Where our tax dollars go (or don’t go!)

Anyone not living under a rock knows that RUSD spends a lot of money on state-mandated programs. Take the state mandate on providing Gifted and Talented programming:

S. 118.35, Wis. Stats. Programs for gifted and talented pupils.

1. In this section, "gifted and talented pupils" means pupils enrolled in public schools who give evidence of high performance capability in intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or specific academic areas and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided in a regular school program in order to fully develop such capabilities.
2. The state superintendent shall by rule establish guidelines for the identification of gifted and talented pupils.
3. Each school board shall:
a. Ensure that all gifted and talented pupils enrolled in the school district have access to a program for gifted and talented pupils.

In conjunction with this statute, schools districts MUST provide access, without charge for tuition, to programs not offered at the district’s schools. This program is called Youth Options; it allows the children (mostly high school age) access to advanced course work at area colleges and universities.

Here is a list of classes approved recently (by the RUSD) board) for one student for the 2007 Fall semester:

Gateway Technical College Perm Techniques 502-302
Gateway Technical College Shampoo Treatment 502-301
Gateway Technical College Facials 502-318
Gateway Technical College Womens' Haircutting 502-331
Gateway Technical College Chemical Straightening 502-303

While I wholeheartedly approve of students being able to take Advanced Calculus, Russian or other classes not offered by our schools, having the taxpayer picking up what seems to be an entire first semester of a cosmetology degree leaves me a little confused.

Is this what the DPI deems as programs for the “Gifted and Talented”?

Haircut 100 was an awesome 80’s band, but somehow I do not think that most people are aware they are paying for classes such as Haircut 100 at Gateway with their tax dollars.

If the intent of the above statute was to provide programming for the Gifted and Talented student, is the example above taking advantange of the opportunities available to the students?

Keep in mind that the STAR program (the Gifted and Talented program for the elementary schools) is a program in name only; there is not enough money to adequately fund this program.

My question is this, does the district not have enough money for the truly gifted and talented elementary children because of this costly mandate of the Youth Options program???