To
those concerned about saving Duluth's elementary schools
Sending letters to the School Board is all well and good but in my opinion only
community pressure will change some Board members minds. Therefore you must
encourage everyone you know to write letters to the Duluth News Tribune at: letters@duluthnews.com,
or the Duluth Budgeteer at:
budgeteer@mx3.com
Its important to send different letters to each publication because they will
not willingly run the same one.
I believe three school board members might change their mind. Bob Mars who has
no particular preference whether we close buildings at the elementary or the
secondary level.
or Laura Condon who doesn't want to disappoint anyone.
or Mike Akervik who is up for reelection next year.
Dorothy Neumann and Laura Condon are very loyal to Eileen Zeitz Hudelson who is
helping them fight off anything other than the K-5, 6-8, 9-12 configuration.
They meet often. Their loyalties were established back when they were all first
elected in 1997. At present Dorothy and Laura's loyalty to Eileen has overridden
their sympathy for the Chester Park or Grant communities. I do not believe
either of them plans to run for reelection so they will not be moved by
political threats.
Eileen spelled out her and their point of view shortly after she was
defeated in her reelection bid in 2000. She complained that she was tired of
hearing parents threaten to take their children out of the Duluth School
District. Her Op Ed piece from January of 2001 is the blueprint which Dorothy
and Laura are currently following in their attempt to close elementary schools.
You can read it at my website along with my critique of her arguments at this
link:
http://www.snowbizz.com/EdNews2002/02-1EduNews/EZHudelsonOpEd.htm
My
long time ally Mary Glass LeBlanc does not care for Eileen but she is a strong
supporter of 6-8 middle schools. I do not think she will change her mind.
Bob
Nygaard, Mary Cameron, Garry Krause and I are the current minority who want to
save the elementary schools. We need one more vote and we need it in the next
month.
You
can have a preview of my upcoming Op Ed piece which will be published in the
next Saturday's Budgeteer by going to this second link to my website:
http://www.snowbizz.com/Diogenes/NotNotEudora/itsnotjustbecause.htm
Saving
the elementary schools is now up to you.
Feel
free to share this email with anyone you know who cares about the elementary
schools.
Harry Welty
