[MPLS] Lasallians in the news

[Elizabeth Wielinski]

Today I received my weekly issue of the Catholic Spirit and there was 
an article about a new school under the Lasallian umbrella ( like many 
others including DeLaSalle and Cretin- Derham Hall)  this school was 
not founded by the Christian Brothers and that was what made it 
interesting.  What made it interesting to me was the qualifications 
that had to be met to fit into the group.  It seems that at least 25% 
of the student body had to be receiving financial aide ( not wealthy)  
for them to qualify.  During the past few months DeLaSalle has been 
touting their % of kids receiving financial aide and now I read that in 
order for them to keep their Lasallian accreditation this is required.  
This seems sort of like someone touting their hours of volunteering at 
a shelter only to find out they were there only because they were 
sentenced there for community service  for a traffic violation.

DeLaSalle is a PRIVATE RELIGIOUS institution and as such can deny or 
allow students based on whatever criteria they choose.  The public 
schools take everybody and pay through the nose to accommodate 
everything required by law.   Would someone explain to me why we are 
even talking about giving them land valued at around $7 million 
dollars????  That is the equivalent to half of what was spent to create 
the Neiman Complex and it includes a heck of a lot more amenities.  If 
we need another gym why doesn't the MPRB just build one out in the Fort 
building... they are most likely going to end up paying for the 
construction out there anyway when the lawsuit is settled?

At the previous meeting of the MPRB I asked how much year to date the 
Rice Michaels firm had billed the MPRB.  The answer was  $338,206.85 
through September 30.  Yes, 1/3 of a million and only 3/4 of the way 
through the year.  This money could be paying for stump grinding ( per 
Mike Schmidt at the MPRB they could catch up if they had a million 
dollars) or skating rinks or even the bond debt for the aforementioned 
Neiman Complex.  Just imagine all the billable hours should the 
DeLaSalle issue end up in court.  Is your park the one that will be 
auctioned off to pay for all of this????

Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park

( who apologizes for forgetting to sign my previous post)