[Speed Gibson,
Saturday December 15, 2007 at 6:31am]
Elementary Analysis
This just in: District 281 has just shifted from "Scenario E" that would have closed two Elementary schools and a Middle school to "Scenario G" which just closes one Elementary school. Either way, Northport Elementary in Brooklyn Center will be closing. Apparently it needs significant maintenance.
Perhaps the protests from Robbinsdale where the other two schools are located were a factor. It should be noted that this far from guarantees that they won't also be closed in the near future, just not now. Scenario G doesn't save as much money as Scenario E, so future cuts will be necessary barring significant new money.
It seems obvious, perhaps deceptively so, that this could have been avoided by simply not building Forest Elementary, which opened in 2005. It is in Crystal and its territory borders on Northport, Lakeview, plus three other Elementary schools, not counting New Hope Elementary that was closed in 2005.
Maybe I will speak at the Board meeting after all.
Perhaps the protests from Robbinsdale where the other two schools are located were a factor. It should be noted that this far from guarantees that they won't also be closed in the near future, just not now. Scenario G doesn't save as much money as Scenario E, so future cuts will be necessary barring significant new money.
It seems obvious, perhaps deceptively so, that this could have been avoided by simply not building Forest Elementary, which opened in 2005. It is in Crystal and its territory borders on Northport, Lakeview, plus three other Elementary schools, not counting New Hope Elementary that was closed in 2005.
Maybe I will speak at the Board meeting after all.