In The News This Week 1/16/09

Enrollment Projections are down: Waconia Patriot
Comment: the fiscal conservative in me says we should be projecting zero growth. That might not be realistic, but I would rather err on the low side, than have to slash the budget later.

Board elects new chair person: Waconia Patriot
Comment: This didn't make the newspaper, but I proposed that the Board take a symbolic pay cut in recognition of the current economic situation. It didn't have support enough to pass (the vote was 5-2 for keeping the same pay). Cuts are happening all over the state in other districts (see below), and even though the dollars aren't much (Board members are grossly underpaid), the gesture is a good one I think.
Sartell-St Stephens cut Board pay by 20%: SC Times article.
St Cloud cut Board pay by 10%: SC Times article.
Watertown-Mayer pay cuts: Carver County News.

Two Waconia teachers conquer Mt Aconcagua: Star-Tribune, WCCO, Waconia Patriot
Comment: Words cannot express how proud I am of these two teachers, not just for the accomplishment of climbing the mountain, but for having the presence to use the technology to share the journey with all of us.

Follow-up from yesterday's post about Washington State saying OK to sex between teachers and students (file under "apparently I'm not the only one..."): Fox News

"I'm shocked and surprised," Connie Severson told FOXNews.com. "They're going to be teaching our students and the last thing you want is sexual relations on their mind."

Severson, whose son Stephan is a junior at Hoquiam High School, said the ruling has "opened up the eyes of other parents" in the district.

"This shouldn't be OK," she said. "They are teachers. Every one of them should know better."

Severson said the ruling could dissuade parents from enrolling their children within the Hoquiam school district.

"I'm hoping from a parent's perspective that when my daughter is 18 and dating that she's not having a relationship with her teacher," she said. "This is not college, it's not a university, this is high school."

Governor Pawlenty's State-of-the-State address: Rochester Post-Bulletin
Highlights:

• Any government entity receiving money from the state -- cities, schools, counties -- should freeze wages for two years.
• Restrict labor laws that allow public school teachers to strike.
• Cap state university and college tuition and make a push for more online classes.
• Push for Q Comp, an alternative pay system for teachers, across the entire state.
• Tie additional school funding to student performance.

Comment: Wow - some good stuff here. I was pleased to see "cut education spending" was not on the list. I think a wage freeze might be palatable, especially if it means we can avoid huge cuts and layoffs. I also like the Governor's approach of rewarding high-performing teachers and districts rather than the NCLB approach of punishing the low-performers.

Minnesota Miracle - not dead yet: Pioneer Press
Comment: none