[Winona Online Democracy]
Paul,
I'll stand by my previous answer.
None of those choices will actually solve the problem faced by our district.
If the governor is talking about a funding increase that is only equal to
the rate of inflation, then as a community we are going to have to help him
understand why that is inequitable. In addition to that, we need to work at
the federal and local level to address the issue.
I've talked to lots of different people over the past several weeks and my
message has been that as a community we need to decide what is important to
us and what kind of a school district we want. We then need to work to make
that happen. If we decide that our school district is not funded fairly,
then we need to work as a community to change that situation. That may not
seem realistic or it may seem like an effort to duck the issue, but I truly
see it as the only reasonable solution to the problems faced by our
district.
-Steve Kranz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Winona] School Funding & Collaboration
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> I believe the original question is even more relevant given these newer
> postings.
>
> Given these as the "only" remaining choices available to balance the
budget
> in the next round of salary negotiations what would your ranking priority
> be "among the following tough choices".
>
> � Close smaller schools
> � Increase class size
> � Eliminate all Co-curricular activities including band and sports.
> � Eliminate all General Fund funding of all Co-curricular activities
> � Freeze salaries except for lane changes which may cause a strike
> � Freeze salaries except for step changes which may cause a strike
> � Lay off staff on the basis of seniority which may cause a strike
>
> Paul Double
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> >Subject: Re: [Winona] Web Page To Compare Local Candidates?
> >Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 11:39:33 -0600
> >And voters, feel free to ask the candidates questions via this list.
> >
> >So, I'll get the ball rolling and let you know that I am a candidate for
> >District 861 School Board. I'll put together a post outlining what I
think
> >is important for the district, but in the meantime I'd be happy
> >to hear anyone's views on issues and/or answer any questions.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >-Steve Kranz
>
> >Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 13:42:42 -0600
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Sharon Ropes)
> >Subject: Re: [Winona] School Funding & Collaboration
>
> > "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."
>
> >Sharon Erickson Ropes, School Board Chair
>
> >>>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, Chair, Department of Educational Leadership [
>
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