Dick,
Regarding relying on bonding to fulfill our
educational needs. Bonding equals interest payments. As a taxpayer
and school supporter I would rather the publics limited resources be spent
directly on our actual needs and not wasted on interest
payments. Much more bang for the buck. Voting YES -YES- YES is
really the only logical choice for those who wish to support this
referendum!
Greg Olson
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 7:33
AM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Vote on Nov.
8th!
[Winona Online Democracy]
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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