By: getaclue on 10/30/09
I think its kind of funny how you get things passed in Blooming, Instead of telling people the truth, like for instance, We are deficit spending, but we want to renovate our school before we have funding to operate it efficiently, you say; We will be fine, lets build it and everybody will kick in. Now you say vote yes, its only $9 more a month, what happens when the town needs more money to keep things up, We already pay higher taxes than the surrounding towns. In my opinion all this can lead to, is less people wanting to live here. I think everybody should get together and ask for our property values to be adjusted for the current downtrend.
Why are we paying for college level courses to be in our school when we are deficit spending?
Why is this school so full of favoritism and nepotism?
Why is it that we don't advance the children that need it, and don't do much to help the kids on the bottom?
Why is it that the mayor doesn't show his face as being in charge of the yes committee?
Why is it that we wrecked McFarlin field?
Why is it that our hallways feel like bathrooms?
Why is it we didn't incorporate our school colors into the theme of the school?
Why is it that we pay almost $100,000 for a athletic director that doesn't teach a class?
Why is it that our school board only represents what the superintendent tells them to and doesn't represent the community as a whole.
Why doesn't the school board debate anything at their meetings, surely with this many problems there would be debates, isn't that why we have boards like these, maybe we should just get rid of the school board and let Olson decide everything, he does anyway.
Why does it take until next months meetings to get answers, when you make choices that involves other people lives, you must be held accountable.
Maybe all the solutions to these problems can be remedied with a different administration and school board.
Maybe we should publish the wage reports, and let the voters see what they think of that.
Now they take a wage freeze, right after getting raises, oh, isn't that convieniant. There raises were probably high enough for the next 3 years.
Money isn't always the answer, sometimes it is the problem.
Maybe we should stand next to the people handing out yes stickers and hand out wage reports at saturdays game. Is that our tax payers money paying for flyers and yes stickers?
Let me get this straight for all you teachers that stick up for them in this board. People are more aware, so yes you are teaching us somthing, but maybe time would be better spent if you went to school and spent this much energy educating our children.
Like alot of people in this community, I am not against giving the school money, I am against giving it to these bunch of clowns, knowing that they won't do the right things with it. When will we learn?
Don't bother commenting, I am no longer logging onto this dribble!

By: whatthe on 10/30/09
If you believe any of this, I have some ocean-front property in Arizona that I'm selling.

If you have questions about salaries, who is teaching what, freezes or raises, college courses, please call the high school and get real answers and not fiction posted on here.

Enough said...

It stopped raining! Have a good weekend everybody!

By: Cindy on 10/30/09
Obviously someone has a beef with Blooming Prairie schools. There are a couple of these in every town.

If you look at the FACTS, BP teachers average salary was below the state average before they took a two year wage freeze. In fact, most teachers have received LESS in their paychecks for the last 4-5 years because of increased insurance costs that were passed on to the employees. Are they overpaid? No. Did they do the right thing by taking a wage freeze and helping out the district in tough economic times? Yes.

The FACT is that the AD also is in charge of Buildings and Grounds for both schools. If you have a problem with the job he is doing, please follow him around for a week. Since he has taken the job you would see him at the school early, late, on weekends, and many other times when he is not required to by there by his contract. Just last week he took an entire Sunday afternoon to "edge" the sidewalks and gutters at the high school. You see, his AD job is about a half-time position, and the Building and Grounds position was full time. So really, he is doing the job of 1 and a half people. Not to mention that he is also Dean of Students and a Head Coach.

It is interesting that "getaclue" in his/her rant cites, "Why are we paying for college level courses to be in our school when we are deficit spending?" and then two lines later writes, "Why is it that we don't advance the children that need it." It seems to me if we want to "advance the children that need it" a perfect way to do that is offer college level classes to high school students.

I could go on, but I think "whatthe" has the right idea. Seek out information for yourself. Don't trust the uneducated, selfish rants of a disgruntled individual. Seek out the truth, because you really will not find it in "getaclue's" post.

By: BSBuster on 10/30/09
Getaclue, you should post the wage reports, many in BP would like to see these before they vote so they can come to their own conclusions. There must be a website that posts school averages so they can look and compare with other schools the same size.

I have to agree with getaclue about having college courses in the school, can't they take post secondary options instead? I believe the school district must make education in BP affordable, especially with all the options becoming available to parents with the online schooling. By the way, I've heard nothing but GREAT comments about the online schooling. So if BP is going to continue with a good school system it must be made affordable. If they are having this hard of a time getting operating funds now, it will not become any easier in the future.

I personally would not call the school for information, for they do not have a name for being upright and honest with the members of that community.

By: brightside on 10/30/09
Getaclue, you do need to get a clue! Your post is so fictional.
We don't pay higher school taxes than surrounding communities.
The mayor isn't in charge of the yes committee.
The Yes stickers and flyers are not paid for by the school, they are paid for by the Yes Committee.
"Why is it that our hallways feel like bathrooms?" What in the heck does that mean??? The school looks beautiful!
McFarlin Field looked great last time I was there (Tuesday night).
I could go on and on trying to clarify the mistruths, but it isn't worth my time. It is clear that getaclue doesn't have a clue.

By: brightside on 10/30/09
BSBuster,
If studnets take post-secondary options, the school loses that funding. That funding is paid to the college. They offer college credits at the high school to keep students there and to help funding remain constant. If 10 students choose to go post-secondary that is $60,000 going out the door. Why wouldn't they offer students opportunities in their own school.

I did check into teacher's salaries state wide. I found that Blooming Prairie teachers are right at the state average.

I think Blooming Prairie has a lot to offer. We will always have to pay taxes to support our local schools. I would much rather support a school in my own town than have to send my children to an area school and then pay those taxes.

I support the future of Blooming Praiire and the education that is provided. I will vote yes!

By: Cindy on 10/30/09
I love it when the "teacher bashing" starts. My question is always..If it's so EASY, and you get paid SO MUCH for it, then why didn't you do it?

BSBuster, your question about having college courses in schools is a very valid one. The reason that high schools have implemented programs such as this is basically to try to serve the students better. They allow students to get college credits while still in the high school setting. Post-secondary is an option, but when the students go that route, their funding goes with them. As a result, when a large number of students go PSEO, that weakens the school.

Look at it this way. If college courses are cut for next year, it may save somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000. The problem is, there may be 15-20 students that wanted those college credits who now will be going Post-Secondary. The district will lose (at $6000 per student) about $90,000 to $120,000 in state funding. So, in effect, by saving $40,000 in cuts from the budget you have actually lost a lot of state funding. The end result is a negative 50-80K on the balance sheet.

As far as being affordable, any parent of a student at either school who is thinking that $6-$9 per month is too much for these programs better think about the ramifications if it does not pass and what they will cost. For example: Pre-school fees could increase, Pre-school transportation could be cut, All-Day Every Day Kindergarten could be cut (resulting in increased day-care expense), activity fees could be increased, and college courses. If you put the value of college courses into monetary terms, a student who earns 16 college credits in high school is getting a semester of college paid for. Depending on the school, the value of that could range anywhere from $3000 to $12,000. That's a pretty nice "scholarship" that kids can get without even driving to Austin, Owatonna, or Rochester everyday. The most affordable option is to pass this referendum and keep the fees and programs which provide so much value (not just monetary) to all the students of Blooming Prairie.

By: athought on 10/30/09
getaclue~If everything is really that bad in Blooming Prairie, why do you still live there? If it is really that bad, why don't you try to find a town that does everything that you want--Good Luck!!

By: goodday on 10/30/09
Blooming Prairie is a wonderful community with a great school district. I too believe, that if you are so unhappy about where you live, move.

But as for me, Blooming Praire is perfect!
*A great place to raise a family.
*A place where when you go to the football game, the whole town cheers on the team.
*A place where people truly care about the success of all students and athletes.
*A place where everybody knows your name.
*A place where you walk down the street, people say hello and ask about your family.
*A place that when there is a tragedy, the community pulls together to support one another.
*A place where people are happy and kind to one another.
*A place where teachers are involved in your child's life and care about their success.
*A place where teachers forgo a raise and sacrifice so our children can have a better education.

That is the kind of place I want to raise my children in...that place is Blooming Prairie!

By: Cindy on 10/30/09
Very well said goodday!!!

By: jimoconnor on 10/31/09
I would like to have everyone know where to get the proper information about wages. It is called a data practices request, any taxpayer funded government must comply. If you go to the school office they will give you the info. I also will give you a copy if you ask. Get factual information then vote accordingly.