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Lawmakers must fund education
Published Saturday, November 10, 2007
Two-thirds of the Minnesota school districts seeking levy referundums received the support of their communities in Tuesday’s general election.
While the fact that the school districts will be receiving new money for their classrooms soon, it can’t be overshadowed by the fact that one-third of the referendum requests — or 32 districts— were shot down by voters. One of those schools was right here in Otter Tail County in the Parkers Prairie School District.
State Leaders must boost their financial commitment to our state education system. It’s a move necessary to preserve the schools in many of our rural communities.
In Parkers Prairie a successful referendum would have increased the district’s general education revenue by $447.85 per pupil — or $240,000. That money would have been used to offset a decrease in state aid brought on by declining enrollment Based on the district’s current enrollment, school district officials are estimating a loss of 74 students in the next five years. That most likely will result in a cut in teachers and programs.
The news isn’t much better in Fergus Falls, where Superintendent Jerry Ness announced Wednesday that the school district is in statuatory operating debt. Fergus Falls has made $2.3 million in budget cuts the past two years as enrollment declined more than 100 students. The 2007-08 enrollment was down more than 50 students over last year.
Property taxpayers are at their limit and have been gracious in funding education.
Now is the time for our lawmakers to properly fund our schools.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on November 10, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yet some of the fergus falls citizens decided to vote for ness's beautifully invisioned plan of 32.5 million dollars to fix up an old school, tear down part of one and totally not use another. Oh and yeah, lets see if we can get students to not only come to our district but also get the students who left to want to come back to our district. Put patches on an old building. (Great Idea)
So now on to what I have said the whole time, that this 32.5 million is just a short term loan for the school, and we will soon find ourselves in the position that not only are we going to be paying on this loan but they are going to need a new school or figure something else out because this simply is not going to work. How does another 70 million sound? Of course if the district is smart again they are going to hold the election during an odd month and not a primary voting like in november because everyone knows that people get out to vote the primary's, push the ballot through in May and only the people who really want the school will vote for it, people who don't want it or don't really care may not try to make the extra attempt to get out there and vote. Oh yeah, thats how you got the last referendum passed isn't it.
Simply put, by passing that stupid referendum last spring I think fergus falls residents are going to find themselves paying through the nose in the future.
Sorry fergus while I may have to pay for your stupid ideas because i currently live here, I don't have to send my kids to the school. (Thank God for Underwood and Ashby) they can have the funding for my kids.
Why send my kids to a school that cuts programs, cuts teachers, and is a breeding ground for drugs, alcohol, and teen pregnancy. Lets not even look at the extra curricular aspect...
WAY TO GO DISTRICT for putting up a lousy plan, and suckering the citizens into voting for it.
And lets not even start about it was the citizens plan, and a task forces plan.
We all know or at least those who were involved in it know, that there was no discussion on a new school. The warners didn't even put that into their report, it was the warners report who were hired by the district and the task force was given three choices.
Why even call it a task force. Who pick three evils, get a bunch of people together tell them this is the end of the road and you have to pick one of these., thats not productive. You limit choices, you limit ideas, in to only what you want. in the end the district got what it wanted, and they no longer care, oh yeah except now we have to pay for it....
A pretty pissed off fergus resident....
Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on November 13, 2007 at 2:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Because this unfortunatly is where my job is. I don't hate everything about fergus falls. We have a beautiful city, I just hate the way the school district went about this. It was never on the up and up. They said whatever people wanted to hear in order to make them happy and vote yes. My god after showing us 50 60 and 70 million dollar school proposals, everyone finally took a quick breath when it only came in at 32.5 But that is never the end. Sorry jerry, i don't hate everything, just the way things are handled.
Posted by misadventurer (anonymous) on November 13, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the source of the funding Lawmakers will apply to education? The source of all funds is us, like it or not. We all pay for all schools, especially when funding is bumped up the ladder a rung of two.
The fact remains that rural schools are facing declining enrollment and from all signs are going to continue to face a decline. For any munber of reasons, the student count is very likely to continue to fall here. Count the number of obituaries in the Journal for a certain period of time and compare it to the birth notices for the same period to see one contributer to decline.
It's a kneejerk reaction to declare "there's not enough money for schools, we need funds from somewhere". Could it not be a better answer to do better with what we have and do like any other entity would do in lean times............buckle up and watch our nickles and focus on the mission?
Our district has a great opportunity to adjust to the future now. If the facilities project is done with some foresight, which we all were assured it would be, we may hope that one day it will cost us less to provide quality education to a smaller group of students rather than more because there are fewer students.
Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on November 14, 2007 at 3:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fewer students because a lot of parents including myself believe that sending our kids to underwood or ashby they will have a better chance for a good future. PSOP, and other great classes all available in other districts but fergus keeps on cutting away...
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