Duluth News Tribune, Sept. 6

CANDIDATE’S VIEW

Duluth News Tribune,   Sept. 6, 2013

 Knowledge, honesty, and integrity were the traits that elected me to represent the 4th District on the Duluth School Board four years ago. Now I also have the experience, and I am looking to build on the trust the 4th District has given me. 

We all know we have beautiful schools, but we also still owe $394 million in debt payments due for the next 20 years, with much of that debt set to be paid for at the expense of classrooms. Pulling money out of the classrooms for buildings is wrong, and that is the primary reason why we are in a fiscal tight spot when it comes to our classrooms. 

This drain of money is a principle reason why we have eliminated 180 teacher positions, a reason why we have not been able to reduce the achievement gap, and a reason why we have low graduation rates. In the last six years we have lost about 1,700 students, according to district and state documents, and the millions in annual revenue that go along with them. Why have we lost these students? I believe it’s because parents are distrustful of our schools. 

We have gone from a $24 million fund balance in 2007 to what Moody’s Investors Services predicts to be a likely deficit by the end of 2014. In other words, we are very close to bankruptcy.

So we have the worst of two worlds: We have raised local taxes repeatedly (with more on the way); but we still have large classes sizes, reduced curriculum, and financial problems.

It is not good enough to say we have to eliminate the achievement gap, lower class sizes and raise our graduation rates — we have to do something about it. And we have to understand budgets. The administration needs to level with the people and tell the truth about our financial problems. We need a board that moves forward from the conformity of the past that got us into this situation. I’m the only person on the School Board who questions why we have gotten to this point, the only one who understands the problems, and the only one who has solutions.

We don’t need politicians for School Board seats; we need people who know where the money comes from and how the budget works and who can relate to the people they represent. I bring honesty, and I listen to the people, whether they’re students, staff, parents or taxpayers.

We need a School Board that gives leadership, encourages diversity in problem-solving, and is fully engaged in all aspects of the school and community. I have the West Duluth tradition of not being afraid to take on and question authority. As a board member, I have the courage to ask questions, the courage to listen, and the courage to take action. And I have the northern Minnesota tradition of doing the right thing and making our world, city, and our school a better place for the future.

It is time to stop the talk of negativity. There are problems to be solved, and the whole community needs to be involved. It is time to bring back the trust, bring back the students, and bring back the teachers.

Art Johnston is running for reelection as representative of the 4th District on the Duluth School Board.