Open Forum

Independent School District 181 touts that "Regardless of who we are or where we live, all students should have an equal opportunity for learning." And, it has been scientifically-proven that all-day kindergarten provides lasting results in academic and social benefits for students. Yet, beginning in 2008-2009 school year, 5-year-olds will not be provided an "equal opportunity." The budget choices being executed by ISD 181 for the fall blatantly discriminate against five-year-olds based on where they live.

Four of the six elementary schools in ISD 181 will be providing all-day, everyday kindergarten. The remaining two elementary schools - in Nisswa and Baxter - will not. Removing the school of choice and not providing the same kindergarten curriculum option at all elementary schools is discrimination, plain and simple.

How will kindergarten students master the curriculum when they are receiving half as many days of instruction? Shouldn't every 5-year-old deserve the same learning opportunities to understand the required skills?

What if the school district deemed, due to budget cuts, that only students who live inside city limits could register for algebra, or that American history would only be offered to natural born citizens, or that only boys could take a chemistry class?

It's just appalling to me that such discrimination could be happening within our community and it is disheartening to know that this inequity is being carried out by our own school board.

But now, thanks to the sacrifice of our teachers, the school board has an opportunity to do the right thing and restore equity for our youngest students. Support Ruth Gmeinder's suggestion to provide all-day, everyday kindergarten for all students within the district and stop this discrimination.

Kathy Moore

Lake Shore

Question on school finances

For people with inquiring minds and high taxes. The Brainerd Public Library has the school audit and the lease for the Franklin School.

1. Has it been sold?

2. How much money?

3. Where did the money go?

4. Why do we need a lease?

5. Who did the deal?

Examples - Rent back Franklin space at $3,115 per month minimum rent. The lease has 10 pages. Very interesting. Public money should be public information.

With owned, leased and rental vehicles, the school has nearly 36 vehicles - lots of insurance, gas, etc. Is there a use booklet (as a trucker's log) on each vehicle as to destination, departure, return and purpose of trip? Is there a central garage or are some taken home? Who bought the two special ed cars? Page 84 school audit violation of Minnesota statute No. 471.345. What dealership and and type of car - for what purpose? Who is in control?

Is the school audit put up for bids?

What about the school lawyer?

With over two dozen various school administrators it would be logical to know what is the function of each? (i.e., a job description).

Be specific. Our school, our taxes. School or schools to which person is assigned.

Ponzi scheme story on playground equipment, Star and Tribune, Dec. 6, 2007: Allen Giles, general counsel for the Minneapolis schools, "Our loss $1.2 million is money we don't have to buy pencils or pay teacher salaries."

How did Brainerd come out?

Signs for the big "R" (referendum): "Get the facts" Let's have just a few.

Richard Magnan

Fort Ripley

Illegal aliens are illegal

To the writer of April 24 who took me to task for referring to undocumented workers as illegal and said, "When one hears the term 'illegal', one automatically thinks 'bad', because someone must have knowingly broken the law, right?" Right! Since when is it politically incorrect to call someone who breaks the law illegal? We don't stereotype all Spanish speaking people as illegal any more than we stereotype all Caucasian people as murderers for the actions of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. People who don't follow the rules and sneak across the border aren't any better than bank robbers or corporate embezzlers. After all, they are just trying to better their lives also. And it is an injustice to all those who went through the process to enter this country legally, like my grandparents from Sweden 100 years ago.

Julie Pawlak

Hackensack

Where the rebate will go

Of course the rebate that we are going to receive will help pay for gas fills. Then the money will return to Bush and his cronies by way of their oil holdings! And we say Bush doesn't know what he's doing!

Connie Erickson

Crosslake