“Vintage Harry” in Three 709 updates

1st.

I had a long delayed lunch with member Nora Sandstad yesterday. Nora has had some medical worries that seem to be resolving themselves and we finally got a chance to talk together outside of School Board meetings. It was very cordial. Nora mentioned that she got my email to the Board which I had just sent out. I told her I was just being “quarrelsome.”

My email noted that the Board, at least as a whole, had not been notified that US Senator Al Franken would be visiting Denfeld to learn first hand about its Robotics work. I only found out late the evening beforehand from an outside source. So, I scolded the Administration noting that when I was on the School Board and Senator Wellstone had visited ISD 709 all Board members were invited to meet with him. I said that if we were not welcome to meet Franken I’d keep my distance but then mentioned another meeting which not all of the current Board members were appraised of.

While we lunched I also showed Nora a letter that had chewed me out a year earlier and to which I sent a four page reply. I told her my letter was “vintage Harry.” Nora smiled and I was pretty sure that she took from the comment my tendency toward long windedness.

Then this morning the School Board was sent a question from one of the TV reporters who covered the Senator’s visit. She asked us why we Board members didn’t avail ourselves of the chance to share what we knew with the Senator. I sent her my email to the Administration to let her know it was a good question. She then asked if I’d go on air. I wrote back that I wouldn’t want to because I’d sound petty when other bigger issues were on our plate such as this email from our Superintendent today:

2nd.

Chair Kirby and School Board Members,

Through the US departments of Education and Justice, President Trump has sent a “Dear Colleague” Letter rescinding the Dear Colleague letter from President Obama regarding rights of transgender students. I have attached the letter for your review.

In response, the media has asked for statements regarding this change. Here is the response we plan to share:

It’s our responsibility to ensure all students – including young people who identify as GLBTQ – can attend our schools and receive a great education in an environment free from discrimination. We endeavor to treat all students with respect and equity and to validate the rights of all students to a safe and welcoming environment. We work with students who identify as transgender to provide support and will continue to do so. We train staff in strategies to help create safe and supportive environments for students and will continue to do so.
As an organization, we’ve included community input in creating policies and practices to comply with Minnesota’s Safe and Supportive Schools Act and Federal harassment laws. We will continue to seek guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota School Boards Association and the Minnesota State High School League in an ongoing effort to create safe, supportive environments for all students.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns about this.

Thanks,
Bill

3rd.

Meanwhile The Zenith’s Editor, Jennifer Martin-Romme, sent the School Board a challenging question asking us if, in light of the EPA’s recent comments about tire mulch, we shouldn’t hold off on deciding to replace it:

Greetings, School Board Members!

This is Jennifer Martin-Romme with the Zenith newspaper. I’m working on a story about the playground tire mulch. Since I don’t have many questions for the school board, I figured I’d email you, but I would be happy to talk by phone if you prefer. My number is 218-xxx-xxxx.

My question is this: The Environmental Protection Agency is currently working on a study of recycled tire crumb for use on playing fields—-https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/federal-research-recycled-tire-crumb-used-playing-fields. The EPA is expecting to have results in late 2017. Previous research has found no environmental or health concerns with the use of recycled tire crumb, but this study is intended to fill in the gaps and address concerns raised the public.

Therefore, why not wait for the EPA’s results before deciding if and/or how to change the material on our school playgrounds in ISD709? If the EPA continues to find no health concerns, would you consider not changing the current rubber mulch on the playgrounds, and why/why not?

I would also love to hear any other thoughts you have on the playground tire mulch issue.

I’ll be working on this story through Saturday, February 25.

Thank you!

Jennifer Martin-Romme
Zenith News, LLC

Boy, do I have a lot to say about this! Maybe I’ll write it up in the next post but, if so, I probably wait till bedtime to crank it out. I will need to give this some thought and possibly a lot of space because I may send it out the the dozens of parents who have written to me about this subject. I will want concerned parents to wrestle with the same issues I’ll be wrestling with. Its complicated and connected to other School District issues. I don’t have all the answers only a lot of questions.

I know Jennifer looks at my blog on occasion. She’ll probably have to read my answer to her question here when I get around to it.

About the author