[Winona Online Democracy]
Rich and others on line
I think the district needs to lay out a plan that avoids statutory debt and then implements it as unpopular as it will be. Only then will the majority of the community see the full ramification of what "is" going to transpire. It will then require the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Education Association and others to lobby hard to attempt to provide some relief to bring back programs. We also need to put forth a community effort to bring workers willing to relocate, minorities and immigrant families into the community to beef up the attendance numbers and with it the funding that follows those kids; as unpopular as that will be. There is no easy or quick fix, there will be lots of valid parental complaints, but until the ramifications hit home (to 51% of the voters) all the talking is falling on deaf ears. It will require those on the school board to be thick skinned and to vote for cuts that they know are going to hurt some kids. It will also open the door for more private school competition as those who can afford it will opt out of the public system. The next two years will be hell for the board and they will need community support to understand that their actions do not reflect their desire to make things better but only to balance the budget in the least painful way. Paul Double -----Original Message----- Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 2:53 PM While I take exception to those that feel that the present situation is a result of failure on the school boards part, I certainly won't deny that there are those who feel that to be the case. I understand it is great sport to criticize every decision the board has (or has not) made over the last 20 years. Nevertheless, what do people propose the board/superintendent do now? Rich Pflughoeft -----Original Message----- Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 9:44 AM First and foremost I want to say is that both my wife and I voted for the referendum because we believe the superintendent's efforts and vision for warranted community support. I believe the majority of community who voted no believe that the school board's procrastination and failure to make quick and decisive building closures and staff reductions early to save money continues to compound the magnitude of the corrective actions necessary to avoid statutory debt. The failure of the board to take the high bid for Lincoln verses Winona State says they still can afford to give away money. The question of "now what" is that do they understand the seriousness of their need to be decisive, to avoid a state takeover or will they allow it to happen. Paul Double
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