Dear Harry,
My name is A L. I am currently enrolled in the University of Minnesota, Crookston. I am originally from Duluth and, while visiting there recently, heard of the school closings. I decided to use this topic for a
final paper in my Composition II class. I would like to send you some questions to answer; a kind of on-line interview. You can spend as much or as little amount of time on these questions as you se fit. Already your website has helped me tremendously. Please reply as soon as possible. Thank you so much and I will waiting on the edge of my seat for your reply.

Questions:
1. What is your background in the Duluth School System?
2. Why did you decide to make this school system a part of your life?
3. What do you understand about the proposed school closings in both
elementary and high schools?
4. What is your opinion over the school closings in Duluth?
5. Tell me about a specific experience you have had; possibly on that
helped you form the opinion above.
6. How has this situation affected you?
7. How would you change the current situation? Have you or others you know
made an effort to change it?


Thank you again for your time and cooperation, it is greatly appreciated. 

Sincerely yours,

A L

Hi A,

I'll see what I can do. Tell me what class the paper is for and how you got from Duluth to Crookston. 

Harry

<< Questions:
1. What is your background in the Duluth School System?

I have a secondary education degree. I taught for a few years in the Duluth Schools subbing for two year then as a regular classroom teacher from 1984 -87. I ran for the School board and lost in 1989, 1991, 1993 then won in 1995 and was reelected in 1999. I was the Chair of the board four months. It was a full year job but I resigned after contract negotiations got tough. Its been a very bumpy experience that I've loved. We invited in the "for profit" Edison Schools. A year later 4 new Board members who were enemies of the Edision schools got elected and we had a civil war on the Board. We barely avoided a teachers strike and now we are have gone through the wildest controversy of all the massive budget cuts and building closings they will require.

2. Why did you decide to make this school system a part of your life?

I have always wanted to be an elected official and a public servant. Education is part of my pedigree and in my own blood.

3. What do you understand about the proposed school closings in both
elementary and high schools?

If you've looked at my web page you know I think that closing another five elementary schools to keep three high schools going is a bad idea. For one thing parents have threatened to pull their kids out of our schools which could hurt us financially. For a second thing I believe smaller schools are good enviornments for elementary children even if they are a little more expensive.

4. What is your opinion over the school closings in Duluth?

It can't be avoided.

5. Tell me about a specific experience you have had; possibly on that
helped you form the opinion above.

As a parent of children in Chester Park, one of the schools slated to close, I know what the community would lose. Its not just experience that leads me to this conclusion. Its the shear numbers of students and the excess of buildings. Ten years ago there was a move to close a high school. We wouldn't permit it so the School Board of that era closed five elementary schools instead. My son was not able to finish his elementary school through sixth grade because we created 5-8 schools instead. I wanted to avoid closing any more elementary schools.

6. How has this situation affected you?

As a School Board member I sat through three nights of meetings till close to midnight with 1800 people lining up at microphones to tell me my plan to close five elementary schools was a bad idea. I got a couple of very bad night's sleeps as a result. Its helped give me the resolve to close a high school instead. 

7. How would you change the current situation? Have you or others you know
made an effort to change it?

As a school Board member I'm one of nine people who has the responsibility to solve the problem. I've gotten about 800 cards and letters, 200 emails, and 60 phone calls from other people lobbying me to do what they want me too. There are a lot of people trying to influence me. Fortunately, almost no one has told me idea to close high schools is a bad idea but quite the oposite many have told me I'm on the right track.

Ami,

Its late and I'm too lazy to proof read my answers. Please, for the sake of my vanity, don't quote me in your paper if I've used particularly poor grammer or spelling.

Good luck.

Harry

Dear Harry, 
Thank you so much for your speedy reply! I was amazed to wake up this morning with your letter. To answer your questions: the paper is for a composition class in which the assignment was to write about a controversy in your hometown. 
Also, I came to UMC because of the equine program. I have been riding many years and feel a career in horses, no matter the lack of money I will be paid, is the best way for me :-) I have also started a small singing group here, much like Little Mob and Solid Gold in Central and East, and I am the director. It has been a good year. Again thank you for your reply and the informative site. I visit it often. Also may I say thank you for all the years of snow sculpting. Every year my parents and I would anticipate what "that guy on 21st" was going to sculpt. It was always a treat to drive by. When I looked at the pictures in your website it brought me right back there on the hill. You are a part of my Duluth memory. Thanks again! This may not be the last you hear from me! Fair warning.
A