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Hats off to the St. Cloud school board for doing its part. Now it’s up to district residents — especially the skeptics — to do their part.

The school board decided this week to delay for at least two weeks approving excess-operating levy questions that will go before voters Nov. 4. The reason: The board and levy backers want more input from district residents, which should improve chances for success come Election Day.

So now is the time for residents — especially people leaning against the proposed questions — to speak up. What part or parts of the questions do you oppose? Why? What changes could be made to earn your support?

For review, the proposed questions are:

1. Raise $7.4 million each of the next six years to avert budget reductions in 2009-10; expand bus service; provide full-time kindergarten; provide money for testing, security and technology; and add money to the fund balance.

2. Raise an additional $2.8 million each of the next six years to provide additional staff for gifted and talented programs, preschool programming, music, library specialists, elementary counselors and instructional coaches.

Passing both questions would raise taxes by $256 annually on a $186,000 home, or about 70 cents a day.

So what do you like? What don’t you like? More importantly, what can you afford? What can’t the community afford? Or do you have another idea the district should consider putting before voters?

As we noted in a July 27 Our View, the school board is doing the right thing now by seeking public input before approving levy questions.

Remember, the proposals are rooted in creating an ideal educational environment, as envisioned by district administration. That’s important, but for any levy request to be successful, it must be tempered with the realities of what residents want and how much they are willing to pay.

So before the school board meets Aug. 28 to possibly approve ballot language, we urge district residents to share their opinions — and questions — on these issues.

You can do that through a number of district efforts.

Visit the district Web site (http://isd742.org/levy.html#Question1) and fill out an online survey.

E-mail feedback to budget@isd742.org.

Mail it to LEVY FEEDBACK, 1000-44th Ave. N, St. Cloud, MN 56303

And in the next few weeks, look for details about a public meeting that will focus on the proposals.

Of course, we realize some residents don’t want to “go public” with their opposition. In such cases, please send your questions to us and we will forward them without identifying the submitter.

Fax to 255-8775, attention Opinion Pages

Mail to Levy Questions c/o Opinion Pages, St. Cloud Times, P.O. Box 768, St. Cloud MN 56301.

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/OPINION/108080025/1006