Minneapolis School Board Says ‘Do Over’

May 7th, 2009 by Sara

The Southwest Journal and the Star Tribune report today that the school district’s plan to close and “demagnetize” some schools for fall 2010 is “dead on arrival,” and that they want more specifics on the redrawing of district boundaries — particularly for open areas — before they vote on May 26th.

From the Strib:

(Board Chair Tom) Madden and other board members, including Carla Bates and Pam Costain, said the plan lacked school boundary maps as well as clear pathways from elementary to secondary schools.

They also said the plan would disproportionately affect students of color and give students disproportionate access to magnet schools, depending on where they live.

And:

Costain urged the administration to draft a plan that is more specific about open attendance areas. She said the district should consider a proposal from families in the Kingfield/East Lake Harriet neighborhood to link Barton Open and Lyndale elementary schools as a K-8 campus and make it their community school. It could mean Barton Open’s program moves to Ramsey Fine Arts School.

Superintendent Bill Green says he’ll offer a new timeline next week for more meetings and a final vote.