RAS to Renovate Schools
The cloud is:
- RAS will avoid getting voter support of their facility plans by using the "state-approved alternative facilities levy" method of fund raising. This simply means they can raise your taxes without taking it to a vote.
- RAS will renovate 2 old small schools instead of building one new larger school. Therefore we will pay for 2 Principals, staff, nurses, librarians, etc for the next 40 years.
- The floor plans and feel will be that of older schools. Low curb appeal to folks that are considering moving here or enrolling, as compared to Forest Elementary.
- The Lakeview and Northport communities keep their local small schools.
- RAS has no excuse to delay selling the Olson and Pilgrim Lane Elementary buildings !!! (Facility Divestiture Mtg notes)
Let's post the For Sale Sign TODAY !!!
The proceeds from these properties should be able to reduce the need for "state-approved alternative facilities levy" money.
Anything important that I am missing in either category?
Also, has Beacon Academy found a long term facility yet?
Wouldn't it be great to have another CHOICE in the community?
14 comments:
Let me start by saying that I'm happy that we have a plan. Let me finish by saying I'm not shocked by where the votes dropped on this one. Would you consider this a "backdoor" referendum? I just remember that being a pretty big issue during the election and certain people saying that they wouldn't do things to raise taxes without a vote of the people.
And I completely agree. Get the for sale signs out today and use the revenue from PLE and Olson as means to pay this down. And WTK and CAV while you are at it.
DJ
Has anyone heard the status of the District 287 (ie Hosterman site) negotiations?
Remember that moving programs into Sandburg, and selling Cavanagh and the Winnetka Learning Center were contingent on this. Until then, Sandburg stays a very large and pretty much vacant building.
Looks like the Facilities Divestiture page could use some updating. (Link)
I just noted Linda reported on it during the Mar15 mtg. Section 5.0 Special Reports.
Board Video
I'll have to listen later...
Why not put a big FOR SALE sign on Northport or Lakeview! Pilgrim Lane did not need as many improvements and the improvements it did need were millions less than NP and LV. Re-open PLE, bring back all the families that they lost to Wayzata, Beacon Academy, private schools, etc. RAS could sell Lakeview and remodel NP or vice-versa.
We all know why RAS is doing the "backdoor" referendum! The western part of our district overwhelming voted yes on the last two referendum's. The east gave the district a big FAT NO WAY. They closed PLE, Sunny Hollow and Sandburg; there's no way they're getting the west to vote yes the next time around!
It does seem Lakeview would be easier to sell since it is right on County Rd 9.
Though you must admit the district schools are more balanced with this layout.
RAS Map
By the way, Linda reported that the 287 proposal building is moving forward slowly. Then the RAS board had a closed door mtg to discuss.
Is balance what we want or do we want good schools with good teachers? Let's just say in 5 years the enrollment declines and for "balance" they close Armstrong because Cooper is in the middle of the district. Could you hear the outrage! If it is balance that we want than let's split the district up in two. The west can have the New Hope-Plymouth-Golden Valley School district and the east can be District 281.
Ha! Sell excess property and "buy down" the alternative levy money? Anyone care to bet that they'll sell the schools AND take every penny of alternative levy money they can get?
J. Ewing
I've never heard criticism of the teachers at either of the schools you mention. Furthermore almost all of the teacher who were at the schools that closed are still working in the district, so could you explain what you're referencing about "good teachers"? And how do you define "good schools"?
And if enrollment ever declined enough to necessitate closing one of the two high schools (which I doubt), I hope they'd make the decision based on location, enrollment, facilities, and distribution of students in the district. What criteria do you suggest?
Finally, I live on the east side of the district and my precinct voted solidly yes in the referendum, and I'm a more than a little offended that you suggest lopping off my neighborhood.
--Annie
As I often have said... My personal concern is not about good schools or good teachers since I think the schools and staff are pretty consistent. (and no I won't start that again....)
The question is? Are they located where, pretty enough and do they have the student/parent attendance mix that will keep the middle class, academically oriented, extreme volunteering families in attendence?
Without these volunteers and "good example" students in the school, the school will be severely challenged to succeeded.
Actually Annie, I think that post previous to yours was suggesting that they lop off the west not the east. The east would still be District 281. The "lopped off" neighborhoods would be the new district. Why so sensitive? Or are you afraid of what would happen to this district without the west. Maybe your neighborhood voted yes, but the majority of them did vote no. Do we need to go into comparing the schools on the east side versus the west side. The MCA scores will do that for us. The amount of school suspension at PMS and Armstrong are considerable less than RMS and Cooper. You know that this district needs the west to succeed. Which is why they needed to keep those families from the west from leaving. Tell me why ZLE is bursting at the seams? RSI has to run a lottery (don't get me started on RSI). Why because the families want their kids to go to school on the west side. Don't get me wrong the east side has great kids and great families too.
Just a reminder, you can find all kinds of interesting information regarding schools at the MN Dept of Education School Report Card site.
Make sure you check the date though, some info is 1+ years old. For example, the ZLE data still has 2008/2009 demographic data. (ie 510 students vs ~640 students...)
You can find demographics by selecting the school and then selecting "Demographics" on the left side near the bottom.
Anon--It just makes me glum to learn that a couple of schools are going to get long overdue improvements and hear the response to be so negative. When I moved here I had no idea this district was so parochial. Sadly, I suspect if this split happened, folks would then zero in on Neill or Meadow Lake or someone else. Why draw artificial lines and create turf wars?
The district needs the west to succeed? Sheesh. The district needs engaged families, dedicated students, great teachers, and committed administrators. I don't think it matters a whit where they live.
It's clear that on the last referendum the majority of residents across the district supported the measure, myself and my neighbors included. I worked hard to make sure it passed, but I'm not about to propose some repercussion, by city, precinct, or household--to those who voted no. Sure, some people in BC opposed it. So also did some folks in GV/NH. What's the point?
If I seem sensitive, I don't mean to, but here's the thing: I'm your neighbor. My kids to to school with your kids. I pay taxes to support the same programs and services that both our kids use. So why the venom because we happen to live 8 miles apart?
--Annie
To All:
This is a difficult topic for many and filled with emotion.
We have people that bought their dream home because it had a school in the backyard, just to watch it be closed. Then the district would not sell it to another school because they are afraid of competition.
We have people that want community schools on the East side because it seems equitable and good for their community. They belive this is critical to maintaining or possibly improving their community.
We have people who did not get into RSI via the lottery and feel slighted. Or they feel it is drawing resources from their school needs. Or they are in the school, feeling good about the school and are frustrated with the questions raised by others.
We have fixed and low income people who can not afford these continual tax increases. They fear the loss of their home.
Therefore, if you feel angry... Do not comment...
Please put yourself in a timeout, seriously consider the other persons situation, try to develop some empathy for what they are going through, truly listen and then reply.
"Seek first to understand
Then seek to be understood.."
Also, if someone slips up and says something questionable. Give them the benefit of the doubt, or try to understand their pain, fear or anger. Reacting will only make a bad thing worse. (ie escalation)
When in doubt "assume good intent"
Remember that we are in the same RAS boat... (or at least til someone else bails out...) Thank you for your support and self restraint. John
If nothing else... Maybe that last comment was long enough to make you forget what you were disagreeing about...
Post a Comment