[Winona Online Democracy]
Like Bob, and like many others, I voted for-and actively and openly supported the referendum. I did so because I am extremely well aware of the district's finances and limitations. As Joliene so aptly put it, the district is now forced to make very weak and sour lemondade, and no sugar will be coming. I realize that the district will have to continue to make some unpleasant decisions about the district and that those decisions will have a negative affect on students and on this community as a whole.
I have had at least one child enrolled at the senior high school since the fall of 1992. My youngest child will graduate this spring. I can say without reservation that the opportunities my youngest has had at the senior high school are dramatically less than those that my oldest 2, and even my next youngest (class of '03) had. This is not the fault of the school board, per se, although I have not agreed with every decision this or past boards has made. It is simply the very predicatble result of many years worth of short budgets, poor and variable funding schemes by the state, and Winona's penchant for bashing public education.
Having said that, I will also agree with Bob that it would be worse than a shame to disrupt the wonderful view of the concourse area of the senior high school. I've never been much of a fan of the school design except for the spectacular concourse.
In my opinion, the senior high school is desperately in need of significant renovations, including updating of the science area, renovation of the auditorium, and re-vamping and staffing of the library/media center and computer laboratories. I am certain there are other significant needs at the senior high school that I have not mentioned. It is a shame that money will be found to re-muddle the senior high school for administrators but not to better address the needs of current and future students at the senior high school. The message that the senior high school students are hearing is that they and their education are not particularly important to this community.
It would make more sense, in my opinion, to locate the adminstration in the more flexible and more accessible building space at the over-sized middle school or, as Bob suggested, to lease other space and levy for the cost lease costs.
Terri Hyle
>From: "Bob Sebo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "Online Democracy" <[email protected]>
>Subject: [Winona] With All Due Respect to Joliene.
>Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 14:45:55 -0600
>
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>I voted for the referendum...I actively and openly supported it in the community...I can complain about this development if I wish.
>
>As you may have read, Philip Johnson, the architect of the IDS Center in Minneapolis, died this week. The WSHS Concourse is this city's Crystal Court. We do not want to be messing with it.
>
>I'd rather see district administration in Rollingstone than the Sr Hi concourse mucked about with. Simply lease space in the WKM building and levy for it. No vote is needed. It would not impact the current budget difficulties.
>
>Bob Sebo
>Winona
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