[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Be True to Your School

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Be True to Your School
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1201704940.shtml


   It happens every time. Propose closing an elementary school and
   suddenly the affected parents and staff mobilize to prevent it. It's
   pretty much the same script. "We understand the need to cut the
   budget, but when you look at all our school has going for it, clearly
   closing _________ Elementary makes no sense."
   District 279, the Osseo School District, is now making its budget
   cuts, which include closing schools. Yes, they did get one referendum
   passed, but two failed and the District has to cut $16 million.
   Closing Cedar Island Elementary in Maple Grove is part of the
   preliminary plan, and the protests have started already. Posters and
   T-shirts have been made, and a "rally" organized and held at the
   school. Over the next few weeks, they will go through the same process
   as District 281 (Robbinsdale) did and will do again next year.
   Is there a time when the public school system ever has better public
   support, specifically when a school is close by, particularly at the
   Elementary level? Clearly not. Talk of rising class sizes and cutting
   Advanced Placement programs get yawns by comparison. More precisely,
   these closings reduce public support far more is gained by improving
   the open schools or the District overall. This is especially true in
   larger districts with significant differences in demographics. But
   here it is happening just within the monolithic Maple Grove area
   served by the Osseo schools.
   Retailers know and promote the products their customers like best, and
   make good money selling them. Everyone is happy, including the
   customers. Shouldn't the school districts start thinking this way?
   What is it the parents and taxpayers value most? Neighborhood schools
   it would seem. But what do the districts do when money is seemingly
   tight? Close neighborhood schools.
   Now some closings must happen if enrollment drops significantly,
   especially if the District overbuilt when it was rising. But the Baby
   Boom has played out and we're not likely to see such waves in most
   urban districts again. Is it wrong to now first seek stability in
   school facilities, what the parents seem to value most?