The people’s struggle continues! After countless rounds of communication with the School Board of District 2142, this elected body stubbornly refuses to listen. So the efforts to be heard go on! Despite what some people argue was a bona fide election that “must be honored”, fact has it that it was less than honorable. Careful review has revealed that district officials under the spell of Johnson Controls, Inc. disseminated inaccurate information to its constituents and also to an official government office, the MN Board of Education, to get approval for their disastrous plan.

Some argue that the “Vote Yes” contingent prevailed and therefore the plan must go forward, but when one examines the specifics, it is evident that the division between north and south is so strong that the long-range success of the plan is seriously threatened. And long-range success HAS to be considered. After all, we’re talking about a minimum twenty year commitment to the education of our children.

This school board was faced with a big problem, a problem bigger than they were prepared to deal with, and they were sold a bill of goods by a company that stood to gain millions. Now that they have signed on the dotted line, they are afraid of the consequences should they actually listen to reason, do the right thing, and begin backing out of the plan. They would rather risk the wrath of poor folks than the legal team of a Fortune 500 company.

This has been a long battle and it still isn’t over. We may be “poor” but we aren’t dumb. I am amazed at the collective intelligence, experience, passion and tenacity we have to pursue what is right. After attending lots of meetings and listening to many people’s voices, we have figured out what’s going on and just exactly what’s at stake if we don’t keep fighting. After this length of time, alternative solutions are being developed, ones that are far more sensible, less costly and better-suited for our children and our communities.

There is no question that citizens who voted for and against the school board’s proposal have a common interest in our children’s educations. I have not for a minute thought that, given good information and an environment where we feel heard, we could not pool our commitment to good schools and improve on this unpopular plan — one that rewards all the wrong people and leaves our communities destroyed in its wake.

What we need right now is more time – time to investigate more thoroughly our legal rights and time to communicate our valid objections to the proper officials who can do something about this tainted attempt at democracy called the Dec. 8 Referendum. We also need money – money to hire an attorney to research our case and advocate effectively for our cause. Please, send whatever you can afford to: Save Our Schools Fund, P.O. Box 499, Tower, MN 55790. Keep attending meetings. Sign petitions. Make phone calls. And don’t lose hope!

Kathleen McQuillan

Cook, Minn.