Thanks to all who have given their opinions on the
referendum both in the paper and here. One main concern if the referendum
fails is the loss of extarcurriculars at the secondary level. Many people
doubt that will happen that private funding and increased fees will take up the
slack.
I seriously doubt that would
happen. I was told at the referendum meeting in Rollingstone that 50% or
more of our high school students take part in extra curriculars. Some
people feel we should be educating with out extras and have "just the
basics". If these activities are cut, I predict you will see a mass exodus
from the high school to Cotter and any other district with extra
curriculars. It has been suggested that would not happen
because of transportation. I think we forget that from at 16 and up
many of these students already drive and it would be just as easy to go a little
farther for their education.
I encourage everyone to vote and
support at least question 1. Questions 2 and 3 can be done with either
bonding or donations for technology from our many fine organizations (i.e.
PTA, Jaycees, Lions, Etc)
You may want to vote early as with
fewer polling place their will be considerably more registered voters.
For example the Rollingstone sit will go from about 400 voters for general
elections to almost 2400 for this election. There will be no way to break down
the vote this time as to specific attendance areas as in the past.
DIck Gaffron
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 2:04
AM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Vote on Nov.
8th!
[Winona Online Democracy]
Kathy/all:
Profiling a person who doesn't vote for this
referendum may be unfair. I'm pretty sure the discussion is beyond
getting anyone to change their views.
I think to get people to change
their views, you have to offer new information that is believable.
It's about trust and perception. I doubt if there are too many
people on either side of the fence who is ready to change his or her mind at
this point.
Meaningful dialogue is rare and both sides are guilty of
misinformation. It's hard to come up with simple answers to such a complex
dilemma.
I don't think a failed referendum will flush this community
down the toilet and I don't think a passed referendum will fix the financial
troubles of the school district.
Let's hope - either way - we keep
trying to offer the best in our schools with the resources that are
available.
Jim Galewski
From: "Kathy Seifert"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2005 22:50:50
-0600
To: "Leslie Hittner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "WOD"
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Winona] Vote on Nov.
8th!
[Winona Online Democracy]
I worked fine for me, Les. I have noticed that the forum has been
pretty quiet on this issue, while the letters in both papers have been
many.
I've been trying to
get my head around why folks would not want to support our public schools
and I've been talking to people about their
views.
Bottom line for
the fixed and lower income folks I've spoken to is they don't want a tax
increase. They wonder why they should have to pay for "extracurriculars"
like sports, drama, music, art, etc.
Well, it sounds like if the referendum fails, many
families will be paying for an extra day of childcare if the district goes
to a 4 day week. I wonder how much that will cost families compared to the
taxes? Of course it will only affect the families with young children.
(sarcasm begins here) They shouldn't have had them if they couldn't afford
them.
Maybe the same
should hold true for Medicare or Social Security then. Let's do away
with the FICA taxes for families with young children--they could use that
money for extra childcare or "extracurricular" activities for their
children. Let those over 65 find income and funding for their medical
care elsewhere--why should we have to pay? Let them spend that $2 a
day that the district wants on their medical bills and forget about
Medicare--that shouldn't be our problem--we have to make sure our kids get
an education and those seniors shouldn't have to pay for schools because
they won't see any direct benefit.
Why don't we just pit different interest groups against each
other and see who ends up on top? Will it be seniors? Folks who
need round the clock care? Children? Mentally ill or disabled individuals?
(end of sarcasm)
Is this
what our country is all about? Unfortunately it seems that it's only
every one for him/herself when it's the "other"--if it's "my" life that's
going to be impacted, well, that's another story.
What ever happened to communities pulling together?
How would our farming predecessors here in the Midwest have made it if
it had been "every family for themselves" instead of barn raising and
threshing crews?
To me,
paying my fair share of income and property taxes is one way I contribute so
that the whole community benefits. I just don't get why others don't seem to
think they need to contribute to the well-being of our community. That
seems to be the bottom line that is justified with anger and false claims
and accusations toward elected officials with whom they disagree. It
is very sad for our community, but I know that I will vote my conscience on
Tuesday and I am willing to do my fair share so that we have a school system
to be proud of in our community.
Kathy Seifert
----- Original Message -----
From: Leslie Hittner
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: WOD
<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, November
06, 2005 7:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Vote on Nov.
8th!
[Winona Online Democracy]
I tried to get the WDN to publish this but its way too
long and they said NO. It was getting near their deadline for
inclusion in the paper before the referendum and I did not have time to
rewrite.
Here is my response to Linda Fort's
Editorial last week (I hope this link works for
everybody.)
http://www.hbci.com/~johittner/Hittner/Referendum%20Support.pdf
-Leslie Hittner
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