Duluth schools officials directed conversation at a chamber-sponsored public forum Tuesday morning toward feel-good visioning and brainstorming. About 50 minutes of the 60-minute event was devoted to a miniaturized version of the district's recently completed series of "Think Kids" grassroots neighborhood meetings.
That left little time, only about 10 minutes, for far more meaningful dialogue that needs to happen regarding the district's dire finances, its nearly 12 percent tax increase this year, the likelihood it'll ask taxpayers for more money via a referendum this fall, the impacts of upcoming teacher contract negotiations, the district's unacceptably large class sizes and what's being done about them, and even lingering questions about Long Range Facilities Plan financing.
Not that visioning and brainstorming expectations and desires for public education in Duluth aren't important; of course they are. That's what the many "Think Kids" meetings were all about.
But that was hardly how Tuesday's forum inside the Playground Theater in downtown's Technology Village was billed. It was touted as a "thoughtful discussion of the Think Kids initiative, budgets, the governor's budget proposal and its impact on schools, the possibility of a referendum this fall -- and, of course, questions from the audience," according to an e-mail from the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, the forum's host. Most of that wasn't even touched on Tuesday as "Think Kids" was allowed to dominate.
So let's do it again.
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Let's have another meeting open to the public with school district officials in attendance and ready to answer hard questions. Let's let it be open-ended. Let's let it focus on the tough issues taxpayers want to talk about rather than the feel-good focus district and chamber officials opted for on Tuesday.
Asked whether he and the district would participate in such a meeting, Superintendent Bill Gronseth said he would. (In his defense, Gronseth also said the "Think Kids" focus Tuesday was his preference and according to his plan.)
The interest is there. Enticed by the chamber's email in advance, a nice crowd of about 40 business leaders and others nearly filled the Playground before starting their work days. On their way out they were invited to place colored stickers on posters filled with brainstormed ideas as a way of prioritizing them. As important as brainstorming and prioritizing are, attendees' valuable time could have been better spent. More critical issues face Duluth and its schools.
They demand more time and more discussion.
They justify a do-over.
