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To the Editor:

Enclosed is Lois Boll’s subscription check for another year of the Gazette. As a quick update, Mom moved last April to a beautiful apartment in White Bear Lake. She loves the apartment and her location is close to Bonnie and me so we are fortunate now to spend more time with her. Keep up the great stories in the Gazette. Mom especially enjoys keeping up on Victoria happenings.

Betsy England

Minneapolis, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Looks like we’re going to make the May 1st construction deadline on our big new kitchen and menu here at Floyd’s. Thanks for the wonderful article in the April Gazette. Everyone told me what a nice article it was. I feel a little embarrassed by the amount of space, however. You gave us three whole pages! Love you. Enjoy spring.

Lois Plocher

Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:

How many of us were truly aware of the “modified block schedule” change in the middle schools of District 112? Even now, do you fully understand? Moreover, how many of us realize the dramatic impact it would have on our kids’ programming?

Did you know it would cost around ONE MILLION DOLLARS to implement? This decision has forced staff and programs to be cut or reduced and financial hardships in other areas like athletics (a $400,000 cut).

Now our District 112 staff is under a “hard salary freeze,” too. Why is the administration forcing this programming change instead of waiting for better economic times? It would be easy enough to re-register our middle schoolers and use the present format. All of the parents with whom I have spoken have agreed with this idea.

Some thoughts to consider:

*Are you aware that middle school students may only participate in ONE musical area? They must select band or choir or orchestra, as opposed to a combination with the present schedule.

*Should your tax dollars be spent on monogrammed chairs, rugs, and other aesthetic items which, by the way, have already been purchased? These are the types of expenditures we can go without in order to reinstate what most affects KIDS! Great programs and great teachers are the most essential.

*If we keep the present middle school program, the teachers’ salaries could move toward a “soft freeze.” I am not a CFO or a CPA, but with the economy at its worst in 80 years, this just makes sense. Why can’t we wait?

I find it interesting that little to no information was available publicly, and is no longer accessible in archives, on such a drastic and seemingly expensive move during a time of massive cuts in the budget. This feels like an educational theory-based program that is better suited to times when large levies pass through voters easily.

We need full disclosure and more transparency from our administration and school board. Contact our administrators and board members, although I received no response from them to a direct email! I encourage you all to write and take action.

Becky Janes

Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Citizens of Eastern Carver County (Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, East Union, and Victoria): Congratulations! You have just elected all the school board members to another year in office. Oh, do you not remember voting? That’s not surprising, since the school board simply canceled the fall 2009 school board elections and gave themselves an extra year in office.

The school board wanted to save money and increase voter participation by moving school board elections to the even years to coincide with general elections. This idea has some merit, but not at the expense of the public’s vote.

My vote is worth far more than $12,000, which is the approximate cost of a school election being run separately. I know of many other taxpayers that feel the same way I do about their vote.

What would have been the proper and correct way to handle this situation?

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