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Coming Soon...
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Dear Santa:
There is very much to be thankful for, Santa, so the “wish list” for Minnesota students is short A Message from Dr. Don Helmstetter, Superintendent In School District 16, we are blessed with students eager to learn, with dedicated teachers and staff that give their all, with caring and committed parents and families, and with engaged and supportive citizens in our Blaine, Spring Lake Park, and Fridley school communities. As I begin my year as 2007 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, however, I do have a short “Santa Wish List” for all Minnesota students and taxpayers. For many, that won’t come as a surprise, because it seems that schools are always “wishing” for more. However, my wish list is short and it includes something for all. First, Santa, we need to fully fund special education. While both a state and national issue, in District 16 alone it costs nearly $2 million every year to pay the difference between what the federal government promised to support for special education and what it is actually providing. These are students who need and who deserve additional support to reach their fullest potential, but that costs two, three, or four times as much per student as our other students. Second, we must fully fund all-day kindergarten not only for the schools and parents who want it, but for every child who deserves it. Decades of research show that children who have grown up in poverty or who speak English as a second language have a vocabulary level sometimes only one-tenth the level of other kindergarten students. These children need and deserve additional help to develop a vocabulary to ultimately read at their grade level or better. Research also indicates that the sooner these positive interventions occur, the more effective the dollars are spent, and the greater their chances of reading at or above grade level performance. The good news is this investment is significantly less at the elementary level than it would be at the middle level or high school, and their ultimate productivity as adults provide up to a hundredfold return on investment annually. Third, Santa, please make college affordable for all learners. By “college” I refer to any and all training past high school: technical colleges and institutions as well as two-year and four-year college and university programs. In order for our students to reach their greatest level of potential (and productivity), they need to know that if they have attained the proficiency to enter a university or technical college, they should be able to attend. Tuition costs have soared over the last decade, and access to loans, grants, and scholarships has become more difficult. Consequently, even many highly qualified students have become discouraged and have not pursued higher education. Again, research demonstrates that such a decision can cost students (and society) millions of dollars over the course of each person’s career. Remember, these are the students who will be paying for our social security, our roads, our police and fire departments, and the education of future generations of students. I think we want them all to be successful! Finally, and this may not be the kind of wish you typically receive, Santa, but we need to create an education funding formula that’s equitable, adequate, consistent, and one that’s fair to each and every taxpayer as well. The so-called tax relief of five years ago seems to have been eaten up again by inflation and tax shifts and other legislative initiatives, as a result of an economic downturn. With an economy that’s now back on track, a new and fair funding system should be created that relies on more than one source of revenue both for stability and for fairness to taxpayers. Small businesses, senior citizens, and others on fixed incomes have the greatest concern about the rising cost of property taxes, so representatives from these constituents should be at the table when discussing and deciding alternatives. And we’ve been good, Santa. Our public schools throughout the state have demonstrated responsiveness to all calls for accountability in student performance and fiscal responsibility. We take this very seriously and we will continue to be responsive and accountable. We will continue to work our hardest to improve the level of learning for all students. We are thankful for the task of working with children, Minnesota’s most valuable resource and our greatest hope for the future. And with just a little of your help, Santa, we’ll do an even better job of helping students in the future! |
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