I totally agree with you, but these funds are mandated by the state. Every district has to use a certain percent of their budget for school improvements and for technology. So the new floors that schools may get have nothing to with being able to afford security or more teachers. They are sepearte funds.
So, in a sense, districts have 3 kitties to use.
1. School improvemnets
2. School technology
3. Operations
Money from one cannot be used to pay for another. It is against state policy. Security would fall under operations and with so many districts cutting positions, how can they hire security?
If schools could move money from one area to another I am sure they would, but their hands are tied. Maybe the state will rethink how money should be spent and make a mandatory budget for school security personnel.
Trust me, we have teachers bitch about "how can our elementary schhol get new windows when they can't afford to keep teachers?"
The answer is that money cannot be used for anything else. Even if the school doesn't need improvements, you have to use the money for that.
Our community was irrate a few years ago because our HS got the track resurfaced, but were laying off teachers. It's the state's policy and it's messed up.
each district should be allowed to spend their money how they want. Then maybe security could be in the budget.