Information offered about dog track referendum
February 23, 2012 at 3:43 am in Hudson Star-Observer
The Hudson School District has scheduled three information presentations about the April 3 referendum on the purchase of the former St. Croix Meadows dog track. Continue Reading
When was the last time someone thought about opening St. Croix Meadows Dog track up as – well– a dog track?? Seams everything is there to open one up. The referendum won’t pass, and it will just sit there. Let’s make some money Wisconsin!!! I need some cheap entertainment choices movies cost to much and gas it too expensive to get up to the cabin.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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well – racing dogs is just…silly. and its obviously dit-ant draw the crowds it expected. i think the location is fine- just its coing to cost millions to get anywhere near a school building/grounds…
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Consider the source.
I received an “information” brochure in the mail today. It is hard to believe they can print these lies with a straight face.
By the way- the vegitation in the photo- that is the road! tell me again how much you are saving becuse it is “move in ready”. Vote no- and like the Dems, vote early and often!!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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First off, the school district’s information skirts the law. Even though they do not say to vote yes, the propaganda leads the voter in one direction.
As several writers this week noted, the district’s information is always shifting and obscures the truth. For instance they claim the middle school exceeds capacity. Ironically they recently made an addition costing a couple million dollars (I believe) but it did not include one extra inch of educational space.
The Superintendent and her stooges tell us there is a minimum acreage requirement for a new school when none exists. I guess they believe if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth.
Why would anyone believe the Superintendent or her puppet newspaper.
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Mark Allen,
A report available online at http://www.schoolclearinghouse.org/pubs/schsite.pdf suggests that a high school site should be 48 acres for an enrollment of 800. With Hudson’s current enrollment of 1,600 students, that’s 96 acres; 2,400 students would require 144 acres. This report is from the North Carolina schools, and is based on information from an international school facility planning organization.
The middle school did not “add” classroom space because the board opted to use several classrooms from Hudson Prairie elementary.
The question which comes to my mind when people say the superintendent is trying to mislead voters is “Why would she do that?” She gets the same pay regardless of how new the school buildings are. Unless she is in the construction business, I don’t see much that would prompt her to lobby for a new building if it were not needed. And it is needed. If you doubt that, ask to tour the high school or middle school one day during class-change.
A new building is expensive, no doubt. But in order to serve the needs of the students, Hudson needs to build a new facility. Using the dog track at least takes an eye-sore and puts it to good use.
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ke 56 acres and build a three story school, instead of 150 acres for a single level. Why don’t they ever build up? They could add a second story on the current high school and really save a boatload of money.
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“Take 56 acres”it cut off the first two letters- and the report One Guy mentioned did not state an acreage requirement- merely a suggestion…
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So they build a couple million dollar addition to the middle school where they claim a space issue exists, but not one extra inch of educational space is added. Why? Because the district decided to use classrooms at Prairie.
What sense does that make?
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Right on Mark. And don’t forget the Elementary schools are getting overcrowded too but somehow they could afford to give u 3 classrooms in Hudson Prairie. Meanwhile EP Rock is busting at the seams thanks to the boundary line change taking students from RIvercrest to Rock.
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I think there’s actually more kids in RiverCrest than in Rock -
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Mark Allen,
In order to keep the house concept at the middle school, the district would have had to have added an entire house, which was problematic given the design of the building. So, squashing the kids at Prairie into less space was the most economical solution.
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One guy,
Government is always about power and control.
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The whole issue about over crowding, an arbitrary term, and building new schools can be solved rather easily. Why should parents that decide to send their children to private schools or educate them at home pay twice. An educational tax credit would remove the financial obstacle for parents wishing to opt out of the government system.
Indiana passed a state wide voucher program this last summer. Immediately 4000 students left the government schools for private schools. It will be interesting to see how many leave in the coming years.
A voucher or an education tax credit would solve any concerns over space. I would also bet that student achievement would see an improvement.
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They already started this in Milwaukee this year – I think it’s off to a good start.
One thing to keep in mind about achievement comparisons though – private schools can pick and choose which kids to take on. Public schools can’t. Public schools will always be at a disadvantage (with achievement results).
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I agree. Many reasons exist for different achievement results including the standard of scoring. The opposing argument always revolves around this when the topic of education tax credits come up. In the end I don’t believe student achievement suffers with the introduction of tax credits or vouchers.
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Mark Allen,
Would you accept a system wherein those who do not call the police when victimized by a criminal be refunded the part of their taxes which pay for police?
Would you accept a system wherein those who walk everywhere (or bike) get refunded any taxes which pay for streets?
Would you accept a system wherein those who never eat in a restaurant are refunded the tax money which pays for food inspectors and fire marshall’s inspections at local restaurants?
The vast majority of Americans graduate from “government” schools, and we’re still a major world power. I think my fellow public school teachers are doing an admirable job. There’s always room for improvement, of course, but we’re managing to turn out thinking individuals nonetheless.
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When police, streets, or food inspectors eat up 50% of the total government budget, then this would be a fair argument.
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The purpose of government is to protect us against the force and theft of others. The police are a legitimate role. Fire safety can be regarded as protection of property, which is another legitimate role for government. Though in both cases, an individual or group could contract with a private firm for police and fire protection. Some insurance companies in fire prone areas contract with private fire protection. Yes, a person could opt out of the government plan.
Road systems can be funded through gas taxes, which we pay a lot on every gallon, and license tags. Some countries in the world and isolated places in the United Staes have private road systems.
Bad food at a restaurant is a contractual dispute that would render severe consequences on the owner. Despite all of the health inspectors, how many cases of food poisoning happen annually? I would speculate a good amount.
This is not about whether your brothers and sisters do an admirable job. I am sure some people think Wal-Mart does an admirable job in distributing goods at low prices. I choose not to shop there. Should i have to pay them money because in the eyes of some people they do a good job?
A world power? Have you looked at our economy. I guess government workers including teachers don’t have to care as long as everyone is forced to pay your wages and a great portion of your benefits. The scariest thing in your life is the thought of parents actually having an economic choice when it comes to where their children are educated.
All that said, the topic is space in our government schools. When the water is flowing over the side of the pool, you can either build another pool or let some of the water out. Educational tax credits lets the water out.
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