[Winona] Twelve on Tuesdays?

[Schmidt, Tobias E]

[Winona Online Democracy]

I was naïve to think that “Twelve on Tuesday” may actually be a bi-directional conversation with our WAPS Superintendent Paul Durand.  Perhaps it should more appropriately be named “Tax Me Tuesday” after the obvious political rhetoric regarding the upcoming vote for the referendum.  After all, didn’t you know that if it passes WAPS will be able to afford magic pixie dust which will cure all of the districts problems!   I am going to prefix this note by stating that I am a proud parent of a WAPS child.  I am a member of the PTA, and I plan on doing everything possible to make my child’s learning experience as engaging as possible (I even have a sewing project!).  I am not against the upcoming referendum per se...   I am however against the means in which the referendum is being presented and justified. The referendum as it stands MAY have valor and justification.  Perhaps it is what the community needs to do in order for our children to succeed and excel.  I simply do not feel I have been provided enough for me to make an educated vote either way.   The three reasons I heard this past Tuesday for voting “yes” to the referendum were:             “If we don’t vote yes, we are threatening the future of our children.”                         -- heartfelt; but somewhat shallow             “If you vote yes we won’t bug you [the tax payers] again until 2017” – can this be put in writing?             “If you vote yes we will reinstate all-day-every-day Kindergarten.”                         -- Paying is currently less money than a tax increase will be.   As hard as I try, there is simply not enough sustenance here to solidify my vote.   I would simply like to find some solid information about the state of the district and a forthright BUDGET. This past summer I requested this information via email.  I received no reply.  I have read through the very outdated content on the WAPS website.  Not much pertinent to the upcoming vote there.    I asked this past Tuesday how I could obtain some of this meaningful information.  I was told that I could find it on the website along with the district’s up-to-date 10 year technology plan.  I stated that I had looked for this information on the site and that all I had found was out dated (a year old 3 year technology plan from a previous administration) or did not exist.  I was told that the board had learned “not to release too much too fast to the public.”  I then asked when we would be privy to this important information.  I was told it would be posted on the website after this past Wednesday’s referendum meeting at the middle school.  I am still waiting…   Paraphrased: ‘If you found this evening informational… please talk to other’s about it… if you didn’t please be quiet… ‘    I did find Tuesday’s conversation informational.  It simply was not what I expected. ;)  I learned that we are not closing schools because “if a charter school closes where will we put those kids?”  I learned that even if we did close a school and save a few $ that if the newly closed school chartered we would lose more than we saved (I see this logic, but I don’t know that I agree with it).   Please don’t write me directly.  Save it.  Reply to the message on the forum with some numbers, a hyperlink to a report… anything… and don’t tell me that I need to take a day off work to sit in the superintendent’s office to read such an item.  We as a society are beyond that.  There is no excuse for this information to be squandered in a non-digital format in a decrepit old building… that closes before most of us get off work.   Tobias Schmidt

_______________________________________________
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