Forgive the long post. I do come to praise something, not criticize it, so I
hope that will carry some of you through.
There was a little story last week that probably meant nothing to most of
you, but there was a neat success for Minneapolis citizen activists last
week - and some praiseworthy responsiveness from their elected officials.
As some of you might be aware, a significant percentage (30%?) of this city
is not in a community schools district. Families who live in a community
school district can pick any two schools in the public school lottery -- but
if they don't get those choices, they can always get into their community
school. It's a nice situation - you can either send your kid to a school
where most of the neighboring kids go, or if you want to go somewhere else,
you get one of your top 2 choices.
But non-minority families in neighborhoods without community schools are
doubly penalized. Not only don't you have a school where most neighborhood
kids go, you have NO fall-back if you don't get into one of your two lottery
choices. This has made "school choice" a joke for many - or else worrisome,
since you don't have a clue where your kid will end up if your two favorite
elementary schools are full. (These oversubscribed schools fall in to two
groups: magnets whose open spots are filled with sibling and minority
preference, or good community schools stuffed with kids from that attendance
area.)
About a year ago, activists in two open neighborhoods, King Field and East
Harriet -- led by the list's own Tom Streitz -- began agitating against this
unfairness. The group wants a community school built here, though that has
little chance since there is a far greater need on the north side.
(Currently 122 kids for every 100 spots in North; 67 kids for every 100
spots South. A lot of coveted Southwest schools are filled with North
kids -- which is totally fair until more schools are built closer to them.)
In lieu of new construction, the group pressed the school board to at least
eliminate the inequity between open and community districts. Long story
short: despite a lot of anger, misunderstanding, and defensiveness among
some participants, the district last week agreed to change its policy
citywide for open districts. Starting now, if you're in an open district,
you get THREE lottery choices, not 2 - and are guaranteed a spot in one of
your three picks. For those of us in open districts, it's not a community
school, but it gives us a lot more control over our kids' fate, which
believe me, has many parents down here breathing easier.
When the controversy first erupted, the King Field-East Harriet group got
mau-mau'ed in City Pages as a bunch of SUV-owning yuppies who were only
being listened to by school officials because they had a little cash in the
bank account. However, it's important to note that the policy change affects
families in open districts throughout the city - north, south, or east:
every one will get three choices, and a guarantee.
Tom and his small group worked their butts off - and are still working their
butts off for a more long-term solution - and they deserve praise for
hanging in there, negotiating in good faith, and remaining constructive
rather than letting cynicism consume them. (They could have been like some,
who either left the city or enrolled their kids in private schools.)
Also, praise goes to the school board, including school board member/list
member Catherine Shreves, who remained engaged with the group. Also, many
staff people at 807 Broadway (most of whose names I don't know) who came
around to trying something different.
I know there are many of you out there who are big fans of the public school
system, and believe that there are so many good choices that being "thrown
to the fates" has little downside. I can tell you many of us who are
involved (and I am only a very bit player) are also big fans of the public
schools, but still want an equal measure of control of our kids' fate as
other parents in the system. It's less about avoiding the nightmare school
than having a fair shot at the school you thought most appropriate for your
kid.
I know, too, that segregation is a major issue, though I don't think this
change affects that concern. (Minority kids and deseg orders still get
preference within the individual schools.) If people have a different
analysis, I'd love to hear it.
But anyway, this is how citizen activism is supposed to work - from the
ground up, with elected officials listening. Thanks to Tom, Catherine, and
everyone involved.
David Brauer
King Field - Ward 10
(President of the King Field Neighborhood Assn., which endorsed this effort
and will be working on the longer-term solutions to hopefully come)
