I was recently informed by some of my in-town friends that on some website available to others, but not me, I was called out by the administration for using misinformation and purposely trying to mislead the public on school issues.
I assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. First, I have always said that Garretson has inherited some difficulties just because we are the size district that we are. People who were searching for the truth heard me say that at the opt out meeting. Because of our enrollment we should have one and a half teachers per grade. Well, we know that is not possible.
I think most who really care about education favor 15 to 17 students in a classroom instead of 30 to 35. So where do we cut? We saw a list of 5 or 6 items presented by the administration, most of which were the same ones we saw on previous opt out attempts.
After the public voted to support the opt out in 2016, I went to a school board meeting to offer one idea on where we could save, it fell on deaf ears. Also, before that opt out, I went to the top administration to offer a list of ten items that others, including staff had shared with me. The list was not looked at, the response was “We’ll see if the opt out passes first.”
At one time in that discussion, we were led to believe that if we supported that opt out it should be the last one needed.
Many believe that to operate within the budget restraints of a school our size we need to look at all possible savings, but not cut within the classroom.
What was called into question was numbers that I used when comparing with two neighboring schools that I admire, Alcester and Baltic. In both those schools the Superintendent had multiple duties. My numbers were right on with Baltic, which I said had two more in high school than Garretson.
In the case of Alcester my numbers were not close, they are smaller than what I indicated, that is on me. But my point is still the same, those districts found ways to live within their budget. In Baltic the Superintendent was also a principal. In Alcester the Superintendent also drives bus, is grade school principal, and Special Ed Director. Will or have things changed some in those districts as their monetary situations change, I would expect so.
But both of these schools are examples of what we could do instead of threatening to fire classroom teachers as seems to be the case in Garretson.
I will also point out that I was called out as responsible for the vote no signs, not true. But whoever did have them made, I couldn’t agree more with the first line, “until there is change.”
To those voices who share the fear that our school will close if this does not pass, I tell you we have seen the same song and dance for far too long.
According to state law “it is the duty of the district, that is us, to provide a free and fair public education for all the students of our district.” Then let’s do so responsibly so we can provide that education for all the kids that I hold dear long into the future.
To the sign makers, if you are wondering where some of your signs went, I was told the administration called the mayor to have signs removed if they were on city property, and so city workers removed them. And that is the law, signs have to be on privately owned property.
Too bad the administration didn’t also know election law before the last opt out election at which there were no poll watchers and so results had to be thrown out.
I have also seen vote yes signs, no problem, each has to vote for what they think is right. Enough said.
-Oran Sorenson
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