Well, everyone I talk to is voting NO.
There is way too much distrust between the taxpayer and the school
district. It started way before the concourse mess.
Taxpayers are not forgetting they saw a pile of
used desks thrown out on Broadway that were not reused at the Middle
School. Who moves and throws their furniture away and gets all
new?
Not the taxpayers.
Linda Fort
[Winona Online Democracy]
OUCH!!!! This is only the 2nd time I've
expressed my concerns to WDON and I've been reduced to pathetic... No wonder
people are hesitant to share their thoughts and concerns in this
forum. That's the problem.. where in the inclusivity and respect for
others thoughts???? I want to help.. not get slammed
and remember I'm talking about the Perception in the
community from my vantage point.
Offf to get a bandaid!!
Pat
Pat, first of all, "everyone you talk to" does not represent anything close to
what I've heard as opinions in the community. Contrary to your
belief, many in the community support the move of administration to the high
school and the improvement of the media/library center because it is
cost effective and educationally sound. Last I knew, the district
was in the business of educating children not saving windows (which by the
way need replacement because they aren't energy efficient).
Early on, some (maybe those you talk to) have been convinced that the
referendum would not pass if the concourse windows were affected. The CSPE
group was a leader in the opposition, but they were not and are not the
majority, nor do they represent the best interests of students when
they continue their tirade. That issue is done. Now saying you
want to help but won't because you or others are unhappy with how that
issue is being settled is worse than sour grapes,
it's pathetic. I believe that the community should
organize a "vote of no confidence" for the CSPE, a group that
knowingly spread misinformation to promote their own cause.
In June, School Board member, Natalie Siderius,
read the following statement at a Board meeting and the Post
printed it. Perhaps you haven't seen or read the
information. Perhaps you could do so now that it is readily
accessible to you. The citizens
committee for the referendum are trying to organize votes that help our
students, teachers, and this community for the long term. Get on
board!
Statement by Natalie Siderius
Misinformation #1. A less costly alternative has been proposed to
relocate central administrative staff currently housed in the Lincoln
Building. Fact: No proposal, including the CSPEs East Wing Plan, has been
shown to be less costly than the Relocation Committee and Boards concourse
plan. The concourse plan relocates all Lincoln administrative staff at a
construction cost of approximately $446,482 or $44.24 per square foot. The
CSPEs East Wing proposal allegedly relocates half of the administrative
personnel at half the cost ($223,241). Relocating the other half of the
staff would reasonably add another $223,241 to the cost, and the additional
loss of two High School classrooms. By any honest accounting, the total cost
for the East Wing proposal is no less than that of the concourse plan and
educational space is negatively impacted. To take classroom space, the Board
would be surrendering to larger class sizes, fewer classes, fewer teachers
and less rigor. Additionally, previous estimates prepared for the High
Schools East Wing indicated a cost of $64.85 and $68.74 per square foot in
two different versions of the plan, substantially higher costs than the
concourse plan.
Misinformation #2. The administrative relocation plan is too
costly and a glass palace. Fact: The School Districts plan is very cost
effective at $44.24 per square foot. As a comparison, the County is looking
at a range of $70 to $125 per square foot for their costs of relocating
offices from the Plaza Building. These costs are roughly 1/3 to 3 times
higher than the School Districts plan.
Misinformation #3. The School District shouldnt have closed the
Lincoln Building. Fact: The District will more than recoup the costs of the
move through the sale of Lincoln and savings realized in capital, personnel
and operational costs. Sale of Lincoln $700,000; Savings from Lincolns
short term capital needs (roof, tuckpointing, boiler, etc.) $200,000+;
Lincolns Operational Cost Savings over 10 Years ($35,000/yr) $350,000; Move
of Buildings/Grounds to District Office Cost Savings over 10 years $400,000+
(over $20,000/yr reduction in secretarial costs & operational savings of
$20,000/yr); Other Efficiencies in District Offices being centralized, to be
determined; Long Term Capital Needs to bring Lincoln Building to Code
$2,000,000; Total Long Term Savings $3,650,000+. Further, the school
district loses no state aid based on the per-pupil formula from the closure
of the Lincoln Building as it has from other building closures.
Misinformation #4. The Board has ignored public input on the
administrative staff relocation. Fact: The Board has been listening to
public comment regarding this relocation for over two years. The CSPE
presented for 35 minutes at the Boards May 19 th meeting. Some commentary
has been respectful and helpful and some has been less so, but all of it has
reinforced the Boards view that most peoples concerns are addressed by the
Relocation Committees concourse plan. In addition, the Board is appointing
three committees/teams to further address the administrative relocation,
library and long term remodeling needs at the High School. Each of these
committees/teams will include a Board member, community members, teachers,
staff, parents and students; a very representative mix of people able to
resolve the issues at hand. Further, Board Chair Laber invited the CSPE
group to choose representatives and participate in the Boards
committees/teams. The CSPE rejected this offer and chose to run their own
process.
Misinformation #5. The updated library/media center under the
concourse plan is unnecessary and would not be staffed anyway. Fact: Student
performance is enhanced when up-to-date books and instructional technology
are accessible. The library/media center will be staffed. The library/media
center is not currently used by students or teachers out of past neglect
(average copyright date of 1971 and less than 1000 books checked out in a
school year compared with over 25,000 checked out at the Middle School).
Remodeling the library/media center so it is on one floor enables one person
to staff the entire library/media center rather than the two-person staff
currently needed. The staff savings in the operational budget would equal
the total cost of the project ($700,000) in less than ten years.
Misinformation #6. Capital spending can be used for operational
expenses. Fact: Under current law, this is not possible. The law could of
course be changed by the state legislature. The school board has not asked
for such a fund transfer due to a strong local demand for capital
improvements.
Misinformation #7. The School Board is proposing painful cuts to
scare voters into supporting a future referendum. Fact: The Board has no
choice but to vote for cuts necessary to keep the district from statutory
operating debt. If the $3 million in cuts were not passed by the Board, the
district would not legally be able to negotiate contracts for its employees.
Misinformation #8. Closing elementary schools is the answer to the
budget shortfall. Fact: This has been tried, and has consistently failed to
produce anything but net losses in revenue for the district because state
aid is based on a per-pupil formula and many families simply choose charter
or private education for their children, which produces further reductions
in the districts state funding. Additionally, after almost 20 years of
debate on closing schools and deep division in the community, the Board has
chosen to take a different tack to fully utilize our buildings through
partnership opportunities that enhance educational value, provide revenue to
the district or both.
Misinformation #9. The School Board is draining the capital
fund. Fact: The Board will have approximately $830,000 dollars in the
capital fund to be used on other capital needs even though we are funding
the new library/media center and the Lincoln Relocation. These funds are the
districts annual capital allocation from the State and will be allocated to
building projects, energy projects, textbooks and technology throughout the
district. Further, the School Board has authorized a facilities study for
the high school and all elementary buildings. This allows the Board to
prepare a plan to address all of the deferred maintenance in the district.
Misinformation #10. There is lots of empty space in the
elementary buildings. Fact: Most space is now being utilized through moving
of Lincoln programs and new partnerships. ECFE and ECSE programs will now be
housed at Goodview. Central School is now the site for Key Kids. Jefferson
Schools basement is being leased and remodeled by the Hiawatha Valley
Education District to house an elementary at-risk program. Future
partnerships for other buildings are being pursued. Programmatic facility
changes which enhance education are also being considered such as moving
libraries from hallways and closets, moving music rooms from basements, etc.
The elementary facility review currently being completed will help the
district determine best programmatic space usage. The Superintendent and
Board are working hard to ensure that all of the districts space is used
efficiently.
Misinformation #11. The Board is not fiscally responsible. Fact:
This Board, Superintendent and administrative team have saved this district
millions of dollars and was recently awarded the State Department of
Educations Comprehensive School Finance Award, its highest fiscal award.
Savings or Enhanced Revenues: bond refinance $1,700,000; two tier busing
system $650,000/yr; energy program $33,000/ every 4 months; one day bond
issue $392,000; copier contract consolidation $15,000/yr; central printing
re-vamp $65,000/yr; SE Tech partnership on WMS fields $85,000; HVED
partnership $12,000/yr.+ $40,000 building improvements; Food Service Charge
Back $67,000/yr; Closure of Maintenance Building $20,000/yr + $30,000/yr
potential revenue; Business Office Staff absorbed student activity
accounting, internal audit preparation, operational efficiencies
$62,000/yr.; other partnerships, cost savings and revenue enhancements.
It is time for the community to allow this Board to work through the
unresolved issues surrounding the Lincoln Relocation through the process and
committees/teams it has put in place. I have complete faith that
satisfactory resolution will be achieved.
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