I am likely to be moving this blog some time soon to WNYMedia.Net . They already have a number of local bloggers, however like our local governments, don't have much perspective from the right of the aisle.
With more readers on the site, I may be motivated to post more often. You can decide whether that is a good thing...
Friday, February 23, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Buffalo News - BISON fund grows to include suburbs
Buffalo News - BISON fund grows to include suburbs
There is some good news in this morning's Buffalo News - the Bison Fund (Buffalo Inner-city Scholarship Opportunity Network), a private philanthropic fund that provides scholarships for low income students in grades K-8 is expanding eligibility for the first time outside of the city limits.
This is truly great news. The main point of the story is missed however. He points out that the scholarships "have long been credited with giving a major boost to Catholic Diocese of Buffalo elementary schools and other nonpublic schools". The Superintendent referred to the scholarships as "an angel sent to Catholic schools."
Clearly, these scholarships deliver the greatest benefit to those individuals who, through the scholarships, are given the opportunity to make a choice as to what school is best for their family. Absent these scholarships, these families with modest financial means would be left with no choice but to attend whatever school to which the educational bureaucracy assigned them.
So the first beneficiary is clearly the individual family impacted by this philanthropy. It is also clear that private and catholic schools derive benefit as well, as they are given the opportunity to serve students who they would otherwise not see enrolled at their schools. This kind of benefit is clearly secondary. It could be considered tertiary if you consider the benefit that the Buffalo Public Schools, and therefore the taxpayers receive from the kindness of these donors.
The Bison fund currently provides scholarships to roughly 1,200 students. The City of Buffalo Board of Education serves about 38,000 students http://www.buffaloschools.org/District/District.aspx , and has a budget of $629,869,609 http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/files/1_2_1/2006-07_Adopted_Budget/VI-Board_of_Education.pdf . If you divide that budget by the number of students served you get $16,575.51. Now this may be oversimplified (law of diminishing marginal costs/returns) but the fact that 1,2000 students are enrolled outside of the Public School system eliminates up to $19,890,612 in additional costs to the District.
So while we thank those who support this important philanthropic cause, let's recognize that the program has benefited our entire city, and soon will benefit some of the first ring suburbs as well.
There is some good news in this morning's Buffalo News - the Bison Fund (Buffalo Inner-city Scholarship Opportunity Network), a private philanthropic fund that provides scholarships for low income students in grades K-8 is expanding eligibility for the first time outside of the city limits.
This is truly great news. The main point of the story is missed however. He points out that the scholarships "have long been credited with giving a major boost to Catholic Diocese of Buffalo elementary schools and other nonpublic schools". The Superintendent referred to the scholarships as "an angel sent to Catholic schools."
Clearly, these scholarships deliver the greatest benefit to those individuals who, through the scholarships, are given the opportunity to make a choice as to what school is best for their family. Absent these scholarships, these families with modest financial means would be left with no choice but to attend whatever school to which the educational bureaucracy assigned them.
So the first beneficiary is clearly the individual family impacted by this philanthropy. It is also clear that private and catholic schools derive benefit as well, as they are given the opportunity to serve students who they would otherwise not see enrolled at their schools. This kind of benefit is clearly secondary. It could be considered tertiary if you consider the benefit that the Buffalo Public Schools, and therefore the taxpayers receive from the kindness of these donors.
The Bison fund currently provides scholarships to roughly 1,200 students. The City of Buffalo Board of Education serves about 38,000 students http://www.buffaloschools.org/District/District.aspx , and has a budget of $629,869,609 http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/files/1_2_1/2006-07_Adopted_Budget/VI-Board_of_Education.pdf . If you divide that budget by the number of students served you get $16,575.51. Now this may be oversimplified (law of diminishing marginal costs/returns) but the fact that 1,2000 students are enrolled outside of the Public School system eliminates up to $19,890,612 in additional costs to the District.
So while we thank those who support this important philanthropic cause, let's recognize that the program has benefited our entire city, and soon will benefit some of the first ring suburbs as well.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Blogging and RSS Workshop
I am taking a workshop today. Perhaps I will have fewer typo's in the future!! ;-)
Friday, January 26, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
More Double Standards
Imagine how this story would play out if you exchange Boxer for Orrin Hatch and Rice with Madeline Albright.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Wegmans stays at top of Best Companies list - Business First of Buffalo:
Congratulations to Wegman's for reaining at the top of Best Companies list - Business First of Buffalo: They are by the far the best operation going. Way to go!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Conyers Should Resign
I hope that all the people who were calling for Tom Reynolds resignation will join me in calling for Conyers to resign. This may not rise to the level of Hevesi, but clearly he has broken the law and should resign.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Vite for Gino!
The NFL held this contest to pick the best Super Bowl commercial concept. Vote for Gino from St. Joe's.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Huh?
Can someone explain how the the Buffalo News, which has continued to beat th Mark Foley drum, endorses a judge who was arrested for Public Lewdness in Ellicott Creek Park? (Check you old stack of newspapers - June 16, 1994)
Monday, October 30, 2006
Pataki - how about leading for a change?
Ex-federal prosecutor to review Hevesi - Business First of Buffalo: Are there really any gray areas here that he needs cleared up?
Thank You Carl paladino
I-190 tolls in rear-view mirror - Business First of Buffalo: of course all of the politicians now come out of the woodwork to support the removal. Kudos to Dave Swarts, but especially to carl paladino whose lawsuit made it happen.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Pelosi & Reid Must Resign!
It is circulating widely in Washington that both Pelosi and Reidknew of Webb's writings and yet they encouraged him to run anyway!
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