Letter: Vote for Selcer, the "Adult in the Room"

To the editor:

I was disappointed to see the negative letter to the editor by David Johnson, vice chair of the Senate District 48 Republican Party. His attacks on former businesswomen, teacher and Hopkins School Board Chair, Yvonne Selcer are verifiably false.

He tried to compare per pupil expenditures using financial statements for Hopkins, Wayzata, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. However, Hopkins and Eden Prairie, report “All Funds Total Expenditures” while Minnetonka and Wayzata report “Operating Funds Only.” It’s an “apples to oranges” comparison that’s like comparing one person’s gross salary to another person’s net salary. 

Valid financial comparisons CAN be made via the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Consolidated Financial Report[1]. Ironically, this report was the brainchild of a group of business owners and school business managers, led by Yvonne Selcer and signed into law by Governor Pawlenty in 2006.

It’s tragic that he questions levying for deferred maintenance. Minnesota ranks 25th for percent of state capital spending on PK‐12 school facilities[2] in a nation who’s infrastructure received a “D” grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers[3]. Startling, given the “C” grade they gave to our bridge infrastructure.

Finally, he blames Selcer, the non-incumbent, for problems in St. Paul and says the Republicans are the “adults in the room.” The last I checked, adults put the safety of our children ahead of all other concerns.  

Clearly a vote for Yvonne Selcer on November 6 is for the adult in the room.

Ellen Dustman, Former Vice Chair of the Hopkins School Board

Minnetonka

[1] http://education.state.mn.us/MDEAnalytics/Data.jsp

[2] http://www.21csf.org/best-home/docuploads/policy/123StateCapitalSpendingonPK-12SchoolFacilitiesReport-Minnesota.pdf

[3] http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/fact-sheet/schools

Submit letters to the editor to becky.glander@patch.com