Stop the Diversity Study, Save the MLWGS Budget

On Wednesday, Governor Kaine hand-delivered his proposed budget to state lawmakers. For those involved with education in Virginia, Kaine’s delivery wasn’t exactly a Christmas present. The proposed budget contains nearly 400 million dollars in reductions to education funding. Basically, this means that some of the money we were expecting will most likely not materialize.

MLWGS will have to tighten up its belt next year, as state budget cuts will likely reduce the funding for non-instructional, non-essential services. So far, it looks like our operating budget will be reduced by approximately $78,000 to $85,000.

Now we come to the question of – “what will we have to cut to make ends meet?” Two weeks ago we learned that a similar institution, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School (ARGS), has already begun its cuts.

Dr. James Ruffa, Director of ARGS spoke of his reductions in areas like field trips, transportation, and extracurricular activities. At yesterday’s Regional Board meeting, Mr. Hunt acknowledged that MLWGS will be faced with the same scenario and will have to implement similar measures in the months to come.

But before we start slashing away at our “non essential programs,” which arguably constitute some of the most important aspects of student life, let’s take a look at one recent unnecessary expenditure.

Over the summer, the MLWGS Regional Board agreed to pay $70,000 to a group of four U.Va professors for a quantitative study of diversity and our school’s admissions process.

The job description for the diversity consultants stated that the team of four would interview students, parents, and teachers before making any recommendations. In addition the four agreed to compile statistical data about the admissions process and whether it is fair to all, including underrepresented minorities.

Yet not one of these four individuals has ever set foot in the MLW building except for the day when the Regional Board awarded a $70,000 contract to the group. The diversity consultants are supposed to deliver their recommendations sometime this spring, but let’s face it, without any hands-on observation their suggestions will not be very useful.

How can they make an informed recommendation if they have never spoken with students, parents, or teachers? How can they make an informed recommendation if they never attended a MLWGS open house? How can they make an informed recommendation by sitting in Charlottesville and crunching numbers?

But there is some hope! The Regional Board has yet to sign the check for the diversity consultants. As with most contracts, the RFP for the diversity study specifies that the researchers will be paid at different intervals, a process usually referred to as “progress payment.”

So, the solution is simple. If we halt the study now, we could use the $70,000 to fill the holes in next year’s budget!

In addition, we could turn over the issue of MLWGS diversity study to an in-house committee of parents, students, teachers, and community members.

Whatever the case, the answer is straightforward. Stop the study and save the budget!