Bismarck, North Dakota News

" When the legislature meets, NDSBA is all about getting money for the kids and teachers salaries. After the session is over, NDSBA is all about socking the money away and "local control". "

" Sen Mathern - I respectfully call "BS" on your statement. No matter how much money you pour into education taxes will not go down. Schools will not say "gee the state gave us more money, let's drop property taxes." I have yet to see a government entity turn back money it is already getting because it got more from another source. Personally, we should eliminate property taxes and increase the sales tax -- that way everyone pays their fair share. You have four kids, you'll pay more - I have no kids - I'll still pay, but less. Plus it eliminates the argument that the farmers use, "that they pay all the taxes for schools", which is ridiculous. Currently, I pay the equivalent of $33,800 per acre in property tax while a farmers pays $10 - $20 per acre. As for teacher salaries, yes, they are low because school boards like to show voters they can control spending -- Hmmm, let's try cutting back on trips to sporting events, since fuel is $3.00+. "

" To School Board Member: Nice try, but not so. The NDSBA is merely throwing a hissy fit because the Legislature attached strings to the money it allocated and (boo-hoo) the School Boards are crying about the loss of "local control." Well, guess what. The legislature almost always attaches strings to the money it allocates because it wants to be sure the recipients spend it for the intended purposes. This is no different. For years, and years, and years, school boeards have taken money, and instead of using it to pay teachers, they spent it on buses, roofs, or simply stuck it in the bank. Now I'm not saying that teachers and other educational professionals should get all the money. Certainly not. But I am saying that the myopic vision on the part of countless school districts led to ND teachers being paid at or near the bottom of the nation for the past 25 years. What wee have seen on the part of the Governor and the legislature over the course of the past few sessions is an attempt to correct that disparity. That is, they are trying to fix the problems caused by too much local control by people with little or no experience in education whose only goal was to keep property taxes down. The real shame (sham) of Martinson's proposal is that it is an attack on organized labor. He seems more interested in perpetuating ND's reputation as one of the lowest paying states than he is with tackleing the real challenges facint students and teachers and school districts all around the state. "

" NO! They can have a degree from another state BUT can't get a credential from ND~ or if they have a credential from another state~ ND won't recognize it "

" The issue raised by the ND School Boards' Association to take teacher compensation out of the negotiation process is receiving a bad reception, I feel out of fear of the unknown. Negotiations have been the reason many board members have quit the board. They are tired of the hassles. The resolution should be considered an attempt to increase salaries on a state wide basis and level the playing field. Teachers are not paid based on the number of students, quality of instruction, or evaluations. They are paid based on the number of years they have taught and the amount of education they have attained. Most of them are also paid on the financial ability of the local district. When the legislature dictates minimum amounts to be paid to teachers, they may also take away dollars for textbooks and facilities. This proposal has no secret agenda. It was designed to make negotiations an easier process for boards and teachers.. "

" Some of the legislators, school board members and whoever else is against raising teacher salaries, go to college on their own money, teach for one year and live on their salary, and take college courses that are needed every two or three years to keep up your certification ( pay for it from your own pocket) and in other words walk a mile in a teacher's shoes!! "

" Was it once stated that money generated from this would help fund education?? Or am I thinking about something else?? Any way why not the money should go to help our children RIGHT???? "

" ks-do you mean teachers need to have a current ND license to teach here? That seems logical to me I guess. I think the state should be responsible for the basic education of our students. If after those goals are met your school district decides they need to have a steel drum band or a swimming pool etc., that cost should be levied to the patrons of that district as they are the ones benefitting from them. Most rural schools are already cut to the bare minimum they need to operate a school and deliver a quality education to their students. To compare on a per student basis is inherently biased and as North Dakotans we had better hope they don't start doing that on a national level or we will all have to be bussed to the twin cities so the money spent can be more evenly divided. TW "

" How about a voucher system like MANY other places in the nation. The state provides you with an educational voucher, and that may or may not cover the cost of schooling. Want to go to a school that is more expensive to run, as is the case with a small rural school? Then you might be kicking in some extra for the cost. "

" to ts~ just what I said~ the school board complains about alot of things but they among several other things, do not allow "out of staters" to teach in ND~ "

" The constitution mandates that the government provide the opportunity for education. It does not state a free education. If you want to keep a rural school open, perhaps you should be charged more money to do so. "

" Property taxes and education are intimately linked. The more we fund education from state sources the more we can lower our property taxes. Teacher salaries are the lowest in the nation, we can do better for our kids. Senator Tim Mathern "

" BabyT- it would be all right then to bus other peoples children additional hours so you can afford to live in a bigger house? "

" To tw:, no it is not my kids that will be bussed an extra 1.5 hours. It is my heavily taxed house that is paying to NOT bus them. Taxes are one of the major reasons the population of ND is disappearing, it simply is too expensive to live here anymore. "

" to BabyT- I assume its not your kids who will have to be bussed an additional hour or hour and a half to go to a "big" school. to ks- what? "

" and ND is "elitest"~ only allowing ND educated people to teach here~ if you have a degree from another state~too bad~ come to the new century ND and quit your complaining~ "

" I know this is a very bad word around small towns, but ND needs to trim the fat out of the school system. CONSOLIDATE! The per-student cost at a school that has 50 students or less is astronomical compared to a larger school district. Yes it involves longer bussing times, but that is something we are going to have to live with. "