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The vote will increase an already approved lease levy for the site by $150,000, bringing the total levy to $650,000. According to Superintendent Paul Durand, the impact on property owners would be minimal, if any, since levy amounts are based on enrollment, which is declining in the district. The district will decrease other levies by approximately $200,000 in fiscal year 2009.
The vote for the increase levy was 6-1, with Kelly Herold opposing the increase. Several board members relayed comments constituents had passed on to them about the project, with the majority saying the response had been positive. Herold, however, said those he heard from were overwhelmingly cool to an increase to the levy because of financial constraints.
“The rural folk I represent are on the edge,” Herold said.
Herold added that he felt the district should be investing in academic programs instead of athletics. Other board members said that they agreed with Herold that academic programs need more support, but the financial deal they were being offered would be hard to pass up. The track renovations will be funded
in part by the Morrie Miller Athletic Foundation and Winona State University, and a group of parents and booster organizations who pledged $65,000 over a five year period toward the project at the board meeting.
Board member John Goplen said that renovating district athletic facilities is fundamental to education.
“There’s a lot of kid’s, where this is what keeps them in school,” said Goplen.
In other news, a Winona State University professor lashed out at the board and Durand for their handling of a teachers’ union survey conducted in 2006.
Tim Hatfield, who with his wife, Susan, was hired by the union to analyze the results of the teacher satisfaction survey.
Tim Hatfield insinuated Durand smeared the couple in correspondences with Don White, a superintendent in Illinois, who was involved in crafting a survey on which the Winona Education Association survey was based.
“Mr. Durand misrepresented and demeaned us when he called Dr. White after the WEA gave the survey results to this board,” he said.
Board Chair Brian Neil cut Tim Hatfield off before he could finish reading a prepared statement. Board members and Durand declined to comment on Hatfield’s remarks after the meeting.
