[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Gathering Storm II

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Gathering Storm II
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1229707621.shtml


   I attended the second session of the "presentation by the Wold team on
   the excess capacity issue, to ask questions and provide input before
   the team begins to develop alternatives to solve the capacity issue."
   I expected a larger turnout for several reasons, but it was about the
   same as Tuesday's session in Plymouth, well under 100.
   As with Plymouth, there was next to no protest or outrage. The only
   regrettable comment was from a member of the Robbinsdale City Council,
   who made a rather direct point that his city would not embrace the
   next referendum like this last one if he isn't happy with the outcome
   of this process.
   A couple of questions helped describe the current geographical
   imbalance, that the northeast section has more students but the
   southwest section has more buildings.
   I myself followed up on an idea floated at an earlier meeting this
   year, that the Spanish Immersion program be expanded to two buildings.
   It currently has a waiting list, resolved by a lottery today. Opening
   a second campus in the west would provide more capacity and greater
   access. I wanted to know if that would be an option the consultants
   would be considering in their proposed solutions. No, said
   Superintendent Mack, as it would add costs. During the Strategic
   Planning process however, Assistant Superintendent Wolkowiak said it
   was essentially free because the number of teachers is the same, just
   are bilingual.
   That's it for 2008. The next meeting is a regularly scheduled School
   Board meeting on January 5, 2009, where we'll see the "scenarios" that
   the consultant recommends as appropriate solutions to the
   over-capacity issue. Once specific schools are named, public interest
   and attendance will no doubt increase for the public meeting January
   13th, 2009 at Cooper High School.