tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.comments2012-03-15T10:42:14.658-07:00Supe of the DayDeb Hentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15947881078882354454noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-41124045183700831042012-03-15T10:42:14.658-07:002012-03-15T10:42:14.658-07:00Ross,
I am happy to report to you now that the di...Ross,<br /><br />I am happy to report to you now that the district did receive a grant from the North Branch Area Education Foundation for the purchase of 15 netbooks specifically to be used in class by students who may not own devices. Thank you NBAEF!Deb Hentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947881078882354454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-69970210488281908042012-03-09T08:02:36.991-08:002012-03-09T08:02:36.991-08:00Ross,
Thank you for broaching this important subj...Ross,<br /><br />Thank you for broaching this important subject. I have spoken to many parents and economics is only one reason why a particular student may not have access to a given technology. For other parents technology responsibility is a concern. We at the district are doing much to make sure no students feel left out of D3. We are even now awaiting word on a grant to purchase a number of netbooks for students to use in the classroom (we should hear very soon and when we do I will let you know), and students with devices are expected to share in the classroom as well. It was certainly never our intent to create a "have/have not" situation but merely to recognize that education without access to technology in 2012 ignores the basic reality of the modern world. We already have some devices in our buildings that are part of pilot projects and we are doggedly seeking funds for more to create balance for our students.<br /><br />Your concern is very much our concern and I appreciate you allowing me the opportunity to explain further. Have a great day!Deb Hentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947881078882354454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-29988050548873282402012-03-08T16:42:58.099-08:002012-03-08T16:42:58.099-08:00I appreciate your post and explaining the theory b...I appreciate your post and explaining the theory behind why you have allowed the technology to come into the class rooms from home. However, I feel it is hypocritical that this district refuses to ask parents to fund educational field trips because too many of their students are on free and reduced lunches, but has opened these same students up to feel less than their peers. Obviously, these same students do not have the means to purchase the technology the other students have. My kids are telling me that the teacher's are utilizing this technology in their lessons. Library ck outs for Kindle Fire's cannot be your answer or computer rooms in a different location. How do you plan to equal this learning deficit?Ross Hattonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-41329809676039701442011-06-03T07:38:30.625-07:002011-06-03T07:38:30.625-07:00As stated in this MinnPost article:
This is a sad...As stated in this MinnPost article:<br /><br />This is a sad time for Minnesota education when innovation and experimentation is the result of state financial mismanagement, not the desire to improve the education available to our children. <br /><br />http://www.minnpost.com/community_voices/2010/01/28/15199/minnesotas_four-day_school_week_is_based_on_money_not_educationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-29048699410630741942010-08-18T13:07:46.970-07:002010-08-18T13:07:46.970-07:00Let's stop saying No to levies! It's time...Let's stop saying No to levies! It's time for a YES!!!!Our children and our schools are counting on us.<br />-from a concerned unemployed parent in NorthBranchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-69732342953630994822010-04-29T07:15:35.491-07:002010-04-29T07:15:35.491-07:00Our school district desperately needs funding. Th...Our school district desperately needs funding. The tax payers are unable to do it because so many are unemployed or struggling to keep their jobs. <br /><br />Deb- I appreciate your letter, I haven't always seen eye to eye with you, but the letter was very well put.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-52863863264271112412010-04-10T20:30:14.477-07:002010-04-10T20:30:14.477-07:00we need.....money ._.we need.....money ._.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-79120692572031159232010-04-08T20:40:11.714-07:002010-04-08T20:40:11.714-07:00As I would expect from you, Ms Henton, you have do...As I would expect from you, Ms Henton, you have done the right thing once again and are acting pro-active in soliciting compassion, help and responsibility from our governor and other legislative leaders. Keep our district and education in Minnesota in the forefront as much as you can! Thank you for all of your efforts - we are lucky to have you!J. Monknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-8372772862993909882010-04-08T19:53:21.834-07:002010-04-08T19:53:21.834-07:00Dear Dr. Henton:
As a parent and teacher myself, I...Dear Dr. Henton:<br />As a parent and teacher myself, I appreciate all that you have done to bring quality to education in this district. My daughter has received an outstanding education regardless of the large class-size and cuts in extra-curricular activities. I am very pleased with the teachers and overall educational program in North Branch. Like many parents in this district, I am increasingly concerned with the lack of support from the State. It is time that Governor Pawlenty take action necessary to make education equitable for all students, including us rural ones. It should not be the total responsibility of the community to "foot the bill." The US Department of Education wants to "leave no child behind," but our kids in ISD #138 are being left behind, not from the teachers, but from the State and US Government. We can not continue to cut teacher's and para support. We can not continue to cut educational programs in our schools. I hope that Governor Pawlenty will take action for the future of our children and the community. Thank you, <br /> -district parent and residenta district parent and residentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-88494239094106532582010-04-08T08:23:47.869-07:002010-04-08T08:23:47.869-07:00Dr. Henton,
Well stated! The inequities in public...Dr. Henton,<br /><br />Well stated! The inequities in public school funding are great. Our current system of funding schools equally is a "relic." The responsibility, as your blog stated so well, has been shifted to our local taxpayers who want quality education, but can't afford to foot the bill anymore. Many areas in rural Minnesota have been decimated by this recession and cuts in education only add more fuel to the fire. <br /><br />Mr. Pawlenty, with all due respect, must stop saying that he hasn't raised taxes in the state. Indirectly he has just made the local school boards and superintendents the "bad people" by forcing them to ask the local taxpayer to pass operating levies. <br /><br />I understand that our state faces a huge crisis, however intelligent discussions and decisions need to be made in order to solve the public education funding problem. We truly can't move forward until this funding relic is fixed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-82696822051284415822010-04-07T20:00:36.396-07:002010-04-07T20:00:36.396-07:00Deb, thank you so much for taking the time to writ...Deb, thank you so much for taking the time to write this letter to Governor Pawlenty!! I think you did a great job and I pray that he will take you up on your offer to visit our school district! I will pray even harder that he does the right thing and fixes the equalization formula! Thank you again for everything you are doing for our district!K Jinksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-91774265772781729492009-11-19T10:55:00.119-08:002009-11-19T10:55:00.119-08:00I feel the bully policy has a huge flaw. The schoo...I feel the bully policy has a huge flaw. The school wants kids to let them know what has happened to them. So when they do say something the students are told that it their word against on other students and nothing is done to stop the bulling. If you do not help the kid who are being hurt the kid feels that the school is letting them down by no judgments againt the bully. How is a parent supposed to have their kid do the right thing if nothing ever happens to the bully?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-57109867952781477962009-11-06T18:50:37.214-08:002009-11-06T18:50:37.214-08:00Anonymous #1 clearly has an issue with current alu...Anonymous #1 clearly has an issue with current alumni. "These students will in turn make great future North Branch residents. As uneducated and small minded as the current ones." That is sad. Perhaps that person and I have had different experiences with the current residents. I have found them to be hard working, intelligent and exceptionably perceptive.<br /><br />I wish only the best for North Branch. I think the people are as resourceful as any other district. My grade school curriculum consisted of the 3 "r's": Reading wRiting and aRithmetic. Today, I still feel those core competencies can take anyone as far as they wish to push themselves. I struggle to understand why the district cannot accomplish that goal for $10K+ per pupil. <br /><br />I also understand there are many variables in that equation, such as special education, and programs for senior high – which simply cost more to sustain than elementary education programs. However, I see schools like Trinity providing an excellent education for $3k / per pupil. Clearly, money alone is not the solution. Children from the poorest neighborhoods across America have become shining stars across our great country. Now more than ever is the time to look within ourselves and what we can do. Simply throwing money at a problem is shameful ignorance of the true talents we have to offer. Education itself has almost become a business.<br /><br />I also do not accept the simple spreadsheets of dollars spent vs. education achieved. We must always push for more. More and more money every year, regardless of the number of current enrollment, our employers and government expect more. Every industry has had to cut staff and re-examine their budgets. Why is education the sacred cow? I do not fault them for asking for more, anyone would. The answer is simply, “NO”.<br /><br />The value I have found the citizens in North Branch; is to be capable of the assessment of what needs to be accomplished and the human know-how to make it happen. I feel this is an example of the true “Midwest Work Ethic”. I feel confident the residents are more than capable of making those decisions. Let’s be proud of what we have to offer rather then hiding behind economics!<br /><br />Hurray North Branch!Mike Jones - Nortn Branch Residentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-32629469143189493622009-11-06T14:32:27.983-08:002009-11-06T14:32:27.983-08:00I truly believe that many of the staff at North Br...I truly believe that many of the staff at North Branch Area Schools not only go the extra mile but they run the entire marathon. We have very dedicated teachers who spend many, many personal hours and dollars providing an education for our children. THANK YOU!Kristy Elkertonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-29053276499346932762009-11-05T13:46:20.650-08:002009-11-05T13:46:20.650-08:00Around 6 years ago there was the levy vote to buil...Around 6 years ago there was the levy vote to build the Sunrise School. The reasoning was that the Main Street School needed to be replaced. The prohibitive costs of maintenance and utilities do to its age were points I agreed with and I voted to build the new school. Why then is the Main Street School still operating? Why are we still paying to Heat and maintain a building that needed to be replaced? We did not replace a school we added one. This adds costs and I will not consider voting for another levy until the Main Street School is mothballed.Mark Murphynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-23821810313079799942009-11-05T13:32:02.115-08:002009-11-05T13:32:02.115-08:00The right time is never. It seems to me that the ...The right time is never. It seems to me that the people of Chisago county are way over taxed. I am one of them. That's probably why nothing has passed in seven years and hopefully never.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-24881683740226229442009-11-04T16:56:24.444-08:002009-11-04T16:56:24.444-08:00Well said anonymous #2. I could not agree more. ...Well said anonymous #2. I could not agree more. I think it's safe to say anonymous #1 probably works for the school district. I have lived in North Branch for four years and in that four years my property taxes has gone up almost $1000. Each time that happens my house payment goes up. we are almost to the point where we cannot make our house payment. I think it's time for all public schools to do more with less, just like most family's have to right now. Private schools are doing it with much less money per student and getting much better graduation results. Throwing more money at it is not the answer. The North branch school admin. in 2008-09 took a wage increase. Now why do most family's in North Branch lose their jobs, take pay cuts or pay freezes but the school admin. does not have too? Deb Henton make $189,000 a year. The average salary of 17 admin. jobs are $97,000/yr. Maybe it's time for them to take one for the team. Maybe take a pay freeze at the least! Just like everyone else. No, instead they are going to try to change it at the state level. They will never stop trying to steal our money. Sorry anonymous #1. You are in the minority right now and hopefully it stays that way...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-30214999958497689212009-11-04T13:55:49.342-08:002009-11-04T13:55:49.342-08:00I love hearing the "not right now" when?...I love hearing the "not right now" when???? It has never passed has it? I have been here seven years...still nothing...<br /><br />Please just tell me when would be the right time?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-22489195450659544002009-11-04T11:25:26.091-08:002009-11-04T11:25:26.091-08:00We look forward to hearing how the salary negotiat...We look forward to hearing how the salary negotiations go!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-78911486904038978582009-11-04T11:23:14.054-08:002009-11-04T11:23:14.054-08:00Perhaps it is also selfish to demand money from pe...Perhaps it is also selfish to demand money from people who are struggling to feed their families. But perhaps hypocrites will never look at themselves in a critical light and any kind of reasoning will never work because they are too blinded by what they believe is right to see anyone else's struggles as real. <br /><br />Home values in North Branch fell because the businesses are taxed so highly they cannot afford to pay their employees higher wages. This, in turn, prevents new businesses from bringing jobs to the city. As with the rest of the nation, many people in North Branch lost their jobs over the last year. This area was one of the hardest hit in the state by the foreclosure crisis. When your neighbors are losing their houses and they are selling for pennies on the dollars that you owe (or not selling at all), your home value will fall. But the government refuses to acknowledge this and unfairly taxes the properties, and so the citizens, to the point where people can no longer afford them. <br /><br />Trickle down. Work on fixing the higher level of problems in this city and other problems will correct themselves naturally. <br /><br />And perhaps a bit of introspection and some humility could do you some good. Stop selfishly thinking that everyone has the same needs and that your immediate want/need is what is most important in people's lives. Some people would rather have a home than have "free" activities for kids at school. Who are you to judge what people prioritize in their lives?<br /><br />People voted on what they believed was the best outcome. The majority said "Not right now." That's democracy. If you think democracy is an "infection" then perhaps this is not only the wrong town for you, sir, but the wrong country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-81545271592357078822009-11-04T10:57:32.272-08:002009-11-04T10:57:32.272-08:00Yep Mike you are right. The schools don't nee...Yep Mike you are right. The schools don't need more money. Other school districts are spending sometimes as much as thousands more per student. The district will get more efficient by cutting more programs. These students will in turn make great future North Branch residents. As uneducated and small minded as the current ones. Why do you think that your home values suffer more than other towns? Why do you think the average wage is lower? I can't beleive anyone would want to live in a town with such a mentality. The residents did not speak loudly that the schools do not need more money, they spoke loudly that they are selfish. Who cannot afford another 200 bucks a year? Many, spent more than that to rally against the levy. Your home values are likely down as much as 5-10 percent because of the lack of programs and school funding. I am sure that is more costly than the raise in taxes. Please stay in North Branch so you don't spread your infection to other more enlightened towns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-17536637560833179802009-11-04T07:34:25.087-08:002009-11-04T07:34:25.087-08:00The process has worked. The residents have spoken...The process has worked. The residents have spoken loudly that we do not think the school needs more money. I encourage you to take this as a positive challenge to become more efficient with the resources provided!Mike Jones - North Branch Residentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-82995918758500617872009-11-03T20:13:52.260-08:002009-11-03T20:13:52.260-08:00Unions. They all tangle up somehow.Unions. They all tangle up somehow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-10770281068905762562009-11-03T09:38:59.823-08:002009-11-03T09:38:59.823-08:00I am having trouble trying to figure out the benef...I am having trouble trying to figure out the benefit of learning Spanish in elementary school and then it stopping. How much of it do people think the children will retain. I believe it is a waste of money. How many of us studied a different language in high school? Many. I would say the majority of us remember very little of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7803635790395400303.post-36842373298253952512009-11-02T18:09:18.525-08:002009-11-02T18:09:18.525-08:00What does the St Paul Regional Labor Federation ha...What does the St Paul Regional Labor Federation have to do with North Branch Public Schools?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com