[Winona Online Democracy] Besides putting the administration in what may be the worst possible place at the High School, some other things really concern me about this entire process.
1. I've been called insubordinate by some. What is wrong with trying to have an open and honest public discussion about a very public place that serves roughly 1,400 of our High School public school students every year? I had hoped some School Board members, and maybe even the Superintendent, might have joined this very public conversation on Winona Online Democracy and helped myself and others better understand how this plan was created, what information they based their assumptions on, and how they would respond to others' questions about the remodeling plan. Instead of talking with everyone in an open and public way, people are being pulled into one-on-one meetings. I'm sure there are very valid and good points being made in those private and closed door meetings. Why not share them with everyone? Since when is trying to have an open and public discussion in a cyberspace equivalent of the town commons or forum being insubordinate? --- 2. The School Board and Superintendent seem to want to write off all the students, teachers, and principals concerns as merely a few people at the High School "who want to stir things up." The High School students, teachers, and Principals do NOT have a monopoly on the truth or good ideas. But neither does the Relocation Committee or School Board. There are wonderful, caring, hard working, experienced, and talented people on the Relocation Committee and School Board with very valid ideas. But there are also wonderful, caring, hard working, experienced, and talented people at the High School (students, teachers, Principals, etc.) with very valid ideas. Why not combine the two groups and work together to look at possible better solutions? To write off one group's concerns and say the other group has the monopoly on the truth and good ideas doesn't seem fair or wise. And by the way, the students are very capable of starting their own petitions and thinking for themselves. Trust me, some of them think for themselves very well. ;-> --- 3. Why is it that the School Board members keep on saying that this will be great for the students and staff at the High School when many of those students and teachers who the plan is suppose to benefit are making it very clear that they do not like the plan because it will ruin the best parts of the High School, create safety issues, and will change the overall climate of the school in negative ways? I had thought the School Board had moved beyond the ol' "Father Knows Best" approach to working with students, teachers, and the community years ago. We seem to be moving backwards toward old school management styles. Doesn't it matter what the students, staff, and members of the Community think? Isn't it possible we might see and have thought about things the School Board and administration haven't seen becasue no one on the Relocation Committee has ever worked a day at the High School? Again, that committee has good people on it with good perspectives but don't we also have good ideas and perspectives? --- 4. What is the rush? Why not slow down and give ourselves the time to make a wiser decision? Yes, the School Board has a lot of very hard decisions left to make but please don't be in a rush to clear your desk of one item. This decision is a very big, expensive, and irreversible one. --- 5. Teachers and principals are being accused of creating bad PR for the School District. The School Board has great people on it who have to make very hard and heart-breaking decisions. Most of the issues they have to deal with involve powers beyond their control in St. Paul and Washington D.C., I feel for them, I really do. They have to deal with problems that state and national politicians have created. But with this issue, the ball is fully in their court. Any problems and press the School Board is dealing with in this case is a self inflicted wound. They are responsible for any supposed "Bad PR." They created this problem and they have the power to fix it. --- Lastly. To the School Board members I am sending a CC copy of this e-mail to... Please realize we are all on the same side. Do not make the students and teachers the bad guys. Please slow down. Do not rush this big decision. Please listen to the students and staff and do not write us off as mere trouble makers. This is what democracy looks like. Dwayne Voegeli Feb. 3, 2005 ------------ Dwayne Voegeli Winona County Commissioner (507) 453-9012 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 359 Pleasant Hill Dr. Winona, MN 55987 ------------ _______________________________________________ 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. 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