[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: The Final Countdown 2: Public Hearing

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
The Final Countdown 2: Public Hearing
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1231917707.shtml


   The Robbinsdale Area Schools held a Public Hearing to present the Wold
   Consulting team's recommendation (1 hour) and take public comment from
   about 90 speakers (3 hours). There were about 200 present at the
   Cooper High School auditorium tonight, January 13^th.
   You get several types of input at these meetings: objective,
   subjective, anecdotal, incorrect, and vindictive. Overall, I think it
   went pretty well.
   That the two Elementary schools recommended for closure would be the
   most represented was no surprise. What did surprise me despite a
   friend's prediction was that the Sunny Hollow delegation was larger
   than the Pilgrim Lane delegation. They worked together well to push
   the "K-6" option that spares them both.
   Some from each school also engaged in a little brinkmanship, reminding
   us that as border schools, they had open enrollment options close by.
   Truth is, Northport is closer to the border than Sunny Hollow or
   Pilgrim Lane, and their choices are more viable.
   A Sonnesyn parent made a couple of good points. One, bricks and mortar
   don't teach our kids, it's the teachers, staff, and yes, parents. Two,
   he said that those claiming to being blind-sided, rushed, or
   railroaded haven't been paying attention.
   I did pick up on one point repeatedly made regarding RSI (Spanish
   Immersion), which I'll save for the next post. But otherwise, the
   Board should proceed with the consultant's recommendation, the K-5
   option.