Sussex Tech bailout must bring changes
Unlike other districts, Sussex Tech School District does not ask voters to approve a rise in taxes; the rate is set by the legislature. Sussex Tech has been asking legislators to increase taxes for the past two years, saying without an increase this year, the district could be forced to eliminate 48 positions.
Last year the threat of layoffs fell on deaf ears, but this year, Sussex County legislators have proposed a two-year bailout. Sussex County taxpayers will pay an additional 5.5 cents per $100 of assessed value this year, and next year, taxpayers will face an additional 1-cent rise, a 6.5-cent increase over two years. After two years, the tax rate would return to its current level; meanwhile, Tech is required to reduce enrollment over the next three years. The proposal will be discussed in committee Wednesday, April 22.
Many residents, including parents whose children were not admitted to Sussex Tech, will find higher taxes, even for two years, a bitter pill to swallow.
Still, by all accounts, Tech students are among the highest achieving in the state – an accomplishment Sussex County should be proud of. The problem is that it comes at a high cost. Though not strictly comparable, Tech’s spending per student – $16,739 in 2012 – is 15 percent higher than what Cape spent and about 40 percent more than Indian River.
As the rising costs at Tech show, this model is not sustainable.
The deal legislators proposed is critical to students who will graduate in the next two years, who deserve to continue the programs they have started.
At the same time, this bailout offers a window during which the demand for and delivery of vocational education must be reassessed to ensure students have access to the education they seek and that they are trained in trades and professions most needed in the workforce.
Sussex Tech’s financial woes demonstrate the school is out of step. It’s time for Tech to align its mission and its costs with the rest of Sussex County and for all districts to work in concert to best serve students.
