Re: [Mpls] MPS teacher realignment and Strand
In a message dated 7/4/2004 7:53:55 AM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: <> It's an old decision (1986), not at the state Court web site. However, there is summary of it in a more recent MN Appeals Court decision, and excerpts from other relevant Appeals Court decisions, which I appended to a writing entitled "Realignment and the Strand decision." It's published at my web site (Mann for School Board). -Doug Mann, King Field Mann for School Board web site: www.educationright.com - 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
[Mpls] Realignment & the Strand decision (MPS teachers)
Realignment and the Strand decision by Doug Mann Subheadings: * The District's rationale for teacher layoffs and reassignments * The district's actions are unfair & illegal * The district's actions are unreasonable - * How excessive layoffs & reassignments can cut payroll costs, increase reimbursements - * Excerpts from Minnesota Appeals Court Opinions re district's duty to "realign" For the text of "Realignment and the Strand decision" go to http://members.tripod.com/educationright/id342.htm -Doug Mann, King Field Mann for School Board www.educationright.com - 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
Fw: [Mpls] Walker Library Idea
> I made a joke about "the curse of Walker Library" referring to the fact that > every business that has gone into the old Walker Library building has failed. Why? > > Does the Met Council still own the building? Now that it will be vacant > again, what do they plan to do with it? To quote Councilman Niziolek's email: > > "My conversations with the Met Council indicated that they were > willing to be a partner in moving the library back into the old Walker > Library building. The building sold for $800,000. That was truly an opportunity lost. " > > Is this opportunity permanently lost? Couldn't a new partner be found or a > new owner that would return the old Walker library back to it's original use? > > The old building is on the National Historic Register which limits any > improvements or changes to the exterior. The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation > Commission accepts requests for "historic variances" for properties they have > designated. Perhaps the NHR has a similar process. > > Jeff Scherer of Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle has designed many award > winning libraries. He could probably come up with an innovative re-design for the old Walker. > The proceeds from the sale of the new Walker could partially finance the > project. > > I believe the NHR designation was one reason that MPL decided to build a new > building, because there was no cost effective way to make the old library ADA > compliant. I know there were other reasons, which perhaps someone on this list knows. > > Madeline Douglass > Kingfield > > > 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
Re: [Mpls] Walker Library mixed-use - make the case
Council Niziolek makes my point in his post. The city has put the library in the position of having to choose which essential part of their library do they choose to give away to the city, after the city has already taken away $2 million of their already inadequate budget. All the la-de-dah and hoopla about mixed use be damned. This is outright theft from the library system. Lake and Lagoon has been and remains an excellent spot for a library and, if anything, maybe should be bigger than it is. Yes, it's prime real estate; yes, it has pedestrian traffic up the wazoo; yes, the transit station is right there. All those points are reasons to keep the Walker in situ. We are shooting ourselves in the foot (both feet and one arm) by even entertaining the notion of a library/housing building. It creates more problems than it could possibly solve. And, in the bargain, we thumb our noses at THE most important, and most democratic institution we have and allowing the city to continue robbing the library for every cent they can squeeze out of it. It's beneath contempt. WizardMarks, Central Niziolek wrote: In response to David's questions: 1) The study conducted by the Library board (with support of CPED.) 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 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
[Mpls] MPLS: Minneapolis Public Education
It is clear to me that the problems of education in Minneapolis are only in part due to the actions in the classroom. Children not attending class, children not awake in class, children hiding at school from their home or neighborhood situations also contribute to lower performance. In addition, some children are learning English at the same time that they are trying to become literate. Some children have physical or mental limitations the schools must compensate for while the District is under funded. Some of the children are over medicated. Instead of beginning a coordinated community approach to education, the response to classroom under funding and non school related problems is to transfer teachers to technically qualified but not experienced positions, to layoff a massive number of teachers, and to close schools. To be fair, the current District is too large and involves too many distinct communities to make a thought out community approach. It would have to split into at least five districts, probably more, to have a base for community coordinated action. Community coordinated action would involve groups outside the school districts performing related tasks. Branch libraries within two blocks of some high school and middle school facilities are currently available. However, more are needed with sufficient high speed Internet connections available at least six days a week. Community clinics within two blocks of schools that offer counseling as well as preventative health care would be necessary. That is not common. Coordinated athletic leagues could include Boys and Girls Clubs, Chamber of Commerce Teams, Church Youth Leagues, Park Board Teams, Police Athletic Leagues, YM and YW CA's, to name some. There are enough children to support 10 or 12 teams in every school that now partially supports one team. In some countries, we used to have festivals every six weeks to get people together to plan and party. We can do that in Minneapolis to relieve the non school functions on the District(s). The schools have fund raisers and special fees to do that now. I still have rolls of unused wrapping paper from the 90's. Why is community education a challenge? Currently we have many distinct organizations with conflicting and separate rules to provide for specific functions in the schools and in the city. Many have devoted money and time to the success of those programs. Further, many influential people do not want public education to succeed. They have no children in school or have moved their children out of the system. They want to get back tax money spent for schools or at least not spend the tax dollars for public education. In my opinion, grade school education should teach literacy in at least two languages and basic skills in understanding the environment, math, the society, and science. Middle school and high schools should open up students to specific vocations and advanced education. We need class sizes of 17 to 20 students. We need experienced trained teachers. We need to accomplish this in public schools that coordinate with their Minneapolis communities and Minneapolis communities that coordinate with their public schools. Our current isolated approach will likely continue the decline of public education. Of course many of us believe that is an unstated or barely stated goal of some efficiency proponents. Thanks. John O'Neal Holland Neighborhood 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
[Mpls] Walker Library Idea
List, Has anyone thought about moving the new Walker Library back to the old Walker Library site across Hennepin? I understand that Pagoda, the upscale spa that has been in that space for about 6 months, is closing shop and, again, the building will sit vacant. I dont' know why the library originally left that site, but it is a beautiful old building, a protected historic resource in Minneapolis, right next to the transit stop, and if modifications could be made to the building (ADA requirements met, necessary technology improvements, maybe an outdoor cafe in the front courtyard), the parcel across the street could be condos and upscale Uptown shops beneath. Perhaps someone has proposed this already. But, as a poet once said, maybe what lasts is what you start with. Tracy Nordstrom Avid reader, Uptown Pedestrian, ECCO Resident 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
Re: [Mpls] Walker Library mixed-use - make the case
Of course there are other funding possibilities for a library. Bake Sales! We have NRP monies that have helped us out for 17 weeks. There might have been more if our NRP money was not allocated to hire police at time and a half for the Phillips neighborhood. Just how much taxpayer's money was given to Ventura Village? How about all the money that dissappeared! That could have kept our library open for about 15 years. Sounds like a solid little group that might be a little self serving! Dorie Rae Gallagher - Original Message - From: "gemgram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Niziolek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 9:58 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Walker Library mixed-use - make the case > Great post Dan. > > There are of course other funding possibilities for a library. The example > of the funds raised for the "temporary" library during the time the Franklin > Library is closed for reconstruction is an example of such. If a community > truly wants that resource to continue the community can become very > resourceful. > > And Dan, your "mixed-use - make the case" was right on. Your example of eyes > on the street, and from the street on the happenings in buildings, are > certainly true. That human interaction is what makes enjoyable, safe, urban > life possible. And desirable! Hennepin and Lake and the Uptown are about > the only place where Minneapolis presently approaches a vibrant, safe, > street life. > > The downtown area of Minneapolis would certainly benefit from such. Our > downtown largely becomes a graveyard of nothing but dead stone monuments > (Buildings) after 7:00 PM. The reason is that we have NOT encouraged those > building developers to ring the first floor street level of every building > with small shops and restaurants. The very things that create a desire to > be there, and to create such interaction as you speak of. Such space (if > used for such purpose) is incredibly valuable per square foot. It also > makes the whole structure more valuable as it makes it a more enjoyable and > fun place to be. Also, think of the number of jobs that could and should be > in Downtown, if we only used our Downtown for a "higher use". We need > Downtown to have at least two shifts, one for "Office Workers" and one for > "Pleasure Seekers" (and those that serve them). > > If we look at a place like Vancouver, B.C. we can see how vibrant and fun a > downtown can be. Twice the people in half the area and four times the fun > and pleasure. Some may say well our Minnesota winters don't allow that, but > look at what happens in the heart of the winter in downtown. It is called > Christmas and Holly-dazzle and it is the only time Downtown Minneapolis is > truly walkable fun. (Dodging drunks and crime in the warehouse district can > be titillating to me on a Friday night, but not to most casual strollers) > > If we are going to be subsidizing these monuments with the people's tax > dollars let's at least demand that they are "friendly" to the people. A > "higher use" certainly would be the small shops and restaurants, rather than > the dead after 6:00 office space that could just as easily be on the second > floor. We waste the best part of almost every one of our downtown > buildings. We have already spent (some would say wasted) hundreds of > millions of dollars, perhaps we should hedge our bet and spend a few more to > encourage developers to finally give us what we paid for. The people of > Minneapolis have paid for a great downtown lets start demanding that we get > one. > > So Dan, Lisa, and Gary, you folks are the ones who seem to like urban > downtown life, as well as sitting on the Minneapolis Zoning and Planning > Committee, how do we start "Planning the Zoning" so we can get that great > downtown life? Lets start planning a happy future now, for if we wait our > children will not have one when we get to that future. > > Jim Graham, > Ventura Village, Phillips Community Planning District, Sixth Ward of what > should be the Vancouver of Middle-America > > 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 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
[Mpls] FW: Public Transit
Mr. Bernstein reports that 2/3 of bus riders would cease using the bus if they had a car or a second car. Conversely, an adequate public transit system would allow our family to DISPENSE WITH our second car, something that we would like nothing better than to do. To my mind, a transit system has two purposes: (a) in the present, to provide transportation for those who cannot afford, or are not able, to participate in our grand collective automobile fetish; (b) in the future, as an absolute requisite for a livable and sustainable metropolitan area. (No, contrary to the straw argument regularly put forward by the privatizers, at this stage transit is not for the purpose of reducing congestion. Moving toward market pricing of automobile use (e.g., as economic studies suggest, a $10/gallon gas tax, with revenues directed as well as possible toward those bearing the externalized costs of automobile use) is the only way that congestion would be mitigated in the near term. The conversation about fixed rail infrastructure needs to occur after we all have transported ourselves in a time machine (ah! PRT!) forty or fifty years into the future. What should our transportation system look like in 2054? Well, 2004 is the time to get started on it (actually 1954 was the time, but let's not dwell on the past). Alongside the straw criterion that the Hiawatha LRT line must prove itself by reducing congestion, the other straw notion is that LRT needs to "prove itself" in order for further investment in fixed rail to occur. The value and use of the Hiawatha line will be as part of a system, and to build it is to commit to the development of the system over time. If the goal of transit opponents is to use Hiawatha's expectedly moderate ridership to deny further system development (and to deny it operating funds to suppress that ridership), it is engaging in dishonesty and simply stranding a considerable public investment. Chuck Holtman Prospect Park Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 02:27:53 -0500 From: "Jim Bernstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [Mpls] Re:lrt operating costs To: "'Bruce Gaarder'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Pretty consistently, surveys of citizens in large metropolitan areas indicate that more than half would never get on a bus no matter how convenient and more than half would gladly use light rail if it were convenient. When I worked on corridor analysis studies for MNDOT (10 years ago now) we found that the largest segment of regular bus riders were people who were transit dependent. Ironically, more than 2/3 would stop using the bus if they could afford a car/second car! LRT does not replace the need for buses nor does it eliminate the need for roadways. It is simply another part of the urban transportation system; perhaps personal rapid transit is another component on the horizon. Jim Bernstein Fulton 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
[Mpls] RE: MPS "Empty Classrooms"
The MPS has listed Pratt School as contributing 14 "empty classrooms" to the total. In fact, at the core of the Pratt School concept is the integration of K-5 into the community, in part by combining K-5 and community education in the same building. I believe that Pratt has the largest committed Community Ed program of any school building in the MPS. According to the facilities people, the 14 "empty classrooms" are used by Community Ed from 7:30 am to well after the close of the school day, every weekday during the school year. This is by intention. If the MPS is so completely in error here, I well can accept what Mr. McGuire says about the schools he cites. Chuck Holtman Prospect Park Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 00:35:22 -0600 From: Dan McGuire <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Mpls] Now, Pawlenty has heard MPS has 900 empty classrooms It's getting out of hand. Now Pawlenty is making statements about the number of empty classrooms in MPS. Somebody needs to show him the list of 800 empty classrooms that the district published last spring - that was the list that had over fifty 'empty' classrooms at the Andersen complex, 27 at Sullivan, and 17 at South where there were a couple of teachers working from carts. 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
Re: [Mpls] Walker Library mixed-use - make the case
Great post Dan. There are of course other funding possibilities for a library. The example of the funds raised for the "temporary" library during the time the Franklin Library is closed for reconstruction is an example of such. If a community truly wants that resource to continue the community can become very resourceful. And Dan, your "mixed-use - make the case" was right on. Your example of eyes on the street, and from the street on the happenings in buildings, are certainly true. That human interaction is what makes enjoyable, safe, urban life possible. And desirable! Hennepin and Lake and the Uptown are about the only place where Minneapolis presently approaches a vibrant, safe, street life. The downtown area of Minneapolis would certainly benefit from such. Our downtown largely becomes a graveyard of nothing but dead stone monuments (Buildings) after 7:00 PM. The reason is that we have NOT encouraged those building developers to ring the first floor street level of every building with small shops and restaurants. The very things that create a desire to be there, and to create such interaction as you speak of. Such space (if used for such purpose) is incredibly valuable per square foot. It also makes the whole structure more valuable as it makes it a more enjoyable and fun place to be. Also, think of the number of jobs that could and should be in Downtown, if we only used our Downtown for a "higher use". We need Downtown to have at least two shifts, one for "Office Workers" and one for "Pleasure Seekers" (and those that serve them). If we look at a place like Vancouver, B.C. we can see how vibrant and fun a downtown can be. Twice the people in half the area and four times the fun and pleasure. Some may say well our Minnesota winters don't allow that, but look at what happens in the heart of the winter in downtown. It is called Christmas and Holly-dazzle and it is the only time Downtown Minneapolis is truly walkable fun. (Dodging drunks and crime in the warehouse district can be titillating to me on a Friday night, but not to most casual strollers) If we are going to be subsidizing these monuments with the people's tax dollars let's at least demand that they are "friendly" to the people. A "higher use" certainly would be the small shops and restaurants, rather than the dead after 6:00 office space that could just as easily be on the second floor. We waste the best part of almost every one of our downtown buildings. We have already spent (some would say wasted) hundreds of millions of dollars, perhaps we should hedge our bet and spend a few more to encourage developers to finally give us what we paid for. The people of Minneapolis have paid for a great downtown lets start demanding that we get one. So Dan, Lisa, and Gary, you folks are the ones who seem to like urban downtown life, as well as sitting on the Minneapolis Zoning and Planning Committee, how do we start "Planning the Zoning" so we can get that great downtown life? Lets start planning a happy future now, for if we wait our children will not have one when we get to that future. Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips Community Planning District, Sixth Ward of what should be the Vancouver of Middle-America 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
[Mpls] Walker
Perhaps the old library can be purchased back since it was sold just three years ago. I believe all existing libraries, however, should be taken care of.. not just Uptowns. As was written before, Uptown and Nokomis are three and four in the library chain and in juvenile and usage we surpass Walker. Due to our area that is a major accomplishment...but we are not the "in" neighborhood. It does not make sense to be building a new grand library, when one exists, while other libraries are closed to their beautiful little children. We wish to emulate Europe. .they have gone underground due to their building structures. Underground of the Louvre, art displays, shopping and eateries have been built going under the entire entrance courtyard. In Hamburg & Berlin Germany, miles of underground eateries, offices, salons. In Montreal, underground shopping that is still being built that encompasses about three miles. Toronto's city art museum is mainly below ground. Lets open our minds and open the doors to all libraries so all children can excel, dream, and have memories! Dorie Rae Gallagher Nokomis 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
RE: [Mpls] Walker Library mixed-use - make the case
>From Dan Niziolek In response to David's questions: 1) The study conducted by the Library board (with support of CPED.) - Jim Nelson studied the idea of constructing a 4 story building with 24 units of condos (occupying the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the building), a library on the first level, and 60 parking spaces underground. David here: As a fellow July 4th shut-in, I want to thank Dan for the substantive, holiday response. I have some follow-up questions, but I'll defer those for now. I'd rather here from people who have looked at this issue (more than I have) and reached a different conclusion than Dan. Thanks again for keeping the spirit of discussion! Happy Fourth! David Brauer Kingfield Will be grilling, swatting mosquitoes, and watching fireworks far away from the computer later today! 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
[Mpls] MPS teacher realignment and Strand
The controversial interpretation of teacher tenure rights being invoked to move MPS teachers this last week is based on a MN Supreme Court case called the Strand case. I haven't been able to find the specific language of that case. - anybody have Lexis access? Neither have I been able to find out whose #$%*#$ idea this was. This can't be good for anyone other than those few tortured souls who might be coveting the jobs of those teachers who, in many cases, quite by accident, may have another license in addition to the one under which they have been practicing. Assigning teachers to a job that they don't have experience doing or a desire to do is not the way to close the achievement gap or increase enrollment. There's gotta be a better way. Article 22, Section C, of the Moorhead, MN teachers' contract (below) is an example of a school board and a union agreeing that the doctrine of the Strand case is not a good idea. (There are probably more examples of exclusions from contracts; it's the only one I could document at this time.) Could this be used as a precedent to avoid the invocation of this process at this very precarious time in our district? I would think that the likelihood of grievances and challenges outside the grievance process by those who won't be able to be contacted in a timely manner would be reason enough by itself to attempt to find a way to get around this interpretation of teacher tenure rights, not to mention the horrendous disruption it will cause in the lives teachers, and by extension the lives of their students. http://www.moorhead.k12.mn.us/www/district/human_resources/tchr.htm C. (1) Layoff and recall shall be on the basis of seniority with the District as defined in this Article and shall be according to the provisions set forth in this Article. Seniority shall not entitle an employee to a position for which the employee is not licensed and qualified. (2) Nothing in this Article shall require the District to reassign a senior teacher to a different area of licensure in order to accommodate the seniority claims of a junior teacher. The doctrine enunciated by the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Supreme Court in the Strand case shall not apply. Another question that comes to mind for me, but which is not necessarily related to an immediate solution is, was the Strand case discussed in any recent MPS teacher contract negotiations? It is very likely to come up in the next round. 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
Re: [Mpls] Walker Library
Thanks to CM Niziolek for sitting down at his computer at the very beginning of this Independence Day to write at length and with care about his purposes related to the renewal of the Uptown branch of the Minneapolis Public Library. We had a Carnegie library in Portage, WI when I was a youngster in the late 1940s and that treasure house stood out for me far beyond other institutions in my home town. I had to partner with my parents, teachers, and religious mentors because I had a fierce curiosity about every sort of thing and the structured learning environments and interactions with my own age peers couldn't hold a candle to the wonders at my fingertips a few short blocks from where I lived. To this very day I view the public library as a sturdy and reliable source for the intellectual building blocks I've accumulated over the years. Whatever the roads I've traveled since those early days, I still relish the sense of potential discovery that comes over me when I walk down the Greenway from Ebenezer in West Phillips to the Walker Library in Uptown. Sometimes I prefer to amble through my old Whittier neighborhood or down Lake St. - ever interesting alternatives - but the clarity of the purposes of my trip to the library has never wavered for the thirty-five years that I've spent here in Minneapolis since I arrived on July 4, 1969, as it happens. Thank goodness for the MTC when I'm not up for the exercise and more thanks for the Library's digital world. We are so very blessed in this city and this country of ours. There are plenty of nifty positives I can trot out about Minneapolis and its leadership but not all gardens are tended in public view and not all contemplations are meant to be shared. Even the grand universities I've had the privilege to be a part of don't have the unique blend of repository of knowledge and precondition of populist access that invites my still youthful, sometimes private, but still persistent curiosity. The Walker Library should surely be there for Dan's twins and all the other youthful lights that will celebrate our Independence Days on into the future. Fred Markus, West Phillips 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
