For those out there who think it can be done for way less, here are some figures from online sources of local private schools: 1. Minnehaha Academy, tuition is $8420 or $9575, depending on level; 2. St Paul Academy, $14,500; Cretin-Derham Hall, $14,210; Mounds Park Academy, $14,140. Caveat: ALL of the schools have giving pages on their web sites with the goal of raising millions of dollars for the expenses that are NOT covered by the tuition. I couldn't find online budgets (they don't have to share that data), so we have no idea what the "cost of instruction" would amount to if they didn't collect money beyond tuition. And, of course, they escape a lot of the programs forced on public schools. We should segregate those programs and budget outside the school administration budget for them, so that we can get a true picture of what MPS really spends on teaching its students. ************************* I liked the suggestion Heather made for reining in the cost of healthcare. God knows it is a soaring part of every out-of-balance budget. But her suggestions fall short of what will solve the MPS problem because of the fact that the health insurance industry is assured its place at the trough. I have a feeling that until the taxpayers of the country take ON the insurance industry, this growing cost will continue to eat the money that should go to other purposes. Hint: Check the latest Strib article on United Health Group (40 percent earnings growth in 4th qtr) http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/3610461.html ____________________________________
Here in Cooper, we are particularly lucky to have an ambitious crime prevention specialist named Thomas Thompson. Today I got another email from him with a spreadsheet on 2002 crimes in Longfellow, Seward, and Cooper. Cooper had a pretty fair 2002 record. Here the criminals don't want any TROUBLE, they just want to steal your stuff! And that got me to thinking that the cops ought to watch likely gang members and then do surprise patdowns on suspicion of firearms violations. If they have a loaded gun on them, give them some jail time. There is no CONCEIVABLE excuse for anyone not licensed to carry to have a loaded firearm on their person. And if things were done right, the penalty would be very, very stiff. It would be really desirable if the criminally-oriented would be as afraid to be caught WITH a gun as to be caught without one. _________________________________ Following up on Vicky Heller's suggestion that we emulate Austin Texas, I'd like to propose that North Oaks do the same. North Oaks, according to its web site, has 4,000 residents. Given the Austin ratio of 93,000 residents per council member, that means North Oaks should be govern by the big toe of one of its present council members. How about it, Vicky? Sound good? ____________________________________ Minneapolis may be a big sophisticated berg, but it is in a cold war with Republican suburbs. Maybe Portland Maine doesn't have that problem. ____________________________________ With regard to Barbara Nelson's search for creative ways to rescue properties and make them affordable, how about contract-for-deed arrangements. That's a popular way for first-time owners to work their way into ownership. The city might hold the deed. -------------- Jim Mork--Cooper "War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our Country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out." Gen. William T. Sherman (1864) Letter to the Mayor of Atlanta. Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
