Prior Lake American - Story - Comments

Unfortunately Robert

Cares about Education — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:19:21 -0500

Unfortunately Robert Peterson relies on the media only for his information. Has he ever attended a budget meeting? Does he know that the increase in 2006-07 were due to opening new buildings? Jeffers Pond and Edgewood were desperately needed and so unfortunately, it costs money to operate schools. When new students move into the district, they are entitled to an education. Guess what...that increases the expenditures in the district that were unknown when the budget was made. True the district receives a per pupil stidpend but it is not enough As the state gives districts less and less how are districts to survive?

Many cuts have been made and impacted many in the district. If you checked with middle school parents they would say huge cuts were made to activities. Many schools will see young children unable to take the bus so they will need to be transported or walk. That is a cut as well. We may have been able to walk when we were children but we live in a different world now.

Unfortunately the district did not have a choice. but to make cuts. You can look at numbers but you need to know what is involved before you make assumptions about them. I would encourage Mr. Peterson to get involved and attend the public meetings on budget issues. Get involved and get the facts! We won't all agree but at least get informed before you pass judgement.

To Markov Nelichek, his

Rational Thought — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:50:53 -0500

To Markov Nelichek, his anger is misplaced and misguided, and completely ignores numerous facts, one of which is that the lot in question is a privately owned piece of land that is not controlled by Captain Jack's or the city. The owner can do with it as they please.

However, in the past the owner has allowed it's use for parking, so one could assume that their may have been a potential complaint about the ordinance, and the city's hands become tied in such cases, for better or worse.

Furthermore, why would the counsel want to harm small businesses in the community, when multiple members own their own small businesses in Prior Lake, are part of the Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce and have long standing business partnerships with many of those in town?

It seems to me that Mr. Nelichek was hellbent on lashing out at the city, and really didn't care to let actual facts and logic stand in his way.

The city isn't taking away

Rational Thought — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:39:58 -0500

The city isn't taking away choice in the garbage debate, or at least that's what is said in quotes from the article. Multiple members fo the council said that they believe that citizens should have the choice. It seems to me that the council is looking for ways to keep haulers to one area per day, instead of driving all over town. That doesn't eliminate choice at all, but it does make sense to me. What is so wrong with assiging certain days to certain neighborhoods in the same area, regardless of carrier?

It seems to me that the letter writers above need to take a deep breath before over reacting about their freedom of choice being threatened. ...

Remember guitar

Tom Schardin — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:16:05 -0500

Remember guitar heroes.....

It's in the way that you use if; boy don't you know!

Right on!

Tom Schardin — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:37:10 -0500

Right on!

I'm at a loss for words. I

SavageResident — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:04:16 -0500

I'm at a loss for words. I have a fundamental disagreement with most posts on this site. It seems to me no matter how much the school district strips programs, reduces the budget, when will it be enough? You can always be anti-something because there will always be something to be anti.. But, when you are in a district where there is a brand new school built that sits idle, don't red flags start to rise? There is less offered in this district than when I was in school 20 years ago! I never thought I'd have less to offer my children than what I received... arn't we supposed to offer our children as good or better lives/learning than what we had, isn't that what this country has been built on?

You're right DB, the budget

gdubya — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:37:10 -0500

You're right DB, the budget process can be simplified to the point where it doesn't seem like rocket science. And in your simplified world it works, but I strongly suspect that what you would have during the last ten years is a diminishing district because the state contribution, (per pupil $) has not kept pace with inflation. So as costs to operate schools and pay staff increases, a gap has been widening. Consider how the cost of gasoline increase is going to affect budgets for the district this year. In your world, teachers don't get raises that even come close to keeping pace with the cost of living increase, class sizes would be larger than they are today and program cuts would have happened much sooner.

Teachers would leave, and to replace them, what really qualified kick-butt teacher is going to want to come work for that district? How many quality families that factor in schools as part of their decision for relocating will come here?

I think the trickle down effect would be noticable given enough time.

Because those are going to

gdubya — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:21:42 -0500

Because those are going to be the obvious responses, and you can Monday morning quarterback those decisions to death. In addition, that is "Bond" money and I was more interested in examples of massive waste that is "Levy" (classroom) money.

How can you ignore the High

noconfidence — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:09:43 -0500

How can you ignore the High School and Red Tail aka Westerhause's folly.

Ignoring the highschool and

gdubya — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:05:17 -0500

Ignoring the highschool and redtail ridge, can you provide me (us) a list of "massive waste of the past"?

Actually, I don't disagree

dbmasters — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:36:36 -0500

Actually, I don't disagree with you in a perfect world. Environment affects creativity and learning, I'll buy that, and if money was flowing like water, well, it would matter, but it's not.

I DO get the picture, but your picture is from fiction...the bottom line is, there is a money limit, and the school, just like me, you and everybody else, was budgets to live within, if I don't live within my budget I can't go ask my coworkers to pass a referrendum to give me more...nor should the school be able to... They have a fixed amount per pupil to work with, if the district grows, the headcount grows and that figure should increase from the increased tax base of the parents that moved in with the kid(s)...it's really not rocket science.

They have what they have, and have to learn to use it wisely on what matters...and right now the cutting gets deep...and it's because of massive waste of the past.

Q:.....Why dont you answer

gdubya — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:11:21 -0500

Q:.....Why dont you answer the question? What does making a statement on " who we are this is Prior Lake " have to do with education?

A:....In reality the brand is not directly connected to education ( I assume you mean the ability to teach kids and have them learn). I didn't say there was. I'm simply trying to get you to a point where you understand that every building is making an architectural statement and why thought is put into the design process. I'll stop trying now.

DBMasters:...... Samething. Just trying to help you understand how and why things happen. I'll stop.

..."it's not even visible from atop that high horse of yours." Give me a break DB. If trying to rationally explain how and why "I" think we got the building we got puts me on a high horse, you must find yourself stuck on the pony ride alot.

While I can't quote anything right now, there are correlations between peoples ability to think creatively vs. their state of mind. Environment can certainly affect a persons state of mind. Architecture is part of the environment, you get the picture; oh wait... you don't.

Noconfidence:
....I think gdubya is Westerhaus.

I bet you say that to everyone you disagree with.

I think gdubya is just

dbmasters — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:43:56 -0500

I think gdubya is just playing devils advocate to make trouble, there really can't be anyone that feels the way s/he seems to...besides, Westerhaus is too arrogant to give enough of a crap what anyone but him thinks or feels like.

I think gdubya is

noconfidence — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:29:26 -0500

I think gdubya is Westerhaus.

Really, gdubya, I am

dbmasters — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:25:48 -0500

Really, gdubya, I am absolutely floored that somebody actually thinks with record oil prices, massive increases in foreclosures, massive spending on never ending military action, taxing increases, people loosing work, repeated failing referendums because people can't/don't want to pay it, you actually are concerned with the branding of a school...I mean...wow...

I hope for the sake of everybody you are not, and will not ever, be an office holder of any sort...

That said, I would lay odds you'd be stellar in the role of a marketing department in any company...