First 1.5 hours of the meeting:
North EAW Testimony Part 1 Time 12m 33s
North EAW Testimony Part 2 Time 14m 57s
North EAW Testimony Part 3 Time 14m 58s
North EAW Testimony Part 4 Time 14m 59s
North EAW Testimony Part 5 Time 14m 58s
North EAW Testimony Part 6 Time 13m 32s
More to be posted later as time allows:
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
#2142 School District North EAW Planning Board Discussion After Testimony - Video Clips August 12, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Letter To The Editor - The Cost of Saving Schools
By Art Dale
How can a community save its schools when the dollars supporting them have dropped by 38%? The loss of operating dollars means the loss of local schools. Consolidation is the only way to save them. Efforts to “save our schools” have disastrous consequences. When bills can’t be paid, schools can’t be saved. Saving our schools by trying to maintain what we have ultimately means the loss of those very schools.
In Orr, Cook and Tower/Soudan the compounded efforts to block the ISD 2142 plan will save the Virginia and Ely schools. They will provide our students a quality education for the 21st century. Consider the results of “Saving our schools.” Tower will lose its school altogether. A complete impasse will result in the Cook and Orr communities without a school between them. “Saving schools” does not increase the number of students in our communities. With 38% loss of students our schools can only operate in the red. “No School At All” is the bottom line for those blocking the only plan that can provide a higher quality education and balanced budget. Those working to “Save our Schools” will loose them. Everything else is “red herring.”
The Planning and Zoning Committee and the Board of Adjustment interpret zoning laws to protect communities. By their very name they make adjustments. They make adjustments in zoning laws to build factories that provide hundreds of jobs and insure a clean environment. Making adjustments for a building that will house activities providing quality education to our students is their job. The have the power to make adjustments that will enable a community to balance school operating budgets and provide quality education. “Saving our schools” by blocking the building of schools makes no sense at all.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Tim Kotzian-led Coalition for Community Schools receives another setback
Cook News Herald Article: (8/6/10)
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
The Coalition for Community Schools led by Tower City Clerk/Treasurer Tim Kotzian and Mayor Stephen Abramson received another setback in their opposition to the reorganization plans of ISD 2142. These plans call for a new North and a new South School, remodeling of the Babbitt-Embarrass and Cherry schools and the Tower-Soudan School remodeled into a K-6 school. Last December, voters in ISD 2142 approved the $78.8 million bond referendum to pay for this by a 51 to 49 margin.
Kotzian's group appealed a ruling by Barbara Hayden, a director in the St. Louis County Planning and Development Department, when she said the planned school in the south qualified for permitted use in the Forest Agriculture Management area and could be considered for conditional use. The Kotzian group wanted to appeal this ruling and had 45 days to do so. The ruling was given on March 25, 2010, at a County Planning and Zoning meeting open to the public. This decision was recorded on April 15.
A letter was sent to the Kotzian group on July 26, along with the $1,000 check that had been sent, informing them that the 45-day requirement had gone by so their appeal was shot down.
It was noted in the letter that other conditional uses for FAM land include landfills, slaughterhouses, airports, racetracks and feedlots.
Copies of this letter were sent to Kevin Gray, St. Louis County Administrator; Melanie Ford, St. Louis County Attorney; the St. Louis County Planning Commission; the St. Louis County Board of Adjustment; St. Louis County Commissioners; and ISD 2142.
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
The Coalition for Community Schools led by Tower City Clerk/Treasurer Tim Kotzian and Mayor Stephen Abramson received another setback in their opposition to the reorganization plans of ISD 2142. These plans call for a new North and a new South School, remodeling of the Babbitt-Embarrass and Cherry schools and the Tower-Soudan School remodeled into a K-6 school. Last December, voters in ISD 2142 approved the $78.8 million bond referendum to pay for this by a 51 to 49 margin.
Kotzian's group appealed a ruling by Barbara Hayden, a director in the St. Louis County Planning and Development Department, when she said the planned school in the south qualified for permitted use in the Forest Agriculture Management area and could be considered for conditional use. The Kotzian group wanted to appeal this ruling and had 45 days to do so. The ruling was given on March 25, 2010, at a County Planning and Zoning meeting open to the public. This decision was recorded on April 15.
A letter was sent to the Kotzian group on July 26, along with the $1,000 check that had been sent, informing them that the 45-day requirement had gone by so their appeal was shot down.
It was noted in the letter that other conditional uses for FAM land include landfills, slaughterhouses, airports, racetracks and feedlots.
Copies of this letter were sent to Kevin Gray, St. Louis County Administrator; Melanie Ford, St. Louis County Attorney; the St. Louis County Planning Commission; the St. Louis County Board of Adjustment; St. Louis County Commissioners; and ISD 2142.
ISD 2142 South School bids come in on budget
Article From The Cook News Herald online: (Full Story Online at the link below)
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
Sixty bids were received for the construction of the new South School for ISD 2142, it was announced by Gary Zifko of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company at a special study session of the board Monday at 3:30 p.m. in the Central Office in Virginia. The bids were for eight different items in the new construction.
The board, before a packed house which included Fox TV, next discussed the possible closing of schools if construction is delayed. Business Manager Kim Johnson said there would be minor savings since 70 percent of the district's spending is for people under contract. There would be some savings by cutting custodians and some of the upkeep of the buildings. The schools that might be closed were Orr, Tower-Soudan and Cotton. There could be savings in food service and transportation, but that might be matched by students going to open enrollment and other schools.
Cherry board member Darrel Bjerklie wondered if Tower-Soudan parents were behind the remodeled K-6 school or if the district should look at a new school since it seemed that remodeling costs almost as much as building new. There was talk of a survey going out to the parents in the Tower-Soudan enrollment area.
Bruns said, "Don't close any schools this year. No significant savings." She said the board should "keep our word" in keeping all schools open this year.
There was also some talk about where the new North School would be built if the present location wasn't approved. It was pointed out that a second location near the Gheen Corner was the next option.
Supt. Charles Rick said of the reorganization plan that the new schools could "bring people together" and give the district a "new identity."
There being no other items on the study session agenda, the meeting adjourned around 4:30 p.m.
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
Sixty bids were received for the construction of the new South School for ISD 2142, it was announced by Gary Zifko of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company at a special study session of the board Monday at 3:30 p.m. in the Central Office in Virginia. The bids were for eight different items in the new construction.
The board, before a packed house which included Fox TV, next discussed the possible closing of schools if construction is delayed. Business Manager Kim Johnson said there would be minor savings since 70 percent of the district's spending is for people under contract. There would be some savings by cutting custodians and some of the upkeep of the buildings. The schools that might be closed were Orr, Tower-Soudan and Cotton. There could be savings in food service and transportation, but that might be matched by students going to open enrollment and other schools.
Cherry board member Darrel Bjerklie wondered if Tower-Soudan parents were behind the remodeled K-6 school or if the district should look at a new school since it seemed that remodeling costs almost as much as building new. There was talk of a survey going out to the parents in the Tower-Soudan enrollment area.
Bruns said, "Don't close any schools this year. No significant savings." She said the board should "keep our word" in keeping all schools open this year.
There was also some talk about where the new North School would be built if the present location wasn't approved. It was pointed out that a second location near the Gheen Corner was the next option.
Supt. Charles Rick said of the reorganization plan that the new schools could "bring people together" and give the district a "new identity."
There being no other items on the study session agenda, the meeting adjourned around 4:30 p.m.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Reserve Mining Co. Babbitt Reunion
Reserve Mining Co. Babbitt Reunion is Saturday, August 21. All former employees and/or spouses of RMCO employees are invited to Tank's Bar in Babbitt for a delicious fish meal with potatoes & cole slaw, soft drinks and coffee will be provided. Cost is $7 per person. Door prizes will be served, starting at noon. Mine tours provided after 9 a.m. Report to the main gate for these. come and enjoy the fun and food and renew old acquaintances. No invitations are being sent out. It would be helpful if you will be attending to notify:
Harry Slining
3444 Country Club Rd.
Babbitt, MN 55706
(218) 827-3668 or John Nicholas (218) 827-3518
Harry Slining
3444 Country Club Rd.
Babbitt, MN 55706
(218) 827-3668 or John Nicholas (218) 827-3518
Joint Power Agreement fails / 2142 School District Finances
There is some interesting information in the Cook News Herald this week again.
-The Coalition for Community Schools' proposal for a Joint Powers Agreement failed for lack of a motion. Problems hadn't been addressed,goals were unclear,control of assets were part of the 20 issues with problems.
- County Schools to be on thin ice financially after 2011. The Administration and School Board for the ISD 2142 St. Louis County Schools will be treading on thin ice after the 2011 school year according to figures released showing their budget and fund balances. If the new construction is completed in time and the anticipated savings are correct, the district should be safe. But if this decline in funds keeps going, the future is bleak.
To read the full stories visit the Cook News Herald Online:
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
Friday, July 23, 2010
ISD 2142, Cook Hospital could partner on Fitness Center
Article from the Cook News Herald:
- Potential District Partnering With Hospital
- Schools likely to close soon if North School Project Falls Through
- South School Project Moving Forward With 10% Inpervious Surface
Full Article Below
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
- Potential District Partnering With Hospital
- Schools likely to close soon if North School Project Falls Through
- South School Project Moving Forward With 10% Inpervious Surface
Full Article Below
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thursday, July 08, 2010
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