I have it on fairly sound authority that a lot of Duluth teachers are actually rooting for the voters to turn down the proposed vote on an operating levy. If this is true its a sign of a kind of masochism. Although I can’t see a means for the levy to pass it is desperately needed.
When the School Board attempted to pass a higher levy last there were calls from supporters not to punish the students for the School Board’s arrogance. It succeeded in getting the lowest of three levy rates passed – a rate that fell a little short of keeping the District’s budget up at the rate of inflation.
Dr. Dixon will be gone. His enablers on the Board are likely to evaporate with him in the next election. Only innocents will be harmed should a levy fail.
I know, taxpayers and voters have every reason to vote against a levy. I’m personally seething over the stupidity of our School Board. When I heard about our teachers opposing a levy I found myself trembling. In 2001 I was on the Duluth School Board and I desperately wanted a levy to pass. I made quite a scene when one of my fellow Board members refused to vote to give the decision to the voters.
Even when that levy failed or District offered an educational program to the one this School Board is able to offer. Every tea leaf I read suggests a continued downward spiral. Who in this community has any standing to ask voters to reconsider their fury? Not Dr. Dixon. Not the Chamber of Commerce. Not the Duluth Federation of Teachers. Not the School Board. Perhaps not even the Teachers and Parents. Only the children have any claim to our affection. They are the only innocents in the plundering of Duluth. Damn the people who brought this misery on them through ignorance, greed and vanity.
