There are no magic solutions for St. Louis County Schools
The challenges facing ISD 2142 are well-known in our communities. Enrollment in our schools is dropping, and there is little hope that the State of Minnesota will be able to substantially increase funding for public schools in the next few years. We can no longer support the cost of operating and staffing seven school buildings in this school district – the numbers just don’t add up.
After months of work analyzing options to protect the future of ISD 2142, the school board voted to support a plan for realigning our school district into five attendance areas. We did not decide on a plan quickly or privately – we involved citizens throughout the district in a process to determine what is best for all students and taxpayers in our district. If there were enough students and adequate funding, every board member would prefer that we keep seven schools open. But we can no longer afford that luxury in ISD 2142.
Lately, some have accused ISD 2142 of using scare tactics to get people to vote for the bond referendum to fund the realignment plan on Dec. 8. They’re claiming the school board and administration are “crying wolf” by painting too gloomy a picture about the possibility of the district dissolving if a “no” vote prevails.
Just to be clear, the school board and administration are not “crying wolf.” Residents have asked us to tell them what happens if this bond referendum fails, and we are being honest with them. While some people believe we have another plan in our back pockets that will be less painful and will keep more schools operating in their current locations, let us make three things very clear:
(1) There is no “magic plan.” (2) Reorganization is inevitable, whether ISD 2142 continues in operation or if the district dissolves and students are transferred to other school districts. (3) Delaying a decision on a plan will only create deeper economic problems for a district facing a huge budget deficit in the next several years.
It is important that every resident have the facts that have led the school board to believe that dissolution of the school district is probably inevitable if this bond referendum does not pass. Judge for yourself why we have reached this conclusion.
Here are the facts regarding the realignment plan.
Today, as enrollment continues to drop closer to 2,000 students (compared to 2,800 just 10 years ago), ISD 2142 can no longer afford to support operations in seven different facilities. There’s just too much wasted space, and operating excess space takes valuable resources away from staff and programs that improve education for our children.
Failure to pass this referendum will leave the district with a significant operating deficit and require us to close facilities and reduce programs just to remain out of debt. Yet our schools would still be outdated and unable to provide modern curriculum.
Parents in ISD 2142 have other options available to educate their children. We currently border 19 different school districts. The more outdated our schools become, the more attractive other districts will be to our residents.
Every time a student leaves our district, we lose thousands of dollars in state funding. In other words, as students leave, the money needed for our operating budget leaves with them.
Three times in recent years, the school board has recommended a levy to residents to increase ISD 2142’s operating budget. All three times, our residents voted no. If they also vote no on a referendum, is it logical to believe they will support the next operating levy or bond referendum, now that they have voted no four straight times?
None of this will result in immediate dissolution of the school district. But, how much more do you think we can cut if we continue to have an operating deficit every year? How many different ways can we appeal to voters to support a local tax increase? How many more students need to leave before we face the inevitable – that we no longer have enough students or resident support to fund our school district? The district will close schools to balance our budget.
We don’t enjoy passing along such bleak information. But they’re the facts. For those who are going to question the messenger, we can sleep much better if you’re questioning us now, while there’s still time to do something, rather than questioning us later about why we didn’t tell you how serious our financial picture is.
Charles Rick is Superintendent of ISD 2142. Robert Larson is the Chair of the district’s Board of Education.
It's amazing how they admit the plan is not perfect yet they want us to vote to give them an 80 million dollar blank check. I also wonder how many people realize that if they get a yes vote they can add on to the amount by a certain percentage if the costs run higher then they expect. Everyone needs to remember the ISD 2142 mantra there are guarantees. I myself think for 80 million dollars we deserve a guarantee and a perfect plan.
They know the plan isn't perfect, that's why they have conducted dog and pony shows throughout the district. They have the weak minds on their side and they are sending union agitator and Cherry School Board director to communities that won't blindly buy into the plan. And it is not $80 million, it is $78.8 million + $46.2 million interest for a total of $125 million over 20 years which everyone has to pay even if the district dissolves. Think about that everybody with a head.
Orrcountry,
So you have had fun with the Cherry militia too. They seem to feel my sign is wrong. I just find it hilarious that they feel it is ok to come to Tower- Soudan and tell us we have to vote yes so their kids get to gradute from Cherry. This is when the Tower -Soudan area kids will never graduate from Tower- Soudan whether we have a yes or no vote.
My sign states Tower-Soudan kids are important too. Vote NO.
Now an educated individual would know this means that every areas
kids are important. Too means also. It means as well. They see this as save their area and if other people have to pay. So what. The fact is all areas matter. All kids are important. Do not ask me to think as a district when you refuse to think as a district
VOTE NO. Tower-Soudan area kids are important TOO !!!!!!!
Greentea: Wow that was an inspirational post, I had to duck below the screen in case the arrows were aimed at me. Yes, we were blessed with the presence of Mr. Darrell Bjerklie, Cherry School Board Director on Thursday November 19 at the daily morning meeting of the world's greatest minds at the Pelican Bay A&W. Two interesting comments: Mr. Bjerklie assured us if a NO vote prevailed, the School Board would close the Orr School and he further assured us that he had the votes on the board to do it. We took that as a veiled threat. In retrospect, maybe it wasn't veiled and he meant it. Another world leader from the Orr school attendance area posed the question, rather directly I might add: would you, Mr. Bjerklie be willing to sign a document stating that the school board will not come back for an excessive operating levy after a YES vote. Bjerklie did everything in his power to side-step the question, but the Orr world leader would not relent. Mr. Bjerklie would not agree to the demand. You fill in the blanks.
It is very sad to read so much anger and hostility from greentea and orrcountry. What I understand is that a NO vote will hurt everyone. I don't think there is a perfect plan out there. Perfection is very elusive. I know I have never achieved it myself, even though I have strived to do so. A NO vote will guarantee that there will be schools closed after this current school year. I don't claim to know what schools will be closed. I just know that whichever schools are closed, there will be students traveling over all kinds of roads just to get to school. Yes, greentea, I have read your posts about not wanting your kids to travel 25 miles to go to Babbitt for school, but 15 miles would have been OK. Think of the students out there who travel much farther already. There is a family in the Orr area that drove their children 25 miles one-way just to meet the bus to get them to Orr. That's 100 miles every day, just to and from the school bus. Now the kids are driving themselves over 25 miles one way to get to school. If Orr and Cook close, how much further do they have to travel? If Tower closes completely due to a NO vote, what alternative is there? Drive to Babbitt, drive to Ely, drive to Virginia, drive to Mesabi East or drive to Cook. That's only if Babbitt and Cook aren't closed along with Tower. I think it takes a lot of guts to go to a place where you know there are people who are up in arms agaist you, and speak what you believe. I don't see greentea or orrcountry going to areas that are very pro-YES and speaking what they believe. It's much safer to stay known as greentea and orrcountry than to actually put your name out there for what you believe in. Whether one is to vote YES or NO, I believe what Mr. Bjerklie has done is admirable. If the NO votes prevail, the district has said they will close 3-4 schools at the end of this school year, out of financial necessity. If you vote no, I would like to see you go to these schools and let them know that you helped to close the school and put people out of work. If the NO votes prevail, greentea and orrcountry can turn their anger and hostility inward, knowing that they have no one else to blame. No, the plan isn't perfect. But greentea and orrcountry have NO plan. I'll go with a slightly imperfect plan, thank you.
Everyone knows my name. Ask around. Hey let's change the game plan. Lets close Cherry and put that 10 million into saving other schools. Sounds fair to me.
I was at a Vote YES meeting in Tower, and we were told that when the board was coming up with different options, the board member from Cherry offered up the Cherry School to be closed and a new one built in the Zim area to serve Cotton and Cherry. I think that shows that many formats were looked at and considered to find the best possible plan. The best plan, I believe, would keep all 7 sites open. Unfortunately, that plan (the levy referendum) was voted down three times. The current plan is the next-best plan. What do you have against Cherry? You seem to mention that school all the time.
The only plan then Tower- Soudan area was offerered closed our school in one form or another. Why do we mention Cherry so often? Well because Cherry loses NOTHING and gets a 10 million dollar payday.
You asked why I do not go to Vote Yes functions and try to speak? It's called RESPECT ma'm. I also do not attack the letters to the editor your little area
kids have written in class to send to the area
newspapers. Would I allow my children to be used that way? No I would not. I guess that is my personal opinion. Do my children cry over what this district is doing to them? Yes they do. At 11 and 9 they know that they are being cheated.
Oh another thing. I live across the street from a school. The 25 mile each way ride I speak of is school to school. It does not include the miles rural kids will travel in the Tower-Soudan area. Make a motion to close the Cherry school and we will talk. Until then? I guess I will be voting NO.
luv2laf: I have no problem with you and Bjerklie building your new school in the Zim swamp. Just leave Cook, Orr and Tower-Soudan alone. We are working on a plan, only we have to work free of charge, on our own time, unlike the teachers, school board members, school administrators and Johnson Controls who work on their (your) plan and bill the district for their time. No anger and hostility here, just common sense and disappointment with your team who should know better. Try harder again to get under our skin.
What does Babbitt lose in this plan? Nothing. Babbitt, along with Cherry, have their buildings remodeled under the Bond Referendum. Also, Cook and Orr get a brand new school, as do the Alborn, Meadowlands and Brookston areas. Tower, I agree, gets the worst deal out of the package. They get a remodeled elementary school, and time to plan for their high school, whether the plan includes a charter school, or consolidation with Babbitt on a high school. Tower has a high school which has been in terrible condition for far too long. However, a NO vote will close 3-4 schools. What is the likelyhood of Tower being one of those? I don't know. It's a gamble on which schools will be closed. I am not going to gamble with a NO vote. I want a high school in Tower, but I am not willing to throw all other schools away to try to get it.
I have read posts of greentea's where children's letters to the editor have been attacked. In fact, I posted that I like to see letters to the editor from students all over the area. I also posted to say that, whether you agree with him or not, Mr. Bjerklie deserves respect for putting his name out there. He is not ashamed of what he believes. Respect is not calling him part of a "Cherry Militia".
You told me to ask around and people would tell me who you are. Sorry, they couldn't help me. They didn't know either. I will not ask you again, as for whatever reason you do not want to state your name yourself.
I have not posted what area in our district I am from, or what school my children go to. However, you seem to think you know who I am. I wonder how you have come to your conclusion? I have purposely tried to remain generalized to the district, as I feel we are ONE district and we need to remember we are in this together. If certain areas of our district want to break off and do their own thing, that is their right. I do not hold that against anyone. We all need to do what we feel is best for our children. However, it is not fair to those who will not have a school at the end of this school year because the Bond Referendum fails. Vote YES! Babbitt, Alborn, Cotton, Orr, Cherry and Cook kids are important, too!!!
If you had read any of my blogs you would see my name right there it is Dena Suihkonen. I am the mother of 4 daughters who are very involved in volunteer activities as well as good students. My daughters range in age from 21 to 9 and they work hard. The facts are the district would never vote to give us a High School yet you expect us to raise our taxes for 20 years so your child can graduate from Cherry. I will be voting no as will my whole family. We believe that taking some time to find a better plan makes sense. You see this as save your kids. I do as well. My kids are the future just like your kids are. They all deserve the same respect.
Tower-Soudan area kids are important too. VOTE NO!!!!!
A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit your area. Being a thirty-four year educator and eighteen year high school administrator, I visited all the schools in ISD 2142 and learned a little about your district. My first thoughts were about the sheer size of your district and all the logistical issues I'm glad I don't have to deal with i.e. transportation, maintainance, utilities, course offerings, staffing, etc. and I can't begin to imagine the ramifications of Minnesota's open enrollment policies. My second thoughts were about how proud people seemed to be about their individual schools and the sense of unity all seemed to have about their district. It seemed like a "rugged individualist" or "settlers' sense of accomplishment and stick-to-it-ivness. Since my visit, I've followed your events in the Timberjay and enjoyed following along from afar.
When the District began asking for support of tax increases I was sure poeple would support the opportunity to improve the educational opportunities for students and the improvement of buildings that sometimes seemed to represent the identity of a community.
I was disappointed to read how many times groups banded together to derail the various plans because they didn't get what they wanted or felt their share wasn't what someone else's was. It seemed somewhat like the dog who lost his bone while barking at his reflection in the water and wanting the reflections bone. It appeared that, people were going to keep saying NO until they got what they wanted individually. I recall a group feeling it so important to have swimming pools available that they were going to raise funds just for that purpose. I haven't read much about how that turned out. The "get it done together" image went to "isolationist" or "special interest".
I can only imagine how difficult it must be to try and face the changes in what was, and what is now the face of small towns. When the region was booming, there were people coming, jobs to be filled, growth to be kept up with, etc. But, these are different times, not just in small towns, not just Minnesota. I work in the second largest school district in Kansas. Our district serves nearly 30,000 students. Our Governor just dropped a 156 million dollar budget cut on K-12 education for the second half of this year, and our district has to cut a little over seven million by the end of May. It seems everyone is looking a tough choices. Because of my appreciation for your area, I wrestle with your concerns from afar, wanting your district to pull through this as a stronger and better region providing students their best opportunities..
The reason I'm sending a comment, is to ask those of you who are really interested in doing what is best for the students in your district to vote with reason and thought and not emotion. You may home school your children, or use open enrollment to send them to a neighboring district, but the district you live in is yours, the students living there are your future to provide for, don't isolate yourself and think "I have to get mine and can't worry about someone else getting theirs". Whether you vote yes or vote no, vote for your kids,
the one's nxt door or the ones who will be your region twenty years from now.
I read lots of bickering and criticism in the comments listed. I'll send this one comment and not exchange barbs or quips. I feel that just takes up space and doesn't solve anything. I'm a long way away and may be an "outsider" but I'm interested in the success of your students and the development of your district. ISD 2142 is unique and is that way for lots of good reasons, I'd hate to see it go away but respect the fact that the decissions are yours. As a life-long educator, I know some of the constraints of trying to formulate a plan that meets the needs of an area, but never one as large as yours. I see ISD 2142 at a crossroad and quickly running out of time for decisions. I know I'll visit again, and I hope to visit all your schools and be once again impressed with your pride and sense of togetherness.
rilarick76,
I make every decision based on my children. I have voted yes every single time the district asked for a levy referendum. I have supported my childrens school as well as the district. I have gone to almost every single meeting the board has had regarding the bond referendum. I district has chosen to ignore the children in the Tower-Soudan area. I wonder if you realize that our area makes up 1/3 of the tax base in ISD 2142. I also wonder if you realize that we will lose our HIgh School Imediately with a yes vote. The school had a survey run which told them that with a yes vote they would lose 70% of our student base. This will cause the closure of our Elementary within a few years as well. Think of it this way. Our children will have no school and will have no ownership in any school. Yet we as a community will be paying 20 years so our kids can be shipped over 50 miles each day. Some of our kids will be traveling over 100 miles per day. Is this an educationally sound plan? Will this increase my childs education? I do not think so. The district has spent well over 1 millon dollars on this plan. They are crying poverty, I have no doubt they are now in deep financial distress. When you spend over 1 million dollars to force a plan down peoples throats you will be in financial distress.
The truth is the Tower-Soudan area deserved to be given a plan that was fair and just. The Tower-Soudan area kids deserve better.
I feel the district could have gone to the communities with the thought of finding a solution that respected all areas. If they had not wasted over 1 million dollars we would have had a year to craft a plan that was fair and just.
I will be voting NO because I believe we as an area can come up with a plan that will include all areas. A plan that respects all kids.
I believe in the Iron Range and in our ability to make a plan to improve education. The plan on the table now only destroys areas and kills towns.
VOTE NO all kids are important. Lets take time to craft a plan to INCLUDE everyone.
rillarick76: Thank you for joining in our discussion. I think most people started out forming conclusions on what facts were made available to them at the time. This is an analog process, as we proceed along the dial, more facts are made available, others have to be investigated, yet others have to be peeled away like an onion. Depending on how many facts a person can process and analyze, we have arrived at different conclusions. At that point, emotions enter into the process. I must honestly say, when a school board director from a community that gets to keep it's school comes to a community that would lose it's school announces that if a NO vote prevails, the school board will move to close the school and assures people they have the votes to do it. When threats like that are made, any reasonable person can expect emotions to rise.
So what's the answer? If everyone could just cool down and take another look at the issue, a better consensus would result. But the majority of the Board dismisses that notion and their consultant Johnson Controls moves along it's pre-determined path. I think every side in this debate would like to see the district survive, but how can this be done when the leadership is proving itself to be recalcitrant?
We will know more on December 9, people will make their decisions based on the outcome of the results. The district may survive or fail, no matter whether a Yes or No vote prevails. If the district finds itself failing, then this current school board will have to ask itself if it could have been more engaging these past 3 years.
Dena, I admire your loyalty to your family. I'm sorry I'm not a "blogger" and have been steadily inching my way into the 21st century with more than a little help from my children. They are very comfortable in all the new formats, thanks in part to the great education they receive in our district. I feel for you, and I would gladly work to help you keep a high school in Tower. However, I don't want to " throw the baby out with the bathwater." I feel we need to pass the bond referendum, and bond together as a district to make sure that Tower doesn't lose out.
Rillarick76, thank you for your objective post. I also want to see this district not just survive, but thrive. We can only do that as ONE district.
Soon, December 8, 2009 will be here. Our district as a whole rides on the results of this vote. I feel we all need to band together for our students and our communities and vote YES. If the bond referendum passes, I feel the district as a whole should work together for an acceptable solution for Tower. If the bond referendum fails, we will all be drowning in our own areas, with no recourse to help each other.
Whether you plan on voting YES or NO, I pray each person has a wonderful Christmas season.
Rillarick,
Thanks for your thoughtful post. Its a breath of fresh air.
Luv2laf
We would all love to see the district thrive. The problem is you are only as strong as your weakest link. Isd 2142 has made the Tower-Soudan area bleed to the point of needing a blood transfusion. If you have ever lived with anemia you know that your tired and listless. If Isd 2142 had remembered that if you bend someone too far they break things would be different. They cut too deep and now we are in triage mode trying to save the little we have left. We are voting no not because we do not believe in education. We are not against raising our taxes. We are against losing everything. We now are voting no in the hopes that we can find a solution that is educationally and socially acceptable. We are hoping to be given a fair chance. This is all we have asked for, to be given the same respect and consideration that other communities have been given.
I am voting no in the hopes that a new plan will respect all communities.
Vote NO. Take a leap of faith with me. We won't lose anymore and we won't be on the hook for 120 million dollars. All of our kids are important. Let's find a new plan.
Luv2laf
I am right on board with you. I am also voting "NO" for the hope of a new plan. I am not voting "NO" because I don't wnat my daughters to get an education, I am voting no on a plan that does not include all the students in Tower. i will pay whatever the taxes may be for education, but if does not include my children in this plan, I will not vote yes on something I don't agree upon.