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Recent Blogs
 
VeraSun delays opening of ND ethanol plant
Wednesday 25, June 2008

VeraSun delays opening of ND ethanol plant

We saw this coming a mile away…

Brookings, S.D.-based VeraSun Energy (NYSE: VSE) announced today that it would delay the startup of its 110 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in Hankinson, N.D., marking the third VeraSun facility that has delayed startup operations this month due to market conditions.

This is becoming an increasingly popular thing for ethanol plants to do. The article goes on…


 
 
Sunshine on Schools: Updates
Monday 23, June 2008

http://www.sunshineonschools.org/

There are more updates at Sunshine on Schools.  Now, users are able to see where their school district ranks in terms of mills levied in that district (see Tax Levy Reports Link on the Home Page).  Users will also be able to rank schools based on local revenue raised per pupil (see State Ranking Reports on the Home Page).  If you would like to see a statistic not listed on Sunshine on Schools, please let us know.  To contact us, click HERE.


 
 
DPI Candidate: Why can’t DPI create Sunshine on Schools?
Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Department of Public Instruction candidate Max Laird recently wrote the following on his blog:

It is curious that this newly released web site is found to be of value by my opponent. I too find it to be a reasonable way to view gross comparisons of school districts.


 
 
DPI Superintendent uses Sunshine on Schools
Monday, 9 June 2008

This proves that Sunshine on Schools is a useful tool for policymakers…

(DPI Superintendent Wayne) Sanstead uses Sunshine On Schools as an information source, he said. “I just used it this morning,” he said last week.


 
 
Sunshine on Schools Garners Praise from Legislators & School Administrators
Tuesday, 3 June 2008


Since its late April launch, Sunshine on Schools has received praise from policymakers and administrators.

ND State Representative & Edinburg School Principal, Dave Monson:

"I found the information on the Sunshine on School's project to be very easy to read, accurate, informative, and useful. I am looking forward to the new updates and further information as it becomes available on the site. It is a great tool for school administrators!"


 
 
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Recent Articles
 
SRF's Token "Amendments" Not Enough
Brett Narloch
Monday, 7 July 2008

On June 20th, the North Dakota Policy Council (NDPC) outlined the reasons why Burleigh County should demand the nearly $1000,000 back it is paying SRF Consulting to update the Burleigh County Comprehensive Plan. Those reasons were:

  • Effective comprehensive planning is impossible.

  • SRF skipped crucial steps that make up the rational planning model.

  • SRF is promoting a fad called "smart growth," instead of making the plan specific to Burleigh County.

  • The Draft Plan is little more than regurgitated plans SRF has completed in the past for other counties.

  • SRF completely ignored public input that they were paid to collect and use.

 
 
Is SRF Consulting Fulfilling its Contractual Duties?
Brett Narloch
Thursday, 26 June 2008

In June 2007, Burleigh County hired SRF Consulting (SRF) to update the Burleigh County Comprehensive Plan.  The contract would pay SRF almost $100,000.  Planners, such as those at SRF, use a “rational planning model” to write long-range plans.  Rational planning identifies problems, establishes criteria to evaluate alternatives, creates alternatives, and chooses one. 


 
 
GOOD INTENTIONS ARE NOT ENOUGH
Brent Bartsch
Monday, 9 June 2008

There are few economic principles that are fully grasped by the average person. After all, economics is a science that often leads to counterintuitive observations and so it is unsurprising that economic principles are generally not correctly applied. It also happens to be unnecessary for most people to understand much of economics in order to economize successfully and do well for themselves in their day-to-day lives. However, understanding economics becomes significantly more necessary once a community is asked to vote on public policy proposals.


 
 
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Recent Press Releases
 
North Dakota Policy Council Launches Sunshine on Schools Website
Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Town Hall Meeting: Cato Scholar to Address Burleigh County Comprehensive Plan
Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Gov. Hoeven's K-12 Education Funding Plan is Unfair, Ignores Real Problems
Monday, 25 February 2008

View All Press Releases ...
 



   
   
   
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