Before you read the information provided by MPS, read first this immediately following communication that I sent to MPS officials on 21 September 2016. Very crucially, know that I got not a single answer to any of these questions, either in writing, or in a conversation that I had with two very cordial MPS officials whose cordiality nevertheless could produce no answers.
Thus, consider first this inability of officials at MPS to respond to a single one of the following questions:
September 21, 2016
To those at the Minneapolis Public Schools responsible for
answering inquiries regarding the 2016
referendum that will be on the 8 November ballot : With regard to the indicated uses for the Minneapolis Public Schools' 2016 Referendum, please answer the following questions:
Concerning tutoring:
1) Specifically what percentage of referendum funding will be used for tutoring programing?
2) What would be the per year cost of tutoring programming?
Please provide
details on the tutoring programming that will be provided, indicating whether
or not the tutoring programming will be during school, after
school, or during summers; the subject area content that will be the focus of the tutoring
program; and details on who will be providing the instruction.
3) What changes will be made in current tutoring programming and what new initiatives will be launched?
4) How many students will participate in the
tutoring program each year?
5) At what grade levels will tutoring be provided?
6) What measures of tutoring effectiveness will be used?
With regard to plans for professional development and curriculum
that supports and integrates academic and social emotional learning:
1) Please provide details on this curriculum.
2)
What will be the per year cost of professional development and
curriculum for social and
emotional learning?
Regarding other issues:
1) Will the indicated
591 teachers for managing class sizes be teachers added to current staffing
levels--- or will they be teachers sustained in currently existing
positions with the use of these funds?
2) Please specify the duties of the "academic specialists" listed under plans for referendum funding.
3) What is the projected per year cost for these specialists?
4) Please provide
details on the indicated "math, science, and early literacy curriculum and
materials" given as uses of referendum funding. What will be the per
year cost of the curriculum and materials?
5) Will the indicated
"classroom technology" be for new expenditures or to maintain current
levels of funding of this
type? What will be the projected in this per year funding for this
use?
Please provide answers to these questions as soon as possible.
My thanks---
Gary
Gary Marvin Davison, Ph. D.
Director, New Salem Educational Initiative(Cell) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (given in communication, omitted on blog)
>>>>>
With that communication in view, consider that tax collections for the levy,
while falling in 2017, would be absent entirely if a "No" vote results in failure of the referendum (as I am recommending)--- and also (if the referendum lamentably passes) that taxes might go up in subsequent years of the total nine years for which any approved levy would be valid.
Know then that this show of "transparency" by officials at MPS is a mere façade.
With, then, an appropriately skeptical eye, read the information provided by MPS officials, as follows:
>>>>>
Pertinent Information, Given at the "Referendum"
Portal at the Minneapolis Public SchoolsWebsite
The Board of Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis Public Schools) has proposed to renew the
school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $1,604.31 per pupil, which is scheduled to expire
after taxes payable in 2016. The revenue will be used to manage class sizes and provide supportive
services and activities for students. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each
year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for nine years, beginning with taxes payable in 2017, unless
otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law. Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board
of Special School District No. 1 be approved?
Vote Nov. 8. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To locate your polling place or get information about absentee voting or voter registration, visit vote.minneapolismn.gov.
Prepared and paid for by Minneapolis Public Schools. This publication is for informational purposes only and is not meant to advocate for or against a ballot question. 612.668.0000 www.mpls.k12.mn.us
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION
How do I vote?
Polls will be open on Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You can find your polling place and information about voter registration by visiting vote.minneapolismn.gov.
The polling places for this election will be the same as those for the General Election as determined by the City of Minneapolis. All voters in Minnesota may now choose to vote before Election Day by absentee ballot. Early voting starts on Friday, Sept. 23, by mail or in person.
To request an absentee ballot application or for additional information, please contact the City of Minneapolis at 311 or 612-673-3000.
Vote Nov. 8 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To locate your polling place or get information about absentee voting or voter registration, visit vote.minneapolismn.gov. Prepared and paid for by Minneapolis Public Schools.
This publication is for informational purposes only and is not meant to advocate for or against a ballot question. 612.668.0000 www.mpls.k12.mn.us
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION What is an operating referendum and what does it do? An operating referendum is part of school funding in Minnesota. Nearly all school districts rely on referendum revenue to cover part of the cost of education. Operating referendum questions ask voters to authorize a specific amount of funding per pupil that comes from local property taxes. For MPS, the renewal amount is $1,604.31 per pupil including an annual inflation adjustment. Why is it needed?
The funding we receive from the state has not kept up with inflation or the rising costs of doing business. In order to provide high-quality educational services and support students’ learning, school districts need funding from other sources such as the referendum, grants and federal government.
How would funds from the referendum renewal be used?
If passed, the revenue would be used to manage class sizes and provide supportive services and activities to students. A majority of the funding would be used to pay for teachers and support staff.
For example, in the 2016-2017 school year budget, total referendum revenue provides the funding for more than 750 educator positions.
What happens if the referendum fails?
MPS will have to make difficult decisions about how to operate the district without a substantial portion of the budget. This may significantly impact class sizes and the current services and opportunities we provide students and families across the district.
MPS 2016-2017 budget
Total referendum revenue 13%
All other revenue 87%
Including revenue from the federal & state governments and grants Minneapolis Public Schools estimated annual taxes for referendum renewal
Median Single Family Residential Valuation in the School District
The figures in the table are based on school district taxes for the referendum levy only, and do not include tax levies for other purposes.
How will my property taxes change if the referendum passes?
Property value (Residential, homesteads, apartments and commercial-industrial property)
Estimated annual taxes if referendum passes
2016 2017 Net change
$100,000 $126 $116 –$10
$125,000 $157 $146 –$11
$150,000 $189 $175 –$14
$175,000 $220 $204 –$16
$200,000 $252 $233 –$19
$205,000 $259 $239 –$20
$225,000 $283 $262 –$21
$250,000 $315 $291 –$24
$300,000 $378 $349 –$29
$350,000 $441 $408 –$33
$400,000 $504 $466 –$38
$450,000 $567 $524 –$43
$500,000 $630 $582 –$48
$600,000 $755 $699 –$56
$700,000 $881 $815 –$66
$800,000 $1,007 $932 –$75
$900,000 $1,133 $1,048 –$85
$1,000,000 $1,259 $1,165 –$94
$1,250,000 $1,574 $1,456 –$118
$1,500,000 $1,889 $1,747 –$142
$2,000,000 $2,518 $2,329 –$189
Learn more about Minneapolis Public Schools’ 2016 referendum
On Nov. 8, Minneapolis voters will be asked to renew the school district’s current operating referendum authorization, which expires after the 2016-17 school year. If passed, funding would help Minneapolis Public Schools manage class sizes and provide supportive services and activities for students. The request would authorize the referendum for nine years and be annually adjusted for inflation. Property taxes are not projected to increase if the referendum renewal passes.
Vote 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To locate a polling place or get information about absentee voting or voting registration, visit vote.minneapolismn.gov.
[Sample Ballot for the 8 November Referendum]
SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION RENEWAL OF EXPIRING REFERENDUM REVENUE AUTHORIZATION State law does not require uses to be listed, but in an effort to be transparent, MPS provides the uses in the ballot language. The amount of funding allocated to each use is determined through the annual budget process.
The Board of Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis Public Schools) has proposed to renew the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $1,604.31 per pupil, which is scheduled to expire after taxes payable in 2016. The revenue will be used to manage class sizes and provide supportive services and activities for students. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for nine years, beginning with taxes payable in 2017, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law. Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Special School District No. 1 be approved?
BY VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING TO EXTEND AN EXISTING PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM THAT IS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE.
The Minneapolis School Board is asking for an authorization for the next nine years. An annual inflation increase will help with growing costs.
YES NO
State law requires this statement, even for a renewal.
The existing referendum authority was last approved in 2008 and expires after the 2016-17 school year.
What is an operating referendum?
Operating referendum questions ask voters to authorize a specific amount of funding per pupil that comes from property taxes to fund the operations of school districts. Nearly all school districts in Minnesota receive referendum revenue. For MPS, the expiring amount is $1,604.31 per pupil. For the 2016-17 school year, the total referendum revenue, including the Board approved “Local Optional Revenue” of $424 per pupil, is approximately $74 million. This represents about 13 percent of the operating budget.
Minneapolis Public Schools is committed to using its resources in the most effective way to impact student achievement.
Budgets are posted online so community members can see how funds are used.
We use referendum funds to directly impact student achievement.
In order to ensure the referendum dollars have the greatest impact on students, the funding would be used to pay for:
* The positions of teachers, counselors, social workers, behavioral or academic support staff;
* Opportunities for students such as tutoring, leadership development, and mentoring programs, after-school activities; and/or
* Professional development and curriculum that supports and integrates academic and social and emotional learning.
591 classroom teachers to manage class sizes across the district
82 academic and behavioral specialists
81 teachers and support staff for English Learners
Math, science, and early literacy curriculum and materials
Classroom technology
If the referendum fails, Minneapolis Public Schools will have to make difficult decisions about how to operate the district without a substantial portion of the budget. This may change the current services and opportunities we provide students and families, including class sizes.
More resources and information are available at www.mpls.k12.mn.us/referendum2016, including the official ballot language, property tax information and links to district budgets.
“Prepared and paid for by Minneapolis Public Schools. This publication is not circulated on behalf of any candidate or ballot question.”
Consider again my opening comments pertinent to the foregoing attempt by MPS officials to get your vote and, seeing through the façade,
Vote "No" on the Minneapolis Public Schools 8 November 2016 referendum.
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