If you read the letters from the Vote Yes committee you see how anyone with a no vote is attacked.
I am going to give my very own reasons for choosing to VOTE NO.
On December 8th ISD 2142 will be asking its taxpayers to approve an 78.8 million dollar referendum. This after interest will come to approx, 120 million dollars. This money will be owed for 20 years whether a school stays open in Tower-Soudan or not. The tax base in the Tower-Soudan area is 1/3 of the tax base in the St. Louis County schools. Think of it this way- our area will pay 1/3 of this 120 million back and we will get very little worth anything in return.
The money they are asking for will build 2 new schools one in Alborn and one in Cook/Orr, It will put 10 million into Cherry and 5 million to mothball Babbitt. It will also put 5 million into Tower-Soudan to tear down the existing High School while turning our multipurpose room into a fitness center. ( I do not get the fitness center as kids under 13 are not supposed to use weight equipment)
The money will not benefit educational improvements at all. Will the AYP increase with this plan? No
The vote yes committee wants everyone to think if you vote no you dont care about our kids, the truth is if you vote yes you are forgetting many of our kids. Whether anyone wants to hear it or not the Tower-Soudan area kids are important TOO! All the kids are important in the district- not just those who are in taconite areas, not just those with loud board reps- ALL KIDS MATTER!!!!!
My daughters and their classmates have lost big. They will no longer be able to go to school with their friends. They will be riding busses for long periods of time. They will know forever that people sold them out because they didnt care.
I will make sure the local kids know that I fought for them. That I know that there is no such thing as half a cookie. Walk into a bakery and ask to order a half a cookie.... I bet you wont find that on any menu! The fact is some things are all or nothing- education is one of them. Either you educate our kids all the way or your just dont educate them.
If you listen to the vote yes committee you would believe our kids are not educated anyway- I ask you this... if this is the case then why do schools such as CSS and UMD offer our kids such huge scholarships if they are not educated? Why do our kids excel when they get there? I have 2 who have gone on to higher education from the Tower-Soudan school. They are handling college just fine. The facts are our children are educated, they do excel, but our local education is over because we as an area have been forgotten.
Please do not Vote Yes.
Vote NO - lets go back to the drawing board and find a solution that makes sense. A solution that INCLUDES all kids.
Dena Suihkonen
Tower-Soudan area mother
I agree with what this person says. I am voting NO and I hope that everyone votes NO..If people think that building new schools is going to fix the problem, they are wroing. In three years 2142 will have to have an operating levy passed to keep these schools open. How much money has the school wasted on trying to push this yes vote, how much money has been spent on Johnson Controls. Vote No..Vote NO..Vote NO!!
Did I remember to say VOTE NO
I am wondering if the school board is being paid for all the meetings they are scedualing in the Tower-Soudan, Greenwood, Bois Forte areas they have scedualed this week. I am sure- I doubt they do anything for free. Per dium and mileage for all!!!!
Vote No.
Or the entire town of Tower will die.
Vote Yes.
Or the entire town of Tower will die.
Please think this through.
Iron Ranger voting NO doesn't kill Tower. Isd 2142 and Johnson Controls have already done a bang up job of that. Voting NO allows us to move on to the 5 city planning process. I say let's give our area a chance and work together for a new plan.
How is the 5 city planning process coming along? We haven't heard much since city representatives were invited to meet in Tower on November 4. How many cities have now formally signed on? Have any subsequent meetings occurred?
Hoodoo,
Considering that the 5 city plan is a plan B nothing can be determined until after Dec. 8th. There are quite a few taxpayers and city's and townships interested in the 5 city plan but until the vote has been determined one way or another moving forward must wait. No sense in putting the cart before the horse.
I see. Vote no and go for the "5 city plan" which doesn't exist, nor does it even have the support of 5 cities let alone the multitude of townships. Brilliant.
That's right Babbitt has not joined yet because they think they will get everything with the plan offered by ISD 2142.
Hoodoo. I find it hilarious that posters such as you are unwilling to even post your name yet you feel the need to attack those who are looking for a plan that gives all children and all communities respect. The truth is we atleast are working for a better plan you are just sitting behind a computer attacking what you will never understand.
My children, their friends and our community ate worth my time and effort. I have gone to almost every meeting to try to work with the school board and administration. I was ignorred and my area was short changed. Education is for everyone. You want to be taken seriously? Then post with your own name and city. If you are so proud if your school plan then be adult enough to put your name on your opinion. Otherwise go play somewhere else because this is real kids and towns on the table. The reality is this matters to us.
I think the pot is calling the kettle black....What is your name greentea? and we all know that you come from holier than thou, Tower...
white dahlias-
look at the blog that started this - my real name is signed to my post- once again the yes voters seem to have trouble reading. haha