<p>scualum and FindAPlace - I know things vary from state to state regarding school taxes -just wondering, in California, does the entire state pay at the same rate, and is it a state tax? In New York, we pay state taxes, of course, but then NY residents pay separate school taxes to their school districts. In New York City, there is no separate school tax, so I guess it’s either incorporated into the city income taxes and/or property taxes. Here on LI, each district has it’s own school budget and school tax rates vary quite a bit from town to town. Our town has passed a number of bond issues over the year for school improvements and additions.</p>
<p>LIMOMOF2:</p>
<p>Like just about any kind of public finance in CA, school finance in CA is convoluted. The sad part about this is when one is running a parcel tax campaign and has to try and explain the Rube Goldberg system.</p>
<p>In essence, school funding (more or less equalized) comes from the state and no, it’s not a state tax per se, it’s a state grab of the property tax. However, voters in each district may vote to tax themselves for facilities expansion and repair. Super majorities are required to pass these issues. A parcel tax can also be voted in to pay for prorgrams and teachers.</p>
<p>Scualum and I were lucky enough that when our kids were in K, more money was given to the schools that resulted in class size reduction for K-8. The voters passed a statewide measure that requires a certain amount of money from the state budget go for K-12, which can be “suspended” during times like we see now.</p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation, FindAPlace. Yes, a little convoluted, but I think I got it…lol. I’m guessing with the parcel tax, people are taxed based on the value of their parcel of property, and that money would be earmarked specifically for schools to use in specific ways? I know very little about these things - sorry.</p>
<p>The kids have a track meet at Dickinson College on Saturday. Son will run in the first event at 9:00 am. Daughter will run in the last event, around 4:00 pm. (Never fails, first and last.)</p>
<p>Dickinson is nearly two hours from home.
Dickinson is one of Son’s “best match” schools. We’ve never seen it. Will probably go for real visit this spring.</p>
<p>Should I make the drive, watch a 2 minute run, wait 6+ hours, watch a 1 minute run, then drive two hours home? Sure, I could check out the campus during the down time, but Son can’t leave the arena to join me. </p>
<p>WWYD? Skip the meet due to time and distance? Or go, be a good mommy, and get a peak at the school? (BTW, kids have given permission for me to skip.)</p>
<p>Well I’m a sports curmudgeon, so I say: drive two hours for a meet?? You’re a good mother - D was lucky that I came to her home XC meets! 
</p>
<p>It would be worth it if you could tour the campus with S, though. (Why can’t he leave the arena?) D was at Dickinson for two summers doing CTY - it’s a lovely campus in a cute little town, although there’s nothing much else around it.</p>
<p>And I’m a crazy sports mom, so I think: Of course I’d drive two hours to watch my kids compete, especially when I can spend the down time checking out a desirable college!</p>
<p>If you don’t mind the drive, and you think your kids would appreciate having you there, why not attend? Having said that, I will admit that I have never attended any of D’s track or XC meets! I have however gone to practically all of her softball and basketball games, as well as S’s baseball and football games. The difference is that the meets all tend to be far from home and last for so many hours, that it’s really not fair for me to drag S on those trips, and he’s too young to leave home alone for that many hours. So, I’m neither a sports curmudgeon or a crazy sports mom, but somewhere in between. </p>
<p>So, here’s my advice for you - if you normally would have gone, go. If not, stay home. It sounds like your S won’t be able to leave the track area anyway, so since he’s the one who will be applying, why don’t you just wait and see it all together. Good luck, either way.</p>
<p>RobD - </p>
<p>About your D’s next year’s schedule, it sounds pretty standard especially if she’s been in AP in the past. Does her hs only have 7 periods or did you forget one class? My junior D is taking Physics and Statistics this year and it seems most are having an easy time in them (ymmv). Also, are the Psychology and Statistics one semester or all year? Here, those are one semester classes so she would need to find other classes to take the second semester. Here, the Psychology AP other semester is Sociology dual and since most colleges only ask for one or the other as an elective D is going for the dual Soc and leaving the other semester open. </p>
<p>I understand what she means by not being in electives with certain kids. Has your D taken all her foreign language? Most colleges will waive the college foreign language if she has 2 or 3 years in high school. Three are recommended so perhaps she could take that. </p>
<p>The only thing is which classes, along with their AP tests, would she actually need for her college major? Is the Psychology or History of the Americas transferable or a degree requirement? If she would enjoy taking them merely for the passion of learning or it looking good on her transcript then fine, but if she’s taking them in hopes of passing the AP test for college credit then look closely at what her major requires. Mine couldn’t get the Bio she wanted this year due to scheduling so on the spur of the moment she got into dual credits Stats/College Alg. Stats will transfer as a math requirement for some of her college picks but it will have to be an elective in other school’s degree plans. Aside from showing another math, College Alg is going to be a waste of time and $. We also found out the hs required World History (aka Western Civ), which she opted to take as a dual, isn’t needed for most any degree. </p>
<p>FWIW, mine is the average band nerd who spends every odd hour hanging out in the band hall and every even hour attached to her cell. Here’s what she wants to take next year - Band, Eng IV dual, Bio II dual, Anatomy dual, US Gov/Eco AP, Calculus AP, Chem II AP, Sociology dual/second semester open. And like your D, there aren’t any electives she want except maybe do another ind study computer tech if/when she can’t get those classes.</p>
<p>Doug/Besty -</p>
<p>I’d talk to the principal and explain he MUST get out to do the college visit. Promise you, as his parent, will sign him out with the coach so it’s not like he’s getting out to go hang at the mall with his friends. Most hs encourage and give juniors and seniors a day or two excused absences for college visits.</p>
<p>^^^ Well said. I’d been thinking it but you beat me to the keyboard. I’ll bet the principal will be accomodating. If it turns out to be some sports league requirement, then ask the coach to lean on whoever he/she needs to in order to make this happen. Then, don’t forget to sign up for the guided tour if spaces are still available! Have fun.</p>
<p>It just sounded to me like DougBetsy was hoping to avoid being at the track meet for all those hours - and I can’t say I blame her. Those track meets last a long, long time.</p>
<p>+1 on the pushback to get son permission to leave the meet early. and welcome nunya, I assume those “dual” classes are ones which are dual enrolled at a comm college or similar?</p>
<p>I empathize with the school funding cuts news. When I was a Jr in high school there was a similar funding crisis in MA an outcome of prop 2 1/2 similar to the CA prop 13 around the same time. clubs were slashed, sports were slashed, arts were slashed. Teachers rebelled and did a work to rule protest. One of my teacher parents lost her job and other was in danger also. Part of this uncertainty is what leads me to have my kids in private school. Good luck all affected by this.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, everyone. I’ve decided to go to the meet. I think I can leave home at 7am and get back by 6pm. If I take a book and the owner’s manual for my new Blackberry I’ll be able to pass the time between exploring campus and watching races. </p>
<p>Plus, I forgot that Monday is a holiday. That gives me a chance to catch up on all the chores I neglect on Saturday. Yippee. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>There’s no chance the principal will allow Son to leave the meet in order to see the campus. Separation-from-the-team requests must be made at least 2 days in advance. But, that’s OK. No organized tours are happening this weekend. We’ll come back in the spring.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Oh, can I send you my new phone as well? </p>
<p>Enjoy your day!</p>
<p>DougBetsy - glad you decided to go to the meet. I feel bad, but I never make them. D seems to understand, but I can’t be sure. On the other hand, I do have my 12 year old at home, and it wouldn’t be fair to him to go to these events that could take from 6-10 hours, depending on travel time. At least you’ll get to see both of your kids race. The other good thing is you already know when they’re racing so you can take your time exploring the campus. For some reason, my D never knows that stuff ahead of time!</p>
<p>Hope the day is sunny and relatively warm!</p>
<p>DougBetsy, be glad you aren’t attending nordic ski meets like I am! I pick my battles and usually don’t go to the far away ones. I went on Tues to a race which was relatively close and relatively warm. H and I have signed up to help at one next weekend which is at the other end of the state where it hopefully won’t be too frigid! Crew is the other sport we are involved with which have all day affairs. We don’t go and stay over at the events which are in other states but most of the parents do! I don’t D I would go to one particular event which is well attended next year when she is a senior. She replied “why would I want to?” She understands the distance/cost outweighs the pleasure to see them compete.</p>
<p>DougBetsy–Once you get your Blackberry figured out, you could do some antiquing if that’s your thing. I’m not familiar with the shops and flea markets anymore (used to go with a friend a lot since her parents are up that way), but here’s a link. There used be be great bargains.</p>
<p>[Carlisle</a> Antiques: Antiques in Carlisle, Pennsylvania](<a href=“http://www.carlisle-pa.worldweb.com/Shopping/Antiques/]Carlisle”>http://www.carlisle-pa.worldweb.com/Shopping/Antiques/)</p>
<p>jackief - nice that your Ds are understanding when you don’t make it their out-of-state events. </p>
<p>astromom - antiquing sounds like a fun way to spend a few hours.</p>
<p>D got a postcard from Union college, which she’s not familiar with, but the postcard struck a chord with her. It just says that juniors are welcome every day from February 5 to April 17 without reservations, so just come in for a chat and tour. She liked how easy they made it to come and see the school. Anyone know anything about it?</p>
<p>It’s a lovely LAC or small university depending on how one regards it that also includes an engineering school.</p>
<p>It is well regarded and has a lovely campus.</p>