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Dear Commissioner Seagren,

I am the one Duluth School Board member who voted against the "Red Plan" in June.  I did so because of my belief, then and now, that the plan is too costly and because it leaves the center of the city with far fewer schools than the rest of the city (and no high school at all).  Duluth 's history and traditions support keeping 3 high schools open.  Our geography virtually dictates it.  Leaving the center of the city without reasonable access to schools is simply unacceptable.

After the red plan itself was approved, I was one of 3 Board members to vote to put the plan on the ballot in a referendum.  I believed, then and now, that the voters must have the opportunity to decide on such a major, comprehensive, long-term financial commitment.

I don't need to point out that the basic per-pupil state aid to school districts is not keeping up with inflation.  The effect of this has been an increasing reliance on local, voter-approved operating levies to attempt to bridge the gap.  Duluth 's operating levy will be on the ballot for renewal a year from now.  I fear that the district's failure to seek voter approval of a building plan of the magnitude of the red plan will create a backlash that will doom the operating levy to failure.  The negative consequences for the education of our students will be dramatic, to say the least.

I believe that a long-range facilities plan is both needed and wanted in Duluth .  We need to make substantial investments in our buildings, possibly including some new construction.  But, the red plan needs both revising and downsizing.

We need an affordable plan that will be approved by the voters.  This can be done.

Sincerely,
Tim Grover
Duluth School Board, District 3