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| Post Number: 111
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jimhanson 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,2:13 pm |
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Expect TEAM to chant the mantra "It's FOR THE KIDS!"
Expect more kiddie letters to the Editor--they've been prepped.
Expect to be told what a bare-bones operation the District is running--that there can't POSSIBLY be any cuts.
Expect maximum pain to be levied against parents to make them vote for the referendum--making kids walk to school, vs. ANY of the million dollars in possible cuts listed on the District website.
Though it is a lot of money, $2 million dollars is less than 6.5% of the total education budget (does not include maintenance or payment on buildings) spent by the District. Nearly every business or government agency can trim that much.
When making up your mind about cuts, remember:
Look at the District list of possible cuts, and prioritize where YOU think the cuts should occur.
Weigh each possible cut against others--"would I rather have contract custodial staff, or have my kids walk to school?"
Make the District accountable--don't settle for vague and non-specific promises about "increasing the quality of education"--ask them to set BENCHMARKS.
One highly respected commentator pointed out that we haven't answered the BIG questions--"What are we trying to accomplish?" "What kind of school are we trying to BE?" "What is important to US?"
Ask what we could do WITHOUT--the same commentator suggested that we could do without one school building--saving a substantial portion of the $2 million dollars in one shot.
Think outside the box--one item alone--4 day school week--has the potential to save nearly a million dollars a year--half the amount requested.
Think about what we owe our children--an education--not a babysitting service--some of the rationale for saving some programs is that cutting those programs would require parents to arrange child care--clearly outside the scope of what schools were designed to do.
Think of alternatives--a quid pro quo--"Show me a million dollars worth of cuts, we'll go along with a million dollar referendum"
If you believe in "business as usual"--then you have no alternative but to vote FOR the referendum. If you believe there ARE ALTERNATIVES--make your voice heard.
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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| Post Number: 112
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bianca
Group: Members
Posts: 1882
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,5:41 pm |
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How infuriating! 
Albert Lea school board requests Nov. vote
By Sarah Kirchner, staff writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 9:28 AM CDT
There will be an operating levy referendum in November with two questions for voters to answer:
The first question asks voters to approve an additional $869 per pupil per year for seven years.
This translates into an increase of $96 per year — or $8 per month — for an average household, Superintendent Dave Prescott said Tuesday. An average household, according to the Freeborn County assessor, is one where the property value is $100,000.
The second question asks for an additional $89 per pupil.
This $89 is on top of the $869, so the second question cannot have a yes vote unless the first question also has a yes vote. An additional $89 per pupil translates into $29 per year — $2.41 per month — on top of the $96 per month for an average household.
A voter can vote yes for question one or yes for both question one and question two. Question two cannot be approved alone.
The Albert Lea school board Tuesday approved the ballot language to thunderous applause from the citizen’s group Together Education Achieves More.
** Whoopy ding-dong TEAM golf clapped, now they can start writing their tax write-offs with all that money wasted on trying to manipulate people and students to vote a certain way. **
“We’re ready and eager,” said TEAM member Al Arends. Around 50 people came to the meeting to hear the school board’s decision to request a levy.
The measure approved Tuesday requests an increase in the general education revenue from the voting population for the Albert Lea School District through a levy vote Nov. 6. The new levy to be voted on will replace the existing levy, which expires at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.
If a voter says yes to both questions, then that voter is approving an additional $958 per pupil a year for seven years. That comes to an additional $125 per year — or $10.41 per month — in taxes from an average household. This figure represents the most any taxpayer will pay, as the levy will most likely decrease each year as the net tax capacity of the community will continue to grow, or the value of property of the community. There is also a reduction in students every year, which also decreases the amount of taxes collected, according to Prescott.
He said the district will send more information to community members in October about the ballot, why the district needs the referendum and how the money will be used.
A sample ballot will also be sent out with the exact look and wording of the November ballot on one side and an explanation of the facts, figures and wording on the other, Prescott said.
There are roughly 3,500 students in the Albert Lea School District. If the first question on the ballot is approved through November’s vote, the district will receive an additional $1.4 million per year for seven years. If both questions are approved, the district will see an additional total of $1.8 million per year for seven years.
The levy also includes an inflation rate adjustment clause, Prescott said. This will allow the district to get more money each year, but most likely  will not cost the taxpayer additional funds. The inflation rate adjustment is a state adjusted number. This is only the second year an inflation adjustment has been included on school levies, he said.
Prescott said the levy only accounts for about 10 percent of the district’s budget. The other 90 percent is from state and federal aid. He said local contributions to the school district’s budget are low compared to a lot of other districts in the state and even in Freeborn County.
In other business, the school board:
- Directed the administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions to help with budget reductions, should they be needed after the levy vote in November.
- Approved a budget amendment for the 2007-2008 school year. The adjustments to the capital budget include extra funding from the state.
Originally the district allocated $60,000 for replacement and purchase of new text books at the high school.
Because of the switch to the seven-period day, an additional $35,000 needs to be added.
THEN GO BACK TO THE FOUR PERIODS IF IT IS $35,000.00 CHEAPER
Money was also added to the budget to repair seats in the auditorium at Southwest Middle School. Another $10,000 was added to the budget.
The capital budget can only be used for capital expenses, and anything not spent this year will be kept in the reserve and used in future years.
- Approved the 2006-2007 Annual Report on Curriculum, Instruction and Student Performance. It includes a report from all the K-12 curriculum committees. This is an annual state-required report.
- Accepted a donation of $1,500 from the Alliant Energy Foundation for the Americorps Program.
- Accepted a donation of $250 from Ventura Foods for the soccer and baseball programs.
- Approved 19 nonresident agreements.
What a RACKET!!!!!!! Apparently still business as usual and as long as they get the money it doesn't even matter if our students are under par in Math and Reading.
jimhanson, I'm totally in agreement with you on this (shocking.... I know) there is absolutely no middle ground with these people. Their proposed "maybe" reductions were more than reasonable and your plan on splitting the cost between the district and the taxpayers was a great idea.
Apparently the school board and Prescott feel they shouldn't have to budge. Un-FRIGGIN-Believeable. Aaaargh!!
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I believe in the patriotism and energy and initiative of the average man. Woodrow Wilson
Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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| Post Number: 113
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bianca
Group: Members
Posts: 1882
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,6:13 pm |
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I've got it, a citizens group opposing increases until remedies are proven effective.
We can call it:
Vote No
Vow opposing taxes, education needs overhaul. 
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I believe in the patriotism and energy and initiative of the average man. Woodrow Wilson
Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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| Post Number: 114
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medic
Group: Members
Posts: 353
Joined: Apr. 2004
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,7:03 pm |
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Reduction in students every year? So why do you need more money? Has there been a reduction every year since the last referendum? If less student a year why so top heavy. With less students should you not need less office staff? Less of everything? If A.L. is growing why are there less students? If Prescott can show A.L. is not growing in students how can anyone say A.L. is growing at all, and then why should we put money in a sinking ship??? It looks to me that we are not bringing in new people to stay in Albert Lea.
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| Post Number: 115
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busybee
Group: Members
Posts: 2510
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,7:38 pm |
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Another great post Jim!
Love those questions...
What are we trying to accomplish?
I could ramble on and on about that one. To put it as simple as I can, to encourage communities to help financially support the definition of a "normal well-rounded student" based upon a philosophy no one is even sure is working to the best benefit of students academic progress within a competitive world.
What kind of school are we trying to be?
The same as we've always been.
What is important to us?
As a community, I would hope it would be academic instruction and student progress in academics. However, it has been drilled into our brains that students have to be allowed all these other experiences in order to graduate with a better education than past students have. Is that really happening?
As a parent, I don't understand sometimes parents who say to their middle schoool/high school child..."I don't care what it is, but you have to pick one extra cirricular activity to participate in at school." And, the community responds in kind by believing kids that don't participate in any school related activities is going to be the trouble makers. Isn't that limiting a child to only experience what a district offers, nothing more. Many parents and community members readily accept the philosophy that districts know better than anyone what children are going to enjoy participating in and get the most benefit from. That's not accurate and it never has been.
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| Post Number: 116
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| Post Number: 117
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medic
Group: Members
Posts: 353
Joined: Apr. 2004
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,7:48 pm |
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With a different principle in each school with different ideas and training how can the kids have a chance? Why not 1 for all the schools so all the grade school have the same standards and rules, then have this continued through high school. How much would this save? Is this not for the better of the kids? Have this person rotate through each school once a week. This would rim some fat and I think even give 241 a real idea of what is going on in there schools, instead of heairng different stories from different people in charge of the same thing. Any thoughts? Does Alden have the same principle for k-12? I think they are all in the same building.
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| Post Number: 118
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medic
Group: Members
Posts: 353
Joined: Apr. 2004
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Posted on: Sep. 05 2007,7:50 pm |
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Jim when are you printing T-Shirts? I'll take 4.
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| Post Number: 119
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| Post Number: 120
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