"Ousted superintendent David Jennings, a former corporate executive and Republican state lawmaker, was the kind of outsider Broad is attempting to promote as the new reformer of public education. He embraces public charter schools and labor relations reform. But when he was appointed 10 months ago, it was exactly those attributes that made him a lightning rod for leaders in the African American community. It will be worth watching whether Peebles, who is African American and a career educator, in fact advances a similar agenda." - Superintendents, Inc., by Beth Hawkins
The ousting of David Jennings and the hiring of Peebles does not reflect a change in the agenda of the board, or a fundamental change of regime in the Minneapolis Public Schools. However, these events are certainly is a reflection of pressure from the grass roots, and especially within the African-American and Indian (Native American) communities to change the system. However, Peeble's job is to advance the agenda of the school board. I doubt that Peebles could take the district in a different direction without a shakeup on the board and further pressure for change from the community. The closing of district-run, and mostly small schools was part of a reorganization plan proposed by David Jennings earlier this year. That plan also proposed district sponsorship of more charter schools. Schools that the board seems most eager to close are the smaller K-8 community schools, those with fewer than 400 students enrolled. Those are also the district-run schools that are generally the most attractive to K-8 parents. If the district really does have to eliminate some unused classroom space, why not shut a few of the bigger, less popular schools instead of a bunch of the smaller schools? Board members say the bigger schools are more cost effective. Or could it be that the district is simply able to cut more money budgeted for teachers by closing the smaller schools? That would be the case if the average length of service and salary of teachers who would be laid off at the small schools is higher than at the bigger schools. The district hasn't actually come up with a detailed financial analysis to show whether and why the small schools generally cost more to run per student. One of the selling points for small schools is that money saved in transportation costs can offset higher operating costs-per-pupil related to a smaller economy of scale. All other things being equal, the smaller the school, the smaller the attendance area, and the more students you have living within walking distance or a short bus ride from the school. The cost of operating smaller community schools, figured on a per pupil basis might also be comparable, and possibly lower than for bigger schools if instruction for the general student population at the smaller community schools is based on a college bound curriculum and individualized assessments rather than 'ability-grouping' and a watered-down curriculum for most students. The overhead costs associated with a single program for the general student population are going to be less than with two, three, and many programs. The bigger schools can spread out the costs among a larger student population. The smaller community schools are generally under greater financial pressure, and often more pressure from their immediate school communities (parents, students, and teachers) to reject the type of curriculum tracking system which the district has been aggressively promoting in the early elementary grades since 1997. That might also explain why small schools tend to get better results. And it just happens to be in the early elementary grades where enrollment has been plummeting since 1998. Is it just a coincidence that the district has been pushing schools to 'ability-group' in grades K, one and up since the 1997-1998 school year? Vote for regime change in the Minneapolis Public Schools, vote Mann for school board in 2004. -Doug Mann, King Field Mann for School Board web site www.educationright.com - REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
