There's always plenty to gab about when it comes to the Duluth school district: There's its $3.5 million budget gap, its recently approved nearly 12 percent tax hike, the potential for a bond referendum this fall, classrooms so overcrowded students are sitting on the floor, upcoming teacher contract negotiations, the superintendent's overwhelming vote of support from the School Board, and the Red Plan -- still! -- both its good (Duluth has shimmering state-of-the-art school buildings now) and its bad (questions won't stop lingering about how the facilities overhaul was financed).
That seems like even enough to get out of bed early for, something district residents have the opportunity to do Tuesday when Duluth schools Superintendent Bill Gronseth is the guest at the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly "Forvm" meeting. The gathering is at 8 a.m. in the Playground Theatre in the Technology Village at East Superior Street and Lake Avenue. The public is welcome. There's no charge to get in.
Gronseth is expected to talk about national trends in education; the district's recently completed "Think Kids" series of neighborhood, grass-roots public meetings; priorities; and the possibility of a referendum. Joined by the district's Business Services Director Bill Hanson and Ron Lake, who helped lead "Think Kids" this winter, Gronseth also will take questions.
Outspoken, almost-always-in-the-voting-minority School Board member Art Johnston told a member of the News Tribune editorial board last week he'll be at the forum. And you know he'll have pointed questions for Gronseth, Hanson and Lake.
Will you? With so much to talk about, surely any one of us who lives in the Duluth school district has a question or two.
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Or at least a desire to soak up information.
Tuesday morning is a great opportunity.
