Community members from Tower, Ely, Cook, Orr and Babbitt plan to gather next week to discuss other options — including the creation of a new school district — to ensure a quality education for students.
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Tower Civic Center, was prompted by concerns about the lack of a backup plan by School District 2142 should its proposal for restructuring schools fail.
“We just feel there is a better way out there,” said Tower Mayor Steve Abrahamson. “We have no set agenda other than to come up with ideas for continuing to provide a quality education for our students.”
Threat of dissolution
The driving force behind Wednesday’s meeting is School District 2142’s contention that its restructuring plan is the only solution for the school’s troubled finances.
At a September study session aimed at developing a backup plan should voters reject the district’s $78.8 million bond proposal, a majority of board members decided that no other solution was viable. Under the board’s scenario, the district would be forced to close schools and cut programs. Those moves would hasten the exodus of students to the other districts through open enrollment and eventually result in the district’s dissolution, board members asserted.
But at least two members of the board — Andy Larson, who represents the Tower-Soudan attendance area, and Zelda Bruns, who represents the Orr attendance area, have questioned that view. “Dissolution is not an option,” said Larson at the September meeting.
That, in turn, has led community members to search for alternative plans should the bond issue be rejected.
Representatives of Ely, which is dealing with its own financial crisis, have aso been invited to participate in the discussions.
“Those of us in government understand that there is safety in numbers,” said Ely Mayor Roger Skraba. “The greater the numbers, the more clout and money you have.”
Skraba is optimistic that a solution that benefits all the communities can be achieved and said it’s better for communities to develop their own plan than have the county or state decide their futures for them.
“Our state lawmakers are aware of what is happening in our school districts,” said Skraba. “They’re looking for a solution to come from us. That’s the best way to do this and I’m hoping we can all agree on a plan.”
Joel Astleford, of Orr, said it’s not just education that’s at stake in each community, but also the livelihood of each site.
“If a school leaves your town, it will have an economic impact,” said Astleford, who heads the Orr Economic Development Council. “The school hasn’t provided a backup plan if the referendum fails, and there’s a strong chance it will. We need to have a couple of plans in place in case that happens.”
Abrahamson said the meeting is open to all those interested in the discussion and stressed that the objective is to be positive.
“We’re not meeting to criticize the district, but to come up with solutions,” he concluded.
Jobs are the engine that drives economics and demographics for any community.
Demographics are the engine that drive the ability to have schools.
Schools compliment a community, but they do not drive jobs, economics, or demographics.
Orr, for example, has only 2 kindergarten children lined up for the 2010-11 school year. For one to to do anything other than lobby for a nice consolidated school facility for Orr's children is a disservice to the kids. Vote yes.
Lonesome_Polecat,
Without a school an area will never attract new families. I disagree with your statements that a school does not drive a community.
I will be voting NO. I really have nothing to lose. If I vote yea they will be closing the Tower-Soudan School. If I vote no and continue working with the group who will be meeting Wednesday I and my children have a chance to keep a school. ISD 2142 has thrown away money hand over fist for a half baked plan. I will not be "hitching" my childrens education future to a administration who has no idea how to spend money sensibly.
VOTE NO to allow time to make a plan that includes all communities.
VOTE NO to give our kids a chance.
I have a couple of comments. First of all the Mayor is quoted as saying we are not going to criticize the district. I attended the meeting and there was an awful lot of that going on through out the forum. I thought the facilatator did a poor job actually keeping the focus of the group to solutions. The second comment is for lonesome pole cat. If the referendum should fail you think you will still have a school to have your children attend...The school district will have the school you will have nothing. It will be put up for bid or demolition. I am guessing that it will not be maintained after the end of the school year. Who will have the money to purchase it or maintain it? I pray for your children that they don't have to be bussed all the way to Ely for an education with a NO vote and a hope that there will be a school in the town of Tower. The other comment I had is how does a news paper editor fit in with city officials to decide what should be done with the schools.