Letter to the editor: Hearing people out
I read Jack Pichotta’s commentary in last week’s newspaper in which he referenced the survey (www.k12381.com) and stated the following: “A recent survey done in our district promoted fee-based education and asked how people felt about charging fees for educational programs that, for most of us, were part of our education.”
I read Jack Pichotta’s commentary in last week’s newspaper in which he referenced the survey (www.k12381.com) and stated the following:
“A recent survey done in our district promoted fee-based education and asked how people felt about charging fees for educational programs that, for most of us, were part of our education.”
The survey doesn’t promote fee-based education, but rather simply looks to determine whether or not people would be receptive to the concept of user-fees as a means to help offset the district’s operating deficit. Unfortunately, Mr. Pichotta has completely misinterpreted the intent and motivation for conducting the survey.
He has purposefully distorted the concept with an ill-conceived example of a rural family with two children participating in sports, music, and arts programs potentially being required to spend nearly $1,000 annually. I created the survey (www.k12381.com) in direct response to the assertion proffered by Superintendent Phil Minkkinen that the district couldn’t afford to survey parents to determine whether or not they would support the four-day school week proposal as a viable cost containment strategy.
The survey intends to unscientifically determine the community’s receptiveness to those concepts, as well as serve as a forum which would motivate people to further engage in the debate. Ultimately, I had hoped that the survey would prove useful to Mr. Pichotta and other board members when the time comes to make their decision.
From Tom Sullivan, Finland
Tags: two harbors, opinion, letters to the editor, levy
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