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12-29-2001 Click this to read the entire column I wrote including the portion edited out by the Tribune Eliminating one high school would save district moneyPoint of View by HARRY WELTYCan Duluth sustain three high schools? I have always imagined myself as the little boy sitting on his father's shoulders in the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes.'' Con men have convinced the vain king, the king's court, and all the citizenry, that they have the finest fabric in the world. It is so fine, they say, that only intelligent people can see it. To all others, the cloth is invisible. Afraid of admitting to being stupid, everyone who is shown the nonexistent fabric gushes over its beauty. The king, fearful for his own reputation, goes so far as to decree that he will exhibit the splendor of his new royal robes for the public in a grand parade down the kingdom's main thoroughfare. The admiring citizens, who have heard of the magical cloth, throng the parade route, and feign admiration for the king's robes as the monarch proceeds, stark naked, down the main street. This fraud continues until the king passes the little boy. "The King is naked,'' he shouts. I am that little boy. In Duluth, we have been persuaded that we can keep three high schools, at least for a while. The question is: at what cost? Ten years ago, we decided to keep three high schools although it cost us five elementary schools to do this. Last week the School Board decided to close another elementary school, Birchwood, when it bravely authorized over $2 million in cuts to next year's budget. It is likely to be the first elementary closing of many yet to come. The problem is that next year might bring us a much larger deficit. Contract negotiations are in progress. Our teachers must accept a very modest settlement for us to stay above water. How modest? Well, if they get what Minnesota's state employees got after all of Gov. Jesse Ventura's chest thumping, we will face another $2.3 million in cuts. But this is not our only concern. The state faces a $2 billion deficit! Although some legislators have said they will protect K-12 education, it's hard to imagine how. Since the governor's magical new education finance law, K-12 education has grown from 35 percent to 40 percent of the state's budget. Twenty years ago, when the state was in a similar financial pickle, the Legislature raided public education to meet its constitutional mandate to keep a balanced budget. If the state decides to save itself again at the expense of K-12 education, Duluth could end up another $4 million short. What I do know is that Duluth is special. Unlike other cities its size, we have an extra high school. We have smaller elementary schools. We have a seven-period day. We have magnet schools. We have the most generous transportation policy. We offer all-day kindergarten. Unfortunately, the rest of the state has caught on, and in a few years, the powerful legislators who have been able to win us these special favors will pass from the scene. Something will have to give. We may be able to keep one or more of these extra blessings but not all of them. Which of these should be our highest priority? At the moment I am a lone, irritating voice calling for two high schools. I've promised to shut up for a while if only my fellow board members let me find out how much it would cost to move sixth-graders back into our elementary schools. They have forbidden the administration from researching this information for me. The king is not completely naked. We could keep three high schools, at least for a few more years. The question is: at what cost?
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