I really like the two different versions of the story that has come out.
The Superintendent is the one who came up with this brilliant plan of closing successful schools and putting them in old, inappropriate buildings. Here is his announcement on it.
Minneapolis Public Schools postpones Changing School Options timeline
May 6, 2009
Last night at a working session, the Minneapolis Board of Education raised additional questions and submitted alternative ideas to the administration’s recommendation for Changing School Options submitted Tuesday, April 28, 2009. The Board was scheduled to vote on the plan on May 26, 2009, for changes that would go into effect in the 2010-2011 school year. Board members indicated the recommendation in its current form would not gain the majority vote required to pass on May 26.
Minneapolis Public Schools’ leadership is in the process of studying the potential impacts of the Board’s ideas. Because these decisions are complex and critical, the process of analyzing the impact of different ideas requires time and careful deliberation. Therefore, previously announced community engagement meetings for May will be postponed. We will notify our families and communities as soon as we are able to establish a new schedule, likely within the next week.
In the meantime, please know that doing what is best for our students, raising academic achievement and creating a sustainable school district for the future is at the heart of our decision-making. We would like to acknowledge the families’ investment of time and energy that has informed our planning every step of the way. We need, appreciate and want our families’ continued involvement.
Superintendent Bill Green
Now the paper reported on it too. Here are excerpts from their article:
Board chair Tom Madden described the plan as "DOA" or "dead on arrival" during a working session of the board Tuesday night.
"Last night was a big success in my mind," Madden said Wednesday. "We would have been voting on May 26, and it would have failed. I was hopeful going in and very pleased coming out."
...
Board members also questioned closing Pratt Community School and relocating Northrop Urban Environmental School to the larger Folwell Middle School site, after it closes.
Pratt is in southeast Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota and is the district's smallest school with fewer than 180 students. Northrop and Pratt are both K-5 elementary schools.
Board Member Chris Stewart questioned closing small schools, such as Pratt, that have been successful with low-income students as opposed to larger schools that aren't faring well.
The district has eight elementary schools-- many of them large -- that are restructuring or preparing to restructure under federal law due to low performance.
"I want to say I'm sick of worrying about Pratt every two years," Stewart said.
Said parent Becky Sun: "I'm relieved that they're reconsidering whether to close Pratt, but I won't breathe a sigh of relief until it's all over and Pratt is still open. I'm optimistic, but I'm not going to say it's all over until it's in print."
Costain urged the administration to draft a plan that is more specific about open attendance areas. She said the district should consider a proposal from families in the Kingfield/East Lake Harriet neighborhood to link Barton Open and Lyndale elementary schools as a K-8 campus and make it their community school. It could mean Barton Open's program moves to Ramsey Fine Arts School.
Said Madden: "They're trying to assess the changes [we suggested] and the ramifications of that and what that does to the timeline."
So... Let's see... The plan was to close schools that were successful with very diverse student populations with parents opposing the school closings very vocally. Then... leave alone the failing schools that have to be restructured anyhow due to No Child Left Behind Laws. And completely ignore closing the schools that PARENTS of students in those schools suggested closing... Hmm...
Why would you close successful schools operating at a lower cost than failing schools? I'm not certain about Pratt but Northrop has done a great job of leveraging their parent volunteers, creating a great grant writing team to get in more money for projects and specialty learning programs, and doing community outreach with local parks, businesses, and other higher ed schools. They run their school more cost effectively than most other schools in the district. And it isn't that they are a white, middle class school. More than 70% of the students are from families at or below poverty level. Northrop is succeeding against the odds and obstacles were most schools with similar demographics are failing.
I am very happy to see that the elected school board had a clue and stood up for what was right fiscally and educationally for our children. Superintendent Green seems to be really out of touch. He's been here for a while as part of the Board, as deputy superintendent and then acting Superintendent and now Superintendent. He's been involved with Minneapolis Schools since at least 1993. He should be in touch. He should know what is happening.
Phew! Let's see what they try next...
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