I am a retired actuary living in Grand Marais and an enthusiast of the strong curriculums offered by our Cook County schools. Also, I enjoy our Lake Superior influenced climate—warmer winters than in the Twin Cities.
Beginning in 2003, Minnesota’s state government reduced all K12 school funding. Larger school districts hurriedly secured property tax levies to match the state’s shortfalls and toward maintaining adequate student-to-teacher-ratios. Other schools lagged behind.
By school year 2013-2014, our District 166 achieved adequate levy funding and appropriate student-to-teacher ratios. Noted that appropriate ratios differ for each of pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle, high school, college prep and vocational.
Then a big problem occurred! District 166’s 2014 levy renewal effort failed! Local media including letters to the editor described the painful cutbacks.
District 166’s proposed 2016 levy helps to maintain adequate teacher staffing.
I will vote yes on the levy and yes on the bonding.
A detailed history of student-to-teacher-ratios for Minnesota school districts exists at educationevolving.org. Click on files and select MDE-Teacher-Supply-De,and- Report-2015. This is a public document file (pdf format).
Doug Sanders
Grand Marais
Leave a Reply