Springfield Superintendent Letter To President Obama

Dear President Obama,

As I write to you today, I am on the verge of having to make some very difficult budget decisions that will impact Missouri’s largest fully accredited school district. I am superintendent of Springfield Public Schools and, due to current economic conditions, the positive momentum we have achieved in recent years is at risk of stalling.

We have reduced class sizes, improved teacher salaries and upgraded the quality of our aging buildings, but we are currently facing a budget deficit of $4.7 million, in large part due to declining revenue this fiscal year.

I am somewhat surprised to find myself in this position considering the promise and hope you inspired in our community when you announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act earlier this year. My optimism has been replaced by confusion since we have yet to see any of the dollars promised for saving teachers’ jobs and modernizing our school buildings.

Last week, I had the unpleasant task of informing 3,000 dedicated employees that we are forced to cut $4.2 million in expenditures immediately. Each day that passes without receiving stimulus funds makes it more and more apparent that we will be forced to make further drastic cuts for 2009-2010.

Millions of Americans are struggling and making similarly tough financial choices. We believe that you intended for your bold act in January to not only invest in education but to bolster our faltering economy and create jobs for our friends and neighbors here in southwest Missouri.

Mr. President, our community and Springfield Public Schools stand ready to assist you in making that promise come true. Our district is prepared with a plan of action to invest the dollars promised in our community to save jobs, create work opportunities and generate demand for raw materials and supplies. In exchange for that investment, we pledge to be accountable for every dollar spent and to demonstrate the positive impact of these funds.

Here is our immediate plan of action given the funding:
• Address critical facility needs by making our 53 schools safer, greener and better places for children to learn. We have identified 150 improvement projects totaling $66 million that can be immediately implemented. These shovel-ready projects will mean jobs right here in Springfield for a construction industry beleaguered by the housing slowdown.

• Preserve teaching jobs to keep class sizes down and retain quality teachers in our classrooms. It is vital that we not only preserve but promote the quality of education to ensure our graduates, and ultimately our country, are equipped to compete in an increasingly global economy.

• Move forward with important, innovative initiatives we have started in this district to meet ever-changing student needs. These are designed to prepare at-risk high school students to move directly into high-demand professions like nursing and diesel mechanics, and to promote fifth-graders’ focus on environmental science, equipping them to potentially create solutions to the tough environmental issues facing this country. These are just two examples of quality programs this district must maintain to meet the
educational challenges of tomorrow.

While we still have hope that we can do our part in putting America on the road to recovery, we need the cooperation of the Missouri legislature. As of today, not one penny of investment has been made available to Springfield Public Schools via your initiative.

I am calling for leadership at the state and federal level to remain true to the spirit of your directive and enable this district, and all public school districts in Missouri, to do their part to secure America’s future with sound investments in our children, our schools and our community.

Respectfully,
Dr. Norm Ridder

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