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School issues, including new calendar, are writer topics
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Wednesday, 19 March 2008
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Keep Spring Break
The Forest Lake School Board has recently been presented with the calendar for 2008-09 and it will go up for the vote very soon.
This calendar is a fairly typical calendar except for one key issue — it does not have a spring break. I am aware the part of the reason that this decision was made is because of state testing at the end of March as well as the goal to get students out of school in the first week of June.
As a Forest Lake High School student, I would much rather get out later in June than to not have a spring break. It is important mentally to get that break during quarter three when the weeks seem to drag on and on. This will be extremely damaging to student’s morale, drive and energy level.
However, a more damaging consequence of this action would be the vacations taken by families and teachers alike whether it was given to them by the school or not. This would wreck havoc on the classroom environment; not only would teachers have to deal with an exponential increase in absences during the spring, the students will also lose out when teachers take breaks for themselves and substitute teachers are in the classrooms.
I strongly urge for the sake of the students, teachers, and the community, that the school board not approve the calendar for 2008-09 with out amending this critical issue.
Paul Goedeke
Forest Lake
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer is a junior at Forest Lake High School.)
Harvest lake plants
Harvesting curley leaf pond weed is a good thing for water quality in Forest Lake. Harvesting removes the plant and also removes the phosphorus stored in the biomas of the plant.
Phosphorus is the enemy of our lakes. One pound of phosphorus will grow 500 pounds of plant biomass.
Curley leaf pond weed dies in July releasing its phosphorus to the water column allowing algae to grow. Algae is one of the main contributors to reduced water quality.
If the plants are not removed before July, the quality of Forest Lake will decline. Using herbicide will kill not only the curley leaf pond weed but many other plants. This will stimulate algae growth earlier in the season and the algae will be more abundant.
An over abundance of lake plants is a nuisance to recreational activities in many lakes. Managing them by herbicide will only create another problem.
The lake harvesting program in Forest Lake has both water quality benefits by reducing algae growth and improves recreational use by managing the nuisance lake plants.
Curt Sparks
Forest Lake
School leadership
Two years ago my wife and I decided to open enroll our kids out of the Forest Lake school district to a neighboring district. At the time we did it because we were concerned about the consequences of the levy not passing and more importantly, an overall lack of support for schools in this community.
I believe there was a school board election that year and board members Langness and Gay were elected to the board solely, in my opinion, due to their anti-levy platform. I heard about the need for change because the community doesn’t trust the board and/or administration.
Since that time I have seen no progress made and just bickering about every issue that involves any dollar amount. Now I am reading about battles at school board meetings over the spelling of someone’s name or someone calling someone else a liar.
Are they in elementary school or are they trying to better our elementary schools?
If this community wants to stop losing children to charter schools, private schools and open enrollment we need to come together as a community. It can start by coming together as a school board.
Unfortunately for our children, I believe this board has so much hatred for each other that coming together is now impossible.
Greg Fletcher
Columbus
Dogs! Dogs! Dogs!
Just because dog lovers are enamored with their dogs, it doesn’t follow that the rest of society enjoys the creatures. I don’t see why a dog, or dogs, can’t be enjoyed by their owners and family — without me being forced to hear it barking at all hours, clean up its messes and put up with free-running pets in my yard.
I don’t enjoy being awakened at 5 or 6 in the morning because the dog next door, or down the block, is sent out into the yard to poop and bark.
I don’t like going for a pleasant walk in the neighborhood — only to be harassed loudly by barking yard dogs — behind fences, in cages, tied to a tree, running free, or hopefully inside of an invisibily-fenced property.
I don’t like cleaning up dog excrement at the bottom of my driveway or under my mailbox, or cleaning the mess off of my shoes after mowing the grass.
I don’t like relaxing on my deck, enjoying the peace, birds and small creatures — only to be surprised by a free-wheeling canine looking for a place to dig, a garden to ravage, a cat, bird, or chipmunk to chase, or a place to dump.
People certainly have the right to own and care for their beloved dogs; but don’t ever think that everyone wants to enjoy them.
I’m almost ready to fire a few well-placed paint balls at the dogs visiting my yard. Then the owners can’t deny that their pets have been gone and are a menace to someone else. They can spend some of their time cleaning up their pet instead of the rest of us cleaning up after the visit.
Most dog owners are wonderful people and neighbors. Some of my best friends have dogs and the are concerned that they don’t cause neighborhood noise pollution, or let their pets run free. There are leash laws.
But there are a few irresponsible owners that need to realize that the world doesn’t revolve around Fido — and all of that bothersome behavior isn’t as cute or insignificant as you seem to think. You might think of your neighbors, not just yourself!
Mark Bergerson
Wyoming
Abused words
Funny how the words “responsibility” and “accountability” have become two of the most abused words in the English language, even worse than the infamous swear words that many of us use at times. It’s amazing how two simple words have been completely vilified over the last few years. Is the school board now so thin-skinned that it can’t handle these words?
The board is responsible for overseeing the affairs of the school district and is held accountable to the public on election day. They exercise this responsibility by hiring and supervising the superintendent, who in turn is accountable to the board. To an outside observer, it appears that most of the board do not want the responsibility or to be held accountable.
Recent actions further show that the board majority is more interested in protecting themselves and Superintendent Steenblock than in their primary responsibility. They find it far easier just to accept what the superintendent says than to question it.
This brings several questions to mind. How many times have they accepted the superintendent’s word uncritically? Would they admit that there are problems with drugs, alcohol, and sex on school grounds? Or would they hide problems in an effort to protect the superintendent and the district’s reputation?
We need a board willing to do the right thing. We need them to assume responsibility by admitting when they make mistakes, and if that means stepping down, then by all means they should. After all, the job performances of both the board and superintendent are very public. If these individuals can’t handle criticism, they are in the wrong position.
In the end, the board is accountable to the community, not to themselves and certainly not to the superintendent. If the public fails to hold them accountable, then our children will suffer.
Alan Gay
Wyoming
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer is a brother of School Board Member David Gay.)
A Great Event
For the first time I attended the annual Forest Lake Drumline Festival that was held at the Forest Lake High School on Saturday, March 8. I was so moved that I want to tell everyone how fantastic it was.
I didn’t know what to expect when I asked my mother to attend the 3 and 1/2 hour event but we were both pleasantly surprised. Right here in Forest Lake’s backyard we have great, inexpensive entertainment — just $6 for adults and $4 for seniors. I urge everyone to take the time and go next year.
Tara Schultz
Forest Lake
An Easter Plea
Please – before buying that cute, fuzzy Easter pet, know what you are getting into. Pets must be purchased responsibly, not impulsively.
First learn what that animal needs to be healthy and happy. What are its characteristics? Can you honestly provide a proper, permanent home?
Rabbits and guinea pigs live five to eight years or more. Both require a large cage and daily attention and affection. These are not easy care, low maintenance, low cost pets.
Not all rabbits and guinea pigs are as cuddly as they look. Many of the animals displayed for pre-Easter sales come from pet mill breeders. Respiratory ailments, diarrhea, lice/mite infestations are not uncommon. Are you willing to pay for veterinary care if your pet becomes sick?
Animal shelters dread the calls that start soon after Easter: “Will you take this rabbit (or guinea pig)? The kids are bored of it.” “We don’t have time for it.” “It’s not as cute or fun as it used to be.” “It smells.”
Learn before you buy! If you are not sure you have the time, money, interest and commitment – don’t buy.
Vicki Palmer Nielsen
Stacy
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer is affiliated with Jack Pine Guinea Pig Rescue.)
Playboy in Disguise?
As I browsed through the magazine rack at a local drug store, I picked up the March issue of Cosmo Girl. On the cover was the sweet smiling face of teen idol Miley Cyrus, AKA Hannah Montana.
For those of you who don’t have young children, Miley Cyrus is a pop singing sensation. She was in the Twin Cities just last year. In fact, my sixth-grade daughter has some of her CDs.
Miley Cyrus is also the star of the top-rated TV show, Hannah Montana, which airs on the Disney Channel.
So, you can imagine my surprise and shock when paging through Cosmo Girl that I found an article entitled, “Love Yourself.” The entire article was about masturbation.
Yes, I did a double take. I thought, “Do I have a Playboy magazine?” No, Miley Cyrus was on the cover.
Please, as a concerned parent, go on line at CosmoGirl.com to read the article and take the time to comment about what is being marketed to our children. Thank you.
Mary Stolz
Forest Lake
Time to help
March is designated as a critical time for food shelves to restock their pantries. Historically, the generosity of money and product given to the food shelves during the holidays begins to run low each spring.
The month of March (and the first week of April this year) receives statewide publicity and support. The promotions highlight the needs as well as information about varying forms of matching dollars and food.
The two largest matching incentives are from Minnesota FoodShare and also from the Alan Feinstein Foundation of Rhode Island, who pledges $1 million nationwide.
The food and money drives taking place this month are expected to provide most of the food needed until the holiday season, a very ambitious expectation.
The following items are desperately needed at your local food shelves: canned fruits and vegetables, breakfast items, pastas, rice, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, and personal care items.
Please stop by or call them and offer your support.
Kata Barrows
Family Pathways
Food Shelf
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