[Winona Online Democracy]
Finally, a response from someone to try to explain the School Board's
actions regarding the High School.
Thank you Jim Galewski.
(To our moderator, Kathy...don't worry, I've taken a few deep breaths. I'm
fine on my end. It's not a conversation if people aren't talking. We
won't get anywhere if we tip toe around the tough stuff and play the
avoidance game.)
Jim, I'm not quite sure where to begin, so here goes,in no particular order...
1. I'm not trying to drag people out into the street to ferret out a shyster.
I'm trying to have a good ol' fashion public discussion in the town commons
about a public decision made regarding a public issue made by locally
elected public servants.
Why is it so hard to simply talk?
If they think I or others have been "misinforming" people, please correct
us and help clarify things in public. This one-on-one. "rest of the story"
approach is not fair, civil, or respectful.
A lot of teachers, students, parents, and others sure would like to have
some light shed on some things. It's no fun being kept in the dark.
We're not mushrooms.
;->
2. Yes, the School Board is the toughest job in town. They are great
people having to make rotten decisions. I'll hang with anyone in a contest
to see who could say the most good things about them.
Part of the reason teachers and others are so dumbfounded by the recent
decision at the High School is that this has been a good School Board as of
late. The School Board has been moving toward respecting and seeking out
others points of view over the last couple of years (not necessarily always
agreeing with all the views expressed, which is fine and to be expected).
Now, they seem to have slid backwards about 50 years to the old school,
"Father Knows Best" approach.
I respect the work they do, and I like them as people, but still, even if
your best friend in the whole world makes a real goofy decision, shouldn't
you try to point it out to them or at least ask them to explain why they
did what they did?
3. Yes, there is a ton of blame to go around. First and foremost with
those beloved Republicans of yours who are purposefully underfunding public
schools and public programs.
Almost all of the problems they have to deal with start in St. Paul and
Washington D.C.. But this problem is completely of their own making. They
created this problem and if they could show a little humility and
willingness to work with the minions who slog away in the salt mines, they
could help solve the problem.
Like a fellow teacher said, "they have shot themselves in the foot and they
won't put the gun down."
Why, with all the other huge problems they are facing, would they create
another problem like this for themselves?
4. You said, ">The whole Lincoln thing stinks, but you - as county
commissioner - don't jump on board until part of the building you work in
gets parceled out."
That is just plain inaccurate.
I've tried to follow this issue ever since it first popped up.
As a teacher, my interest and involvement goes back a year and a half. I
can prove it if you like.
As a County Commissioner, I was also involved in conversations about the
possibility of having the District's Adminstration come and share space and
possible staff with the County about a year ago.
By the way, Bob Reinert, the County Administrator, revisited the general
concept again when Paul Durand came on board but he was not taken up on the
offer to talk through some options and ideas. If we could have talked
more, there was even an outside chance of finding very cheap, or possibly
even short term "free" space to use if certain things could have been
worked out in the County Government Center, as opposed to the Plaza
Building. Taxpayers already help pay for a building that is partially
empty.
You also imply the NIMBY ("Not In My Back Yard") accusation.
That is not fair.
Again, the High School Principals and staff do NOT have a problem with them
coming to the High School. How many different times or ways do I have to
say that to make it more clear?
The question is, "where best to put them?"
As far as the people who actually work and live there are concerned, a
worst place could not have been chosen. It disrupts the entire school,
staff, and student body.
The real kicker is that some High School staff had asked about the possible
plans for movin the administration the High School on two occasions and
were told to not worry about it because it wasn't going to happen anyway.
Please do not reduce my and many other teachers and students concerns to a
simple and selfish NIMBY excuse.
I bet we could find many staff and students to work with the Relocation
Committee to look at possible better places within the High School.
5. My automatic e-mail signature. Geesh. Of all the things to focus on,
why that? It is set to automatically appear at the bottom of all my
messages. People know who I am. It's no secret who I am. I try to be
very open. Why does it bother you? Is there another issue that is really
bothering you.
Lastly, I know e-mail listserves are new things for you uni-directional,
hard print media people. You are used to one way "conversations." The
whole, "don't get in arguements with people who buy ink by the barrel"
thing.
It's also easy to simply give up and stomp away in a huff if things get too
complex or heated at times in public forums. That seems to be the
Scandanavian default way of dealing with problems (by the way, I'm part
Scandanavian). Real discussions require real time and effort to work
through things.
It's also easy to demean listserves like this as the stomping grounds of
the ignorant and unwashed masses, a kind of Jerry Springer-ville. I hope we
all, especially the elected public servants among us, can overcome that
defensive reflex and help make the forum a better place by contributing to
it.
Join the conversation and help address misperceptions rather than throw
rocks quietly from the sidelines.
Stay and explain your decisions, even defend them if need be, if tough
questions arise.
These discussions are only useful if people engage each other in public,
civil and respectful ways.
If we shy away or avoid the tough stuff, then we miss much of this
communication's potential.
It's meant to be a two-way conversation.
Now, where are those School Board members when you need one?
;->
Dwayne Voegeli
Feb. 8, 2005
P.S. By the way, if nothing else good comes from this whole mess, it's
been a mini-miracle to see both Jim Galewski and the Winona Post defending
and supporting the School Board.
------
>Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 07:48:46 -0600
>Subject: Re: [Winona] What is the School Board's Side of the Story?
>From: Jim Galewski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Dwayne Voegeli <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]>
>Mime-version: 1.0
>X-Mailman-Approved-At: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 10:37:41 -0600
>Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>I've been fidgeting over your posts for the past few weeks. The high school
>remodeling is just the latest example.
>
>I agree with you, but I'm not comfortable with the way you verbally try to
>drag the school board out in the street to ferret out the shyster. I
>probably recognize your tactics well, because I was pretty good at that
>tactic myself - on occasion.
>
>Signing your post as county commissioner is equally troubling because of all
>the baggage that it brings - not to mention the awful reputation that county
>government has - that you inherit by election. (and having the signature
>automatic at the bottom every email is probably a luxury you can't afford)
>
>There will be a lot to dislike about the school board's decisions and the
>super's ideas. And yes ... I don't think this is honesty's finest hour.
>But if being a county commissioner taught you anything, you should know the
>frustration of trying to do good with limited resources - and the county can
>increase its levy - School boards can't.
>
>I'm not comfortable siding with the school board or Paul Durand, but I
>wouldn't want their jobs. It appears when the board makes a mistake, it
>doesn't offer itself the luxury of backing up or saying "this was a bad
>idea, let's do it another way."
>
>There's a ton of blame ... voters, board members, Super ... all get to take
>credit for where we are. It's a dismal situation.
>
>Yes, the board has sat hoping and waiting for a silver lining in the cloudy
>skies. It wouldn't be forced to play these cards if it had looked beyond the
>next cut. (and the next cut is $3 million by the way)
>
>The whole Lincoln thing stinks, but you - as county commissioner - don't
>jump on board until part of the building you work in gets parceled out. Your
>post should have been signed "Dwayne Voegeli, high school teacher."
>
>85 percent of the budget is staff salaries
>
>The other 15 percent is what the board can control. Would you like to drive
>a car that only allowed you 15 percent access to the controls?
>
>Jim G
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dwayne Voegeli)
>> Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 06:23:21 -0600
>> To: [email protected]
>> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Subject: [Winona] What is the School Board's Side of the Story?
>>
>> [Winona Online Democracy]
>>
>> An Open Letter to the School Board Members and Mr. Durand,
>>
>> The Superintendent and School Board have created a plan for the High School
>> that they thought everyone would love and be grateful for.
>>
>> 1. Why do you think the staff and students who it is suppose to benefit do
>> not like the plan?
>>
>> 2. Was the School Board sincere about the plan being a "draft" and that
>> High School Principals, staff, and students will have a chance to offer
>> input and possibly even offer other alternatives for places to locate the
>> Administration within the High School?
>>
>> Please respond in an open and public way.
>>
>> More communication is the way out of this mess.
>>
>> If people run and hide behind walls or power, the problem won't simply go
>> away by ignoring it.
>>
>> That is a sign of a dysfunctional family and a dysfunctional system.
>>
>> Dwayne Voegeli
>>
>> Feb. 8, 2005
>>
>> ------------
>>
>> Dwayne Voegeli
>>
>> Winona County Commissioner
>>
>> (507) 453-9012
>>
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>> 359 Pleasant Hill Dr.
>> Winona, MN 55987
>>
>> ------------
>>
>>
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>
>_______________________________________________
>This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
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>To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
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> http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
>
------------
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
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