$60M School Referendum Proposal
From:
Tony Scallon
Date:
May 16 12:29 UTC
Short link
Saturday's DFL City Convention will be a frustrating day. I will have to vote
on school board candidates that I know will be negative towards charter schools
and their students as soon as they are elected. Director Lee has been
unresponsive to any requests or discussions. Now, a referendum approval will
be done with practically no discussion.
Thousands of students attend charter schools in Minneapolis. Minneapolis first
ignored the charters but is now openly hostile towards them. Minneapolis owns
12 vacant buildings. Yet, they have failed to offer them for sale. The
consultant in fact is recommending against educational reuse despite
neighborhood support for a charter school option. This could net the district
millions of dollars.
Recently, Minneapolis was forced by the state to allow my Vocationally oriented
charter school into a Tech Prep consortium meant for all students. Minneapolis
district administration still has not responded to any requests. Now my taxes
for schools are to be doubled. The least the supporters of the referendum
could do was to require the Minneapolis Board and Administration to answer
requests and letters. Charter schools are public schools.
I have always supported the levy by the district. All I am asking their main
supporters is to force the district to work collegially with the many charter
schools in the district. Over 80% of Minneapolis residents do not have
students in their schools. Between 20-25% of all Minneapolis parents put their
students in public school choice (charter schools, alternative schools,open
enrollment, and college classes). I would hope the Minneapolis School Board
and Administration would work with us if they want our property tax money.
Tony Scallon
Longfellow
.