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EaglesLair: This is a very difficult situation to be sure. I don't purport to have all the answers, but you are correct, I am open minded about exploring all possible alternatives. My research has caused me to conclude that the state funding formula needs to be re-visited. I have established this position since last June. I forwarded a post to all, to look at the history of the so-called Minnesota Miracle of Wendy Anderson and the changes to it over the years. I cannot force others to read that synopsis of the funding formula and make themselves more knowledgeable...I can only recommend posters consider it.

The other element of education funding in our area is, as you stated, the seasonal-recreation property owners (Ventura, when Governor, endorsed and signed changes to the school funding formula that allows them to be exempt from property taxes being applied to our schools operations). Also, the Sierra Club and their umbrella of environmental activists, have prevailed in getting more and more land into the hands of any unit of government they can. This takes land off the tax rolls. There is a provision whereby units of government pay what is called "payments-in-lieu-of-taxes" and school trust aid. But, to my knowledge, this provision has not been re-visited to reflect the current value of the property, were it to be in private ownership, and any adjustments upward to contributions to our rural schools in this area.

In summary, we need more students and families in our area to support our schools. Just in the Orr area alone, the DNR has awarded 19 mineral exploration drilling leases to Duluth Metals. Drill core samples, from the late 1980's have revealed that potential precious metals mining could occur in our area. Guess what? You can bet your entire estate and pension that the Sierra Club, and some of the people supporting our current movement to save schools in Tower-Soudan, Cook and Orr, will fight that project and it's possible 300-400 full-time working family jobs, tooth and nail. "Green-only" jobs are not the secret to our survival up here. Our economy has been, and will always be, natural resource-based. Ignoring that will NOT be a recipe for economic success, nor will it put little people in our community schools.

Thank you for your post, EaglesLair. I may not be willing to accept many of your premises in your post, but they are worthy of consideration.

From: Do you support a feasibility study for a division of ISD 2142?

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