Playgrounds Symbolize Broad Impact of Caps
Everyone agrees that the most devastating impact of revenue controls
comes in the classroom, where larger class sizes, fewer class choices,
and reduced resources undermine the quality of education.
But one of the more visible manifestations of revenue caps can be
seen outside the schools – in the deteriorating conditions of
many school playgrounds.
Bill Clingan, a parent of two students at Madison’s Lincoln
Elementary School, is so concerned that he is active in a fund-raising
campaign for new equipment. Clingan understands the district’s
budget constraints, but he’s not happy about them.
“It’s just something they (district officials) don’t
have to give, and that’s a tragedy,” he said.
Not all schools have parents who are ready, willing and able to take
on such projects, said WEAC President Terry Craney.
In many cases, when a school neglects a playground, it rapidly
deteriorates into an unsafe eyesore.
“Schools have a broad responsibility to children and the
community,” Craney said. “Providing safe and usable
playgrounds is part of that responsibility. It’s wrong for a
district to abandon playgrounds in the hope that parents might take
them over. Often, it just won’t happen.
“Today, school districts are forced by revenue controls to
abandon playgrounds,” he said. “What gets abandoned next?”
Posted August 27, 1999