[Winona Online Democracy]
Terry, your points are very well made and I
agree with them.
I personally have no intention in voting in
favor of a referendum until or if ever, the school board can show the
taxpayers that the district is responsible with money.
The taxpayers I speak with were appalled
when the district threw away all those desks, tables and chairs into the
street. (actually I think they left them in the middle school buildings and
the contractor threw them out). When a citizen buys/builds a new home they do
not throw the old furniture away. This is another point of waste on the
districts part. While we scrape to get by, they are throwing things away just
because they are not 'new'.
A good point is made that the middle
school buildings look nice and are liveable. Not just during school hours but
as homes for taxpayers.
LInda Fort
[Winona Online Democracy]
The following are a combination of thoughts and comments regarding the
failed referendum. Some mine, some from others.
As people
drive by the old Middle School on Broadway, they are amazed that buildings
that only recently were deemed to be near collapse, are in great shape.
A lingering resentment from the last referendum being pushed through
by the college vote.
Many people in town are struggling with existing
property taxes and realize that although in and of itself, the proposed levy
wasn't a huge increase, when factored with increased valuation and
reduced state aid, it hurts.
A Master's Degree isn't necessary
to teach elementary children.
The referendum would have replaced and
added to the existing levy with the understanding that in a year or two, the
district would again be in the hole.
A feeling that the heavy lifting,
dealing with school closures, has once again been side-stepped.
And
finally, basic sales training advocates offering the prospective buyer a
choice. "Well then sir, should we write up the Corvette or the
Cavalier?"
I don't think the vote was an outright rejection of
increased school funding but rather a message that the district should offer
first, a chance to continue the existing levy level and then in a
separate question, offer the voter the choice of increased funding.
Notes:
Some of the issues, near the top, are over
and done.
I'm not looking to argue or defend the above. Just
throwing it out as an effort to explain some things that may not be evident to
those that work in education or have a large amount of discretionary income.
Don't shoot the messenger.
Terry Angst
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