Category Archives: Uncategorized

Pioneer Press: Crosswinds school will know its fate soon

Christopher Magan wrote a story for the Pioneer Press: Crosswinds school will know its fate soon. It is a terrific summary of the current situation and the decision the board faces this coming week.

“Certainly for families, this was a light we were excited to see shine,” Crosswinds Principal Bryan Bass said of Perpich’s proposal. “These parents searched for a place to call home. and to hear and know it could be in jeopardy is an awful feeling.”

Crosswinds families have coalesced behind the Perpich proposal, but it is far from a sure thing. They need to persuade lawmakers to give Perpich the authority to govern their school, then designate a source of money to operate it.

The story also includes some wonderful pictures like this one!

Bulletin: Curriculum key for Crosswinds backers

Amber Kispert-Smith writes in the Woodbury Bulletin: Curriculum key for Crosswinds backers. The article describes the hearing at Crosswinds and the choice facing the EMID Board.

The EMID School will review proposals during its Jan. 16 meeting before making a final decision at its Jan. 23 meeting.

“I do not envy you at all,” said Crosswinds special education teacher Jeff Parker. “I’m not here to change your mind, but I am going to push on your mindset – it’s not wise to spend energy fighting the change, but it is wise to spend energy shaping that change.

“I don’t believe that school closure is a term that I want to hear anymore because that is a mindset of decay; I want to shift our mindset to a more preservation mindset – turn away from closing and turn toward preserving the program. I don’t believe this is the end, it does not need to be the end.”

Transcript of Crosswinds Hearing

A number of you have been awaiting the transcript of the public hearing last week at Crosswinds and Harambee. EMID just put the Crosswinds transcript on their website (PDF).

Hearing Re The Proposed Closing of Crosswinds Arts & Science School, Public

Contents:

  • George Hoeppner Opens the meeting / 5
  • Shari Thompson presentation / 6
  • Jan Mohr presentation / 17
  • Dan Larson, parent / 21
  • Fred LeBlanc, parent / 23
  • Abby LeBlanc, student / 25
  • Kim Zaiman, parent / 26
  • Kathy Romero, teacher / 28
  • Jonah and Dalton Thomas, former students / 31
  • Leslye Taylor, parent / 34
  • Laurel LeBlanc, parent / 35
  • Ihsan Ingersoll, student / 37
  • Holly Ingersoll, parent / 38
  • Dave Bishop, parent / 41
  • Jeff Parker, teacher / 43
  • Bev Sellie, parent / 45
  • Kayleigh Schlenker, student / 47
  • Tim Stepan, teacher, union president / 49
  • Dan Stein, student / 52
  • Josh Kenow, student / 53
  • Casey Markovich, student / 54
  • Jill Markovich, parent / 54
  • Zander Danielson Sellie, former student / 56
  • Cornelius Rish, teacher / 59
  • Savannah Taylor, student / 61
  • Kelly DeBrine, parent / 63
  • Eric Celeste, parent / 64
  • Mike Boguszewski, parent / 68
  • Leah Bourg, teacher / 71
  • Amanda Hoffman and Madison Linke, students / 73
  • Susan Larson, parent / 76
  • Denise Dzik, teacher / 77
  • Rose Vang, student / 80
  • Anna Barker, teacher / 81
  • Shannon Hannigan, parent / 83
  • Tami Bayne-Kuczmarski, parent / 85
  • Yolanda Rivera, parent / 87
  • Jan Mohr, proposed findings / 88

EMID Board Discusses Perpich Option

Tonight the EMID Board spent most of it’s discussion time talking about the option to have the Perpich Center for Arts Education take over governance of Crosswinds. The board also heard briefly from the two other interested entities: South Washington County Schools (ISD 833) and Northeast Metro (ISD 916).

Once again, Perpich was the only one of the three enthusiastically embracing the July 2013 deadline originally proposed by the board. Perpich wants to take over Crosswinds starting next school year, keeping most of the program and staff intact. 916 said that they would certainly not continue the current Crosswinds program and would also not be ready to move into the building this fall. South Washington still prefers to have more planning time, but said that the would “do our darndest” to open the building in the fall if they were given clear indication that it was theirs by April 1st.

The board spent quite a bit of time interviewing Perpich Executive Director Sue Mackert about Perpich’s intentions and the legislative process Perpich must go through to acquire the authority and funding it needs to proceed. Mackert said that Perpich had already made appointments with various state agencies and was ready to contact legislators on January 24 if the EMID board decides to give Perpich that chance next Wednesday.

Superintendent Mohr described an option to give Perpich the first go at governance of Crosswinds while also giving South Washington an option to govern should Perpich not get legislative support. This would mean that the EMID board would not have to vote again to transfer governance to South Washington if Perpich runs into a road block at the Capitol.

However, some board members were hesitant about the risks involved in that plan. They noted that the legislative process might scuttle the Perpich proposal as late as May or June, well after South Washington’s April 1st deadline for planning anything for the 2013/2014 school year. This might leave EMID in the position of owning the Crosswinds building without any program to put in it since the school would already be closed. Mackert pointed out that she would probably get some early indications of such a failure at the legislature and would be very open about sharing the state of affairs with EMID and South Washington. She thought Perpich should have a pretty good read on the legislative progress by the end of March.

The board will move this matter to a vote at next week’s EMID board meeting, Wednesday 1/23, 5:30pm at Harambee. The public forum at the start of that meeting will be the last chance to be heard on this matter, so please come to the meeting and share what you have to say with the board.

We have video of key portions of this meeting (just click on “next” to see more videos below).

We also audio recorded this evening’s meeting, available as this MP3 file. Highlights include:

  • 00:18:00 Jim Gelbmann asks what would happen to Crosswinds if the board conveys the building to Perpich and Perpich fails to get authority and funding.
  • 00:42:45 to 01:05:00 an extended Q&A with Sue Mackert of Perpich.
  • 01:54:00 to 01:10:15 a brief set of questions for the 916 representative.
  • 01:10:30 to 01:13:30 a brief exchange with the 833 representative.
  • 01:15:00 a discussion of the risks of the Perpich proposal.

Perpich answers Crosswinds families questions

About forty people attended an extended question and answer session with Sue Mackert last night at Crosswinds. In the notes below times in [brackets] are times in the audio recording included at the end of this post. Sue is the Executive Director of the Perpich Center for Arts Education, which has made a proposal to take over Crosswinds.

Superintendent Mohr began with a few general introductory statements. She announced this week’s EMID board discussion meeting (Wednesday 1/16, 6pm, Harambee) and next week’s EMID board decision-making meeting (Wednesday 1/23, 5:30pm, Harambee). Public comment will only be invited at next week’s meeting.

Sue Mackert then made some comments [04:20] and began answering questions. “The only reason we are here is because you have all — family, staff, and students — built a wonderful wonderful program.” She stressed that Perpich wants to keep the school functioning “as is.” Perpich is a state agency, so there would be some “normal changes” that would be required, including work with the legislature to get authority and funding to run Crosswinds [09:00]. Perpich wants to be prepared to step in July 1, as the EMID board requested initially.

Would you change the makeup of the school? [10:00] Perpich intends to maintain 6-10 program at Crosswinds.

Would you keep maintenance and nutrition staff, teachers? [10:30] Yes, yes, yes. This is not an unfriendly takeover. What we have is special and Perpich will not “muck with it.”

Sue described the budget request process [11:00]. Don’t expect Crosswinds in the initial Governor’s budget. A special bill for Crosswinds would only emerge after an EMID board decision on 1/23. First deadline for bills is in March.

What is the Perpich experience working with the legislature? [12:40] Perpich has been working with the legislature for over 27 years. Perpich has done quite well because it is efficient and good at what it does. Sue feels it is appropriate to be accountable to the legislature and respond to legislator questions. “I always approach the legislature with a level of optimism.” Also working with Governor and his staff, Department of Education, and other agencies.

Will you still pull students from same districts that are currently at Crosswinds? [15:10] Yes, for the most part, though Perpich would not restrict attendance to only those districts.

Transportation? [15:55] Transportation is still “up in the air” since the due diligence work awaits the 1/23 EMID board decision.

Proportion of Saint Paul students? [16:30] Perpich is not tied to the same school districts and parent and guardian choice would drive student attendance, but the expectation is it would be similar to current attendance.

Would current students have to reapply? [17:20] No, no reapplication necessary to stay at Crosswinds.

11th and 12th grade? [17:50] Such an expansion for Crosswinds is not on the immediate horizon. Such changes would be part of a future planning process. But first goal is to stabilize and consistency. Perpich has no preconceived ideas, it wants to keep the school successful.

Year-round? [19:05] Yes, it will remain year-round.

Special education services? [19:10] Absolutely, these services would be present.

Who determines whether Perpich or one of the other two proposals will get to move ahead? [19:20] The EMID board will determine which proposal to move ahead. Perpich’s role would start after 1/23 when the board has made its decision.

Why does the educational budget take till May or June to resolve and what part can families play in that process? [21:00] “It is the largest pot of money and it is difficult.” Perpich intends to have a bill separate from the big education bill, so it might emerge sooner. But it is complex.

What are key messages for our own legislators, when should we call? [22:30] We will want letters and contact with your legislators. The first call Sue will make after the 23rd will be to the Governor’s office. “Then you will see me again and again and again.” Perpich currently has a 2/14 day to “take love to the Capitol.”

What is the Perpich board and will it oversee Crosswinds too? [24:30] PCAE is governed by a board appointed by the governor. They are the governing body for Perpich. They would be the governing body for Crosswinds. There would probably be an advisory committee to work with family and staff as well.

Enrollment is an issue, will your board work with us to help develop enrollment? [26:25] Yes, Perpich board will work to help staff develop a plan. But Sue said she was not “overly concerned in the beginning about enrollment” given the uncertainty of the past few years and next few months. But we will rebuild.

Is it important to have a “Plan B” as parents and staff? [28:00] Having a Plan B is solid advice. However, Sue thinks she will know before May if it won’t work out and she will let us know. “But I expect good things.”

Registration in February and bussing? [29:25] If you need to register in Saint Paul or elsewhere in February, go ahead and register so you have a Plan B. The bussing question will be addressed after 1/23. Our bill in the legislature would include what is required for the full program at Crosswinds.

Will the name stay “Crosswinds?” [30:30] Yes. The name is part of the value and identity.

Might Perpich run out of money after getting this started, have other state agencies failed as they worked on educational facilities? [31:20] Three sets of state agency schools: academies for deaf and blind, correctional institutions, and Perpich. Sue stresses that neither she nor Governor would support a takeover of Crosswinds on a short term basis. The funding is critical to success.

Would Perpich bring more after-school programming back? [34:50] Not sure yet, not sure what the current budget supports.

Would we bring back the seven period day? [35:35] It gets a little ahead of ourselves to consider these changes now.

Where is the Perpich Arts High School? [36:30] In Golden Valley, on the site of an old Lutheran College.

Does a change in Governor turnover the Perpich board? [37:30] Appointments to the board are staggered, so it never turns over all at once. Perpich also has the opportunity to advise the Governor on appointments.

Could Perpich get governance but not funding? [38:30] There is a possibility that the EMID board could give Perpich a green light but the legislature not provide authority and funding. Superintendent Mohr said this was an issue for the EMID board. This would impact decisions for staff and families. There is “an unsureity” said Mohr.

When will we know for sure, one way or the other? [41:00] The board deliberates on 1/16, makes its decision on 1/23. Two decisions, one on school closure, then another decision on transfer of governance.

[42:18] A point is made about families role in communicating our desires to the EMID board. Families must be clear about our tolerance for uncertainty in pursuing the Perpich option. Stress that our board could allow the Perpich option and if it fails, turn the facility over to one of the other proposals.

Have all member districts been informed of all proposals? [44:20] A student relates an experience with a superintendent that indicates they may not be fully aware of the extent of the Perpich proposal. Mohr describes a special meeting with superintendents and business managers.

Public comment at board meetings? [46:00] No public comment on 1/16, but there will be a public forum on 1/23 at 5:30pm at Harambee.

If Perpich does not get funding would EMID board fund the takeover? [47:20] Probably would not fit within the guidelines of the joint powers agreement. Also, the board will have already voted to close the schools before they vote on governance.

[48:30] A teacher makes a plea to keep the Harambee and Crosswinds closures in sync so that employee rights are preserved.

Would the EMID maintenance reserve transfer to Perpich (or Roseville)? [49:20] This maintenance money would be transferred to member districts under the joint powers agreement.

What kind of offers will be made for teacher positions? [51:20] Perpich intends to keep the staffing the same. It is normal during a takeover for people to reapply for their positions. There is a legal process that will have to take place, but the intent is to make this a smooth transition that protects employees.

How did it happen that the Arts High School was set up as 11th and 12th grade? [53:10] This was a compromise that came about partly due to the housing situation at the high school. Perpich actually also has authority for a 13th year, though that has not been used yet.

What would the relationship between 6-10 Crosswinds and 11-12 Arts High School be? [55:10] The synergies are very strong between the programs. Arts and science, global initiatives, and a commitment to profession development for teachers are all common opportunities. Each will have its own integrity, but there will also be some potential for collaboration between the two.

[57:20] Student points out some of the current Perpich involvement with Crosswinds students and events.

[58:20] Sue wraps up with: “This is tough on everyone. I am sorry that you are in this position. I am proud the EMID board is going to do something about it. Just continue to support one another through all of this. Thank you very very much.”

The times in [brackets] above refer to this MP3 audio recording of the question/answer session.

IMG 1793

MinnPost MPR, KARE11 cover open-enrollment and segregation

Cynthia Boyd has written about open enrollment in MinnPost: Minnesota’s new ‘white flight’: school open-enrollment program.

A new University of Minnesota analysis finds that more white students than students of color across the Twin Cities metropolitan area are leaving racially diverse districts to enroll in predominantly white districts, a variation of the “white flight” of the 1970s and 1980s when white families up and sold their homes and moved away from changing demographics in urban school districts or sent their children to private rather than public schools.

Tim Post at MPR picks up on the UofM open enrollment report with Study: Open enrollment increasing racial segregation in Twin Cities schools.

Open enrollment was set up in the 1980s to let families choose the district they want their children to attend. But the study, the first of its kind in Minnesota, said one result of open enrollment is white students leaving racially diverse districts.

The university study does not question the validity of the state’s open enrollment policy, but does ask whether it has had some unintended consequences.

KARE11 covered the story the next day: Open enrollment leads to racial segregation in Twin Cities schools.

The study shows that white families in Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Cloud tend to use open enrollment to leave diverse districts. They send their children to predominantly white affluent schools. The reverse is also true; students who leave suburban white schools for city districts are typically students of color.

Update, the Star Tribune also ran a story by Steve Brandt on 1/19: Open enrollment hurts balance in Twin Cities.

The study’s main findings:

  • The three large city districts of Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Cloud each lose substantial numbers of students under open enrollment. Loss of white students to nearby districts represents a large majority of each district’s net losses.
  • Suburban districts losing the most students to open enrollment include a group of diverse inner- and middle-suburban districts which lose substantial numbers of students.
  • Districts gaining the most students from open enrollment are predominantly white districts that receive students from more diverse districts.

EMID schools would probably be an exception to this trend, though it is hard to know because EMID and other integration districts, which are schools of choice, were not included in the underlying UofM study (PDF).

Open Enrollment and Racial Segregation in the Twin Cities: 2000 – 2010

Testimony at Harambee

Harambee’s meeting last night was a much more intimate affair than the Crosswinds meeting. Though many teachers were in the audience, none testified. The only testimony was from three parents: Mike Boguszewski, Eric Celeste, and Carrie Dickson. Both the Roseville Superintendent and the new chair of the Roseville school board attended to listen. There were also fewer EMID board members present, including the chair, who had another school-related obligation.

Testimony of Eric Celeste

The board’s justification for closing Harambee boils down to “we have to close Harambee because we refuse to fund Harambee.” This board made the choice to remove both levy funding and the integration funding that replaced it from the school budget. This board failed to develop a sustainable model for financing the school as an alternative to those funds. It is not a funding crisis that is closing this school, and the best evidence of that is the proposal Roseville has put on the table to keep the school open. There is nothing that Roseville will do to fund this school that EMID could not do will a little political fortitude. I am very disappointed in this course of action.

As you know from last night, I nevertheless support EMID withdrawing governance from Harambee and Crosswinds at the end of this school year. I especially appreciate the proposal Roseville has made to take over governance of this wonderful school with its program and teaching staff intact. My 10th grader started here in kindergarten, I love this school and the work its staff do every day for our kids. I am very happy that Roseville saw the jewel in its backyard and will carry on this legacy.

But tonight I did want to say a word about integration. EMID is about integration after all, and our diversity is, as it says on the mission banner hanging in the hallway outside, valued and celebrated.

I fear that with this decision to withdraw governance from this school, integration will become a bit less central to its mission. This will be a loss, and it is a loss both here and at Crosswinds. These schools understand that integration is about more than academics, it is about the respect and friendship that our students form with each other, the understanding of various cultures they gain, and the incredible culture of this school that they build together.

My hope is that Roseville take this aspect of Harambee’s legacy seriously and carry it into the future as well. I see Superintendent Tine and Board Chair Langston here tonight, I am encourage by the attention they have paid to this process, and I hope they will find ways to take advantage of the remarkable diversity of Roseville to keep Harambee as diverse as possible.

As for the EMID member districts, I just want to remind you that a significant portion of the integration dollars you will still receive for being part of this collaborative are designated for expenditure directly on students. Ever since you removed integration dollars from our schools a year ago, this direct student spending does not happen here.

These expenditures are vital to real integration in our schools, and I and others will work hard to hold you accountable for these funds. Please, use your integration funds well, make sure they are spent on students.

Thank you.

Testimony of Carrie Dickson

Shalom. Aloha. Salaam. Annyonghi-kaseyo.

I am the mother of 3 young boys who are 6, 4, and 2. My oldest is in 1st grade. Finding Harambee school, around this time 2 years ago, was a godsend born from a lot of difficult detective work. One of the many reasons we were interested in the school was integration, and the way integration works at Harambee. Students aren’t just close to each other. They are woven together as a community. Because of this, and many other reasons, I was fighting for this school before my son ever stepped foot in his Kindergarten class.

While I stand here today understanding that the relationship between Harambee and EMID must come to an end, I still don’t understand why we came to this point. I don’t understand why this board chose to fund this school differently then the rest of your schools, therefore causing it to be financially unsustainable. I don’t understand why only 1 of the 10 districts represented here lists Harambee and Crosswinds as schools that are options for their families. Why wouldn’t you tell people we were here? I can only shake my head in bewilderment.

I am grateful to Roseville who has seen the value of Harambee programming and intends to make it one of their own. I stand here before you and say, with much trepidation, that I support the transfer of governance to Roseville School District. My anxiety, sadly, comes from a significant lack of trust that comes from fighting for your son’s school since before he ever started there.

I also realize that we are now in a transition. As both a midwife and a teacher I know that transitions are difficult; I’ve spent my entire professional life helping people through them. And from both of those roles I know that one of the most important steps in any transition is a letting go. Only by letting go of our previous role will we be able to see the beauty and possibilities of our new one. So I look towards the future for Harambee with hope.

For the remaining 9 districts, you all face a transition as well. You now face the prospect of maintaining an integration district without integration schools. Integration, as you know, is still the law of the land. Whatever the state legislature decides about funding does not change that. I encourage you to look back at your own district schools. Do you have racially identifiable schools? I bet you do. Do we still have a long ways to go with integration? Oh yes we do. In the important fight for achievement and equity, please do not lose sight of integration. You cannot properly have equity without integration. I encourage you to reflect on the successes of Harambee and Crosswinds, and find ways to bring that kind of intentional integration to your school districts.

I’m going to digress for a moment and say something specific to Crosswinds that was not said last night. While it may seem that the support for the Perpich option is born out of a desperate desire to keep their beloved school as is, what I’m not sure you know is that parents, myself included, have been talking with Perpich Center since these schools faced closure last year… atleast 16 months now. We have come, through these conversations and investigation, to know that Perpich is the perfect option for Crosswinds. Its not just desperation. Its right. We have also come to believe two very important things: that Perpich can pull this off, and that they will do right by the students and teachers at Crosswinds.

Please know that teachers have not been a part of these conversations. They have not had the benefits of time and reflection that we have. Understandably, they need more information and time to come to believe what we do about the Perpich Center. I know that they will have that opportunity.

As we part ways, Harambee & Crosswinds from EMID, I will end with the four words I began with. These words, in Hebrew, Hawaiian, Arabic and Korean mean goodbye. But they also, perhaps more importantly, mean peace. May you continue the ever important work of supporting education for the future of the East Metro. May you continue with a vision of integration for all of our children. Shalom. Aloha. Salaam. Annyonghi-kaseyo.

EMID Families Meeting Saturday, 1/19, 2pm

Given the Perpich meeting on Monday 1/14 and the board discussion on Wednesday 1/6, we thought it best to move our EMID Families meeting to next week. So the next EMID Families meeting will be on Saturday 1/19, 2pm at Caribou Coffee, 3100 White Bear Avenue, North Maplewood.

The agenda will include both a review of the EMID board’s deliberations, the Perpich option progress, discussion of talking points for the next board meeting, and considering how to help families with their “plan B” if options for Crosswinds don’t work out. If you would like to join the organizing, feel free to join us on Saturday 1/19.

MPR: An Imperfect Revolution, Voices from the Desegregation Era

MPR this afternoon broadcast a really interesting American Radio Works documentary: An Imperfect Revolution, Voices from the Desegregation Era. This is well worth a listen or a read. It provides some valuable insight into things we feel at Crosswinds and Harambee and may give us some legs to stand on with the legislature in arguing that Crosswinds deserves to be saved by Perpich.

When the Supreme Court heard the recent desegregation cases from Louisville and Seattle, more than 500 social scientists filed a friend of the court brief presenting research on the effects of school integration. The brief said kids who go to integrated schools tend to have less racial prejudice, and it said integration has improved school achievement for African American students.

Gary Orfield: There’s nothing magic about sitting next to a white child, but there is a tremendous difference between being in a middle class school and high poverty school.

Desegregation expert Gary Orfield points out that integration doesn’t just mix races, it also mixes social classes, and schools where there are a lot of middle class parents tend to be better schools. More affluent parents won’t put up with poor teachers. More affluent kids encourage their classmates to do well and go on to college. Orfield says schools where most of the kids are black or Latino tend also to be schools where most kids are poor.

Orfield: If you look at these highly concentrated impoverished minority high schools, those are the country’s drop-out factories: a few hundred schools where most of the kids never graduate from high school and almost nobody is prepared for college. These are places that just destroy people’s lives. And to think that we know how to equalize this with just putting some money into them is thinking something that simply is not true.

In other words, as the Supreme Court said 50 years ago, separate can never be equal.

Note, Gary Orfield is the brother of our very own Myron Orfield, who has been waging this battle in Minnesota, most recently as part of the integration task force last year.

Testimony at Crosswinds: Transition to Perpich, Meeting Monday 1/14

The testimony tonight at Crosswinds was extraordinary. 36 students, parents, and teachers testified to the EMID Board and every single one called on the EMID board to withdraw governance from the school. Nearly every testimony also indicated strong support for a transition of governance to the Perpich Center for Arts Education. The testimony was beautiful, powerful, and heartfelt; it was also being recorded and we will try to share it as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, an important announcement was made at the hearing: representatives from the Perpich Center will be at Crosswinds next Monday evening, 1/14 at 6:30pm to talk with families and answer questions about their proposal. (They will be available to teachers that same morning.) Given how much support there was for a transition to Perpich governance of Crosswinds, this will be a great opportunity to both learn what Crosswinds under Perpich may be like and how we can help bring this future to reality.

A special meeting of the EMID Board to discuss the options before them will also take place on Wednesday evening, January 16, at Harambee. The decision-making meeting of the board remains on Wednesday January 23 at 5:30pm at Harambee.

So, upcoming meetings include:

  • the Harambee “closure” hearing tomorrow, Thursday January 10, 6:30pm at Harambee
  • the Perpich Q&A session for families Monday January 14, 6:30pm at Crosswinds
  • a special EMID Board meeting on Wednesday January 16, 6pm at Harambee
  • the next regular EMID Board meeting, at which they intend to vote on the fate of the schools, on Wednesday January 23, 5:30pm at Harambee