Delano Schools will be holding a bond referendum on April 22, 2008. The first question will be for the acquisition of a 13 acre school site adjacent to the existing campus in an amount not to exceed $980,000.
The second question will be for the construction of a 4-6 elementary building in an amount not to exceed $27,295,000.
Check my website http://www.delano.k12.mn.us/ for updated details. If you have other questions please post them here and I will answer them.
Thank you.
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26 comments:
With 713 students currently enrolled in the middle school, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find rooms available for class, activities and meetings. There are a few teachers that are sharing a classroom. Attendance swells when students that reside within the district and are attending a private school join us in the 7th or 9th grade.
Renee Klinkner, Principal
Delano Middle School
There is a great deal of flexibility that needs to take place with the staff from all three of our current buildings, as there are staff members that are shared between buildings and classrooms - which makes scheduling difficult.
The Delano School campus is ideal. We can be more efficient with our time as we have teachers that are traveling a block between buildings rather than across town. All children are heavily scheduled these days, which means parents do al ot of running to activities. It is quite convenient for parents that have students in more than one building to be able to attend activities or meetings, since all buildings are centrally located. In addition, it allows for a compact and efficient non-certified staff, such as food service and maintenance.
I welcome anyone to stop in and visit the middle school at any time. Just swing into the office and I would be happy to answer questions, show you the facility and hear your input. The community, parents, students & staff of Delano are very proud of their district...where educational excellence is our foremost goal..
I think the biggest question the Delano community has is whether the building is really necessary at this time. The student counts at the three existing building indicate that the answer to this question is a resounding "yes". We are simply busting at the seams in the high school and middle school. Forget about forcasted growth, we are all ready past the student populations that the buildings were designed to handle. This building isn't intended to be a tribute to architecture either. It is intended to be designed to be extremely functional. It will only cost more if we wait to do the inevitable.
With over 770 students in the high school, it is, and has been for the past two years, very difficult to provide the optimal learning environment for our high school students at Delano. Our current building is designed to house 700 high school students. I believe it is imperative that this new building becomes reality in order for us to continue to meet our vision, which is Educational Excellence is our Foremost Goal.
A perfect example of our size limitation at the high school is the lack of appropriate science classrooms. Specifically, we have more chemistry sections than chemistry classrooms projected for next year. I do not want to deny our talented students the opportunity to excel due to space limitations. Currently our science teachers rotate between the classrooms in order to faciliate the best learning environment for our students. Our chemistry lab is used all periods of the day this current school year. It has now become critical to increase our physical space at the high school. Science classrooms have very specific needs in order for our teachers to facilitate the curriculum appropriately. However, this example is not germane only to the science department. The bottom line is we have no more space.
As we say at the high school with all our endeavors, failure is not an option.
As a student at Delano High School for the last 4 years I can attest to the need for added space. Not only are the Science classrooms being pushed to the capacity, so are the English and Social study wings. Anyone who does not believe a new school is necessary needs only to walk into the school during a passing time and see the congestion of students in the halls. While it is fine to have us crammed in the halls for 10 minutes at a time having 35 of us in a classroom is not. Please vote yes for the builing of a new school. Thank you.
Finally, The Whole Short Story
Why did it take a failed bond referendum and the StarTribune, reporting on the Delano School
bond referendum, to get a reasonably concise explanation for the referendum to the average Delano resident?
None of this pertinent information (that I am aware of) was forthcoming in plain language, prior to the failed referendum and has not been offered since that failure.
Following the StarTribune article of Sunday, February 10, 2008, and hours of looking for additional information,
I get it.
IN PLAIN LANGUAGE:
Delano schools are overcrowded and larger enrollment is expected in the near future.
Census figures: RE: StarTribune
We have 2,248 students housed in buildings designed to house 2,150 students.
We will need space for 2,548 students by 2012.
(RE: StarTribune)
The school board feels a new elementary (grades 4 through 6) school will solve the district’s problem.
We want to buy land for a new 4-6 elementary building, next to the existing Delano Campus.
We want to build a new 4/6 elementary building.
Land cost is estimated to be $980,000 or less.
We estimate we need $27,000,000 to construct this new building
And: (from a September 6, 2007 News Release ) add high school science labs ; add space for middle and high school music; upgrade building security ; upgrade middle school auditorium; add physical education fields and re-crowning of the football field.
Is this correct?
WHY DIDN’T DELANO RESIDENTS GET A SIMPLE, CONCISE, PLAIN LANGUAGE NOTIFICATION WITH THIS INFORMATION ON IT?
WILL THEY GET ONE NOW?
For 26¢ you can pack a lot of information on a postcard.
This would be far less than, what I believe I saw as the cost of “selling” the last proposal.
Families with children in school may have been more aware of this information at the last vote on the subject, but judging by the NAY vote, this was not apparent.
How about the rest of the population that have no children in school?
Their interest, whether they support education in Delano or not, is more a financial one.
Is the request clear and reasonable?
Are these costs clear and reasonable?
What will it cost me?
I believe estimated dollar amounts of the increased property tax costs were made known prior to the fall 2007 referendum but the need and proposed use of the funds was not clear.
Having become more interested in the subject, I checked online information for Delano Schools.
Unfortunately, the Delano Public Schools Annual Report ‘06-’07 contains scant numerical /statistical information and none pertaining to the needs or the district, physical plants, class size, occupancy and other information to aid the informed or uninformed in personal decisions regarding the district.
How can a taxpayer make an informed decision without some basic,easily sourced, input to do the math?
Deep inside the Delano Public Schools web site @ http://www.delano.k12.mn.us/News_Releases/September_6,_2007.pdf
A September 6, 2007 news release does describe the fall 2007 referendum fairly succinctly.
Barring the search for the information or subscription to the local newspaper, not the StarTribune, the only way to disseminate information to taxpayers is by direct mail
If the Delano Public Schools faculty and student population are as highly rated as it seems, it would seem to follow that their parents & caregivers are pretty intelligent also.
I imagine that with even minimal data, in plain language, they can make fairly intelligent decisions for their schools & their children.
Now, is the proposed new school a $19,000,000 facility similar to the just completed Watertown, MN elementary school?
If so, are the other proposed projects really $8,000,000 or is there substantial “cush” built in?
“Cush” is fine and a necessary part of budgeting but it should made clear that it is in the proposal.
With the issues reasonably clarified by the StarTribune, I support the proposal.
The proposal, if presented in plain, concise language, should pass.
In light of the available apparent facts, it would be unfair to our students and faculty to make the unnecessary sacrifices required by letting this proposal fail again.
I agree 100 percent with giving information in plain language so there for I would like to inform Mr. Humpston that there will be informational open house's on April 8th from 3-8 PM in the High School Cafeteria and on April 10th from 6-8 PM in the Elementary School Cafeteria.
With a 28 million dollar project plus the 8 million dollar "cush", how much would that rise the already high taxes? I am in high school and yea the classes are crowded and the class choices suck but would a 28-36 million school for 4-6 graders accually help the high school? If the middle school was less populated then you could send some classes down there but then the time it takes to get from class to class would be longer and the two main halls would be really crowded.
I have a question about operating costs; this new building will cost more each year to operate vs. what we presently have, has the school board looked into creating more operating efficiencies in the existing buildings and how more efficient is the new building vs. the existing? I'am concerned about building new structures with added operating costs and supporting them with reduced tax revenue? has the school board looked at that? What I'am asking is there a plan "B" if the economy goes sour?
Let's face it Minnesota tax payers are getting fleeced. I do have 2 children in the school district and will be voting no! We are paying billions of dollars, more and more each year for basically the same education service. Let's try no more auto pay increases for teachers. Perform first! No tenure for teachers but rather based on rewarding results. When will enough be enough? How can the parochial schools, who get no federal $$, provide students with extremely high quality education with such little dollars. Are Seniors in high school so different from Freshman in college? How can college Freshman learn in lecture halls of 100+ students. Time for our schools to start thinking out of the box. A Hoover Institute study actually showed a negative effect of reducing class size. Teacher quality not quantity is a better predictor of student performance. Enough is Enough! The residents of the Delano School District better hold onto their wallets!
By the way....isn't the School Board supposed to be the check and balance of the school district? Who is looking out for the taxpayers of Delano.....?
I have no problem organizing a "Vote No" committee to counter so much of the "it's for the Children" rhetoric we hear and get bombarded with on a daily basis. Is it ethical for people wanting more of our tax dollars to use those very tax dollars to ask for more money? Who is paying for the "Vote Yes" campaign? I completely agree with the comments of the previous blogger. Families have to tighten their belts and learn how to live with less so why can't the school district do the same.......I'm sure if residents started digging into the school disctrict there's alot of pork that can be cut out.
I'm saddened and frustrated by the last few comments in this blog. I want to respond to a few of the "anonymous" writers.
I have seen how the school district and the school board are looking out for taxpayers. Not levying for the dollars that were approved in November is a good example of this. The new school that is being proposed will be an efficient use of space and will take advantage of natural light to help keep it energy efficient. Compared to some of the schools I've seen in other districts, one can hardly say its anything "fancy". It's also extremely responsible of the district to take a proactive approach to building this school instead of waiting until it's too late, like so many other districts have done. Other districts are forced to cut athletics, music programs, and art programs just to be able to operate their schools. I'm thankful we are not there...yet.
Do parochial schools really have "little dollars"? I was under the impression that parents pay a fairly sizable tuition to send their kids to those schools. Personally I've never looked into it because I feel my kids will get an excellent education here in Delano IF the community continues to support the schools.
You might be comfortable having your senior in a class that holds 100 people, but I'm certainly not OK with that - especially the elementary school-aged kids.
If this referendum does not pass, the need for a new school will not go away. We will have to build a school outside of town, it will cost the taxpayers a lot more than it will now, and we will get a lot less for our money. I don't know how anyone can say that the school board and the district aren't looking out for the taxpayers.
Lastly, I have to speak to how the Vote Yes Campaign gets funded. Since I have donated to several Vote Yes Campaigns, I know they get their money via contributions from local businesses, parents, teachers...no district funds are used for these campaigns. Period.
Oh, and where is the $8 million "cush"?
Please - get the facts. It's too important not to.
I guess I'm confused by the comment of needing to counter the "it's for the Children rhetoric" you are hearing on a daily basis. Isn't this referendum 100% about the children who attend school within the Delano
school district? Who else would benefit from an additional building to alleviate an already crowded campus?
The district made it perfectly clear last November that they are
required by law to send out information to inform all its residents about upcoming referendums, including the wording of the exact ballot questions. They do not spend one dime more than necessary on the printing and mailing of that information.
The "Vote Yes" group is made up of volunteers that are district
residents and all their funding is raised thru donations from private
parties and businesses.
I think all of us as residents of the community should look into the
fiscal health of our school district. When you start digging into Delano's budget and financial information provided on the district website you will find a very responsible and financially sound school district. While viewing the televised school board meeting this past Monday, I watched as they received another award from the State for that
very reason.
Before deciding to vote No, I hope you take the time to get all the
facts on why this is important for the children within this school
district. Don't they deserve to be a part of a community that values educational excellence?
Pretty soon property taxes will be so high in Delano you won't have to worry about growth in the schools because no one will be able to afford to live here! I've read the Hoover Institute report and no one is talking about putting elementary kids in larger classes but Seniors...why not? They need to be prepared for college and the real world. Are you telling me that 3 months after they graduate their all of a sudden ready to sit in lecture halls of sometimes up to 200 students? Do you realize education funding has gone up 173% in the last ten years now exceeding 7 Billions dollars (no including Federal money as well). The teachers union president Tom Dooher says it's not enough! What is enough? This will never end. In the end all the waste is not for the kids it's for the teachers union and their tenure, their healthcare and their pension (which by the way the state just dedicated an additional 30 million to bail them out). I want a 21st Century education system. We are paying billions of dollars, more and more each year for basically the same education service received 20 years ago. Go visit a classroom. Bet it's not much different than when you went to school. The current education system is broke and dumping million of dollars into it has not and will not fix it. TIME FOR CHANGE SCHOOL BOARD!
Regarding local parochial schools not only in Delano but in neighboring towns as well........As of last year the average tuition paid by parents was less than $1000 per year per child. The synods might chip in some but it's no where near the $8000 per kid average from the state (not including federal dollars). Do some digging. I would venture that on average the kids joining the middle school or high school from these Parochial schools score at least as well if not better than publicly educated kids. Just a thought.
I will vote Yes if the school district will agree that test scores will go up by the same % that my taxes increase.
I can almost guarantee that if this passes we'll be asked again in a couple of years for more operating money to run the new school because what we will give this April won't be engough...never will be........Guaranteed!
Is the $8,000,00.00 slush for building improvements not in the new middle school? New music rooms in high school? Other building improvements? Is this really necessary? We are in a recession and a 7 billion dollar tax burden just go leveled to the Minnesota tax payers just last week.....this money is being asked for at a really bad time.......Also the MN Dept of Education website shows AVERAGE school district property tax per home in Delano to be $1011 and state wide is $556? We are paying nearly double the state average already.
Yes of course the children of the district should be part of a community that supports educational excellence but is a new school equivalent to educational excellence?
Boards of education are accountable to the taxpayers who elect them to public office!
I plan to vote yes for the Delano school bond election on April 22 because the proposal put forth by the board is a good alternative when you take everything into consideration.
Having studied the materials presented by the school board, and having considered the statements supplied by differing contributors, I just don’t understand why anyone would be opposed to this proposal that deals with the serious issue of over crowding.
As a property owner, I will have to pay a little extra each year. But logic tells me that my property will be worth at least that much more.
Don Meyerson
Delano
I am a high school sophomore. I can't claim to be well versed in all of the issues but I have a question for the 'anonymous' who suggested seniors are not all that different from freshmen in college.
Where do you think these 100 occupant senior classes will be held? Certainly not in any classroom we have. Not in the middle school auditorium, which, by the way, is the only auditorium we have in the Delano School district. Not in the TAC, either, its occupied by gym and sometimes other classes,[remember trebuets?]not to mention residents who walk on the track or use the weight room.
No matter how you put it, we need more space. I also don't see how a new Elementary school, which, as far as I can tell, the one we have is not bursting at the seams, will aleviate the problem in the Middle and High schools. It is in the later grades that we have the influx of new students.
About the money this is costing, I am not a taxpayer, so I don't feel I can comment on that. I have no clue as to a reasonable estimate of costs for a new building and land, all I can go by is what I'm told. And what I know, is that even if we kept the classes the same size, we need more space.
PLEASE PROVIDE SIMPLE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION ON YOUR MAILINGS! We just received the mailing titled "Delano Public Schools Referendum", "One Campus, Many Futures". It quite clearly points out what the first question is about and a simple graph about the tax impact. Likewise "Quesiton #2 Key Facts" provides brief information and a chart of potential tax impact. Where this flyer fails drastically, almost misleading the taxpayers, is that it does not reference the referendum that passed last fall.
Certainly the complete impact of these referendums should be spelled out together.
Mark writes that the school board is being responsible by not levying the operating monies approved in the November referendum. How is that responsible? The operating money approved was for a building project that was not approved!
I am glad to see that this time around there is an option to vote on just the land purchase.
I believe if there was a question #1 on the November rererendum for just land acqusition, it probably would have passed. However, the request for more money from the taxpayers couldn't come at a worse time. All of the things asked for would be nice, but are they necessary.
At a time when people are changing driving habits, turning down our thermostats and watching electric and grocery bills climb dramatically, adding to our tax burdon, just isn't something we can support.
In Response to K. Dufur.....I wasn't suggesting we put Seniors in classes of 100....but do they need to be classes of 20? Why not 30 -40? or else if "Where to hold larger classes" is an issue it would be a lot cheaper for already burdened tax payers to expand the high school some to add a few more classrooms.....like you said private school kids join in either 7th or 9th grade....not middle school- maybe we need to remodel the High School instead....
Well, I'm not saying large classes are necessarily wrong, but its not just the amount of students. Its how many can you fit into one room? The science rooms and a few of the others are big enough for 30-40 students, but most others, even if you squeezed in the students, wouldn't have room for 33-40 desks, backpacks, students, teaching tools, teachers, and room to move around in. I'm not claiming to be an expert or anything, neither have I been in all of the classrooms, but this is a distinct feeling I get, especially, for instance, in Mrs.(Ms.?) McCoy's and Mr. Wagner's rooms, which are both what could be called 'inner' rooms. No windows, not even in the doors, and both are small, though I have to admit Mr. Wagner's room may be bigger than Mrs.(Ms.?) McCoy's room.
I'm probably rambling on and if it make no sense then don't pay any attention to me. :D
We don't need a new school
We have very high taxes I go to the school and we don't need to get another tax increase
we should take a vote in school for who they think the new president should be McCain '08
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