Frequently Asked Questions
About TonkaFocus
1. Do the people involved with TonkaFocus steal campaign yard signs? No. We do not.
2. Is TonkaFocus affiliated with the ACLU? No, we're not, though we do share some of the same concerns about the First Amendment. Please see our response to Question 6 on this page.
3. Is TonkaFocus "focused" on only one, or a few individuals? No, although we understand it could appear that way. The "focus" of TonkaFocus refers to our focus on the Minnetonka Public Schools, to the educational excellence that "Tonka" stands for, to our focus on preserving that and exposing anything we feel threatens that. The light of that focus may make certain public figures uncomfortable, if they don't want their positions to see the light of day.
4.
Why are there only 3 names on the web site? How many people are involved with
TonkaFocus? The names of the three
editors are on the web site – Maureen Kvam, Judy Budreau and Sherri West –
because we have the final responsibility of checking for accuracy, deciding what
is published on the web site and being available to answer questions about it.
The dozen or so people actively involved with TonkaFocus are researching issues
in our district and attending School Board and other public meetings. They
represent a wide cross-section of citizens in our
community – what we have in common is concern about the integrity of public
education and a deep appreciation for the quality of the Minnetonka Public
Schools.
Please note that we are not necessarily impartial on every
issue. We've taken stands in support of International Baccalaureate, in support
of the teaching of evolution and against Intelligent Design creationism, and
against curriculum censorship.
5. How much help does TonkaFocus get from the school district? We receive the same assistance, no more and no less, as any citizen who makes reasonable requests to the School District for information from the public record. TonkaFocus does not receive money from or donate money to the school district.
6. Did TonkaFocus sign
an amicus brief in another state? Why? Yes, we did sign an
amicus brief in Cobb County, Georgia in 2005. TonkaFocus has been investigating the Intelligent
Design vs. Evolution debate since April 2005 when Minnetonka School Board member
Dave Eaton wrote in the Star Tribune advocating for the inclusion of ID in our
science curriculum.
Educators and scientists around our state and around the country are deeply
concerned about the efforts to insert creationist controversy into the quality
science education Americans value and expect. Intelligent Design is an issue for
local school boards – they have the power to decide what will be included or
excluded in their own public schools' curriculum. It's
important to note that creationism, in any form, has never won a U.S. Court case
- but creationism does result in costly and lengthy legal battles for school
districts which try to substitute religion for science in public school
classrooms.
It shouldn't be a surprise that citizens concerned about science
education are consulting scientists and educators who've faced similar threats,
and supporting each others' efforts to maintain a real science curriculum.
TonkaFocus is in good company – the National Science Teachers Association, the
National Association of Biology Teachers, the National Academy of Sciences and
55 other scientific organizations and many citizens' groups signed an amicus
brief for Cobb County, Georgia, too.
Information on
the case
in Cobb County, Georgia
See a
copy of the
amicus brief
Read the full story about why this question was asked here
7. Is TonkaFocus working with any of the School Board candidates’ campaigns? No. We’re working to provide accurate, timely information about the issues in our district and the workings of the school board. We hope people will use the information to think about which school board members and which candidates share their views. And we hope people will become active participants to support the kind of public schools they want in our community! There were no "TonkaFocus" candidates in the 2005 election - each of the six candidates publicly agreed with TonkaFocus on at least one issue, and disagreed on others. TonkaFocus does not endorse candidates.
More questions? Please e-mail us at info@tonkafocus.org