I feel strongly about supporting Cook County schools and want to encourage you to do the same. I am asking you to make a donation to the school for the amount you would have paid in taxes if the levy had passed.
The school has started making the $500,000 in budget cuts needed because the levy did not pass. The board is trying to make the wisest choices but the cuts will impact programs and will be felt.
The impact your child and family will feel will depend on the age of your child. It may mean less electives, physical education, arts, early childhood and athletics for Cook County students. It may be larger class sizes or having to take classes online.
It may mean less counselor or social worker time to help those kids operating on the edge. From talking with other parents and listening at board meetings, this will be a large setback for those students who need the extra help. That is what is so heartbreaking for me. To see the programs and services offered by the school to ensure all kids succeed go downhill.
So please, please make a donation to the school. Any amount will help. If you want to pay what you would have under the levy, it would be about $65 for each $100,000 of property value. If you want to know exactly what you would have paid, you can go to levyinfo.com/ LevyInfo/ISD166_ 2015.php
I encourage you to make a donation without a specific purpose that will go into the I.S.D. 166 Support Fund. These funds are used to support general operating expenses including materials for classrooms, programming for students, staff, transportation, heat, electricity, and other daily operating expenses. When donations are accompanied by a specific request, every effort will be made to honor the request, however, the school board reserves the right to decide where funds will be spent.
Send your check to Cook County School District, 101 West 5th Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604 or drop it off at the school district office.
I am sending this to everyone I can. I hope you will create your own or share this information with everyone you can as well.
Support our schools. Pass it on.
Becky Bartol
Grand Marais
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