In a message dated 2/6/2002 10:28:40 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> This week the MPS Board reviews input received from the community concerning how to cut budgets. I attended one of the 'input' sessions a couple of weeks ago at Washburn...The Board was interested in hearing people's thoughts on maintaining the current emphasis on class size. Given the new budget realities-- should priority continue to be placed on keeping class sizes low (esp. in lower grades), or could class size be increased by one or two students-- this in light of the successful class size reduction referendums of recent years. [snip] How much of the budget shortfall could be eliminated if administrative costs stay the same as last year? The district's business consultants recommended doubling administrative costs from 4% of the budget to 8%. Has the whiz kid from the business world, David Jennings figured out why cost overruns and unbudgeted expenses have been running into the 10s of millions of dollars each year? Or is he getting paid $125,000 per year for his public relations expertise and political connections? How much did the district pay for each of the satellite classroom buildings that were constructed in the early 1990s? How much, per building, for the shell of those buildings (before heating, plumbing, wiring, and other amenities)? Who was the general contractor? Did anyone else bid on the job? How much money is in the budget for impact aid to keep SW Minneapolis schools under-enrolled? How much could be saved by eliminating multiple curriculum tracks for K-8 students, and nonacademic curriculum tracks for high school students? Why is the Minneapolis School District losing students and potential students to private schools and suburban public schools? -Doug Mann Kingfield _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
