Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy,
Minnesota, since 1880
News from the week of December 8, 1999
Tracy, R-T-R agree on Balaton tuition proposal
Tracy and Russell/Tyler/Ruthton school board members reached an agreement Monday afternoon on a tuitioning proposal for Balaton students in grades 9-12.
According to Supt. Rick Clark of Tracy, both districts will offer Balaton a plan based on a 90/10 split of the per pupil foundation formula and a 50/50 split of capital expenditures.
Administrators and school board representatives from Tracy, Milroy, Russell/Tyler/Ruthton and Balaton met in Balaton on Monday afternoon.
“There was good give and take,” commented Balaton Superintendent Dick Gulbranson. “All the schools were in agreement that we want to do what's best for the students.”
Declining enrollment prompted the Balaton school board earlier this fall to seek a tuitioning agreement with both Tracy and RTR for students in grades 9-12 beginning with the 2000-01 school year for a two year period with students choosing which district to attend. A letter to both Tracy and RTR last month requested a 75/25 split with no allowance for capital expenditures. The 75/25 split was suggested by Balaton as a transitional proposal to help the school meet severance pay obligations for tenured staff should the district no longer operate a 9-12 program. The Balaton School would continue to operate a full K-8 program.
According to the Tracy superintendent, after initial discussion at Monday's meeting, Balaton school officials left the room while representatives from Tracy, Milroy and RTR discussed the proposal.
“Supt. Knutson of RTR and I agreed in advance that we weren't going to get involved in a bidding war,” said Dr. Clark. “We discussed the pros and cons of each split from 75/25 right down to 0. The state funding formula is insufficient the way it is, and we didn't feel the proposed 75/25 split was fair to our taxpayers.”
The next step in the process, said Dr. Clark, will be for the Balaton school district to discuss and act on the proposal.
Language sometimes differs, but Christian faith is same
Tracy's Hmong Community Alliance Church is fairly bursting at the seams on Sunday mornings.
In the church's nursery, several women visit amiably as they watch over their little charges. A pre-school class claims the kitchen area where children busily color and cut out angels and other characters depicted in the Christmas story.
A murmur of voices echoes from behind curtains dividing the basement into classrooms for elementary age children. One class learns about the birth of Jesus and another the conversion of Paul on the Damascus Road. Upstairs in the church's sanctuary, two dozen teens meet with teacher Mai Lee Vang. Right: A class of students gathers around teacher Blia Thae Moua.
Spilling over into the parsonage next door are two more classes — one for upper elementary students and another for adults, taught by Pastor Nou Sang Vang, on the attributes of God.
Teachers and students switch at times between their native tongue and their adopted language — Sunday School curriculum materials are printed in English.
Worship follows the Sunday School hour, with children either participating in a children's church in the basement or joining their parents in the church's sanctuary. The service is in the Hmong language.
Welcoming smiles and warm handshakes greet this visiting reporter. A song leader leads the congregation in singing familiar Christmas songs and hymns. I marvel at the pure notes and rich voices, unaccompanied by any musical instrument.
“Do you read music?” I ask the song leader following the service.
“I just know the songs,” he tells me.
• • •
The Hmong Community Alliance Church was organized March 22, 1991 with seven families forming the core group of the church.
The church met for a time at the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church on Seventh St. and later shared facilities with Tracy Lutheran Church.
In 1996 the congregation purchased the church building and parsonage of the former Faith Lutheran Church on Hollett St. Today, 17 families numbering 123 people are part of the Hmong fellowship. Right: The Hmong Community Alliance Church on Hollett St.
The first pastor of the church was Pastor Nao Xiong Her who is presently serving a church in Portland, OR.
Pastor Nou Sang Vang, the church's second pastor, came to Tracy in 1997 and serves the church along with his wife Mai Lee. Both are graduates of Nyack College in New York. The couple has two sons, seven-year-old Andrew and three-year-old Mark.
• • •
The Christian and Missionary Alliance church began working among the Hmong people of Southeast Asia in the first half of this century. Large numbers of Hmong converted from the traditional animistic beliefs (the belief that inanimate objects and natural phenomena possess a soul) to Christianity.
According to Pastor Vang, most of the members of the Hmong Alliance Church grew up in Christian families while living in Laos. Pastor Vang and his wife came to the United States as children after spending several years in refugee camps in their native country.
Tour of homes spotlights holiday family traditions
Hearts and homes are being prepared for the holiday season, and five Tracy families are inviting the public to join them for the second annual AFS Tour of Homes on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 12 from 2 - 5 p.m.
Sharing their homes and Christmas traditions on this year's tour are: Jeff & Sandy Carpenter, Kim & Dona Daniels, Mike & Sue Fritz, Bill & Janice Heern and Jim & Mary Malmberg.
Holiday goodies will be served at each home. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at Tracy State Bank, Food Pride and John's Drug. The event is a fund-raiser for the Tracy AFS chapter.
“Each home and each family's holiday decorations and traditions are unique,” promises organizer Sandy Carpenter.
The Carpenter home was built before the turn of the century and was converted into a boarding house during the Depression years. In the '70s it once again became a single family dwelling. A warm welcome awaits visitors to the home, and the lights will be on all the way up to the family room in the walk-up attic.
“A hidden treasure,” is how Carpenter describes the apartment above Tracy Bakery belonging to owners Mike and Sue Fritz. Its eclectic decor, she adds, is certain to delight, as will the Christmas goodies served by the Fritzes to their guests.
The contemporary and spacious interior of Kim and Dona Daniels' home on East Fourth Street lends itself to a number of holiday traditions including picking out a Christmas tree and decorating it with the help of daughters Lindsey and Ashley. The Daniels built their home in 1994.
Antique lovers will be especially interested in the East Hollett home of Bill and Janice Heern and son Jason. Built in 1981, its English Tudor style architecture is unique to Tracy. Visitors to the Heern home will learn about the family's special Christmas Eve tradition.
The rural Tracy home of Jim and Mary Malmberg has been in Mary's family since 1914. AFS daughter Noora Kasanen will be on hand as will the Malmberg's two children, Elizabeth and Daniel, to share special treats and holiday traditions.
Money from the fund-raising event is targeted for AFS expenses such as senior pictures and International Day at Tracy Area High School. Guests are asked to bring another pair of shoes or slippers with them or to remove their shoes at each home. The homes may be visited in any order.
Nutcracker Fantasy
Almost every seat in the house (Tracy Area High School gym) was occupied as Tracy Elementary School students presented "The Nutcracker." While kindergarten through grade 5 students sang songs such as "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "Waltz of the Flowers," sixth graders acted out scenes from"The Nutcracker." The program was directed by Ade Miller.
Smaller Tracy levy increase eyed
• 5.5% increase now proposed
The City of Tracy's property tax levy will likely take a smaller increase next year than originally expected.
The city's preliminary levy approved in September called for a 9.2% increase. The levy now proposed by City Administrator Audrey Koopman calls for a 5.5% increase. Truth-in-taxation statements mailed recently to property owners were based upon the larger increase.
Koopman reviewed next year's proposed levy, and the city's year 2000 budget, at a special truth-in-taxation hearing Monday. No one from the general public attended the hearing, but the proceedings were also broadcast over the local access cable television channel.
Next year's levy, as currently proposed, would increase the general fund levy by 7% and the bonded debt levy by 4.9%, an overall increase of 5.5%.
The major factor that has pared the levy increase is the elimination of $16,000 that had been budgeted in the "Other Financial Use Fund." The $16,000 had been considered for "salary adjustments" recommended by a consultant who performed a gender equity wage study for the city.
Koopman reviewed major changes in next year's budget and spending over the past year.
Carin Gervais, Andy Fraser nominated for ExCEL Award
The Minnesota State High School League sponsored award recognizes high school juniors who participate in a school fine arts or athletic activity and are involved in a leadership position in a school, church or community organization.
Carin, the daughter of Francis and Loretta Gervais of rural Currie, has participated in basketball, volleyball, track, choir, band, and student council. The vice president of her class her sophomore year, she has also served on the school's homecoming and prom committees. Her community activities include: youth activities coordinator for the Currie Town & Country Club; club president, camp counselor and youth leader for 4-H; lecturer and Sunday school teacher at church.
Andy, the son of Mike and Margie Fraser of Tracy. has participated in football, baseball and band, where he won a ninth grade musicianship award. He is a two-time academic letter winner. Community involvement includes helping with broadcasts on the school cable television channel, his church youth group and helping set up computer programs for others.