Seaholm and Groves students were invited to participate in a forum on December 9 where they were given the opportunity to ask questions and give suggestions concerning BPS’ recent financial hardships. However, some students felt their voices were not heard.
The student forum was one of many community conversations that BPS has held since recent statewide cuts on education have the district facing a deficit of nearly $19 million in the next year. The December 9 meeting in the Groves Little Theatre was the first meeting where BPS students were asked for their ideas on how to cut costs.
“[Students] are the reason that all of us do this job every day, so we are asking you, what do you think we should do,” John Dean, BPS Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources told students at the forum.
“We really want to be able to add the student perspective to the discussion,” said Deputy Superintendent for Educational Services Paul DeAngelis.
However, some Seaholm students were voiced their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the forum.
“I was kind of under the impression that the people running the meeting were just kind of there to be there and be able to say that they spoke to kids and had a conversation, when really they were just there to lecture us,” said Seaholm senior Devon Martin.
“They believe that there were a lot of students that had ideas but the manner and tone in which they were speaking to us wasn’t very conducive to us speaking out,” said Seaholm senior Calla Glavin.
Martin was disappointed by the lack of conversation at the meeting.
“The way they structured it wasn’t really an open discussion,” said Martin. “It was just them stating the facts, kind of giving us an opportunity to talk, but it wasn’t structured in a way for everyone to brainstorm together.”
Seaholm senior Jake Drutchas also expected more discussion at the meeting, but was glad to have attended.
“I wanted more of an open dialogue where we could ask questions and have them answered, but I liked the idea of them trying to include the student body,” said Drutchas.
Dean thought the forum went surprisingly well.
“I don’t think Mr. DeAngelis and I were just standing up there and talking to students for an hour,” said Dean. “I thought it was a great discussion.”
After a comprehensive overview of the budget, Dean and DeAngelis asked students the three questions that they have asked parents, teachers, and community members at previous community discussions. Students were asked where they saw opportunities for cost reduction and revenue enhancement, as well at what they valued in BPS.
“It’s important to know that no idea is a bad idea and no idea is too little of an idea,” said Dean. “We need everything we can get.”
Glavin felt that some of the students’ comments were dismissed because they would not save enough money, such as when several students suggested that BPS cut transportation for high school students or consolidate the high schools.
“They said that ideas that would save a couple thousand dollars here and there would be okay, but once suggestions like those were brought up they were like ‘oh that’s not going to make a difference, we need to save millions,” said Glavin.
Dean described the severity of the pending deficit by emphasizing that no matter how many programs are cut at BPS, the district will still be in debt.
“You can cut transportation, athletics, every after school activity, fire every administrator, eliminate the custodians, not provide the building and literally hold school on the Groves football field, and we still would have a deficit,” said Dean.
“[That illustration] wasn’t very encouraging,” said Martin. . “Even though the things we were offering would probably only cut a couple million dollars, they still said that wasn’t enough.”
Drutchas felt that the comments weren’t necessarily dismissed because of their lack of merit, but rather because of their lack of originality.
“I don’t think anyone suggested anything they hadn’t heard before,” said Drutchas.
“They know that the students were interested in this, but I don’t think we brought anything new to the table.”
Dean does recall new suggestions being presented at the meeting.
“I remember one suggestion about moving towards more united teams for athletics between Groves and Seaholm,” said Dean. “To the best of my recollection, I don’t recall that it was something that has been brought up before. I’m not saying that that is the right idea or solution, but it was a new idea.”
At the end of the meeting, the administrators asked students to put their answers to the three questions on a handout and return them to their high school principals later that week. Glavin doubts that Dean and DeAngelis will receive a considerable amount of feedback.
“They feel like they aren’t going to be listened to anyway, so why should they spend the time writing their ideas down if they won’t be taken seriously,” said Glavin.
Drutchas said that even if BPS receives a good amount of suggestions, he doubts any of them will be considered when the time comes for cuts to be made.
“I don’t really see what a student could write on there that they would look at,” said Drutchas.
However, Dean told The Highlander that as of press time, a number of forms have been turned in and they hope to receive more.
“All feedback will be categorized on the BPS website once it is received,” said Dean.
Approximately 70 students were at the forum. Both Dean and DeAngelis were impressed by the amount of students that were in attendance at the meeting.
“It’s been a great turn out,” said DeAngelis. “Way more kids than we thought we were going to have.”
“I think it says great things about the students in Birmingham when that many students showed up after school voluntarily to talk about school finance,” said Dean. “It shows how committed you guys are to your school district.”
About 15 students even stayed after the meeting was over to talk one-on-one with Dean and DeAngelis.
“The questions that were asked were on target and showed a high level of sophistication,” said Dean. “I was very impressed.”
Dean encouraged students who didn’t get a choice to voice their views or ask questions on school finance to either contact him directly or meet with their school principal.
“I am very comfortable saying that I would be happy to have an email or verbal dialogue with any student that wants to talk about this issue further,” said Dean.
