Litchfield Independent Review - Litchfield Schools - Comments

Hmmmmm....I wonder why

ScottFletcher — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:50:08 -0500

Hmmmmm....I wonder why Andersen opposes the levy??? Maybe because his son is a senior this year and won't be impacted by increased class sizes or cut programs?!?!?!I bet if he still had kids in school,he would be all for it.....

I'm sorry; I saw this and

randay91 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:08:40 -0500

I'm sorry; I saw this and could not resist making a comment! Simply due to the fact that you put in your initial article, "the state Constitution charged government with two particular duties: build roads and educate the children." Evidently the government has not paid enough attention to the education of our children part! The government wants to hand over billions in dollars to bail out mortgage companies, and build libraries we do not really need and new stadiums for the foot ball players because the one we have now is not good enough I guess...... however right here in Litchfield, parents that want to have their children go to Kindergarten every day have to pay FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLING!!!! Our schools evidently are NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUNDING TOWARDS THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN!

Congratulations to 2008

Kristin Holtz — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:51:18 -0500

Congratulations to 2008 Litchfield homecoming queen Chelsie McGraw and king Adam Andersen, who were crowned Monday night. See a photo of them reading the royal proclamation.

School administrators did

Kristin Holtz — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:33:17 -0500

School administrators did not express concern about being able to pay for the daily counseling time. The district hopes to cover the two hours - to be purchased from the Wings Adolescent Treatment Center - through its crime levy. Business manager Todd Swanson said schools use the levy in different ways, including hiring police officers and purchasing security cameras.

America's youth are facing

randay91 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:16:58 -0500

America's youth are facing an ever changing set of problems and barriers preventing them from having successful lives. It is hard to imagine that the youths of America are committing illegal acts such as burglary, arson, murder, selling of drugs, drug use, underage drinking, auto theft and crimes against other persons such as violent acts involving at times the use of weapons like knives and guns. However they are, and at alarming rates.
To accurately assess the juvenile justice system and its role in delinquency prevention, it is imperative to take into account the nature and volume of cases coming before American juvenile courts. According to the OJJDP, “in 1992, an estimated 1 million juveniles in the United States were charged with approximately 1.5 million delinquent acts, a 26-percent increase from the volume of cases reported in 1987.
According to McInnis (2002), “Risk factors play a very large part in juvenile delinquency.” Risk factors such as community disorganization, availability of drugs and firearms, and persistent poverty, make children more prone to involvement in delinquent behavior than if those factors were not present. Additionally, when a child's family life is filled with violence, problem behaviors, poor parental monitoring, and inconsistent disciplinary practices or maltreatment, a child's risk of delinquency increases (Becker 2002). Youth exhibiting combinations of these deficits in multiple domains of their lives are at highest risk of delinquency.
Needless to say juvenile delinquency has risen greatly over the years, and there are many contributing factors for juvenile delinquency. Comprehensive strategies continue to be implemented in order to offer juveniles the opportunity to restructure their lives as law abiding citizens. Our current juvenile justice system is not just about retribution, it also has dedicated its self to the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, much like the adult justice system. However the juvenile justice does not act alone in the rehabilitation sector. States and local communities have begun to take serious interest in combating juvenile delinquency.
Communities are beginning to mobilize to combat juvenile delinquency through prevention, early intervention, and community-building strategies that address local needs. They are reducing serious and violent juvenile delinquency by using multi-agency, coordinated approaches and innovative programs and services in the juvenile justice system. But what do the communities look for when determining the type of prevention programs that are needed? Well, there is in reality no single cause of delinquency and violence. Delinquents, especially chronic delinquents, exhibit a variety of social and psychological deficits in their backgrounds. These deficits, often referred to as risk factors, stem from breakdowns in five influential domains in juveniles' lives: neighborhood, family, school, peers, and individual characteristics. (Vito & Simonsen 2004)
According to Vito & Simonsen (2004), “The most effective programs are those that address key areas of risk in the youth's life, those that seek to strengthen the personal and institutional factors that contribute to healthy adolescent development, those that provide adequate support and supervision, and those that offer youth a long-term stake in the community.”
Meeker County, the community that I live in, offers many community resources to its youth. Although they work independently, they collectively have the same agenda, combating juvenile delinquency through prevention, early intervention, and through education. The examples that I had selected for a research paper I did for school included the Libre Academy. It is sad to see that they are closing their doors because they are a great community based resource!
According to Becker (2002), “Studies and statistics show that adolescents that suffer from drug addiction that go through treatment and then go straight back into the same life (the same friends, school, patterns and challenges) have a very high chance of multiple relapses”. Libre Academy was designed to help students who had gone through treatment programs and returned to school, only to relapse and end up back where they had started.

I would hope that some how the the school district is able to find it within their budget to proceed as planned with the hiring of counselors to come into the school as stated in this artical.

I would love to see community members support this effort! Realize the impact that this could have in the lives of your children! It wo9uld be additionaly nice to see the community mobilize and come up with ideas as to financial contributions to this program! Is there a way we can get this out there on the radio and mobilize a community donations request and fundraising for this program in order to ensure it's survival?

To offer more clarification,

Kristin Holtz — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:08:08 -0600

To offer more clarification, Mr. Harvego said this statement in reference to the special education funding formula used by the state to help districts balance expenses and revenue. From my understanding, it is a very complicated and not always fair system, and the school district has not always been reimbursed at full cost in the past. No statements were made at the meeting in regards to the need of special education, only the state's funding formula.

If Mr. Harvego would have

Jim Dandy — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:22:05 -0600

If Mr. Harvego would have said, the income tax system is a mess, would you have felt that was directed at you as a tax payer? No. I would not have either. Just as the special education funding is a mess. Knowing Mr. Harvigo I am sure he is correct. That is no shot at the people in need of the special education system, it is a statement that the system could be beter. That could be said about many local, state, and federal aid systems.

My son too is involved in

myopinion — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:02:54 -0600

My son too is involved in the special education program in this school district. I could think of far more other things that are taking away from the budget then the special education program. Sorry Mr. Harevgo that my son is slower than others in learning, sorry that my son needs some extra help!! Isn't every child supposed to be given a fair and equal opportunity in school????
I have no idea who you think you are saying that “Special education (funding) is a mess, let’s put it that way,” Harvego said. “They made it a nightmare for everyone.” I should send Trish from Fox 9 here to investigate this story!! That wasn't a fair and nice thing to say at all!!!

“Special education

Idontthinkso — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:27:22 -0600

“Special education (funding) is a mess, let’s put it that way,” Harvego said. “They made it a nightmare for everyone.”

WEll shame on these kids and their families who want them to have an education just like everyone else!!! I do not like how that above statement is making it sound like it is the special education children causing this trouble. What does this person want? for the funding for these kids and their families to be pulled?

Just so mr harvego understands, my son is in the special education program here in litchfield and they have done one heck of a great job with my son. The progress he has made is amazng and if it had not been for this program or the people who have great patients with him, I doubt he would be where he is now. When I think of what life was like for people with special needs I shudder. My wife's family lived next door to a woman who is special but when she was in school there was no special education. Listening to her and her horror stories makes me greatful we have what we have now. If anything happens to this program because mr harvego does not like this program, he is going to see what these special needs children and their families can do!!! maybe fox 9 would like to have an earful on him.

Our kids had a great time in

YWeleave — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:56:21 -0500

Our kids had a great time in this class!!

I find this class to be

Lisa — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:37:54 -0500

I find this class to be really great. It taught my daughter quite a bit.

Marv is one of the best and

mnkitten — Mon, 21 May 2007 20:06:00 -0500

Marv is one of the best and he will be greatly missed. My 4th grade son was very disappointed to hear that Marv is retiring. We wish you the best, Marv. :)

Mr. Buschette was my 5th

Perry Piehl — Mon, 21 May 2007 11:39:56 -0500

Mr. Buschette was my 5th grade teacher 33 years ago. I remember my 5th grade year well, as I do all my school years. Marv, you are a gifted person. I am glad you were my teacher. I wish you well in your retirement.
Perry Piehl
Class of 1982

What do you think about

Kristin Holtz — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:39:58 -0500

What do you think about adding all-day, every-day kindergarten here in Litchfield?

The Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District added its free all-day, every-day kindergarten program this past school year as a way to retain district students, and Eden-Valley Watkins has had a free program in place for several years. According to the presentation Monday, Dassel-Cokato and Litchfield are the only local schools not to offer an all-day, every-day option.

The expense of adding three teachers would be high for the strapped Litchfield School District, as the board is expected to make budget reductions at one of its next meetings. But with parents asking for it, is a fee-based option the way to go? Then, it seems only students whose parents can afford to send them all day would be receiving the extra benefits of the program.

I'm interested in hearing the community's response.