Part 2 Data from 2002 Task Force documents...
1) Question was asked "why aren't we considering more paired K-8 schools as so
many parents are turning away from middle schools?"
District's answer..Size...in order to create a middle grades program
you need a minimum of 150 students in grades 6-8...That means at least 320+
students in grades k-5 in order to grow a 150 student k-8 component or about
470-500 students total for a minimum program. Note**Between Keewaydin and
Wenonah, we have 502 students for k-5 alone. Based on the districts own stated
requirements... our 2 schools would have plenty of students to "grow" a middle
school. Now the district says we don't have enough kids. Why is the criteria
different for our part of town?
2) With budget problems, why are we paying facilitators?
District answers "We felt it was important to have an unbiased third
party to assure the validity of the Task Force recommendation to the Board of
Education Note**very interesting that task force members in 2002 were
concerned about the money spent on facilitators looking at our schools. Now 2
years after the extensive research and money spent on facilitators resulting in
a number of proposals to the Board, the district has hired new consultants and
spent more money to do the same work and answer the same questions. Why wasn't
the district candid with parents with the information they already had?
3) Task force info indicates another task force is underway to look at open
areas to guarantee greater numbers of students ... Note** I saw no evidence
this mandate was followed. Why didn't the district follow up on the task
force's mandate?
4)Small schools -in 2002 task force data regarding Nokomis and River Schools
recognized that research supports the effectiveness of smaller schools.. the
district's strongly supports the concept of small schools...Note**in 2005, we
face the closing of many small successful school programs such as Wenonah and
Cooper...both empowered schools. Wenonah is number 1 school as far as QPI
scores. Keewaydin, a small program has scores competitive with Hale and Lk
Harriet.
Bottom Line...
Numbers speak for themselves, you can't fit 500 students into Keewaydin. If you
change boundary lines so existing students cannot go to Keewaydin/Wenonah, you
will irreparable break the trust of the families and community. It will be
undeniable clear...the children in the Nokomis east neighborhood are somehow
not entitled to the same type of education and programming that children in
other areas of the city are getting. There is a word for this..discrimination.
Why did we waste money paying professionals to study the same thing within 2
years? What has been the cost to the taxpayers? Why is this not public
information questions Katie Fridgen.......
Dorie's musings.....weren't figures incorrect when MPSB tried to close Pratt?
Why did Sarah Snapp not step up with the information requested since she was
the facilitator of the 2002 task force? Why can't the School Board provide the
public a chart showing how much money has been spent on each school? I believe
we are fifth in all the districts in paying taxes ...no schools? It has been
stated that Southwest was priority because of the Hispanic population.
According to the census, Nokomis' Hispanic population is greater than all of
Southwest with a 514.3% increase in Wenonah, 141.2% in Keewaydin alone. Let's
have some honest dialogue and representation with the taxpayer's elected
employees..lest they forget why they are elected.
Dorie Gallagher
East Nokomis
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