David Brauer wrote: > Here's one thing I'm not sure has been discussed: we ARE all affected by the > School Board's postponement of their decision.
Just as we all would have been affected if the schools had been hurriedly closed. > Like anything in politics, a highly motivated minority worked hard over the > past 3 weeks and carried the day. Why do you think it was a minority? > This is not to suggest those advocating > postponement were wrong - on process or substance. But it is possible they > distorted the decision against the greater good. > > We've spent a lot of time - rightly - discussing the costs of the closing > plan, There were many costs that were only superficially touched on. The hidden costs of the staff movement alone was/is staggering. Closing schools on the time frame proposed would likely have cost much more than the projected savings. > but far less time discussing the costs of postponement. > And not nearly enough time yet on all of the possible alternatives that will enhance the programs. Please, folks, let's get out of this mind set that there is not enough to go around. That is simply not true. We do need to change how we are doing the budget, how we get funds, how we spend the money, and how we account for all of what we do, but we do not lack for resources. > > All city schools will have to pitch in to suck up the $2.8 million that > would have been saved by the school closings - Not so fast, let's try to come up with some other possibilities! > Plus, a postponed school-closing plan now ripples uncertainty through the > entire system (and is arguably magnified). So, what we need is some creative, positive possibilities. How about a new superintendent for starters? > > We are in this together, at least those of us who live here and plan to live here for a while. > so I hope we can weigh all the effects, not just > the most direct ones. One of the first things that needs to happen, and soon, is a very specific public accounting, a weighing, of all the dollars that are spent at each site in one column and then all of the dollars that are income for each site. These amounts need to be actual, not district averages and everything needs to be included, including the soap. From there, we can start listing the available assets at each site presently and potentially and assigning dollar values. We are not inventing the wheel; this is something that is doable. The sky is not falling. Respectfully and hopefully, Dan McGuire Ericsson REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
