[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Setting Boundaries

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Setting Boundaries
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208572366.shtml


   Attending all these visioning sessions for District 281 has been very
   personally rewarding, having gained many new and interesting
   "stakeholder" perspectives. Most have been quite positive, but also
   quite realistic about this current situation. A couple of attendees
   should have been a little more diplomatic in expressing their
   opinions, but even that was at least illustrative of the east - west
   division.
   I'll have more to say at the proper time, i.e., when the final report
   comes out. For now, allow me to discuss a general question, grouping
   grades into buildings and programs.
   District 281 generally uses the "modern" K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle,
   9-12 secondary model as do many adjoining districts. But District 279
   (Osseo) uses the more traditional K-6, 7-9, 10-12. District 286
   (Brooklyn Center) uses K-6 and 7-12. (Minneapolis N/A given their
   effective withdrawal from the north side.)
   There are refinements like the K-2 / 3-5 pairing that Superintendent
   Stan Mack offered as an option earlier this year, primarily to save
   money, the 2007 referendum having failed. The affected parents in 281
   made it very clear very fast: no thank you! I understand that Spring
   Lake Park has implemented this, however.
   Another is pairing the high schools into 9-10 and 11-12, which White
   Bear Lake has done. This might be interesting for 281, pairing Cooper
   and Armstrong so that all students have equal access to all programs.
   Today, students must choose a track, a frustration for one of the
   parents at the session.
   I'm still intrigued by the K-8 concept which an unnamed education
   professional in the Osseo district favors - and I agree with her
   reasons. But alas, much as I tried to put it on the table at the
   visioning sessions, no one "seconded" my motions. I found that there
   is such a public school in the Rochester, Minnesota system and I'm
   going to find out more about it. A road trip might be in order.
   I bring these up because I'm hoping the final visioning process will
   consider such questions. What is truly the best arrangement for 281?
   Would multiple approaches make sense, given the significant
   demographic differences east to west?
   These are important questions financially as well, significantly
   affecting the usage and utilization of the buildings and staff, even
   transportation. We shouldn't make such changes just to save money as
   our 281 parents made clear. But we shouldn't charge blindly ahead to
   either enhance the current model or adopt new ones without looking at
   the financial effects.
   For ultimately, it's money or the perceived lack of it that has us all
   talking.