[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Neighborhood Schools - Part 2

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Neighborhood Schools - Part 2
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1220289264.shtml


   Neighborhood schools work as I wrote in [1]Part 1. I should clarify
   that to say neighborhood elementary schools, including ECFE (Early
   Childhood Family Education). Parents get more involved with
   neighborhood schools, and test scores show it.
   In district after district, however, declining enrollments have led to
   closing after closing of these neighborhood schools. This has to be
   questioned, and maybe, just maybe, District 281 (Robbinsdale) is
   willing to consider alternatives.
   Like other districts have done, District 281 is now planning to hire
   consultants to come up with a facilities plan by December. In some
   nearby districts, some have argued that their Board hid behind those
   studies in making painful cuts. I'm more hopeful here. Quoting the
   [2]Sun Post:

     "A few years ago, a committee came up with recommendations no one
     liked," [Board Treasurer Tom Walsh] said. "Exactly what are we
     looking for? We have to be careful in crafting the parameters."

   Point well taken. Continuing from the same article:

     At a work session July 14, Mack suggested the board consider
     closing and repurposing Golden Valley's Sandburg Middle School in
     the 2009-10 school year to save an estimated $1.2 million.

   Compared to closing a neighborhood school, this makes more sense to
   me, but only if it is part of a larger strategy. Meanwhile, another
   Board member simply wants to make the hard choice of closing Northport
   Elementary even before the consultants begin. I disagree, but that is
   at least still consistent with Walsh's point, that such a study must
   get direction going in from the Board.
   The Board fundamentally must decide the overall strategy, then ask the
   consultants how best to implement it. Otherwise you get seemingly
   dollar wise but consumer foolish ideas like K-2/3-5 pairing that
   District 281 parents firmly rejected in public hearings last year.
   I would tell the consultants to put priority one on keeping the
   neighborhood schools open. Maybe that means K-6 instead of K-5 and
   closing a middle school as Mack offered. Maybe that means yes, raising
   class sizes, given the weak correlation to test scores. Maybe that
   means trimming back EFCE a little, especially the daycare portion.
   Maybe that means spreading Community Education (and ECFE) among the
   open buildings, closing the dedicated building(s). Maybe it means the
   end of Language Immersion and other programs of questionable value.
   But keep those neighborhood schools. In my opinion of course, I don't
   understand how tearing up your strongest bond with your communities
   leads to anything but further declines in enrollment.
   If there is a bright spot for 281, it is "blessed" with 40 to 50+ year
   old elementary schools, Forest being the only exception. Forest could
   also make a good case for being the most successful and most supported
   school in the district, a true investement in education. It's not too
   early to map out how, when, and where the other 10 or so will be
   rebuilt, with the consultant's help if need be.

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1219465861.shtml
   2. http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/08/23/news/rs21facilities.txt