[Winona Online Democracy]
I need to all of my homework before I can way in on Leslie Hittner's
second suggestion.
But regarding the first. Over the past 13 months I have visited
Dakota Charter about 6- 8 times and Ridgeway three times, as well as
all of our grade schools, and middle schools and the high school
several times. Realted to this discussion - I haven't been called on
by Ridgeway to visit as often - but have made myself available.
Generally I support charter schools. We may send Alma to Ridgeway,
but that decision at this point is based mostly on proximity to our
home. But 4 years is a long time from now.
As I understand, and I am certainly open to being better educated -
state pot or not - we taxpayers subsidize the lease payments at about
$500,000 to these schools. And while we receive help from the state
for busing and special ed - at the end of the day SD 861 carries more
of the weight of these costs via ratio comparison, even after state
aid. Part of this is due to the fact that SD 861 MAY have more to
offer in terms of special ed, just due to the fact of the sheer
numbers we realize. A classic under-funded Catch -22.
My biggest concern and issue with charters - is that charters are
promoted by but under-funded by the state. They must be funded 100%
by the state - so that the "main" school doesn't have to absorb the
hidden costs of busing and special ed in the tune of thousands and
thousands of dollars. Leslie, I may be wrong here and I appreciate
your respectful input and thoughts to better educate me - but this is
what I understand after studying the issue.
I will carefully study your idea of chartering ALC, and along with
the Cotter idea, and off-peak scheduling will run it by ALC
personnel and others for feedback.
Leslie - down the road I would appreciate it if you can report back
on journal based research that speaks to your idea of a charter -
ALC. If not research based - then at least some lay person research,
or at barebones - some examples of other districts using this model
in our state, region, or nation. That would help me to understand
and perhaps later advance your argument for consideration.
Kelly
--
Kelly Herold, PhD
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Winona State University
Winona, MN
55987
507 - 457 - 5242
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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