Speaking of idiocy sans my smart mouth – this infuriates me

Be prepared. Next year will be worse than this:

Duluth school district classroom sizes are again set to grow larger with teaching ranks expected to shrink next school year after a Tuesday School Board vote that tentatively approved about $4 million in cuts to its 2013 budget.

That could mean between 25 and 30 jobs, Superintendent Bill Gronseth said.

Reductions include:

Moving from seven class periods to six at Lincoln Park and Ordean East middle schools to save about $1.1 million, while maintaining the time spent at school
Increasing the student/teacher staffing ratio to save nearly $1 million
Cutting middle school music lesson teachers to save $180,000
Reducing special education service expenses to save $634,500
Eliminating courses to save $180,000
Realizing $126,000 in savings from the need for fewer intervention classes for at-risk students
A reduction in English as a second language staff for $45,000
Eliminating the teen parent program for $110,000, and a kindergarten program for $18,000
Limiting freshmen to six courses, with no zero-hour option, to save $90,000
Reduce administrative staff at schools to save $154,000
Cut out $82,000 from the technology budget
Maintain fewer buses to save $180,000 (school start times will remain the same)
Eliminate a business services position to save $64,200 (due to a retirement)
Eliminate legal counsel at board meetings to save $6,300
Revise an intervention program to save $90,000

This story suggests that the School Board has the authority to simply raise money through a levy increase.

Art Johnston asked the board to stop paying $4.5 million each year from the general fund to offset Red Plan debt. The move would raise taxes.

If it was this simple to raise money I’m amazed that Seliga-Punyko and Wasson haven’t gone ahead and bitten the bullet and the taxpayers and just done it.

About the author

Harry is a ferociously good natured eccentric in Duluth Minnesota who detests traitors dressed up as Uncle Sam. You can find somewhat better edited writings of his at the Duluth Reader "contributors." page. The URL is:

https://duluthreader.com/contributors/h/84/284-harry-welty