Savage Pacer - Columnists - Comments

Since this is my last column

Robert Thibodeaux — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:07:25 -0600

Since this is my last column of the year -
Hi Mom, Hi Dad!

For those who read the column and like the "JAMMIES & JEWELS!" idea, you can come to a open house my wife is having Dec. 8,9 & 10th
Detail at http://www.giftsbykay.com or e-mail her at kay@giftsbykay.com.

If you like my columns or at least partially agree with what I say, send an e-mail to party@savagerepublican.com and you might get an invite to the Thibodeaux Annual Christmas Party.

Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."
"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

I'm sure many people can

Brady Averill — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:16:39 -0600

I'm sure many people can relate to Karen. I think we all have an "office" or drawer that we are thankful for when guests come over. As I've been cleaning and preparing for the holidays, our upstairs closet has become the "closed office door."

Martin B Thank you,

Martin B — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:40:03 -0500

Martin B
Thank you, Gordy, for your comments. I know there are a lot of us out there with accountability issues regarding ISD 191 since the 2002 referendum, but not many write in to back me up when I dare to write about it in Community Voices. Two people wrote to the paper in disagreement in the next issue, as you probably noticed. I appreciated Dan Luth's diplomatic response much more than the screed written in the letter to the editor, but I notice that neither of them address the issues I brought up. How can we trust a school board who, in a manner of speaking, claims executive priveledge when asked to explain a surprise spending spree?
I really appreciate that you registered to cheer me on. It took me this long to get registered so I could properly thank you.

Mr Thibodeaux Excellent

gplind007 — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:38:28 -0500

Mr Thibodeaux

Excellent comments about spending. I also share the feelings about the "spending" and it seems too much, no matter what the issue. The "practical" views on money for education always seem to be getting spun from one direction to the other and I get dizzy with all of the talk! Let's hope the words "practical" & "absolute necessities" get used in determining the costs. Maybe even "creative use of spending" in a positive, would be nice. Maybe there should be accountability built right into all of these political offices and school boards. Maybe tying their personal checking accounts to the public budgets, then maybe more real "belt tightening" forethought would become a reality.

I know it is a tough job to be in these positions, and the public needs to participate as well, but building pools in one district and closing buildings in another seems sad, and wasting resources. I wish there would be some way for the districts to work together to solve the oppisite problems they seem to be having.

Transparency and

Gordy — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:45:27 -0500

Transparency and accountability - really? As a group, the 191 Board of Education appears to do their work behind closed doors - only to emerge with finalized policy during the publicly-televised meetings held once a month.

I think you would be surprised how many of us older residence pay attention and really care about the success of ISD 191. If you seriously expect the upcoming referendum to stand a chance of passage, you (Susan Martin) better be able to articulate how every dime of the money will be spent, then stick to your plan.

This would be a new way of doing business in 191, and sorely overdue.

My name is Susan Martin, and

Susan Martin — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:07:41 -0500

My name is Susan Martin, and I am a director on the ISD 191 Board of Education. We board members function in public office, transparently and accountably. I encourage all citizens to base their decisions on factual, first-hand information.

Thanks Mr. Bracewell for a

Gordy — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:22:37 -0500

Thanks Mr. Bracewell for a well-articulated overview describing the sort of voter disillusionment that exists in ISD 191. Lack of accountability and public distrust are the hallmarks of Dr. Kanninen's 'rubber stamp' School Board.

Boy... this city sure knows how to pick their representation.

Board Member Susan Martin has stated repeatedly in public forums that she is "sick and tired of people whining about all day kindergarten". Additionally, she professes that as a school board member, she is entitled to decide how money is to be allocated after a successful referendum.

Well, Ms. Martin, I'm a voter with kids in the district who's getting pretty tired of listening to elected officials who don't have a clue as to the concerns and wishes of the citizens who voted them into office. Between the bloated pet development projects of the Burnsville City Council and the ever-questionable spending habits of ISD 191, my pocketbook is screaming that local taxes have gone up enough!

It's a Minnesota thing - My

Joanna Miller — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:07:53 -0500

It's a Minnesota thing - My mom makes coffee that looks so watery it could pass for iced tea. Which, of course, means I can drink a whole pot at her house before suffering any of the above-mentioned side effects.

Good for you! If college

Lori Carlson — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:35:38 -0500

Good for you! If college requires a social-networking Web site to meet friends, then college has changed A LOT since I graduated 10 (gulp) years ago!

I must admit, unlike you, I have given in to some of those sites in the name of easier "communication" with friends. And, for Yahoo's sake, I'm in my 30s! Even my dog and cats have their own "profiles" online - it's gotten pretty sad.

But I agree with you 100 percent. The more time people devote to being online, the more sedentary we're becoming as a society. I don't think we'll ever get ourselves to stop relying on the Internet, but we can also get out, take our dogs (or friends) for a walk, get on our bikes, or pick up a book or a magazine or a newspaper to combat our increasing laziness.

And again, bravo to you, Katie. Viva la resistance!

Speaking from the other side

brandon — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:21:00 -0600

Speaking from the other side of the “I know” gap, I can tell you that things get better. I remember saying “I know” to my parents all the time when I was in high school, when I was in college, and even when I was on the phone with them last night. I also know that I took all their help and advice for granted, but I don’t any more. I’m incredibly grateful for all the help I get from my parents – whether it was filling out FAFSA forms or letting me live at home throughout college. I worked to pay my way through college, but the only way I was able to afford it was with my parents’ help and support. So your students may not realize what you do for them now, but they will soon.