Cliff Buchan
News Editor

There should be no misunderstanding where candidates for the ISD 831 School Board stand on the issues.

Differences were clearly spelled out Tuesday, Oct. 11 when five of the six candidates for the school board met in a debate sponsored by the Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

When it comes to the districtís plans for an excess operating levy on Nov. 8 ó the same date for the board election ó candidates Jody Krebs, the lone incumbent, and Dan Kieger and Julie Corcoran, went on record supporting the levy.

Candidates David Gay and Eric Langness, who are running in tandem, stated their opposition to the levy proposal.

The five candidates also shared views on two newly created non-classroom coordinators positions recommended by the administration in August and approved by the school board in September. Langness and Gay oppose the positions; Krebs, Kieger and Corcoran are in general agreement with the need for the two slots and the $210,000 estimated annual expense.

Michele Dewitt, the sixth candidate to survive the Sept. 13 primary election, was not able to attend the Oct. 11 forum because of a conflict with her duties as a school principal in the metro area.

Levy contrast

There was clear contrast in the views on the proposed Levy for Learning that will terminate an existing excess operating levy and replace it with a new levy for an additional $2 million a year for five years, if approved by voters.

ìAbsolutely not,î said Langness when responding to the levy support question. He labeled the matter ìscare tacticsî by a district that does not know how to spend its money. With $210,000 earmarked for the two coordinator positions, Langness said it was clear the dollars were not going to existing teachers on staff.

Gay agreed that the levy would only provide extra dollars for new programs and needs. When the operating levy was proposed and passed in 2001, class size relief lasted only one year and then reversed, Gay said. He said he favored a long-term plan that includes the cost to educate kids.

But the others spoke positively of the levy proposal.

Kieger said it was clear that state funding has been inadequate over several years to maintain a quality program and the district has been forced to cut more than $4 million over that time. ìYou have to make up for that somewhere,î he said, voicing support for the levy.

Krebs issued backing for the levy and said she was pleased that the voters of the district could make the decision. ìIt is their (voters) decision,î Krebs said.

Corcoran said she saw great value in the levy and its promise to improve student test scores with the 44 additional teachers the money would bring and resources for the all day, every day kindergarten program.

ìI believe we really need the money,î Corcoran said.

The approval to hire a family services advocate and an assessment and evaluation coordinator also drew fire last week.

While Corcoran, Krebs and Kieger were in general agreement with the decision, Langness and Gay were not.

Krebs said she could see value in the positions but reminded the audience she voted against both at the board level. Kieger said the assessment coordinator was a stronger priority as the district seeks to improve student accountability. Corcoran was in support but questioned the timing during a process of making budget add backs. More discussion by the board was needed, she said.

Gay said he could not support the positions and Langness said little evidence was provided to justify the needs and there was no attempt made to show cost-effective options such as partnering with neighboring districts. ìThe priorities need to be in the classroom,î Langness said. ìItís not. Iím going to put it there.î

Gay and Langness also made a clear distinction of their views to Krebs, Kieger and Corcoran over a question on budget cuts should the levy fail.

If cuts were needed, Krebs, Kieger and Corcoran said they would involve the public in any budget cutting process, make cuts over a broad area from the top administration on down and try to protect local schools.

ìThe schools are part of the community,ì Kieger said. ìThat school is your community.î

Gay called it a ìtrick questionî that was misleading. As a replacement levy for the levy with one more full year to run, Gay said there would be no budget cuts if the levy is defeated because the new funds would be used for new staff and programs.

ìWe donít need the money,î Langness said, calling the question ìscare tacticsî designed to take more tax money from the public in form of new funding.

Debby Feist, president of the Forest Lake Chamber, said later the question was incorrectly phrased and should have indicated that the existing levy has one year remaining and is not impacted if the question is rejected on Nov. 8. The phrasing was inadvertent, she said.

The three top vote getters in the Nov. 8 school board election will claim four-year terms on the school board starting Jan. 1, 2006.

Area residents wishing to learn more can hear the candidates in a second forum at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25 at VFW Post 4210, 556 SW 12th St. The event is sponsored by the Lakes Area Business Association and will be telecast on LATV, the public access channel.

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