[Winona Online Democracy]
A piece of character education is teaching and modeling respectful behavior
to others and showing acceptance to other's opinions. This of course is a
small piece but nonetheless a crucial one. I hope for the future we can
show more courtesy to those who offer their insight.
I think that several people have raised a lot of valid points as it relates
to school spending, salaries, administrative responsibilities, etc. This is
a difficult topic and one that I know our neighboring communities are
struggling with as well. I think many of us would struggle with the choice
"could we take less for what we do". In a perfect world, the answer may be
yes, but is that the point we are trying to make in all of this. Asking
superintendents and administrators to take a pay cut may be part of the
equation, but there are an extreme number of other possibilities that could
be explored and entered into the equation before it comes to that.
Financially, there are a lot of schools all over the tri-state area facing
dilemmas. The School my son is attending is one of them. I am very
displeased with a recent decision from the school board to cut a program for
the next school year that directly affects him and others in his grade. But
what I am going to do is take a proactive approach and contact his school to
find out how I may be of benefit to the school district for the future. One
of the skills that I possess is grant writing. This is an avenue that could
be explored here in Winona as well. I intend on doing some research to see
if there are other funding sources that could be accessed to support schools
and enrichment programming. This again is just a small part in a larger
equation but it does have possibilities. In stead of being so negative and
looking to place blame, lets pull together as a community and start
identifying some ways that are more appealing and have greater
possibilities. We need to start focusing on enhancing our schools for the
betterment of our children and the people who work with them everyday. We
tend to spend more time looking at solutions that detract from our schools
and in the end it hurts everyone.
Jeanne
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lori Baumgardt [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 8:27 AM
> To: Ruth Marg; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [Winona] Opinion to Pam
>
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
>
> >
> >First of all what a dumb thing to say that if the superintendents salary
>
> Ms. Marg, I think you could have worded this better.
>
> >was the same as a teacher we could help solve some of the money problems
> >90 per cent of the school districts in Minnesota are having. Why would
> >anyone want the top job if he or she had the same salary. That is like
> >asking all company CEO's to take the same salary home as their
> >employees.
>
> I happened upon this thread late, but from what you've typed here, it
> doesn't sound like Pam had such a dumb idea. You write later about how we
>
> should do what's best for the majority of students by closing the smaller
> schools. But, the top dogs shouldn't do what's best for students? They
> should only do -- and be expected to do -- what's best for
> themselves? "Why would anyone want the top job if he or she had the same
> salary[?]" Because, it would re-allocate much needed funds from salary to
>
> students, that's why. If I were superintendent, I would be happy to take
> a
> pay cut if it would help alleviate the money crisis our schools are
> having. I know there are lots of other citizens and parents who would do
> the same.
>
> >Five of our 7 children started their education in a small rural school
> >and did well. I have always liked the neighborhood schools and fought
> >for them, but now I think it is time the school board and the community
> >decide it is time to close some of the smaller schools for the good of
>
> Your kids are out of school, so now it's ok to close them? "After me, the
>
> deluge?" Would you feel the same if your kids still attended these
> schools? Say, if your kids attended Central or Ridgeway?
>
> > Either we have
> >to have more money to lower class sizes or close some schools and let
> >the chips fall where they may.
>
> "Let the chips fall where they may" sounds quite like "throw the kids into
>
> the hands of fate." I think (should hope) most people aren't quite
> willing
> to do that.
>
> We do have to have more money. But, the answer isn't sacrificing our
> smaller schools.
>
>
> Lori Baumgardt
>
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