HUGE MYTH - Kanabec Citizens for a Responsible Education

HUGE MYTH
MYTH: Citizens who vote ‘no’ don’t support education, teachers, or students.
FACT: They support education, teachers, & students just as much as anyone.
**They differ on the question of the affordability and necessity of new construction vs responsible cost efficient quality
renovation of our schools understanding that the same state aid is available saving millions of dollars.
A REALLY BIG
MYTH
MYTH: The voter approved MN state equalization funding that the school keeps talking about is only
available to us for ‘new’ construction. FALSE
FACT: The same STATE AID available for new construction is available FOR REMODELING & RENOVATING
EXISTING FACILITIES!!
SOURCE: Parents United Referendum Revenue Through Local Levies
In addition to the revenues allowed by the state funding formula, school districts may receive additional revenue with
a ‘voter approved’ local levy.
There are 2 kinds of local referenda a school district can ask voters to support.
1. a levy referendum provides money for learning
2. a bond referendum provides money for buildings
Bond referenda - can be used for non-operating expenses such as computers, REMODELING, or new construction.
In 1993, the MN Legislature placed a cap on the amount that districts can raise through operating referenda because the amounts that can be raised
by school districts vary substantially depending on the wealth and willingness of the communities they serve. The REFERENDUM REVENUE portion of
the General Education Formula Allowance refers to the STATE AID PORTION provided to districts through the EQUALIZATION calculation.
**Why won’t the school board give us the option of renovating instead of new construction when the same state aid is available to us and we
wouldn’t need as much???
A FAULTY MYTH
MYTH: Due to their age, Fairview & Mora High School are beyond repair.
FACT: They are older structures, & so are many quality built cathedrals,
museums, capital & gov’t buildings, ivy league schools &
universities, courthouses, and more.
BUT: The issue isn’t merely age, it’s all about responsible maintenance.
The structural integrity of our school buildings is sound.
FACT: Supt. Schultz submitted to the MN Dept of Education the intention
to present a bond issue question to voters to: “discontinue use of the PK-2
Elem School which cannot be responsibly renovated” and to “discontinue
use of the High School which cannot be responsibly renovated”
(These are Supt. Schultz’s words in his cover letter of submittal to Dept.of Ed, page 1, Feb. 24, 2015)
MYTH: These buildings ‘cannot be responsibly renovated’ That’s false!
FACT: THEY CAN BE RESPONSIBLY RENOVATED at an affordable cost,
AND WITH THE SAME STATE AID AVAILABLE to us that voters
were led to believe was only available for new construction!
And we could do so with the expertise of reputable concerns &
contractors: at a cost savings to taxpayers of millions of dollars!
DANGEROUS MYTH
A “NEW BUILDING” MYTH
MYTH: New schools ensure better education, higher test scores, higher
graduation rates or school standings.
FACT: THEY DON’T! Quality education isn’t the result of costly
brick & mortar.
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** Quality education is the direct result of dedicated teachers and staff
working together in an educational setting that is conducive for learning.
GIANT
???
WHY would anyone agree to buy something at a cost of 100,322,791
$
(that’s over 1/10 of a billion) without even so much as seeing a drawing,
sketch, or picture AND without even knowing how responsibly your dollars
are being spent: i.e. swimming pool, bowling alley, etc.?
Who would agree to a huge raise in taxes, and payments of $5 million a
year for 20 years? (that’s $13,742.84 a day for 20 years) UNDERSTANDING
we can accomplish and meet all our educational needs through remodeling & renovation of our current schools, saving millions of dollars and with
the SAME STATE AID available to us?
NOT A MYTH AT ALL:
REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION YOU TAKE:
Respectful debate and discussion are HEALTHY.
Bullying and boycotts are UNHEALTHY.
MYTH: Our current schools are dangerous & pose threats to student health.
Those who vote “yes”, don’t share the same thinking of those who vote ‘no’.
FACT: FALSE, FALSE, FALSE: If our children’s health and well-being
That’s what ‘freedom’ is all about, and what our country was founded on.
were in danger or at risk, do you think the Dept. of Health or OSHA
We can all have strong beliefs without strong-arming our neighbors & businesses.
would have allowed them to continue in operation? Absolutely not! How we behave toward one another says more about us than how we vote!
$TOP OVER $PENDING
SAVE OUR SCHOOLS & STILL SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS
VOTE “NO” Today in Person at the Mora High School or
Call 320-679-6200 and request an absentee application immediately or Vote “NO” May 21 at the Mora High School.
Paid by supporters of Kanabec Citizens for Responsible Education- $upport welcome: KCRE, PO BOX 94, Mora MN 55051 PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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