On Fox News Representative Simonson explains how he will introduce legislation to, among other things, require Charter Schools to have publically elected boards just like Duluth’s “independent” school board.
First, its highly unlikely he will get anywhere with this. Too many charter schools are set up in too many legislative districts in the state for anyone to seriously consider such impractical legislation. He might get a few co-sponsors but the Charter ships have sailed and they are not going back into port.
I understand that the Denfeld Community is spooked by the spectre of the DPSA’s new High School. But it was the Red Plan that gutted Denfeld. The chaotic transfers of kids before the fixed up Denfeld opened are what prompted Denfeld kids to leave for Wrenshall, Proctor and Hermantown. Kids open enrolling to those Districts greatly exceed the 200 that will now likely leave for Edison. We have four years to work on a transition. I’d love to build the Denfeld student population up with a “pilot” seven hour day. Even Supt. Gronseth has pooh poohed this being a crises at many ISD 709 school board meetings. We simply need to turn our attention to the school. It will be a shame not to have an agreement that puts caps on the DPSA’s growth but that could only happen if we entered into negotiations with them. Even without it Duluth won’t know for another decade whether Edison will build onto its new high school to attract even more kids.
But the real problem with Simonson’s proposal is that it utterly ignores reality. ISD 709 has an elected School Board because we can raise taxes like Cities and Counties. The legislature has not granted that power to any Charter Board nor is it likely ever to. Like the Duluth Airport Authority the Western Lakes Sanitary District and countless other Boards the DPSA board gets its funds from other governmental sources. In this case its mostly State Taxes and it is the State legislature’s prerogative to give out those funds.
This is where I will point out that Charters across the nation enjoy bipartisan support. They were the idea of a Democratic Governor who happened to be Minnesota’s own Rudy Perpich. They were championed by Bill Clinton and are now championed by Barack Obama. Erik Simonson may be feeling the heat of hysterical Denfeld supporters but his “solution” is the wrong one. Helping ISD 709 find more resources would be a much better project and from my perspective getting it from Tischer Creek Co. is the quickest, simplest most sensible way to inject funds into ISD 709. If Rep. Simonson can find some other funds for ISD 709 it would be most appreciated. Finger wagging just doesn’t cut it.
And by the way. I expect to be voting for Rep. Simonson in the Fall election when he runs for the State Senate. I’m not a one issue voter.
Oh, it seems former Supt. Myles and Board member Art Johnston have letters in the Budgeteer taking Rep. Simonson to task. I will read them later. I’ve been invited to lunch by Claudia and I’m very hungry.
