School consolidation: The dreaded ‘C-Word’

Benjamin S.
12/17/2009 11:05 AM

As a former student of the Perham-Dent School district, I remember when back in 1991-1992, we had to actually had portable classrooms outdoors. They were pretty interesting classrooms, but the only drawback is we had to brave the wintry blast of snow and wind just to get to the classrooms. I also remember the time when instead of Prairie Wind Middle School, for me it began from 7th grade at Perham High School. It was an interesting time, but this is a topic I really don't understand because first the district decides to close the Dent Elementary School and then they get funds for books and computers???? This really doesn't make an sense at all. I think if we start consolidating the schools in the area our smaller communities like Dent, Richville, and other smaller towns might eventually become ghost towns. Which is a sad note for those who have their businesses in the various towns in our lovely lake country of Ottertail county. It is my wish, that the district would think long and hard before they decide to consolidate. Benjamin J. Schmidt Class of 1999 Dent, Minnesota

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Lisa E.
Inver Grove Heights, MN     12/17/2009 10:41 AM

I recall consolidation was mentioned when I was in high school at NYM 10 years ago. Rather than playing the blame game and pointing fingers, let's face the real issues. Can the districts adequately support themselves and pass students with the minimum graduation requirements? That's what's important, are the students leaving the schools able to read, write and perform math at the appropriate level? Not, did the school get a state championship for sports or band or choir. If the districts need to combine in order to provide education (not extra curricular activities) then they should combine. The focus needs to be about meeting the education guidelines. While I enjoyed the extras during my years at NYM even then I understood I was there to get an education not awards.

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king o.
Perham, MN     12/16/2009 11:38 PM

the only thing worse than a dumb republican is a dumb democrat. whos to say that consolidation isnt the next step in education evolution. not too many years back all of the country schools consolidated into larger school districts so they would have more opportunities for the students with the money available. with the fast paced leaps of technology, in 10 years how important will school buildings be??? how much will be done online? if it wasnt for extra curricular activities how many kids would be going to school vs. online right now? it would have to be believed that most students will get at least half of their education online. perhaps before too long the schools will become large meeting areas for club sports and activities. lets face it, the world is changing faster than most of us can imagine, but change is inevitable. learn to embrace it or get run over.

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Greg V.
Perham, MN     12/16/2009 10:38 PM

Of course failing the referendum had nothing to do with imminent problems confronting the Perham School system. If you want to look directly and honestly at someone to blame for the trouble public schools are in, look at Jesse Ventura, who transferred nearly all of the task for supporting them to local real estate taxes, instead of as it once was on income taxes equally divided all over the state. Mr. Pawlenty has failed to solve the problem, pretending he's some sort of king and working through absolutely none of the problems with the legislature, and when he talks about tightening our belts in these troubled economic times, Pawlenty NEVER once asks for the same from his wealthy political supporters. President Obama is hardly to blame for the wars started by his predecessor and at least has set a time line for withdrawal; whereas Bush and Cheney had us in Iraq for no reason whatsoever longer than the Vietnam fiasco at the tune of 10 billions a month.

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Mike B.
Hendrum, MN     12/11/2009 3:45 PM

Don't think that Perham is the only one looking at this in the future. Lots of schools are having to do this since our great president would rather spend billions of dollars on sending soldiers over improving his own country. The state government is no better. Where is the education discussion? If you look it is always the last thing for the year. By the time they get to debating how much goes towards education there is no money left. They can spend tons of money of hiing and biking trails and new highways, but have nothing to help out schools. And we wonder why schools are closing and consolidating with each other.

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