Policy Blog

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Email from a business owner to ISD 709 School Board - Great questions!

  • The tax increase is not the means to fixing the problem. A business doesn’t have this ability and the district needs to operate as a business. It is time to truly review the expenses - current and upcoming - and make necessary adjustments.

    My Questions:
    What is the ratio of staff to students today compared to 1986?
    Do we have too much staff?
    Does the district own enough land to build a new high school to serve the Eastern ½ of Duluth?
    If so, what is the value of the Central High School property?
    Could this be used for private development?
    Would this generate an on-going tax base for the district?
    What impact do specialists have in the elementary?
    When I was a kid, our teacher taught gym, music and art; why can't we do that again?
    What can be saved by consolidating expenses, such as phone and internet, between the county, city and district?

    Fixing the problem is desired - increasing taxes is a band-aid.

John (last name withheld by Chamber)

posted by Andy Peterson at

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