NOTE: This site is no longer maintained!

Cw wide

This site was active during the efforts to save both the Crosswinds and Harambee schools in the East Metro Integration District (Saint Paul and its suburbs). This site is no longer active or maintained. It is here as a record of our work.

Harambee is being run by the Roseville school district. Crosswinds was run by the Perpich Center for Arts Education through 2017, and then closed. Harambee still supplies transportation for students from the 10 EMID member districts, welcomes open enrollment students, maintains a year-round calendar, and provides an integrated, magnet schools which focuses on arts and the environment.

  • St. Paul schools ask to run Crosswinds next year
    Anthony Lonetree’s article in the Star Tribune today, “St. Paul school board agrees to pursue lease to run Crosswinds School in Woodbury,” share the news that: On Tuesday, the St. Paul school board agreed to pursue a lease with the state allowing the district to run the Crosswinds Arts and Science School for at least a ...
  • Crosswinds Farewell and Picnic
    The Perpich administration has announced that Crosswinds will close next Friday. The school is planning a farewell celebration on Wednesday, 6/21, 5-7pm. Everyone is welcome! Come join the Crosswinds community as we close a school that has touched our hearts, educated our youth and provided a safe haven for all! Showcase of student performances and art ...
  • Speak Up for Crosswinds Today!
    It’s time for all Crosswinds advocates to really get to know some legislators and make sure that they never forget us! Remember to be nice, respectful, but clear in asking what you want. Being angry or confrontational does not help us. Contact the members of the education conference committee to ask that the Perpich and Crosswinds ...
  • Crosswinds and Perpich to House Education Finance, 3/15
    The next stop for the bill to shut down Perpich and (possibly) convey Crosswinds (HF1825 and clone HF1826) is at the House Education Finance committee this Wednesday, 3/15, at 1pm. Please make a call to your own representative and also consider quick calls to bill sponsors Jenifer Loon and Sondra Erickson. Let them know you ...
  • HF1825 Seeks to convey Crosswinds in 2018
    Yesterday the House Education Innovation Policy committee held a hearing on HF1825, a bill sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Loon (48B, Eden Prarie) and Sondra Erickson (15A, Princeton) to abolish the Perpich Center for Art Education and convey Perpich and Crosswinds properties to other parties. By a 9 to 6 party line vote the committee approved ...
  • Saint Paul Public Schools may take over Crosswinds
    At a public meeting held by the Perpich Center for Arts Education at the Crosswinds School this week, a draft proposal was shared that suggested the Saint Paul Public Schools may take over the Crosswinds School. The draft closely resembled the terms under which the Roseville Schools took over Harambee in 2014. Under the draft proposal, ...
  • MPR: St. Paul could assume control of Crosswinds
    Solvejg Wastvedt reports for MPR that St. Paul has proposed taking over Crosswinds. In “St. Paul district could assume control of Crosswinds school” she reports: The plan would add an additional grade each year starting in 2018, eventually resulting in a 6-12 school. The proposal envisions maintaining current staff, although it does not commit to keeping ...
  • Public Hearing on Crosswinds, 2/23
    The Crosswinds Task Force of the Perpich Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at 7pm Thursday, 23 February, at Crosswinds Arts & Science School, 600 Weir Dr., Woodbury. The hearing is open to the public and is for the purpose of taking public comment on future alternatives for the operation of the school. Crosswinds ...
  • Susan Mau Larson voted chair of the Perpich Board
    At its meeting yesterday, the Board of the Perpich Center for Arts Education voted for Susan Mau Larson to take over as chair. Susan, a former Crosswinds parent and organizer of EMID Families, will serve out the remainder of the term vacated by former board chair Pierce McNally last month. Perpich is in the midst ...
  • Perpich community forum
    Susan Larson writes… It has been a long time since we connected as a group. I miss all of you and our time together working to save our schools. I am reaching out to you now because our schools once again need help and I am hoping you can assist. As you know there have been ...

Read more updates.

If you are a student or the parent of a student, then you know you belong to EMID Families. But really, anyone who cares about our schools is part of the family! We welcome teachers, administrators, and all friends of EMID to become part of EMID Families and the work we do to support our schools.