Janet Gendler posts:
>Sure, why not ask for millions of dollars from the voters?  Give them
>specific targets.  Measurable class sizes...anybody can walk into a school
>and count the noses.

Who is counting around town?  I hear many stories from parents of large
class sizes in MPS-- above standards anyway, whatever they may be.  Just how
effective has the 'smaller class size' initiative been, in terms of say
'avg. size per grade level' +/- one std. deviation?  Any significant
difference between 'advanced' and 'regular' classes?  How do such MPS class
size data compare with other districts in the metro area-- Edina, Hopkins
and Brooklyn Park for instance?  What about Blake or Breck, or Mpls Academy
on the River?    What are MPS students getting for the money?  Is it cost
effective in some objective fashion?

Maybe these types of questions have been asked and answered before-- but as
a layperson, I haven't seen anything.  These types of issues should be
evaluated as part of the current budget discussion.  At the Washburn meeting
a couple of weeks ago, the biggest concern voiced seemed to be against
cutting sports.  The limits on administrative costs subject to reduction
were questioned by few.  Official survey results will be interesting, even
if the methodology/results are questionable.

Michael Hohmann
13th Ward
www.mahohmannbizplans.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 10:55 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Mpls] Class Size and Public Trust
>
>
> Sure, why not ask for millions of dollars from the voters?  Give them
> specific targets.  Measureable class sizes...anybody can walk
> into a school
> and count the noses.
>
> Then, a year or so later, the Board discovers it's a little short
> of funds.
> The legislature didn't come through with as much as hoped.  Minneapolis
> Technical Training Academy sucked away a half-million dollars.
>
> All three MPS Board members elected in November promised to respect the
> voters' wishes for smaller class sizes.  It was clear in October
> that there
> were lean times ahead.
>
> Were there any Board members who didn't support the Referendum?
>
> Janet Gendler
> Linden Hills
> snip

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