Four-day week back on school board's table

See! L M.
11/25/2009 7:57 PM

If the number of seconds in 12.67 years each represent a $1 dollar bill, then, using that marker, if a person threw one dollar into a barrel every second for that many years:12.67, the total amount of the Red Plan of $400 million dollars would have been collected there in the barrel! This is the exhorbitant amount that $400 Million dollars equates to!!!

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Dave J.
11/23/2009 10:42 PM

It's for the "children" - Well the children aren't the ones getting rich off the Red Plan, they are the ones suffering as this out of touch Administration shifts them this way and that - anything to complete the "plan" -And if these schools were such a mess, then why is it they are repairing the ones that need it the least first?

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mark d.
Duluth, MN     11/23/2009 12:18 PM

Bob w, Other districts merge resouces? You mean like how Hermantown, Proctor and ? districts paid ours so thier students could attend the STC's at Central subsidizing the costs, which the board wouldn't answer when I asked that, Its not to late, 3 schools 7-12 5 days a week

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bob w.
11/22/2009 8:47 PM

To All, it is time for ALL School Districts to start merging assest to eliminate duplication. Who will be the first to step up to the plate and start the game? Many sports have joined together, surely only one administration could handle numerous Districts. Duluth is not the only District with money problems and building issues. Only thing getting into the way of merger is egos now.

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See! L M.
11/22/2009 12:43 PM

C.T. from Cloquet. The post with regard to the "SLIDE" at Spirit was a satirical comment. It did not state 'that the Slide at Spirit Mountain was taking money away from the School District'. It was a slight attempt at humor. Sorry that you did not understand that! Please re-read the comment. There was a greater message there!

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Dave J.
11/22/2009 9:32 AM

More "threats" from a Superintendent and School Board gone wild. Running without any checks and balances or anyone who will reel them in and make them accountable to the people that pay for this. They had extra money - they have built in up to 30% buffer in the Red Plan contracts with OUR MONEY., When they go under that figure such as in the East middle school pool apparently - they don't put it back to help the citizen's overall cost, they just add more lanes to the pool! 2300.00 curtains for nurse's offices, extra pool lanes, smart boards costing 15,000-17,000 each in EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM. The list goes on and on of the ineffective and uncontrolled spending and yet they give this sob story as they spend, spend, spend with one hand and hold out the other hand expecting more money. It is laughable that these clowns think the people of this community are so stupid not to see it. Yep, they have made Duluth a circus, with the Superintendent the Master of Ceremonies and there are plenty of Clowns on the School Board who juggle our money until it disappears! I really like the idea of three 7-12 campuses at Denfeld, Ordean (east) and Central. That cuts out two schools right there but keeps the schools in each neighborhood. But of course, that makes too much sense for this Administration and not enough money for Johnson Controls.

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Karen H.
11/22/2009 7:56 AM

Vern, you are so right. Dixon and his best friends at JCI are certainly going to add a "for the kids" levy when they must follow the law and put Plan B on the ballot (notice how Ms. Wasson just hates to follow that law but didn't mind the loophole that got them into this mess). Those folks should look to the real future of education like Jonathon. His words echo the former superintendent of the year who predicted education will be anywhere, anytime learning NOT bricks and mortar.

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bob w.
11/21/2009 10:32 PM

Okay C.T. tell me why the need for remedial education if the students are being properly educated and receiving diplomas?

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Jonathan L.
11/21/2009 8:34 PM

Why did we bring in someone from some backwater town to run a school district in Minnesota's second-largest metropolitan area? What he has done might work in towns with 5000 - 10,000 people, but Duluth is on a much larger, more complex scale. This makes no sense to me - from medical centers to schools to retail spaces we truck in these people from nowhereville rather than choose people with proven track records in larger urban areas who know what they're doing. What is this, some dumping ground for small town people who can't get hired in any other larger city? I see online school as the next movement. The charter schools are useless - most of the kids I see there should be at Woodland Hills. Marshall is great, but we need another private school. Look into opening up Stanbrook Hall at St. Scholastica again - it used to be a high school; why not have a 7th-12th grade college prep school there. So many parents are complaining about the lack of opportunity for their kids who are academically gifted; if they have the money and Marshall isn't cutting it, I'm sure Stanbrook would be a great choice. And what a beautiful building. I know of people who are utilizing Minnesota's first online school as of this year and opting out of brick-and-mortar Duluth schools. At first I was skeptical but after watching how much their schoolwork mirrors what they will likely face in the workforce (changing environments, adapting to new schedules quickly, being able to handle deadlines with no exceptions) I am seeing the teaching industry starting to crumble. With online schools you won't need a building full of teachers - just one or two to do presentations, and they can use the teacher's aides to correct papers or some student teacher. I'd be very afraid for my job if I just got a teaching degree. In another ten years I would expect this to be the norm - for the kids who have parents who can ensure their kids are getting the educational materials delivered, etc - I know that almost all two parent families must work full time jobs (and then some) but for others, this will likely change our vision of how education will be delivered to young people. It's nothing to be scared of. Look at it this way - as bad as things are now, it can't get any worse. And by educating them online, there are no attachments to buildings, there are no threats of 'well, don't get too comfortable here because next year it looks like you will be going to this school or that school'. This is what real life will be like for these kids in 20 years. The sooner you get them adjusted to that, the easier the transition will be.

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C T.
Cloquet, MN     11/21/2009 8:31 PM

People, do your research. The comments on this post do not even make sense. Some people are complaining about the slide at Spirit Mountain and how it is pulling money away from the school district? Some people are stating that Dixon and all city employees should take a 10% pay cut? Another person stated that the elementary schools are glorified day cares? Are you kidding me? The ignorance is astounding. 1. The school district budget and the city budget are NOT the same budget. The superintendent is not a city employee. 2. I would urge citizens to learn that status of what goes on in schools each day before ignorant statements are made. It's easy to stand by and take shots at schools and teachers when you really do not know what is going on. 3. Take some time and research how schools are funded so that you can offer an intelligent argument. A four day week would be stressful on many families. I am sure that this is the last thing that the school board wants to support.

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