[Winona Online Democracy]
Dear e-Dem friends,
> Thanks to Roy Naastrom for bringing up the subject of
>intergovernmental collaboration related to educational funding needs.
> Interestingly enough, the climate, timing, philosophic outlook is
>such within the school district that leadership here is very open to this
>idea. In fact, at the school board meeting last night, Dr. Bartleson
>asked the board for feedback regarding joint meetings with other local
>educational boards and local governmental units. The purpose would be to
>strengthen relationships, increase awarenesses, appreciate other's work,
>identify areas of common concern, collaborate on possible funding/etc
>issues, and so on. The board is 100% in favor of supporting Dr.
>Bartleson's efforts. I cannot speak for all board members, but my sense
>of the group is that we will continue on our path of collaboration and
>inclusion of diverse opinions to guide district operations.
Beside the issue of funding, I can imagine other issues which may
draw us together. For example, the projected teacher shortage in five years
is something that traditional public schools, charter schools, parochial
schools and higher education might discuss together. Bringing quality
teachers in goodly numbers to the Winona area is a goal for all of us, and
one that has benefits and ramnifications for the entire community. Let's
start some proactive, problem-solving dialog.
Back to Roy's focus: I agree that an injection of new money to
provide adequate public education funding, whether local, state or federal,
is unlikely in the immediate future. The governor has promised "inflation
only" increases for the state budget. We need to be resourceful and
innovative...and realistic. Perhaps it is time to resurrect the former
interdisciplinary group to which Lee Leubbe and Joliene Olson referred.
Anyone interested in passing along your name for a list of
potential players?
Sharon Erickson Ropes, School Board Chair
>
>>[Winona Online Democracy]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Considering the options available for financing the schools, the local
>>community seems to be the best bet (a highly relative term) right now for
>>any significant improvement next year. Greater equity in state support may
>>yet come to out-state school districts, but I even if it does, many
>>financial problems will remain. In fact, out-state services as a whole in
>>almost all states suffer some financial deprivation, and regardless of the
>>political party in power, things are not likely to get better soon.
>>
>>Here in Winona, immediate local support for an override levy for schools
>>may be highly problematical if local governments also need money to solve
>>their problems. A mad scramble for money within a short time could nullify
>>the needs of all groups.
>>
>>This situation leads to a question. Have local governments (the county, the
>>cities) and the school district ever established a body to collaborate on
>>meeting financial needs? Perhaps priorities could be developed or
>>particular needs and plans could be laid out in such a way that some
>>coordination could be established. Even Winona State University could be
>>included. Although it cannot itself issue bonds or raise taxes or
>>establish tax increment financing, its decisions and requirements often
>>have a large impact on the tax base.
>>
>>It would be na�ve to think that interests of disparate groups could be
>>melded together to form a body in which conflict would be eliminated. Some
>>interests will inevitably clash. People look at finance from their own
>>perspectives. Moreove, state decisions and actions by school districts
>>other than 861 within the county might skew any local decisions. But an
>>ongoing body consisting of representatives of governments and the school
>>district might produce at least partially coordinated local financial
>>decisions. For example, a plan for needs assessment and cyclical
>>fund-raising could be developed. Such a plan might reduce the negative
>>reaction of citizens being faced with large, unrelated tax increases within
>>a short period, a recipe for funding difficulties even during prosperous
>>times.
>>
>>Although I assume some informal consultation on financial needs has
>>occurred on an ad hoc basis, I have not heard of any regular collaborative
>>procedure in Winona. Has one existed in the area? Does one exist in some
>>form now? Does the history of the area make the effectiveness of a
>>collaborative group possible? Or is the issue really relevant now?
>>
>>
>>Roy Nasstrom
>>
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>~Roy Nasstrom, Chair, Department of Educational Leadership [507/457-5347]~
>>~ Department of Educational Leadership Web Site ~
>>~ http://www.winona.msus.edu/educationalleadership/ ~
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
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>
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