[Winona Online Democracy]
Mr. Schmidt I will attempt to answer some of your questions and or
help you find information.
Part of my challenge is that I have several folks that I am trying to
help and by no means intend to minimize your concerns.
If you could would you be so kind as to list your questions in terms
of importance and enumerate them. In this way I can answer at least
your most significant concerns and move from there.
While I am not sure we can convince anyone to vote for the referendum
if when one considers folks have a myriad of frustrations, confusion,
or grudges dating back, at least from one of my constituents, to
1972. Tonight I read where one writer is angry about used desks not
being reused and seemingly has sworn off SD board. I encourage her
to run for the school board to help. I respect her opinion - and can
only guess why old desks weren't reused. Outdated? Out of code?
Cheaper to replace than repair? I cannot answer her. And if she
decides to vote against the referendum on that point I can only say -
she has that right.
To begin - thank you for your input - it is appreciated. I feel this
is an especially arduous task knowing that WOD participants are by
and large seeming to vote waiting to vote no. That saddens me.
While this task seems fruitless - I am encouraged to read you are
willing to engage.
I am relatively new to the board and so some of what you ask will
require me to double check info etc. I have a relative short period
to work on this other than every night, very early mornings, and
week-ends. So please bear with me.
A lot of this is redundant - so please bear with me on that too.
The operating budget of 2.5 million is what the tax payers currently
pay to run the district. The state has continued to shift the burden
back to the localities. The operating budget covers copious SD
obligations - like bussing, salaries, heat, lights, on and on.
That 2.5 support was approved by the taxpayers and the clock on that
income is almost out. Without this income the district generates
something ridiculously small - like $50,000. That number is
something I would have to check - but I believe it is near that - at
any rate not enough to run the school.
The current referendum is asking for 3.7 to cover the previously
mentioned items. The jump of 1.2 million will help cover inflation,
increased fuel costs, increased insurance costs and allow us to
reinstate programs that have left this SD bare bones.
Does this help?
Please let me know and let me know what other five or so questions I
can try to answer.
--
Kelly Herold, PhD
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Winona State University
Winona, MN
55987
507 - 457 - 5242
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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