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Mayor Reimann requested that in future elections, the School District <br />provide the people with as much information as possible in order to make <br />their decision. <br /> <br />Councilmember DeLuca stated that he is concerned with situations where <br />teachers campaign the parents by using scare tactics (major program cuts) <br />on a captive audience (the students). <br /> <br />Mr. Finch stated that staff may make comments and discuss the issues with <br />students but no campaign is waged through the students; major program cuts <br />was not a scare tactic, it was the truth. <br /> <br />Mayor Reimann expressed concern with the fact that the 4.6 million levy was <br />not publicized as a permanent increase anywhere but on the last line of the <br />voter's ballot. <br /> <br />Mr. Finch stated that the District might be faulted but he feels it does a <br />good job of providing information and quality education; the voters must <br />also take some responsibility for researching issues prior to voting. Mr. <br />Finch noted that District No. 11 operates on less money per pupil than most <br />districts in the metro area. <br /> <br />Mr. Dahle presented copies of a table showing referendum levies payable in <br />1988 in the seven county metro area and a comparison of EARC Value Per <br />Pupil Unit (see attachments to these minutes). <br /> <br />Mr. Dahle noted that District 11 would have to raise the levy 30-40 mills <br />in order to have the amount of dollars other school districts have and yet <br />yet District 11 is expected to have the same programs available. <br /> <br />Mayor Reimann inquired if current teacher salary negotiations could result <br />in negating what the levy increase was intended for. <br /> <br />Mr. Finch replied that a contract settlement was just reached and it <br />compares to what other school districts settled at; even with the <br />settlement, he is sure the levy will cover the budget. Mr. Finch noted <br />District 11 being a low revenue generator is more of an impact on the <br />budget than salary settlements. <br /> <br />Mr. Dahle stated that a major reason for District 11 being a low revenue <br />generator is because it has sparce population with not much commercial base <br />and desegregation; districts with AFDC students get extra financial aid. <br /> <br />Mr. Finch stated that the School District is concerned with fiscal <br />disparities and is lobbying to avert any major changes to it because it <br />benefits the school district and builds some equity imto the tax base that <br />is lacking. <br /> <br />Mr. Hartley inquired if it is possible for the school district to share <br />it's training programs with city employees. <br /> <br />Mr. Finch replied that the District does invest a lot of time and effort in <br />staff development and there is no reason why municipal staff from any city <br />City Council/January 19, 1988 <br /> <br />Page 3 of 4 <br /> <br /> <br />