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School leaders: Bill hurts students
Published 12:00 p.m., April 9, 2009
Local school district leaders say a bill passed Tuesday in the Minnesota Senate would have a devastating impact on the education system.
The bill, which passed with a 37-29 vote, calls for a seven percent cut in education spending, or $972 million. But with federal stimulus funds, cuts would shrink to 3.2 percent, roughly $452.8 million.
Included are cuts in per pupil spending by $273, and an expansion of Q Comp, a pay for performance teacher funding program.
For the Fergus Falls District, which enrolls some 2,500 students, cuts would amount to roughly $82,000.
“Everything would have to be looked at all over again,” said Fergus Falls Superintendent Jerry Ness. “We would have to re-think everything and how we do business.”
Ness said while cuts would certainly have to be made, the district would have to examine all programs to determine where funds would be pulled from.
“Losing three percent of the funding, it would dramatically affect us,” Ness said.
In Underwood, district leaders are bracing for cuts they consider to be unavoidable with a diminished budget.
“All schools are going to be in the very difficult situation and decisions that nobody wants to make are going to have to be made,” said Underwood Principal John Hamann. “The bottom line is it’s going to hurt the students.”
The bill also calls for pre-kindergarten pilot projects for Otter Tail County, starting 2011.
“Anything with preschool...we would jump all over that,” Hamann said.
The Senate is set to vote on the final addition of the bill early next week. The House is expected to favor a stand-still in funding, while the governor is proposing an increase in funding, specifically for the Q Comp program.
Funding for education currently makes up 40 percent of the state’s budget.
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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. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by just_peachy (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What the H*** are these politicians thinking?? They know how the schools budgets are extremely tight righ now the way it is and then this--talk about kicking the education system when it is down. Thanks for the help Congressmen---our kids appreciate it alot.
Posted by werty (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to invest in our childrens future...btw everyones future....very lame.
Posted by JAnderson (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those bastard sacks...why don't they take a cut or get some more education themselves. I have met several policitians and they are so damn dumb it isn't even funny. Another horrible thing with education is how Pawlenty is pushing online education. Great...no accountability for students, no interaction, however...it is smart for the state because even though the education would suffer, the state is saving money because you can put 1 teacher in charge of thousands who are on the internet and still charge the same amount! There is Pawlenty of bullshi$ flying around!
Posted by shellback (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What are you all going to say or do when shortly there will be far less money. We raised the gas tax last fall, now we have less revenue. We raise property and income tax and there will be less revenue. With the revenue falling off a cliff, each quarter will be even more severe. This stimulus will make things worse. The cost for illegals means less for everyone else. When the illegals are given amnesty the schools should realy have fun. Property values are dropping but the county appraisals haven't caught up. When they do the schools will have even less.
Posted by wes (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tax the rich, spread the wealth.
Posted by TwinsGuy (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“Everything would have to be looked at all over again,” said Fergus Falls Superintendent Jerry Ness. “We would have to re-think everything and how we do business.”
Wow, what an idea. Here in lies the problem. This should have been done long ago and continue with every budget process. At least Gov. Pawlenty has set forth some ideas for discussion. Right or wrong, good or bad, we at least need to look for 21st century solutions rather than simply continuing with a failing and outdated system. Every business and household continue to learn how to operate with less, why should the public education "monster" be any different. As they say "tax the rich....till there are no rich no more".
Posted by earlhofert (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I usually take the schools side on issues, and regulary vote for tax increases, 'cause let's face it, my children deserve the best education...
...but I recently took a 5% pay cut, and had my 401k matching funds erased, so, if I have to suck it up, I think the schools can cut back a bit too.
"For the Fergus Falls District, which enrolls some 2,500 students, cuts would amount to roughly $82,000."
Seriously...correct me if I'm wrong, but that's $32.80 per student. Step up Fergus Falls!
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We should raise the cigarette tax some more and use the $$ for education.
Posted by GeorgeBWright (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps all those idiots who voted to waste $32 million for an unnecessary school building project in Fergus Falls should have thought about how Education is more important than New Buildings. They only need to look in the mirror to find someone to blame for money which is not properly allocated and spent for education. New brick and mortar does not make better education.
Posted by GeorgeBWright (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Seriously...correct me if I'm wrong, but that's $32.80 per student. Step up Fergus Falls!"
So suck it up and pay the extra $32.80 for your kid out of your own pocket! Step up Parent! If you won't come up with the money why should anyone else? You voted for that $32 million construction project. What's an extra $32.80 for you?
Posted by werty (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Put it my taxes then George. Problem is they just cut it and didn't make up for all of it in another area.
Posted by earlhofert (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
""Seriously...correct me if I'm wrong, but that's $32.80 per student. Step up Fergus Falls!"
So suck it up and pay the extra $32.80 for your kid out of your own pocket! Step up Parent! If you won't come up with the money why should anyone else? You voted for that $32 million construction project. What's an extra $32.80 for you? -----"
I was addressing the citizens of Fergus Falls, as I currently reside in one of the wonderful suburbs of the Twin Cities...a growing suburb that recently voted a property tax increase to build a new elementary and hire new teachers. If it came down to thirty two bucks, I think the folks here would pony up...thankfully, we're not in that sort of predicament.
If the citizens of Fergus are so upset about this funding, $32 shouldn't break the bank - what's that, like a tank of gas?...in fact, I'm surprised the school is making such a fuss about it, too. I would expect the school can figure out creative ways of managing the money without cutting programs....
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the schools would cut out all money they waste, they could go along ways just on that. All school sports should be privatly funded, that right there would put a large amount of taxpayer funds back in the classrooms.
Posted by clarson (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heres the problem with Fergus Falls. If we took the opinions of all the people who actually live here who deal with the situations on a daily basis instead of having people from all over the world constantly stating opinions on everything from weather to storage ordinances it would be more beneficial to the community.
Posted by earlhofert (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem with Fergus Falls is that the city council nor long term residents don't look around to other communities to see how they handle similar situations, which is one of a long list of reasons I eventually had to move away...
...I still keep land in Ottertail County, by the way, so I do have a vested interest in the health of the community.
Posted by clarson (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So you obviously know the ordeal of dealing with people who never want change, and thats the point. Instead of staying here and trying to get them to change, you left for your own reasons. Possibly for a better job or such, which is fine and I respect that as the jobs here (except for say, 10-15%) of them, are poor. But thats what many are trying to do is get them to change for the better. It doesn't help when we had a council and citizens that fight everything. Number one priority should be jobs right now, but will never happen and still keep paying certain people to create jobs and have not done much of anything. How long did you live here? what did you do? Just curious, and what are some more reasons you left? I probably would agree with you on most of them. I'm just saying theres a difference between living here and dealing with this daily as opposed to your situation.
Posted by jrjj (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can sure tell who posts at work all the time on these boards. Only post 8-5, monday thru Friday.
Posted by earlhofert (anonymous) on April 13, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
" How long did you live here? what did you do? Just curious, and what are some more reasons you left? "
My primary reason for leaving was the jobs prospect. After several years of schooling and technical training via the military, I still couldn't find employment that paid better than minimum wage - I would routinely get passed over for jobs because I didn't know the right people. Fergus is definately a "who you know" type of town...I can't count the number of times I was asked "who do you know in Fergus", or "are you related to so-and-so" when I'd introduce myself to people.
I had a family, and mortgage in Fergus. I'm also a lifetime member of Post 612. I had owned property in the area since 1994, and moved into town in 1996. I have stellar credentials in terms of education and experience in the IT field...the only thing I found that remotely allowed me to "practice my art" was a short stint wiring up the new Underwood school. Eventually I figured out that Fergus was a dry well and submitted one resume to a company in Minneapolis, went to the interview and was hired on the spot to start work the very next morning making five times what I was making in Fergus as a shift manager for a fast food operation - that was seven years ago, and I'm still working for the same company.
I still come back to Fergus, still have friends that live there, I still own property in the area, and someday I may move back, I think it's a great town for someone who can find a real living wage...it just seems to me that the folks there are obviously averse to change in any form, whether it be outsiders or ideas or progress.
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