By Karen Blumer Smed, Guest Column

What are the goals of this community?

School District 241 will be gearing up for a referendum campaign shortly, and more dire cuts and reductions will be announced.

No, I am not writing to harangue this community for not passing the referendum last year. In fact, I do not believe a referendum would pass this year.

In my analysis, after speaking with many people, I believe the last referendum failed because of a low-confidence/no-confidence vote in the administration of our district.

The District 241 administration has weathered a great deal during the 12 years we have been residents here. Legislative budget reductions in public school funding top the list, a multimillion-dollar new school referendum followed by a passed levy referendum, then a failed levy referendum, and the changes that occur normally with population fluctuations and socioeconomic changes.

The problem is that we have had no measurable growth as a community, and our school district administration has woefully ignored or underestimated its role in that equation. Our beautiful high school, if excellently managed, should be a magnet that draws open-enrolled students to Albert Lea High School as well as a prime reason for families to move here. We have had rather the opposite; more students/teachers leave the district through private school options, post-secondary college options or just problems in dealing with our district than come into our district.

Why? The money, per student, that has walked out the door is significant. That issue alone needs to be addressed.

Our district administration should have participated fully in county/city/school district interaction regarding economic development. Our former county administrator and our city administrator frequently met; however, our school district representation was poor.

When our school district promised that the Cap Emmons Auditorium would not be affected by the community&8217;s vote for a new school, it turned out to be a lie. Loss-of-trust issues lead to loss of confidence, eroding the effects of good accomplishments.

Athletics and other extracurricular activities are widely touted as a way to keep kids in school, keep them focused and improve their scholastics to keep them eligible. ALHS has not had an administration that supports athletics from the top. We do not have a schoolwide written policy or lettering system; we have unfortunately been forced to put up with a revolving door of coaches in some sports. We have had no emphasis on creating successful, well-respected programs across the board. The new cuts will most likely involve those activities that are nonrevenue producing. Some theater and other clubs, track and field, baseball, softball, golf and cross-country come to mind.

Could we please remove the blinders from our eyes? We are in a crisis and the answer lies in new direction for the leadership we have or new leadership. We need a goal-oriented, focused, positive change in our leadership to entice support from this community, which has already given much.

It has long been understood that the administration of a school rarely lasts beyond the emotional upheaval of a new school referendum. We are nine years past our referendum, seven years past the new school opening.

We have some of the finest teachers and one of the best vocal music programs in the state of Minnesota, dedicated coaches despite haphazard support and great volunteers. Unfortunately, we are in a downward spiral now with cuts and reductions with more to come. We need to choose the path that will best serve the future of this community. New leadership brings its own energy, positive and hopeful.

We can do better; for our kids we need to do better. Mostly, for this community we must do better. When a school goes down, the community will follow.

What are the goals of this community?

Karen Blumer Smed was born in Albert Lea and moved back from Europe in 1995 to reside in Albert Lea. She is a 1977 graduate of Albert Lea High School. She has two children at ALHS.