Savage Pacer - School news -- Prior Lake-Savage Area - Comments

The administrators realized

Joanna Miller — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:32:28 -0500

The administrators realized they were spending a lot of time policing hat issues (theft, fights) which was detracting from the core class items you're talking about - at least that was the explanation at the meeting Monday.

Here's the exact language from the handbook for next year:
"Headwear: No headwear of any type will be allowed during school hours; 7:20-2:10 p.m. For purpose of this policy "headwear" includes, but is not limited to; scarves, baseball caps, headbands, hats, stocking caps, winter headwear, hoods, and bandanas. This policy is usually relaxed during Homecoming and Spirit Weeks. Headwear may not be worn or visisble unless they are related to religious practices of function, and/or are needed as a matter of health."

If it's giving supervisors a

bsorenson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:40:59 -0500

If it's giving supervisors a headache, maybe their head attire is too tight.

In all seriousness, maybe focusing more on education than on what a student chooses to wear outside of the classroom but in the halls or outside grounds would be a better way to spend their time and salaries.

What do you mean?

SavageResident — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:56:34 -0500

What do you mean?

It is interesting to see a

Oppressed Underdog — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:02:28 -0500

It is interesting to see a man morf into what ever you want him to be.

I recommend reading the

SavageResident — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:55:02 -0500

I recommend reading the results of the survey on the district's website. Very interesting! This article is a very good recap though!

I'm hoping the school

Lori Carlson — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:45:25 -0500

I'm hoping the school district makes all of the questions available to the public in an easily accessible way (a.k.a. the Web). The newspapers, as Nancy said, likely would not publish all of the questions, due to space limitations. But I agree it's important for residents to know what questions were asked.

Unfortunately, you are right

Nancy Huddleston — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:45:50 -0500

Unfortunately, you are right -- these surveys are written with a very specific purpose so the questions are very narrowly defined. We will see if they have a power point presentation that shows the questions and results and try and post that on line. I know when Decision Resources has done city of Savage surveys in the past, we've gotten the power point slides, and last year we posted the entire thing on line with the written story. I'm not sure how Springsted operates -- in fact, this is the first time I've heard of anyone using the financial advisors for this type of service. I find that rather odd -- why not use the granddaddy of these things -- Decision Resources. But this is a service, which means government doesn't have to go out for bids -- they can choose who they want to use and that's that.

I will get the questions,

Robert Thibodeaux — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:50:53 -0500

I will get the questions, but my concern is how bad the survey was.

After my column on never getting called - we got called.
The questions were less like a survey and more like a "push pole."

It was almost impossible to answer any question that wouldn't indicate you would support a referendum regardless of how the money would be spent or how the district was using the budget.

Questions were like - Would you support a referendum for A or for B or for A&B?
Would support a referendum for the same amount or for more?

This will undoubtedly allow the school board to announce at the next meeting that a majority support a levy since in the survey you had little choice in the answers allowed.

The Pacer will not, as there

Nancy Huddleston — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:46:38 -0500

The Pacer will not, as there is not enough room in the paper for all of the questions. But if you call the school district, I'm sure they can give you a copy of the lengthy list of questions.

Lori or Nancy, Will the

Robert Thibodeaux — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:51:32 -0500

Lori or Nancy,
Will the paper be publishing the actual survey questions that were asked?

Thanks Joanna. I knew the

Savage Guy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:53:10 -0500

Thanks Joanna. I knew the interviews were open to the public, but I was wondering if we could ask questions.

Here is the article that I think Robert is referring to relative to the Whitewater Superintendent.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=560219

FYI - The public may attend

Joanna Miller — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:47:03 -0500

FYI - The public may attend the interviews but will not be allowed to ask questions.

Nancy, Will the Pacer be

Robert Thibodeaux — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:58:25 -0500

Nancy,
Will the Pacer be covering the background (and controversies) concerning the candidates.

Some simple searches found out that information on religion and a quick search on Whitewater school district show they rank near the bottom on graduation rates and test scores.
Would like to see some more research/background on these subjects.

Quick search didn't find much on Sue (not sure if that is good or bad).
Only thing I found were listing about her being candidate for super in other districts and that she had a facebook page.

Interviews of these

Nancy Huddleston — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:14:01 -0500

Interviews of these candidates are supposed to be open to the public, so I would suggest that anyone who is interested in the future leadership of the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District to attend these interviews. It's unclear as to if the public will be allowed to ask questions, but it never hurts to ask!

Chris Lind's election to the

Savage Guy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:35:33 -0500

Chris Lind's election to the District 719 school board appeared to be a backlash response from a significant percentage of the faith community to the perception that the school district was trying to restrict religious speech off-campus. There will be more backlash if they hire a superintendent who is unfriendly to Christians.