[Winona Online Democracy] Just a few comments on Paul's letter:
1) You are right Paul-the public overwhelmingly thought Mayor Miller's message was the right one; in fact, Mayor Miller had the highest victory percentage of Winona local/State candidates. It was a landslide in anyone's spin; 2) Past School Boards set the stage for the current one. Paul, is it conceivable that as a School Board member, the granting of such Charters helped to create the decline in student enrollment at #861? Did you support any building maintenance funding when you were on the School Board? Mayor Miller publicly supported the referendum, did you? 3) Between 2000 and 2002, 47,000 jobs were lost in the State of Minnesota. From 2002 to January 2004 the Winona labor force increased from 14,701 to 14,897 jobs. Apparently, we are doing OK in our attempt to maintain and create jobs in Winona, despite rumor. 4) The City/Port Authority of Winona has helped to create many industrial jobs over the past few years, examples include Digicom, We-No-Nah Canoe, Quality Sheet Metal, River Valley Tool; Gleason Engineering (moving from California); etc. We are currently working on several other possibilities. World and national issues have shaped much of our potential for industrial growth, which continues to occur, but we are not aware that the City was responsible for NAFTA. Tell us if we are wrong Paul; 5) The 35,000 population number is meaningless. What is important is the type and, we believe, the diversity of industrial growth; 6) Why should we discriminate against the elderly that want to retire in Winona, from local residents to regional residents? Many of them often bring sizable financial portfolios with them; 7) Paul, have you thought about the major expansion at the hospital? We have lended Community Memorial our bond rating, saving them millions of dollars in order to create more facility in order to create more jobs; 8) It would be nice if WOD could concentrate more on some factual gathering on issues, rather than the continued Chat Room opinion approach. Eric Sorensen -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Double Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 3:25 PM To: Online Democracy Subject: FW: [Winona] Referendum:Now What? Randy and others, The reason I supported the referendum was that I believed it was not the school board job to create jobs but that the city council had failed to attract young families to the area as employees because of the lack of job creation and industrial expansion. I feel that it is important to keep the buildings and capacity to educate larger numbers as we move our population to a target level of 35,000 people. It is obvious to me, that "I failed" to prove the importance of the relationship between job growth and maintaining school capacity or that the community is so intent on not changing, regressing, or becoming a retirement community or tourist attraction they didn't want to hear the message..... or they believe Jerry Miller is the better person to lead and achieve that growth and I hope they are right. The district can mothball some schools without making them Charter Schools. It is not the building that provides a good education but the staff and good staff can provide that same quality in any building they are placed. WK and Jefferson were designed to be 4 section schools and should be operated as such. Neighborhood schools went out the door years ago when we allowed families school choice and then provided their brothers and sisters priority enrollment in the school over those who were closest. If some parents opt for the Charter Schools let them "if" WAPS focus is on the quality of public school education being second to none, they will, at some time come back. If we reduce our quality then any parent who cares has no choice but to move to a private, parochial or Charter School option. Keep the focus on a high quality program, math, science and language options which are second to none and WAPS will win in the long run. Trying to save buildings, save staff is in my opinion the road to disaster. Paul Double Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 5:01 PM Paul, I'd like to go back to some of your platform which was grow the community so that schools can be filled... If we believe we can work for that growth to happen- isn't it prudent to keep buildings open in anticipation? Also, this argument, of closing buildings doesn't wash in my judgement in as long as the state allows the forming of Charter Schools so easily. Does anyone know what happened with levy/referendum requests across the state? Maybe part of our "what now" is to work with our legislators on funding that is sufficient for schools in these times. Will the change in the State House balance bring some truth to the "no new tax" position? Randy Schenkat Double's post: 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 -- Randy Schenkat 1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn 55987 507-452-7168 _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
