Haugen frustrated with Ventura's 'half-truths'

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Gov. Jesse Ventura's half-truths and misinformation about education funding must be corrected, according to Sleepy Eye Public School Superintendent Jay Haugen.

Haugen was so upset at times, he said he was physically sick. But, he said there are reasons for hope.

With the introduction of legislative bills that would provide school districts with more funding then Ventura proposes, Haugen sees rays of hope for the financial crunch his and most other state school districts are facing.

Haugen spent three days last week at the Capitol. He said the trip was worthwhile, considering the exposure he received.

He provided information to area legislators, attended Minnesota House and Senate Finance Committee meetings, spoke to people who testified at the meetings and handed out a three-page letter on his angst about what he called misinformation about financing education.

His letter, headlined "Look Governor: Education Finance 101," reached the hands of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Fargo Forum, and some lobbyists.

Minnesota would rank 25th in the nation in pupil spending if Ventura's education budget becomes reality, Haugen said.

"The generations which follow will reap what we sow," he wrote. "Given a choice, and the accurate information, Minnesotans will not choose to be 25th."

Haugen also was upset with what he called Ventura's "half truth" when he talked about "huge increases education received in the last biennium, 20 percent, or 1.4 billion dollars, as he continually stated."

"With a half-truth of this size, my grandmother would be running for the soap," Haugen said. "The majority of the 17 percent increase the governor spoke of went to property tax relief, basically shifting the burden of school funding from local property taxes to state income taxes."

Haugen said most schools got funding increases of one or two percent above inflation each of the past two years.

Another point he contested was Ventura's claim of two percent funding increases over the next two years were before inflation rate of three percent per year.

He called a two percent increase over two years actually a four percent cut for schools.

Haugen also took issue with Ventura's claim that the cost of education rose 100.7 percent over a recent 10-year period.

"The truth behind the numbers is that during any recent 10-year period, the financial support received by a regular education student has, after inflation, decreased," Haugen said.

He acknowledged that special education costs have risen quicker than regular education costs.

Haugen thinks Ventura's comments on education funding are a smoke screen.

"A true leader will not just give you numbers in a fashion to further his political agenda, but also the truth behind the numbers," Haugen said. "Maybe the governor's half-truths and misinformation were intended to keep us from beginning the dialogue we need to have educational funding as an investment in the people of our state. We need a leader to tell us the truth behind the numbers and keep the color commentary for the XFL."

Haugen will be fixing large amounts of his special recipe of homemade, 15-bean and ham soup Tuesday afternoon. His kitchen labor is a prelude for the "Souper Forum" on school budget reductions for the 2001-2002 Sleepy Eye Public School year.

Soup and fresh bread will be served from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday in the school cafeteria. A discussion on the budget reductions is scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m.

The discussion will focus on the impact of declining enrollment in the school. Two years ago, the district's enrollment topped 700. It is expected to dip to just above 600 next year and below 600 the following year.

Haugen said the enrollment drop is based on demographics and smaller families.

Major scheduling and staffing changes must take place in order to accommodate projected enrollment drops, according to Haugen.

At the Feb. 8 school board meeting, high school principal Elia Bruggeman presented a rough draft block schedule for the 2001-2002 school year.

Under the proposal, teachers would report to the school for 50 minutes of preparation time at 7:50 a.m.

School would start 50 minutes later than they do this school year.

Block 1 classes would be held from 8:45-10:15 a.m., block 2 classes 10:27-11:57 a.m.; lunch, band, choir, SWS, prep and homeroom would be held from 12:37-1:37 p.m.; and block 3 classes would be held from 1:40-3:10 p.m.

Students not in both band and choir would report to home rooms.

Classes at Cottonwood River Cooperative Center would be offered only during block 1. The bus for CRTC would leave the school at 8:05 a.m. and return at 10:15.

Other cost-cutting measures proposed were not replacing retiring custodian Marty "hey zebra" Gent and industrial arts teacher Dean Ristau, and cutting some classroom paraprofessionals.

The cuts would mean more duties for classroom teachers.