Speed Gibson http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/ en-us 2008-05-16T20:05+00:00 Too Close to the Problem http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210969315.shtml One of the outcomes of the District 281 Strategic Planning process was the recommendation for a "Citizens Financial Advisory Commission." Superintendent Mack eagerly presented a set of By-Laws for such a... Speed Gibson 2008-05-16T20:05+00:00
As I drove home, I saw a great example of this, a personal pet peeve of mine. Approaching some construction that closed one lane, I first saw the usual "ROAD WORK AHEAD" sign. A few hundred feet later came the "RIGHT LANE CLOSED" sign. I'm sure the road crews mean well and think this is a natural progression of information. They're wrong. They're too close to the problem.

The "ROAD WORK AHEAD" sign is useless. You see the orange diamond in the distance and know from that alone that yes, there is road work ahead. But you can't pick a lane or a detour until you get close enough to read the next sign. They should have put a "RIGHT LANE CLOSED" sign up front, saving the need for a second sign and giving the driver the necessary time to switch lanes accordingly. This is something a "drivers advisory committee" could spot, as the transportation folks continue to miss it.

Here, the Superintendent assumes such a committee will best function as a direct adjunct to the district staff. I disagree. He's too close to the problems, whatever they may ultimately be. And the proposed committee would be too close to him, to wit:
[Article IV.A] Members shall be appointed [...] through Board appointment. [...] The Superintendent or designee will provide a list of recommended candidates to the Board. [...]
The roster per Article IV.B is:
  1. Board Treasurer (Committee Chair)
  2. Board Representative
  3. Superintendent
  4. Director of Finance
  5. Assistant Superintendent or [designate] to represent Human Resources
  6. Five Citizens who have a background in Finance

It's five top level staff including the Superintendent vs five citizens, picked by the Superintendent remember. It is chaired by staff, with agendas and materials provided by the staff. The citizens are way over-matched, no matter their qualifications. Resistance is futile. They will be assimilated into the Borg.

Having been part of the Visioning subgroup that identified this concept, I can state that independent assessment was the goal, which I believe our working papers made clear. That means the citizens have to run it. It also begs the question of who should appoint the citizens, the seven cities perhaps.

As it happens, the District is getting some new financial analysis software soon that will facilitate comparisons with other districts and general norms. The Superintendent is eager to get started using it which may explain the haste to create and desire to control the group.

We sorted this out a bit at the "Strategic Planning Report and Next Steps" meeting last night and will get another look at Monday night's Board meetings.]]> District 281 Strategic Planning: Halftime http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210951006.shtml I give our district pretty high marks for the Visioning / Strategic Planning initiative that has developed a Vision, Mission, several Priorities, and numerous Goals. There is still a little bit... Speed Gibson 2008-05-16T15:05+00:00
Now it's time to assign people and resources, and execute.

District 281 did something similar five years ago, getting input, developing a reorganization plan, which was then executed. This closed a school, replaced the Technology Learning Campus with more modern alternatives, addressed some demographic imbalances, and cut administration. This would be remarkable in the private sector, where often such plans just get filed.

I and others will be watching, participating, and reporting, and you of course can follow along on the district web site.]]> The Way of the Whigs http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210825175.shtml As Mark Levin might bark, "What the hell has happened to my party?" Jason Lewis thinks we should rename ourselves the Whigs, from whose demise over the slavery question emerged the... Speed Gibson 2008-05-16T12:05+00:00
The Democrats have posted three upset Congressional special election victories. Locally, we lost Steve Sviggum's seat, insult to the injury of the huge DFL gains in 2006. Prime Minister Pawlenty would have lost as well had not Mike Hatch fumbled on the goal line. The only people holding back the Democrats are themselves Democrats, like Minnesota Senator Larry Pogemiller.

And what are our standard bearers doing, Mssrs. McCain and Pawlenty, possibly our fall ticket? Going left. Going hard left. "I'm a conservative Republican, dammit!" growls McCain or words to that effect. But recently he said:
We know that greenhouse gases are heavily implicated as a cause of climate change. We know that among all greenhouse gases, the worst by far is the carbon dioxide that results from fossil fuel combustion.
These statements are outrageously false. Is McCain ignorant or lying?
By the year 2012, we will seek a return to 2005 levels of emission. By 2020, a return to 1990 levels and so on until we have achieved at least a reduction of 60% below 1990 levels by the year 2050.
The same faulty models that predict global catastrophe also predict the climatic effect of all this is unmeasurable, less than a small fraction of one degree. Only the economic impact is significant and undeniable, women and children hardest hit, of course.
What better way to correct past errors than to turn the creative energies of the free market in the other direction. Under the cap and trade system, this can happen. In all its power, the profit motive will suddenly begin to shift and point the other way toward cleaner fuels, wiser ways, and a healthier planet.
As carbon becomes currency, Congress won't of course tax it or cut specific businesses any favors.

I had assumed that in the interest of national security I would hold my nose and vote for McCain. This dangerous, unforced error of enviro-lunacy plus the near-certainty of full amnesty and open borders when McCain again reaches across the aisle has me reconsidering whether to cast a Presidential vote at all this fall.]]> Catching up on Reality http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210806852.shtml My calendar has been very busy this month, such that I'm still catching up with American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Though I still like DWTS, I think this is... Speed Gibson 2008-05-14T23:05+00:00
DWTS had the predictable outcome of saying good bye to a spirited, serious contender in Marrissa. The finale has three strong stars left, and I'm looking forward to it.

But this week's Idol might have been the worst show in years. The talent hasn't been as strong, but the three remaining all were disappointing, quirky, and - boring! The only suspense tonight is the slim chance that David Cook might be voted off early, as sometimes happens on this show.

I still like Syesha, and what a shame to see her trip over more poor song choices when the David's basically took the night off. It was her night to shine, she did as well as the boys I think, but without the fan base, she's done tonight.

UPDATE: And she was.
]]> You Must Be This Tall to Ride http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210770097.shtml If our nanny-stater's at the State Capitol have the courage of their convictions, that children below age 8 or below 80 pounds must ride in booster seats in automobiles, surely the... Speed Gibson 2008-05-14T13:05+00:00
There are no seat belts or air bags on the MTC buses, let alone convertible seats like some newer cars feature. It's worse on light rail, where the brief stopping times wouldn't allow the time necessary to properly seat such children even if the train seats had such accommodations.

No, the risk is too great, and it falls disproportionately on the poor who must use public transit. Post signs that say "you must be this tall to ride the Hiawatha line."]]> Laissez-faire! http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210600184.shtml According to the AP, Prime Minister Tim Pawlenty is demanding a property tax cap be part of the budget deal to address the nearly $1 billion deficit. This is foolishness, born... Speed Gibson 2008-05-12T13:05+00:00
We can't vote on local light rail subsidies, but he can. We can't vote on stadium subsidies, but he can. And now, we can't vote on funding local government without his approval, either. Mr. Pawlenty, we can handle this without your help. Mr. Pawlenty, you are exceeding your authority, trying to pretend you're a fiscal conservative who by gosh is really tough on those big spending liberals!

It's insulting to think that after ethanol, light rail, stadiums, environmental lunacy, the smoking ban, and numerous other purely political decisions at our mounting expense, Pawlenty thinks he can just toss us a bone to regain his standing with the GOP base.

Laissez-faire! Leave us alone!]]> Time to quit Survivor again http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210558788.shtml I did a pretty good job of quitting CBS's Survivor this season, the "fans vs favorites" edition. Too often, the unworthy somehow end up winning this thing, something only a liberal... Speed Gibson 2008-05-12T02:05+00:00
And of course, now she explains all the clever strategies she employed. Yeah, right.

I managed to watch maybe only a third of the episodes this season, a pretty good "quitting" score. With this result, I am again enthused to quit the whole thing, as they're probably going to do another one.]]> Gopherville: Chaper Seven http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210475250.shtml Previously: 1 2 3 4 5 6... Speed Gibson 2008-05-11T11:05+00:00 1 2 3 4 5 6

Minnesota Representative Alma Sargent entered the meeting late as usual, offering her usual apologies as she sat down.

"All right, we're all here. How do we do this?" asked Senator George Babbitt. Sitting in Babbitt's other visitor's chair was Edith Cortwright, Chair on the Senate Education Committee.

"You'll do nothing if you're smart, George," replied Cortwright. "You can't force a merger with someone who doesn't need you." She was known throughout the Capitol for being direct, often blunt. But she also had a sense of humor, smiling broadly now. "You have to admit, it's a classic twist of fate. You finally get elected head of the Chamber of Commerce and Wal-Mart opens on the edge of town." Babbitt gave no reaction. "And you can't stand it, can you?"

"That isn't the way I'd look at it. The merger would have been good for both Zenith and Gopherville." The Senator was referring to a consolidation of the two school districts. It had been talked about in both towns, in response to their mutual problems of fewer students, aging buildings, and tighter budgets. But no one had put a proposal on the table to date. It fell to him, George Babbitt thought, or had thought. He took no real pleasure from it. It just had to be done.

He had been quietly searching for an opposite number, some Gopherville graduate or official with whom to share the stage, to balance the ticket so to speak. It just wouldn't look right otherwise. He was Zenith's favorite son, co-captain of his football team and the most feared linebacker for 50 miles in his day. After a full athletic scholarship at the University of Minnesota, lettering twice in football, he went on to law school when no pro team picked him up. After cutting his teeth for a a couple of St. Paul law firms, he had moved back to Zenith in 1989. He never married.

Alma Sargent represented District 88B, which includes both Gopherville and Zenith. Jane Cavanaugh served District 88A, Babbitt the Senator for both, District 88. "George, there's no hurry, especially not now." Alma said.

"I'm more interested in what's going on in Gopherville proper, this sugar daddy of theirs," said Cortwright.

"You know what we know, Edith. Do you know Reisling at all, Alma?"

"I do," Sargent replied. "We worked professionally on a nursing home project in St. Clair, have a few common clients." Sargent's husband Eddie was a mechanical contractor, primarily commercial.

"And?"

"And he's a good accountant."

"So why is he doing this? Since when does an accountant of all people write big checks for no reason?"

"Maybe you should ask him."

"I was hoping you would," said Babbitt.

"What's the point?" asked Cortwright. "Once he hands over the money, he's out of the picture, for at least a year as I understand it."

"I want to know what he wants in return."

"Again, what's the point? Money? Sex? Afraid he'll run for your seat? It could just be that he's just a nice guy."

"He is that," said Sargent. "He's been all business in my dealings with him, competent, pleasant, bought his share of the coffee. Whatever he does for church and charity, he keeps it to himself."

"Until now," said Babbitt. "I tell you, ..."

"Let it go, George," observed Cortwright. "Speculate on your own time. The merger's off and unless you can come up with some other specific need for that $140,000 you had earmarked for that, we're done here."

Babbitt sighed, shook his head. "Part of that was to expand and remodel the district offices in Zenith, maybe 30 grand or so?"

"What did you promise, George?" asked Sargent.

Cortwright picked up the copy of SF 1073 from Babbitt's desk. "I'll get you $20,000 for a remodel, but no more and no expansion. It'll happen next year, you wait. Let's get on with the college's wish list." She saw Babbitt looking at the wall. "George?"

"Sorry. This whole business still bugs me. I'm going back this weekend."
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