Education Notebook

Opinion: Editorial board weighs in on upcoming levy

The Post-Bulletin Editorial Board weighed in about the upcoming levy referendum, suggesting that the board will be moving uphill. They also said it makes sense to take a close look at any other consulting expenses incurred by moving forward with the levy campaign.

The consulting company typically conducts a survey to understand community sentiment toward a levy, what the community would support, etc.  The link is below, with the entire editorial pasted, too.

(Again, it should be noted: the P-B Editorial Board is completely separate from newsroom coverage. The editorial board takes an opinionated view, while reporters report the news. I have no bearing on what is written in editorials, just as the editorial writers have no bearing on what appears on the news side of things. I feel like I need to bring this up, simply because someone once anonymously complained that the editorials were too opinionated. If anything, I consider that a compliment. -EM)

LINK: Board will have to make strong case for levy

ARTICLE: Board green-lights levy referendum

The Rochester school board on Tuesday night green-lighted the creation of a levy referendum campaign this fall.

If approved by taxpayers, it would raise millions of dollars for the school district, but would also raise annual taxes for landowners. The exact figures have yet to be released, as the school district will now begin researching what could receive voter approval.

"We have an opportunity to bring a levy referendum to the community and ask our voters to continue to stand in support of education and to continue to support every child," Rochester public schools Superintendent Romain Dallemand said.

But approval may be difficult.

Even the school board decision to offer the referendum wasn't unanimous. The measure was eventually approved, 6-1, with board member Fred Daly dissenting.

That was quick - Anti-Rochester public school referendum clip hits YouTube

Well, that was fast.

If Rochester public schools officials were wondering if they would face any political battles in going after a operating levy referendum this fall, they have their answer: Yes.

As I reported earlier today, Rochester public schools are considering putting a levy referendum on this fall's ballot. Granted, the board is going to talk about the matter tonight and hasn't even officially announced that they will go after a levy. Even more, possible levy figures haven't been released yet, either.

This is only a 20 second video -- and it's not as if the production values totaled into the thousands of dollars and hours of time -- but at the very least, the quick timing of its creation shows that at least some people around town are ready to shout down a new levy.

The vid was posted by "RochesterGadfly," who posts as a P-B Commenter as "Rochester_Gadfly."

Here's a link to the video: