Category Archives: Media

MPR: Parents worry budget plan could close schools

MPR ran a Tom Weber story today, Parents worry budget plan could close schools, about the EMID budget situation.

Kelly Debrine’s daughter attended Crosswinds. She was surprised by this week’s proposed budget that would move all integration dollars away from the two schools, leaving them to survive on reserves and general state aid — something she said traditional school districts would never have to do.

“It just seems like a mean-spirited move, and it’s unsustainable. And it indicates they have no investment in the schools being a part of the collaborative.”

Daily Planet: Integration programs face uncertain future as task force deadline nears

The Twin Cities Daily Planet ran an article by Alleen Brown about the work of the task force: “Integration programs face uncertain future as task force deadline nears.”

This summer’s legislation leaves out integration altogether. It says revenues must be evaluated and repurposed to pursue specific achievement goals aimed at closing the achievement gap.

“There are people on the task force who believe that integration is important and adds value,” Thomas said, including himself. There are also people who don’t, like conservative columnist and task force member Katherine Kersten.

“Personally, I believe that as we repurpose the revenue, it may be inclusive of integration efforts such as magnet schools, family liaisons and a whole host of things districts are doing that we know work,” said Thomas who is also educational equity coordinator for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district.

MinnPost: Task force on school integration policy hears sharp debate

Beth Hawkins writes a story in MinnPost covering the integration task force: “Task force on school integration policy hears sharp debate.”

Joining them was the architect of Minnesota’s last two legal challenges to school segregation, attorney Daniel Shulman, who criticized the state for failing to enforce the law and said he’s willing to go back to court to fix that. . . .

“If parents come to me with complaints, I will file suit again,” he continued. “And I will do it for free because this is just that important.

“The incidence of an inadequate education falls 100 percent on the children who receive that inadequate education. It stunts their lives. And it has virtually no impact on those who created the inadequacy.”

The article goes on to discuss questions of constitutionality and the arguments made by social scientists with different views on how integration has affected the achievement gap. A good read!

Star Tribune: Cost vs. benefit steers debate over future of integration aid

Corey Mitchell writes in the Star Tribune: “Cost vs. benefit steers debate over future of integration aid.”

The current state program to help promote integrated classrooms expires in 2013 and the 12-member task force faces a February deadline on whether to continue spending the money to combat segregation, or, as GOP members of the Legislature have argued, use the money for literacy programs and other efforts to narrow the state’s achievement gap between white and nonwhite students.

Ending school segregation and closing the achievement gap should be dual goals, state Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul and a task force member, argued Tuesday.

“If this turns into a choice between integration and closing the achievement gap, that’s a false choice,” Mariani said. “There’s no winning that.”

Fun fact: the Star Tribune article includes a picture of Jeff Parker from the EMID-SOS community input session at Crosswinds in September 2011!

Pioneer Press: Harambee, Crosswinds magnet schools won’t close

The Pioneer Press ran a story by Megan Boldt about last night’s EMID board vote:

Two east metro magnet schools that opened to address racial segregation will stay open – at least for the next few years.

…

Robert Roston, 24, a former Crosswinds student, was among more than 100 people who came out for the vote. Roston said he and his sister were the only nonwhite kids in their Maplewood neighborhood and his time at Crosswinds – being around other students who looked like him – helped him blossom.

Roston graduated from North High School in North St. Paul and is now an EMT volunteer with the American Red Cross.

“You keep hearing people talk about producing productive members of society. I’m proof,” said Roston. “Thanks for giving other children like me the opportunity.”

Star Tribune: Board opts to keep integration schools open around the metro

The Star Tribune published a story by Daarel Burnette that described tonight’s board meeting:

Wednesday’s vote, taken unexpectedly before parents were allowed to speak, allows the two schools to stay open indefinitely, thanks to a compromise plan offered by several superintendents, who proposed the board keep the schools open but reduce the districts’ contributions by up to 43 percent.

…

With the cut in funding the board will have to cut several programs over the next several months, board members said.

“We need to realize things aren’t going to look the same next year,” said board member Lori Swanson.

That didn’t dissuade parents.

“The energy you see here tonight is not going to go away and leave you holding the bag,” parent Michael Boguszewski told board members. “We’ll help in any way we can to reach that long-term sustainability. Let’s keep pulling together for this common cause.”

MPR: Fate of EMID’s schools to be decided tonight

Tom Weber filed a story with Minnesota Public Radio this morning: “Fate of East Metro Integration District’s schools to be decided tonight.” Indeed, that is so! We hope you can join us at the board meeting this evening, Wednesday 10/19, 5:30pm at Crosswinds.

Board members face two choices Wednesday night: close its schools in Woodbury and Maplewood, or keep them open under a new financial arrangement in which member districts send less of their state integration funding to EMID.

South Washington County Bulletin: Decision on future of Crosswinds School could come Wednesday

The South Washington County Bulletin ran a story by Judy Spooner today: “Decision on future of Crosswinds School could come Wednesday.”

Before last week’s meeting, most of the member superintendents supported closing the schools and retaining but changing the role of EMID, according to Gelbmann.

While EMID board members seemed to support closing the schools, after hearing of a second option that would keep them open but with funding changes, resolve to close them appeared to wane.

“I don’t think there are six votes here to close the schools,” Gelbmann said.

The article makes it sound like this shift came about by magic. We all know the hard work that was involved, though, don’t we?

Woodbury Bulletin: Crosswinds to close?

We learned today that the Woodbury Bulletin had published a story called “Crosswinds to close?” on 10/13.

This week, 833 Superintendent Mark Porter will be speaking to the EMID board in support of closing the schools because they are “not performing as intended” and arguing the money could better be used for integration projects that would serve all District 833 students.

The information in this story clearly pre-dated the 10/12 EMID board work session, even though the story was dated later. A number of the facts cited in the story were also not well explained. Two parents have since had conversations with another reporter at the Woodbury Bulletin, and we expect them to publish a new EMID story on Wednesday.

Pioneer Press: Schools could get a reprieve

Megan Boldt wrote another EMID story for the Pioneer Press: “Schools in Woodbury, Maplewood could get a reprieve.” She was at the EMID board work session last night and reports:

Superintendents from an integration collaborative of east-metro school districts still believe it’s best to close two schools that were opened to address racial segregation and focus those dollars to benefit more students.

But they gave East Metro Integration District, or EMID, school board members a second option on Wednesday night.