Spending per student

My dad asked me to find out how much money was spent per student in the Phenix City School System, Lee County School System, & Russell County School System and compare that to the tuition at Trinity...

Here is what I found:

In the Phenix City School District, according to reports from 2008-2009. There are 5,040 children in the Phenix City School District.

- the revenue for the PCSD was $60,356,289.18.

- the expenditure for the PCSD was $68,819,557.83

- According to the state website, 63% of that money came from the State, 20.2% from local taxes, 2.3% from the local schools, 12.4% from Federal, and 2.0% was designated as "other"

- the PCSD spent approximately $8,791.90 per child in 2007-2008 (only records provided).

In the Russell County School District, according to reports from 2008-2009. There are 3,717 children in the RCSD.

- the revenue for RCSD was $34,862,406.60

- the expenditure was $34,639,409.29 (seems like they did a lot better than PCSD as far as budgeting...)

- 67% came from the state, 17.0% from local taxes, 1.6% local schools, 11.1% federal & 3.4% "other"

- the RCSD spent approximately $9,221.16 per child.

I would do Lee County, but the only schools in Lee County that I'm concerned with are the Smiths Station Schools and I don't have specific data on them.

Okay, so going with that theory, that the school district is spending somewhere between $8700 and $9700 per child, and there are 30+ students in the classroom.

At Trinity, our revenue should be $45,000. However, I have 3 students on scholarship, which comes to $11,250, so our total revenue in Tuition is $33,750. Tuition money, by the way, is the only guaranteed source of income. $27,322.50 goes to pay the faculty members, leaving $6427.50 for everything else, including instructional costs, operational maintenance, transportation, etc, etc. Our yearly expenses should be somewhere in the neighborhood of $41,000. We're spending approximately $3,476.88 per student.

Thoughts?

Summer is coming...

So, on Friday it will be April.

April... are you serious? April? April is one month before school is over for the summer. April is the fourth month of the year - seriously, we're already four months through 2011? And school gets out in a month, basically... how is that even possible? It sounds so incredibly cliche to say that this year has flown by, but thats the only way to explain it - I feel like its been one big blur. I've tried to stop and write about the steps of this year, the growing pains, the highs and the lows but I know I've missed some and I hope that I can get those written down before I forget them completely and the future generations of Trinity students will be able to read about the first year at their school.

In my heart of hearts, I know that God is going to send us the students we need. I know this because there is a large part of me (about 90%) that is at peace with it. But. Its so hard to wrap the 10% of my head left that He will. I'm not doubting Him, or His ability to send us the 25 students that we so desperately need... but I feel as if I have hit a brick wall. I have this list of students, potential ones and also those who have already registered, and that list numbers about 30... but I know that there are a few kids who are set in where they are, or their parents are set in where they are. Which is okay... they were longshots, but I don't know where else to get students. I know that word of mouth is key. I know that I've advertised and talked and facebooked and twittered my heart out... and I've prayed. So much more than I've ever prayed consistently in my life - God expand mine & Trinity's territory so that we may further Your kingdom - I had hoped to have a solid number by the end of school, so that I could focus this summer on hiring faculty members, choosing curriculum and doing all those other things that I need to do as an administrator.

And, I'm worried. God, I know you're listening. I know you're reading this with me as I type it out - I'm worried, Father, that Trinity won't get the number of students we need and that I will have to find alternatives to the plan. I'm worried that I'm not doing enough to advance the school. I'm worried that I'm doing something wrong, that the school is doing something wrong or maybe not wrong exactly, but something's causing us to not be blessed as much as You would bless us. God, you know these things as they weigh on my heart. You know the plan and the future of Trinity even now, and I know that whatever Your will will be done.

Please pray with me. We really could use them right now.

Pray that God will provide Trinity with 25 to 40 students. So much is riding on that number.

~Brooke

Spring Break ... part deuce

Well, it's still spring break, and although the beaches of Orange Beach are not exactly overcrowded with spring breakers, its still plenty busy for the onset of tourist season. We've been coming here about 20 years or so, ever since the triplets were teeny tiny and so I feel like I've grown up here a little bit. :)

Mom and Dad arrived safely this morning and woke me to the smells of seafood bisque, smoked tuna dip & shrimp from Blalock's (YUM!).

Mom and I hit the beach for a little reading and relaxation while Dad went off to fish on the pier... he didn't catch anything, but claimed the spanish were running... we shall see, Mikey!

Dinner was in with leftover bisque & tuna dip...

There is no place in the world where I feel more relaxed than standing on the pier, with a fishing pole in hand... my idea of heaven!

Spring Break

It's spring break... finally! I'm so glad I got to spend the weekend with Charlie & also that Charlie's brother, Trey, got to come with us. Tomorrow Mom & Dad are coming down to spend a few days... man, I really know how to throw down!! But I'm grateful that I have a place where I can go to and rest for a few days.

this man makes me happy. :)

Today, I'm simply grateful for life.

So, for the past 10 years or so I've been writing short stories. I think most of them are pretty terrible but thats because I'm the one who wrote them. But I finally put them together in a volume of work - along with essays, commentaries, and long epic poems and came out with The Wicker Swing. I think there's supposed to be a preview in here somewhere...

The Wicker Swing by J. Brooke Bowden | Make Your Own Book

">The Wicker Swing

So in this book are a few different short stories - The Wicker Swing, The Red Tomato, Hard Work, In spite of Love but also a few essays to. Its basically everything I've ever written.

Anyway. Its pretty darn cool - and even better in my actual hands. I ordered it in an "imagewrap" which only means that there isn't flaps like on usual hard-bound books. I have to say... its really flipping neat. I took the picture for the front and back cover too, in Oxford. I think we were at Penshurst place walking among the gardens when I came upon this door in the wall. It reminded me *so* much of A Secret Garden that I had to photograph it. It remains one of my favorite photographs period.

cried myself to sleep last night.