Education Notebook

What do YOU think? Is education funding a 'black hole?'

As talk about a possible levy referendum in Rochester ramps up, the opinions are starting to come in about education spending. Rochester resident Dale Stowers wrote a letter to the editor about this, explaining that he feels the looming levy question leaves him in a no-win situation.

I think he poses an interesting question, not only to Rochester residents but also to those living in other communities that are considering a referendum. How does my regular reader respond to this? Here's the letter from Mr. Stowers (which also appears in today's paper:

Regarding the commentary in the Post-Bulletin on Feb. 24 from Rochester art teacher Michael Carson:

I am advised to endorse this school district's current leadership. I am urged to stifle any and all negative opinions regarding such. I am asked to vote for the school levy in spite of my convictions and forego my freedom of speech to express my opinion. I am painted as an enemy of the students of Rochester if Ido not vote yes.

If I vote yes on the school levy, the school board and the overpaid superintendent and cabinet would assume they have my tacit approval of the way things have been run in the past few years. This is not the case, and I will not vote for a school levy to allow the administration to continue the status quo. This is the same old song and dance with a different singer.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura said it best: "Education in Minnesota is like a black hole that will never ever have enough money."

-Dale Stowers, Rochester

What do YOU think?

PRELIMINARY dates for high school redesign committee (the group reviewing how high school schedules could be changed)

Again, the operative word here is PRELIMINARY. Preliminary.

The Rochester High School Redesign Committee has set up some, ahem, preliminary meeting dates for staff, students and community members.

Here they are:

Staff Input Sessions:
    •    Century High School - TBD
    •    John Marshall High School - Tuesday, September 15 (10:30-1:30 p.m. & After School)
    •    Mayo High School - Thursday, September 17 (Before/After School & during all three lunches)

Parent Input Sessions:
    •    Century High School - Monday, September 14 (8:00 p.m./after open house)
    •    John Marshall High School - Monday, September 21 (8:30 a.m. or p.m.?) or September 22 (12:00 p.m.)
    •    Mayo High School - Monday, September 21 (6:30 p.m.)

Student Input Sessions:
    •    Century High School - Thursday, September 17 (During lunches)
    •    John Marshall High School - Wednesday, September 23 (8:30-10:00 a.m.)
    •    Mayo High School - Tuesday, September 22 (Before/After School & during all three lunches)

Here is the original link to what the committee is reviewing...

[PB]

Link: Rochester schools look at high school redesign

Calling all Rochester elementary school parents...

Are you a parent who has a child at a choice school? Are you a parent who is on a waiting list at a choice school? Are you a parent who put your child on the choice school waiting list but didn't win the lottery?

Are you tired of reading consecutive questions? (Points for anyone who remembers the movie in which a young Macaulay Culkin asks an adult relative several questions in a row. It's a USA Network staple.)

Anyways, if you can answer "YES" to any of the first three questions, please send me an e-mail or call (507-285-7624).

-Elliot