Jumping the gun
How does our school board expect taxpayers to make an informed decision when voting on its levy early this November? The Truth in Taxation notices won’t be sent out from the counties until later that month, which means we will not know until then our proposed tax liability for 2011. Granted, we’ll be able to attend school board meetings at that time when they put their budget together but isn’t this very much after the fact? With the new Minnesota tax law, I believe District 181 is jumping the gun, which is unfair to us who pay the bills.
Child at Level 3 sex offender meeting
Why would a parent bring an adolescent to a community meeting about a Level 3 sex offender? That child does not have the emotional or cognitive ability to process the information that was given. The only thing she could leave there with is fear. We should not be held hostage by fear. It is important to educate ourselves, and continue to look out for each other. Regardless if there is a sex offender in our neighborhood or not, I hope that little girl will trust that our police department and parole officers are doing their jobs.
More on Forestview:
Editor’s note: Response from Steve Lund, director of business services, Brainerd Public Schools:
In response to Thursday’s Vox Pop submission regarding Forestview Middle School, I have gathered some operating cost comparisons for our old and new buildings. For example, the cost per student for heat, lights, cleaning and maintenance of one of our oldest elementary buildings was $941 per student in 2010-11. The same cost for the Forestview school is $632 per student, for a difference of $282 per student. Achieving this level of efficiency, while serving approximately 1,900 students at Forestview, produces a savings of over $530,000/year, not counting the staffing savings of reducing duplicated services by not having these students spread over multiple locations.
The community member also referenced the proposed operating levy in connection with renovating the human services buildings for students.
The referendum revenue is dedicated for educational programs and opportunities for our students and not for capital improvements for our facilities.
Concerned for children
Some years ago the city council adopted a rental housing code which is supposed to further safety for the citizens of Brainerd. I see now a Level 3 sex offender is planning to move into our neighborhood which is heavily populated with multi-family units with children close to Lowell School. These children will need to walk to and from school. This person has reoffended and we are so concerned about our neighborhood children.
People should have a vote
The state hospital buildings should be put to use as, for example, a veterans’ home or for holding classes for schooling. Why spend money we do not have for buildings like Forestview? People should have a vote in this say.
Pathetic
As lousy as the Twins were, they even goofed up by not losing 100. I mean, the least they could have done was get into the record books and they were so incompetent and pathetic they couldn’t even do that right.
Making change is important
Why would we want our cashiers to know how to make change at the cash register? That was the first class and teacher to be cut by the school along with classes on how to get and keep a job, start a business, turn an interest into a career, etc. I know. Three of my kids were in the marketing program learning for their future.
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words. To phone in a comment, call (218) 855-5888 and leave a message. To e-mail a comment, write to voxpop@brainerddispatch.com. Comments, which must meet the newspaper’s standards of fairness and good taste, may be edited for clarity, length and libel.
Comments (25)
Add commentmr. lund forgets
he forgot to mention the "old" buildings are paid for! we will pay forever for forestview and the @ $80,000,000.00 debt ! that expense should be added to "cost per student" to be fair!
Forestwiew is paid for
by a bonding issue that amounted to over 62 million dollars. The savings per student does not even come close to paying the interest on the 40+ million the school cost the tax payers. The rest of the 20 million was used to repair and upgrade the remaining system.
My issue with Forestview is that it could have been done for less and been more efficient with heat and cooling, all the glass and exposed exterior walls. That is water over the dam. We now have to life with that decision.
Lets make the best of the bad situation.
ey
Do you seriously take yourself for real? I think someone spends to much time reading Wikipedia. As for how much we spent, that is a very stupid thought process. Oh who cares how overboard the school system went. That's history even if we are still paying for it. Let's let 'er rip and spend some more. Talk about a child with a credit card and who cares how we pay the balance! But, Oh it's for the kids!
eyolf
Some of those Scotch-Irish migrated to the midwest and thrived!
eyolf is scots-irish?
Me, too! LOL!
barney
I have no idea what you speak about most of the time.
barnet
There is a difference between anecdotal history and a self centered thesis that has nothing to do with the current situation regarding our schools. But you are right as to how he handles opposition. As for lake, he/she/it seems to have their nose well planted in someone's backside. Never an original thought.
forestview
I drove one of my graduated kids by FVMS and they nearly cried, they were stuffed in old buildings and small classrooms - they had trouble walking it was so crowded. Don't this areas students deserve a decent school? check out the schools in the metro area, they are practically malls, they make FVMS look really plain and boring. I'm glad to pay for something to put local kids on par with the rest of the state.
"I drove one of my graduated
"I drove one of my graduated kids by FVMS and they nearly cried, they were stuffed in old buildings and small classrooms - they had trouble walking it was so crowded."
They must not have received much of an education then, eh?
Doubt it barnet. Because if
Doubt it barnet. Because if they worked at WalMart, you are most likely working the same shift as them.
Nanny nanny booboo
I have heard better come backs from 2nd graders on the playground. But nice try......
MN L'User
Lame comeback and says nothing. snowball, Forestview is a new school. If your child has graduated, then why are you worried about their reaction to a place they no longer go. barnet's right, you are worried about appearances and keeping up with others!
ey and lake
After rereading some of the posts, I noticed you two claim to be Scot-Irish. So according to ey's unbelievable rant, basically you both are saying you are "hilbillies". That would explain so much.