Megan+H

====[] I found the price that it would cost to hire a teacher in ancient Rome and was able to compare it to prices of other goods and services ==== ====[|//nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66]]] Provides current information on the expenses to run a public school. ====

Education, Roman

 * ====You could buy 6 pounds of wheat with the amount of money to put one of your children through a year of school (600 denarius). ====
 * ====Food shortage = people were willing to pay a little more money for food when they could find it = no money to put children through school ====
 * ====Students were taught by Greek tutors ====
 * ====As people got less money the price to hire tutors or teachers stayed the same ====
 * ====Supplies was needed to conduct Romans classes and funds were lacking ====
 * ====Those who were being educated, the wealthy, lost interest in trying to solve Rome’s problems ====
 * ====The plebeians were being overtaxed and couldn’t afford to send their kids to school so good leaders were lacking ====
 * ====Increasing poverty caused the there was a significant decrease in literate population ====
 * ====Less educated citizens forced Rome to employ more foreign military leaders ====

Education, Current

 * ====In 2007 and 2008 the average elementary school spent 596.6 million dollars ====
 * ====The average cost in 2000 to attend a four year public institution: 10, 609 dollars ====
 * ====The current average to attend a four year public institution: 14,870 dollars ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The total cost to attend college has more than doubled in the last 20 years ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Prices for undergraduate room, board and tuition have gone up 37% since 2009 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">When budgets are lowered the most common cuts are made in after-school activities and support staff ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">On average since 2007 schools whose budgets were previously malleable have been asked to cut their budget by 13.7% ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Truancy is the 7th leading cause of children being placed in foster care ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">When asked many parents admit that the reason for their child’s absence at school is due to financial difficulties including the inability to pay fees ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Online schools like K12 can provide education for free. I will be contacting them soon about how they are able to do this. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Colleges provide financial aid to students with low income. I will be contacting the financial aid of Xavier University to get more information on requirements etc. ====

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">How does financial aid program work for underprivileged students?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Eligibility determined by economic circumstances ====
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Can be compared to the free lunch program
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">More money made the less money received by the program
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">How financial aid works is pretty universal throughout the United States

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">What are the requirements for receiving financial aid?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Students receiving financial aid are expected to perform achedemically ====
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Your finanacial situation needs to be severe enough to make it into the program (based upon income)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Who funds the financial aid program? Is the university providing the money?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">50% of the money provided for students comes from the government ====
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Comes from taxpayers money
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The university and other sources pay for the rest

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Is there a limit to how many students you can provide financial aid for?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Financial Aid is provided for all students that meet that have economic struggles that meet the requirment ====

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Are their any limitations to the education provided for the student because they receive financial aid?

 * ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">There is a certain GPA that students are required to meet ====
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Students that receive financial aid must be working toward a degree and have a major so that Xavier can insure that they are doing something with their education

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Emails exchanged with Ms. Benassi, Forest Hills Schools District Accounting Suppervisor...
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Ms. Benassi,

My name is Megan Hess and I am a student on 7-5 at Nagel Middle School. My peers and I have been participating in a project in which we look for current solutions for Ancient Rome's problems. The issue we have been looking into is high price of education. It would be greatly appreciated if you would be willing to answer a few questions about Forest Hills accounts.

1) Can you identify a specific department or program that Forest Hills School District spends the majority of their budget on? 2) Is there a particular facet that is suffering more than others because of budget cuts? 3) Beyond your professional position how would the result of the upcoming levee influence your personal views of Anderson Township? 4) Approximately how much money is the Forest Hills School District currently using to function? 5) Has Forest Hills devised a plan of what action they will take if the levee does not pass? If so, please explain the adjustments that will be made. 6) Can you please describe your ideal solution to a reduced budget? 7) What do you see for Forest Hills School District in the future from a financial stand point? Any information your would be able to provide us with would be greatly apprieciated. Thank your so much for your time,

Megan Hess

1) The department that Forest Hills spends the most on is instruction (salaries,benefits, supplies and equipment for regular K-12 instruction) Salaries and benefits are the largest expenditures for the district 2) Classroomsize, extra work loads for non teaching staff, the general morale of the employees because they are doing more with less and at times feelingoverwhelmed 3) I, (as an employee, a resident, a parent of graduates and a grandparent of students),would be very disappointed in our community for not supporting such an important aspect of our community 4) Our General Fund appropriations for this year are approx. $75,800,000.00. Not all of this will be spent but it will be close. 5) If there is a specific plan, I am not a part of those decisions 6) The ideal budget would be to have enough teachers, etc. to have quality education,well kept facilities, salaries and benefits in line with other districts of similar size 7) I see excellence suffering if we do not have the support through levies from our community because the state will keep cutting back on their support. I think we will lose quality teachers to districts where the community supports education or to private industry. The community will suffer as far asproperty values are concerned and the overall perception of what this are is like.

I gave you an incorrect amount for the General Fund appropriations. This year it is approx. $73,750,000.00. I had last year’sreport in front of me. Sorry about that!! Please reply that you received my correction.

Ms. Benassi, I did receive your correction and I really appreiciate you getting back to me! Your information has been extremely helpful. Thank you so much for your time.

-Megan Hess

Official Bibliography Sinkovich, Phil. Personal Interveiw. 10 Feb. 2012. Benassi, Ginny. Personal Interveiw. 7 Feb. 2012. "What Things Cost in Ancient Rome." //Ancient Coins for Education//. Web. 7 Feb. 2012. <http://ancientcoinsforeducation.org/content/view/79/98/>.