These are the Key sentences in the email sent to the Board re: the Central Sale on March 23rd
Sell emails are bolded 15………Don’t sell emails are italicized 1
YA – It is your duty to get the most money for this property that we the taxpayers own. Edison buying central will only be in the best interest of our children and the entire community.
GM – Please consider selling Central to Edison. Edison is here to stay and will be healthy competition for Duluth Public Schools for years to come. Why not help out taxpayer burdens by getting well over 14 million dollars back in to ISD 709 instead of continually making cuts and thus making ISD 709 less and less attractive to students anyways……This sale is a win win. Do the right thing.
BM – I am writing in support of the sale of the former Central high school to Northstar. Northstar is offering an amount for the property that materially exceeds the $10 million the district was willing to accept from Harbor Bay Real Estate and frankly will exceed anything that the district will be offered by a private party with the knowledge that $10 million was accepted in the past.
JP – I would like to place my vote as SELL! I think it is foolish not to entertain their offer because they are a K-12 entity. I know that 709 will lose students, aka $$$, but we will no matter what because Edison will build if they have to. You can’t stop it from happening. But what you can do is keep Edison from building on valuable green space in our community. … As I have been told, over and over (personally by some of you) nothing happens with the board quickly. You do not have time to wait……
TR – ISD 709 needs a wake up call,
yes you have a huge deficit. So why would you not sell the building. You state that because you have a clause not to sell to another school. Well why not, you are selling out on your students of our district right now….. students are sitting on the floor because there is no more room for decks … Children in elementary have no math books. You are willing to cut staff in areas in which that staff is really needed. Children have hardly any time to eat lunch… Our school district needs to remember it is about our children not your juvenile temper tantrums and not wanting to sell this property. I personally am ashamed and embarrassed to be a part of this district. I have grandchildren in it and feel terrible on how these children are being treated cuts cuts cuts in all the wrong places and you wonder why you lose families from our district. Wake up sell the property and put that money to good use.
RW – A note to let you know our thoughts regarding the Central High school site. SELL IT! We cannot believe there was ever even a question regarding this matter.
JM – I am a Duluth Central Grad and was sad to see my high school close and to not have my own children attend this high school. At the time it seemed like the thing to do but as the city now sees it wasn’t. Two high schools have made classrooms larger and one school to have more kids in it then the other. This is not fair to the students!! [CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL] sat empty for over 5 years. SELL it to Edison School, this way Duluth doesn’t have to pay for it anymore and let others enjoy their high school years once again in this school. It’s a Win, Win for all then!!!!
MA – I am writing to you today to let you know how I and many other members of the Duluth community feel about the current policy regarding selling property to another education organization. I understand the board not wanting to shoot itself in the foot so to speak with allowing another school to take students away from
ISD 709. However, those students are going to leave one way or another; why should ISD 709 suffer … the loss of an opportunity to save the current budget. … I personally asked Harry Welty about the policy prohibiting the district from selling to another school when he was campaigning. He got my vote because he stated he would support selling the Central to Edison if the option became available. I think it’s time to let Mr. Welty make good on his word.
JM – I believe this sale will truly benefit the children of Duluth.
CK – The school has sat empty for 5 years at 170,000 dollars a year. So to date we have spent 850,000 dollars for nothing…… Save the taxpayers, parents and yourselves the headache of sitting with a property that has already drained life from the community….This sale is a good thing, in a time when it’s needed. Stop looking for greener grass.
AF – I believe selling Duluth Central High School to Duluth Edison for use as their new high school would be in the interest of the greater good in the community I live in and you serve.
CL – Please do not sell to Edison schools. If they want to build a high school make them do it. The red plan took so much heat from the community id like to know what it would cost Edison to build new? I’m sure it’s way more than 14 million. (Note from Harry – I replied to CL saying in part: “Edison will spend about $20 million state tax dollars on this building. Either all of this money will go to a new high school or $14.2 million of it will go into ISD 709 classrooms if they buy Central High School.)
PK – It seems like a no brainier to me.
WB – I am sending this to ask you to reconsider your stance in selling Central High School to Edison.
The current offer seems a win-win for all involved. It’s not news that Edison is planning a high school one way or another, nor is it news that the majority of Duluthians feel you have blundered on decisions in the past. Edison is throwing you a lifeline, it’d be classy to accept and beneficial to your constituents. Please consider this when making your choice.
KH – I’m writing to you to urge you to sell Central High School. I know it must be a difficult position to be in, but please swallow your pride, and do what is best for our children, as well our community.
Go to the ISD 709 Website here to contact school board members individually or all together.
