The results (school, year approved):

Academy of Richmond County, 2010

Diamond Lakes Elementary, 2009
Freedom Park School, 2008

Hephzibah Middle School, 2006

Jamestown Elementary School, 2009

Mcbean Elementary School, 2009

Morgan Road Middle School, 2010

Spirit Creek Middle School, 2009

Barton Chapel Elementary, 2004

Glenn Hills Middle School, 2004

Goshen Elementary School, 2008

Terrace Manor Elementary, 2008

Tobacco Road Elementary, 2008

Tutt Middle School, 2004

Wheeless Road Elementary School, 2010

Collins Elementary, 2005

East Augusta Middle School, 2004

Laney High School, 2010 ( 1 of 3 schools receiving of $1.5 million federal grant in 2010)

Willis Foreman Elementary School, 2009
Wheeless Road Elementary, 2010

Why aren't all Richmond County schools participating in this program? Why isn't being registered in the DoD Computers for Learning program a prerequisite before receiving federal funds, whether Title 1, grants, and other sources of funding? 

While former RCSS Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden is quoted, "I basically went crawling and begging to the Signal Corps and the county for help because of the number of employees we lost". We asked each other if he stopped at the front gate.

Fast forward 2.5 years later...now what?

Google Apps Education Edition? Educate community members? Eradicate the us vs. them mentality? Read the multiple resources available through the Georgia Department of Education Keys to Quality School Improvement and resources for School Keys, GAPSS Analysis, and Implementation Resource and the Richmond County School System 2010 AYP ?

What happened to the recommendations presented by MGT of America when they conducted the Performance Review of RCSS (2008, 10 chapters, 328 pages) at a cost of $250,000 and approved by the RCBoEd? When is the last time you reviewed the RCSS Technology Plan, System Technology Inventory by School, System Technology & Media committee? 

When the F2F communication doesn't work take it to the net...or even academic research. How many times have we heard the reference to the infamous quote from Cool Hand Luke...What we have here is a failure to communicate.

If identifying the problem puts you 50% closer to finding the solution how do move towards a solution if the decision makers aren't listening?

DOD Computers for Learning

Updated links that changed due to the We Are DLA Initiative.

The DOD CFL program was created to provide useful IT equipment to schools and educational nonprofit organizations serving grades pre-K through 12. The DOD CFL program is designed to streamline the transfer of excess and surplus DOD IT equipment to schools.


The application process is simple, apply online and submit a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). In addition, Private/Parochial Schools and Non-Profit Educational Entities need to complete and submit an End Use Certificate (EUC) and be approved through the Trade Security Control (TSC) Office.


Registration for Public Schools
Registration for Private/Parochial Schools
Registration for Non-Profit educational entities serving K-12
Is your school/entity already approved?
Search by state or zip code
Search approved Non-profit educational entities
Executive Order 12999 Computers for Learning (signed 1996)

"In order to ensure that American children have the skills they need to succeed in the information- intensive 21st century, the Federal Government is committed to working with the private sector to promote 4 major developments in American education: making modern computer technology an integral part of every classroom; providing teachers with the professional development they need to use new technologies effectively; connecting classrooms to the National Information Infrastructure; and encouraging the creation of excellent educational software. This Executive Order streamlines the transfer of excess and surplus Federal computer equipment to our Nation's classrooms and encourages Federal employees to volunteer their time and expertise to assist teachers and to connect classrooms".


Sec. 1. Protection of Educationally Useful Federal Equipment
Sec. 2. Efficient Transfer of Educationally Useful Federal Equipment to Schools and Nonprofit Organizations.
Sec. 3. Assisting Teachers' Professional Development: Connecting Classrooms.
Sec. 4. Definitions For the purposes of this order:
Sec. 5. This order shall supersede Executive Order No. 12821 of November 16, 1992.
Sec. 6. Judicial Review

How do you measure your intangibles? Justify your ROI?

After reading The Value of Learning: How Organizations Capture Value and ROI and Translate Them into Support, Improvement, and Funds by Patricia Pulliam Phillips, Jack J. Phillips another factor was entered the components for consideration as I formulate ideas and themes for my concept paper.


For those who run on the ADDIE gerbil wheel, develop daily, weekly, or monthly status reports on productivity, create performance evaluations, or other types of status reports...how do you measure what people bring to the table? How do you document the intangibles? How do you justify your ROI? How do you document what you learn, create, develop or ____________ (enter the words that apply to what you do)


The book addresses some common intangibles such as reputation/image, leadership, social responsibility, intellectual capital, team effectiveness, networking, communication, learning, innovation, creativity, and others. I am sure you have unique intangibles that you bring to the table when you assess strengths and weaknesses in your personal and professional life. How do you measure and document intangibles in your quarterly or annual performance evaluations?


While the book addresses ROI calculation, analyzing Benefit/Cost Ratio, Payback Period, Net Program Benefits, Program Costs, when you apply this to what you with whether you are techno-n00b, techno-phobe, or techno extreme how do you document what you do and justify your productivity?


Technology integration varies from organization to individuals, justifying your ROI, providing measureable connections to missions, and identifying intangibles which support the mission, vision, and organization may allow employees to see their role in the overall picture as technology becomes an expected skill.

So how do you identify and measure intangibles? Calculate your ROI? Calculate the value you bring to the product/program/objective/mission?

References

Phillips, Patricia P. and Phillips, Jack J. (2007). The Value of Learning: How Organizations Capture Value and ROI and Translate Them into Support, Improvement, and Funds, Chapter 9 Measuring the Hard to Measure and the Hard to Value—Intangible Benefits 

Full access through Books24x7: http://skillport.books24x7.com/book/id_22813/viewer.asp?bookid=22813&chunkid=0364327553

Partial Preview in Google Books:  http://books.google.com/books?id=77f0iN8tyeoC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

Phillips, P. (2010) Calculating the Return-on-Investment. Chapter 16 ASTD Handbook of Measuring and Evaluating Training. ASTD. © 2010.  Retrieved from Books24x7. http://common.books24x7.com/book/id_35563/book.asp