Silverhill School Principal Cathy Rogers Explains Proposed Tax

     "It is a calling of service to educate our children," Cathy Rogers began. An educator for 41 years and Principal of Silverhill School, Rogers understands that things are in "constant change since we were in school." Her school with 450 children in pre-school through 6th grades, is one of the smaller schools in the Baldwin County Public School system, so "these times are especially troubling for a small school." Results of dollar short-fall in the system to this point have been loss of certificated personnel, larger classes, and in the case of Silverhill School, the loss of teaching units in a number of grades, affecting the jobs of 15 people directly or indirectly.

     Silverhill School Principal Cathy Rogers (standing) and School PTA President Carman Godfrey (to Rogers' left) discussed the case for a penny sales tax to last three years to see the Baldwin County Public School system through this dramatic downturn in our economy. The men of Zion Lutheran Church's "Men's 710" learned that a significant portion of school budget expenses has been tied to state sales tax receipts which are down dramatically, leaving local school districts in dismal straits. Either school services are decimated by personnel cuts or funds must be found. A 36 month increase of our Baldwin County sales tax is on the ballot in February.

     On top of that, "the state is no longer funding teacher supplies, so teachers pick up the slack." And, on top of that, imagine school problems when floor wax and bleach and typical cleaning fluids are no longer covered by your school system! It is no wonder that box tops, coupons, and fund-raisers are becoming much more important in the everyday operation of our schools.

     Silverhill is fortunate to have a strong volunteer program with its PTA. PTA President Carman Godfrey, who is an ER nurse with USA Medical Center, talked about our Baldwin County funding for schools in terms of emergency. The PTA has invited the community to the Silverhill School gymnasium at 6:30 PM on Thursday, February 25, for an open discussion about the dollar short-fall by Baldwin County Schools' Interim Superintendent Janay Dawson. Godfrey explained that "we are scared about the potential loss of education for our family's three children. This three year tax is a three year tax--it EXPIRES in 36 months!" Even with the proposed penny tax, there will still be loss of teachers and maybe even loss of some of the county's smaller schools.

     Godfrey explained why the schools are so short of money. Dollars the Baldwin system has counted on from the state of Alabama are gone. "Money is not there from the state. Our current state tax system for education would have continued to work fine if the economy hadn't gone down. But we in Alabama have 'equity funding' which is 'tax equalization.' Even in good times tax dollars collected in more affluent counties are not all spent in those counties. A portion is sent to less fortunate counties. It is a state law," Godfrey noted. Baldwin is a county that exports tax dollars, even in economic tough times. "With this proposed penny tax, ALL these penny tax dollars, however, will stay here in Baldwin!"

     Rogers and Godfrey discussed a variety of statistical and impact data, all of which presented a scenario of schools and child education devastated without some kind of fiscal relief. The public is urged to go to the internet website http://www.silverhillelementary.com/ and select the link that says, "School Funding Crisis," for details. Information may also be obtained directly from Silverhill School at (251) 945-5188. And of course, the public will welcome access to Interim Superintendent Janay Dawson at 6:30 on February 25, 2010.