Just a reminder to all to keep focused on
issues. While I'm not comfortable with some of the personal aspects of
Bob's post, I think it is valid for him to express his frustration with an
elected official's past actions. At the same time I think it is most
helpful to consider that most elected officials (and Jolene in particular) get
involved in order to serve the community to the best of their
abilities. We can (and should on this list) disagree with an individual's
point of view without demonizing their motives.
That being said, I wonder if it is possible to
(instead of focusing on perceived past bad acts) shift to how the district can
gain confidence of those who could not support a learning levy?
Some of what I'm reading in this forum speaks to
this. For example, I think that listening to the concerns of those who did
not support the levy and making an effort to validate those concerns and provide
persuasive information in order build support would be an important action
for the district to embrace.
One theme I hear are that "the district needs to
prove it can be responsible with funds" or something to that effect. I'm
not sure what that means to those who are asking for evidence of responsibility,
but as long as folks hold on to past actions as evidence of irresponsibility,
there will be no movement forward.
So Bob, and others, what do you think it would take
for you to begin to increase some confidence in our district? What
constitutes fiscal responsibility?
Terry mentions that closing schools is an issue
that the board has not met head on. I'm not sure that this is an accurate
characterization, but I do get a sense that some individuals see an outcome
of buildings closing as evidence of fiscal responsibility. To these
individuals my question is, "Can you tell us what else would be satisfactory
evidence of fiscal responsibility?" After all, Ridgeway and Dakota are no
longer a part of our district, but this did not solve our financial woes or
build support of our school board or administration. Neither was a popular
decision with the families in those communities. Soon the Lincoln Building
will also be gone. Teachers accepted a wage freeze. Difficult and
unpopular decisions have been made in order to reduce costs. Help me
understand why those decisions have not made an impact on the image of the
district as making an effort to be fiscally responsible?
Kathy Seifert
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 4:26
PM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Old Middle
School
[Winona Online Democracy]
Jolene, You probably don't remember the years
that I talked to you about the condition of the Old Middle School, and
the run arround you gave me, As far as not being able to remodel the Old
school, after you and the Supt and a few others running up to MS JAX and the
State Fire Marshall it was a foregone conclusion that we would have to Build
new. The Board never considered the Taxpayer Just their own Program to get
what they wanted. I'm glad you no longer are on the Board Your actions there
did not impress me one bit. Bob Kaldunski
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 12:11
PM
Subject: [Winona] Old Middle
School
[Winona Online Democracy]
Before everyone jumps on the OLD bandwagon
about using or not using the old middle school, stop and
remember!
No one will deny, now or before, that
the old middle school couldn't be rennovated. That was NOT the
point. The point is, and was, the cost.
Not only would we have spent just a much money as we
spent on the new middle school and maybe more (who knows how much the
developer has spent since it isn't public information) but we
would still have had NO parking, NO green space, NO fields for
intermural or varsity activities, NO safety for the children on that busy
street and the list could go longer.
In addition, don't forget that the rules that the
developer is remodeling by are DIFFERENT than those we would have had to
follow to remodel for a school. And, to top it all off, the state
agencies that WOULD NOT allow us to even consider remodeling.
It is so easy to sit in an arm chair someplace and
make unsubstantiated statements. Get out on the firing line once
and open your ears to the facts. Whether we
like the facts or not, denying them won't solve any
problems.
Joliene Olson
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