Staff & Contributors

Loren Martell

Content By This Contributor:

Reality Rides into the Sunset

Loren Martell

A number of other citizens also spoke from the podium. Members of the teachers’ union stood before the Board, wearing cardboard placards demanding “Truth, Integrity, Honesty” and “LAYOFFS and Classroom Cuts Are On YOUR Backs NOT ours.”

The Wide Divide

Loren Martell

In fairness, the problems in the East can not be completely minimized. The Red Plan, though unquestionably more devastating on the western end of town, was to some degree an equal-opportunity train wreck.

Mulch Matters

Loren Martell

We got hit with continually expanding upfront costs from JCI, and obviously never reaped the full benefit of promised future “savings.”

Crucial

Loren Martell

Tabled

Loren Martell

Oh, the negativity

Loren Martell

The only thing I would add is: this potentially fatal wound to Denfeld High was pointed out to the ruling members of the Board TEN YEARS ago, during the genesis of the Red Plan, and they still blindly and bullheadedly insisted on hewning our town into two--one side of “haves,” one side of “have-nots.”

Will We Maintain?

Loren Martell

Here’s the thing about maintenance: it doesn’t go away. Maintenance work deferred still has to be addressed down the road, and the longer it is deferred, almost invariably, the more expensive it gets.

The Drama District

Loren Martell

Member Loeffler-Kemp also condemned what she called “disparaging remarks about individuals,” prompting member Johnston to say: “Despairing remarks? This Board?” He pointed out that “despairing remarks” had consumed the Board for two years.

Vile Words

Loren Martell

Never underestimate our Board or the complexity of contemporary society, however: the discussion over “wellness” did create a bit of a food fight over what snacks kids should be allowed to take to school to share with classmates

Super Evaluation

Loren Martell

His biggest failure was not establishing a good working relationship with the full Board. Unwisely, he actually helped to inflict great damage onto the district by getting involved in an attempt to purge a voice from the Board

Gallows Humor

Loren Martell

I almost hate to rain on his parade, but the chances of the DFL-endorsed Board majority members suspending policy to sell to Many Rivers Montessori appear about equivalent to Donald Trump naming Hillary Clinton as his Healthcare Tsar.

If We Had a Time Machine

Loren Martell

“Someone who’s been very interested in our bonding for the last ten years, a former banker, told me that I may not have fully understood what exactly has been going on here. I’m beginning to fear we may be taking $85 million of debt and replacing it

That’s the Price

Loren Martell

It doesn’t matter what kind of scheme number-hustlers come up with, the Board is the governing body. The Board is the responsible entity; nothing can proceed without the Board signing off. All responsibility for the fiasco called the Red Plan

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