Time(s) to Come Clean

It has been a busy week in Sauk Rapids.  Board meetings, curriculum meetings, deals and contracts to sign.  But can you berlieve it, SAuk Rapids has shelved the flawed IMP/CMP math curriculum and not a word from your friendly neighborhood school board reporter.  What could have been bigger news?  The school board watch pointed out the need for this fundamental change some time ago, yer the Little Danny seems to have missed the boat.

I can’t blelieve it…..well, I guess I can. 

But what else could be brewing in little Danny’s office?  Will there be a come to Jesus meeting or are we to be forever in the dark, under the cover of darkness?  Will the school board watch remain the source for real news?  Will there be another billboard?

Stay tuned……….

New Community Web Site Formed

Big news here in Sauk Rapids.  It looks like the district has selected their new PR firm and gotten busy with a new blog.  We hear that this new district outlet will be hosting monthly School Board Member columns.  The board meeting agenda will be posted prior to meetings as well and important happenings will be advertized. 

Most importantly the new web site will be used as an outlet for new data showing the complete turnaround of academic trends in the district.  We are ecstatic to see this level of community involvement and initiative.  We hope everyone gets on the band waggon in support of this new effort.

Most of all we are looking forward to that first column from the chairperson of the board.

Voicing our Vision Update

Who remembers that foggy night in august of 2007 when 100 or so friends of greg (FOG) participated in the faux public meeting about the future of ISD47?  Well it’s still running along apparently just as planned.  The FOG has cleared and now the cozy little group is down to 10 or so school administrators, school board members and other assorted insiders.  So this is how it goes when you start with a group of insiders.  No need to stay engaged when a hand full from the inner sanctum can now carry the ball for the rest of the faux public. 

Keep this in mind when the Board and Superintendent refer to this “public” process when they justify their choices for the future direction of ISD47.  It’s really a great plan…start a fake public process, control the composition of the group, drone on interminably until only those paid to attend remain, and then set the direction for the district unilaterally, and later claim the path was derived from public input. 

Very skillful….the AASA will be proud.  Perhaps this can be presented as a case study at the next national meetings.

Rumblings From ISD47

It looks like the board is ready to get rolling on their next move.  Seems they have approved measures to cut programs and staff from the upcoming budget for 2009/2010.  This is interesting given that just 4 short months ago this forward looking board approved 4-5% increases in wage and benefit packages for staff, in spite of the fact that we are now in a deflationary cycle with the cost of living actually declining.  And what has happened to the $2M budget surplus the district carried into the 2008/2009 budget year.   That’s right a surplus carried over from the 2007/2008 budget.

How can it be that in just 4 months the district’s  economic position has changed from one of lavish expenditure and generous increases to one of dire need to the point of approving measures to cut programs and staff.  Are the voters being punished for not passing the levy in 2007 ?

Or is the district preparing the sledge hammer that will be used to coerce voters into passing similar request this fall–in the off year election.  It is truly sad that those with seniority will enjoy the wage and benefit increases while their younger colleagues will be job hunting and students will be crowding into larger class rooms.

By the way, did anyone notice that the cost for the Minnesota Miracle is more than the entire amount the State expects to get from the stimulas bill.

So the rumbling has begun and it’s time to start paying attention again….what will be next?

If you didn’t believe us how about the Times?

This seems to be an interesting day in our community.  After 18 months the Times is on the bandwagon.  Perhaps with fewer dollars to spend on private schools it is now apparent that people need quality public schools-with academic rigor, not social programs.   The economy may have taken away the school choices that have allowed some to disregard the academic performance of their “community center”.