Op-Ed essay about Little Red

Updated: 1/9/2008 6:32:01 PM


School district should listen to community, save Little Red

By Tanya Miller
I contacted 100 of the big business leaders in Eau Claire, provided them background information on Little Red School and instructed them to contact Eau Claire school board members to voice their opinions on Little Red.

Only three businesses out of 100 opposed keeping Little Red open.

The 97 supporting businesses are making their phone calls, and are making comments such as:

"Great Community School, a landmark, a true treasure."

"Close Little Red and you will never pass a referendum in Eau Claire."

"Who does the school board work for: The administrators or this community?"

"Because the referendum failed, the school district is now threatening this community."

"Isn't Little Red School such a small percentage of our total budget?"

"If you close schools, don't you need fewer administrators? Why not just cut more administrators and save our schools?"

"Why is Little Red being demolished? Didn't they just add onto the school? Another waste of our money."

I stopped writing down comments because my house has turned into a call center.

These phone calls put in perspective how unfortunate it is for the district to be focusing negative energy on closing Little Red. The district is producing a lot of negative publicity for itself by promoting Little Red's closure. It is stuck in "Little Red mode" and is putting its own objectives ahead of this community's.

After talking to more than 100 businesses in Eau Claire, my overall impression is this community is questioning what the district can do with its time and money. These are powerful business leaders who know what it takes to run a successful business. All of these businesses are hungry for information and statistics about the school district's future direction. Unfortunately, I had nothing to provide them except the fact the district is trying to close Little Red.

Can you imagine what we could do if we focus this energy on passing a referendum properly? The district could focus positive energy on advertising a referendum, calling businesses, reaching out to the community, involving the Chamber of Commerce, holding a referendum open house and getting the newspapers to promote efforts and disclose facts. They should get out there and start shaking some hands!

Positive solutions will give the district momentum - power to succeed. Who knows, if the businesses see the district supporting our community they may opt to provide financial support. These businesses love children and families that support their businesses. The district will win and look good in the process.

If the district goes ahead and closes Little Red for a personal objective, or if they are sick and tired of discussing Little Red, it will lose this community's trust and face embarrassment.

Closing Little Red will not fix the district's problems. Next year it will need more money, better solutions and a referendum. This year the district has gained powerful knowledge from the Little Red Study Committee, and it is their responsibility to use it.

Miller, of rural Mondovi, is the mother of two Little Red School students.