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Lawmakers to blame for fees
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008
While it would be easy to criticize the Fergus Falls School Board for doubling the fees students pay to participate in activities, the Legislature should shoulder a good portion of the blame.
With a district deficit of more than $2 million, school officials are faced with one of two difficult choices: cut teachers and programs, or raise revenues. The athletic department is no different.
Certainly, the athletic fees are getting to a point where families with multiple children will find them difficult to afford. In addition, if more cuts are needed, cutting some athletic programs with low participation levels might be a better option than raising fees again.
However, Sen. Dan Skogen and Rep. Bud Nornes need to take the issues Fergus Falls and many other outstate schools face to the Legislature. While many in St. Paul might find statistics that suggest education funding has increased in Minnesota in recent years, the plight of the Fergus Falls School District would suggest that, at least here, the funding has not gone far enough.
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 RedWolf (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone needs to look at the ISD's drivers ed program. It has lost over $20,000 in the past five years. I have also heard that all of the expenses are not being allocated to the program. Why is the ISD raising rates for everything but keeping a program that is losing money? Where is the common sense?????????
Posted by eripsni (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Schools need to be run more like businesses. The inefficiencies present in public schools would send any private business "out of business" in such a short amount of time...
Posted by lookitup (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like RedWolf runs a private driver's ed program.
Posted by doctipster (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think so lookitup. I think he hit it right on the head. There are 3 driving schools within an hour of fergus. Why keep something that is costing us money.
Schools are a business. Like it or not...
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Turn the schools over to private management and they would make money and save taxes at the same time.
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