[Mpls] School Mergings Hiawatha and Howe to Sanford

[Michael Atherton]

Jim McGuire wrote:

> I don't know a whole lot about what went into the choices 
> Jennings and the  School Board made in choosing which schools 
> to keep open and which to close. 

Bob Miller spoke at a meeting about Pratt Elementary last
night and I learned a few new details.  It appears that
there are three basic criteria:
1) Less than 300 students.
2) Age of the school (I forgot the specific age, something
like 30 or 80 years).
3) Attendance areas where the number of school age children
is declining.

BTW, from my interpretation of what Mr. Miller said, he 
recommended that PPERRIA not file a lawsuit to keep Pratt
open.  They have very little legal basis for such an
action and the most they can hope to achieve legally is forcing
the School Board to keep the school open for another year.
[Mr. Miller or Barb Lickness should feel free to correct me
if I got any of this wrong.]

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park