[Winona Online Democracy]
Steve, 471.71 Subd. 2 defines school districts as a Municipality for the
purposes of this Statute.
Paul Double
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
At 09:55 PM 02/28/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>Paul,
>
>That's cute, but the purpose of 471.71-78 is to
>
>". . . secure sound fiscal policies in, and remedy the financial
>condition of, municipalities, a large proportion of the property
>of which consists of a diminishing natural resource in which
>the state has a substantial interest."
>
>It refers to communities that derive 50% or more of their tax revenue from
>iron ore. I don't think the reference is relevant to our situation
>
>Now if you know of some unmined ore in the area that we can use to fund our
>school system . . . I'm all for it, by all means let's dig it up!!
>Otherwise, please help us lobby the legislature for sufficient funding for
>our district.
>
>To state is simply . . .Our school district is in the lowest 15th percentile
>of per pupil funding in the state. That means 85% of schools in the state
>receive more money per pupil than our district. This inequity is the
>fundamental cause of our budgetary problems. Winona Area Public Schools
>does a tremendous job of educating our children with its meager allocation
>from the state. This is only possible through the dedication and skill of
>an overworked staff that is stretched to the limit, but cares too much about
>educating our children to give up on them.
>
>It's time for this community to rally around our school district and demand
>that the state provide fair and equitable funding for our district. Claims
>of needing to "live within limits" do not ring true if the limits are
>unequitable and living within them means that we have to sacrifice a quality
>education for the children of this community.
>
>If the governor's budget proposal is passed. It will provide Winona Area
>Public Schools with a 0% increase in funding the first year and 6/10th of 1%
>the second year. Now I don't know about your budget, but the school
>district is subject to inflation just like everyone else. For example,
>heating costs went up 50% this year and insurance went up 20%. The
>governor's budget, if passed, would cause the district to cut 4 million
>dollars out of its budget over the next two years. This is in addition to
>the 2 million in cuts that were made last year. I don't know if you spend
>much time in the schools, but those cuts have had a tremendous effect on the
>district . . . for example, the library at the high school is only open one
>hour out of the day because there are not funds available to staff it.
>
>Winona Area Public Schools has always, and will continue, to balance its
>budget each year. Unfortunatly, unless the funding formula changes soon;
>living within those limits will cause great harm to the education of the
>children of this community and result in a lower quality of life for, not
>only them, but everyone who lives in and cares about Winona and its
>surrounding areas.
>
>Yes, demand accountability from your local elected officials.
>But also demand accountability and fairness from your state elected
>officials.
>
>The stakes are high. Time is short. I encourage you to take action.
>
>Steve Kranz
>Board Member, Winona Area Public Schools
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 8:46 PM
>Subject: [Winona] Newspaper Article "Equitable Funds"
>
>
>> [Winona Online Democracy]
>>
>> I read in the paper today an letter by Joanie Heydt-Nelson asking the
>> Legislature to follow the Minnesota Constitution and specifically "to
>> establish a general and uniform system of public schools" and "The
>> legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will
>> secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools through-out the
>> state."
>>
>> I would add to her question Minnesota Statue 471.71- 471.78 which enables
>> contracts to be declare null and void and to hold individually elected
>> officials liable which "vote for" indebtedness contracted in excess of
>> revenue except that MS 471.72 excludes this right from all the citizens of
>> Minnesota except those engaged in the mining of iron ore. Should elected
>> officials in the southern part of the state be less accountable?
>>
>> Local control is the responsibility of local elected officials to know
>> their revenue and live within those limits regardless of an imbalanced
>> formula.
>>
>> At the same time Greater Minnesota school districts need to continue to
>> fight to get the same dollars for every child as does every other school
>> district including those in the metro areas.
>>
>> Paul Double
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> ----------------
>> This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
>> Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or
>unsubscribe.
>> Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
>> Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
>> Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>
>
>----------------
>This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
>Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe.
>Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
>Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
>Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>
----------------
This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
