[Mpls] ?? Saving money by closing schools ??

[Dan McGuire]

    The statement, " The job of balancing the budget would have been =
almost $3 million easier had the board voted last winter to close and =
reorganize schools as Jennings proposed" appears in Steve Brandt's piece =
this morning without attribution.=20
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/4851527.html
 That's according to whose analysis of what set of data?  It is a =
speculative prediction at best and has a whiny, sour grapes tone.  The =
idea that closing schools saves money makes sense to some people if =
their school isn't closing.  The district will not save money simply by =
closing schools if the closings drive even more people to private and =
charter schools and if the reorganization is done without a solid plan =
that takes into account the many hidden costs associated with moving =
large numbers of staff and shuffling the children of a large percentage =
of the city.  If the $3 million savings prediction is anything like the =
estimated number of empty classrooms, well, we still don't know how many =
empty classrooms there were or are in city schools, so it's hard to say =
just how accurate any of the numbers might be.

    The citizens committee that advises the board on budget matters and =
is "expected to remind the board pointedly today that closing schools is =
overdue" is relying on what set of data, what long range plan?  I =
thought there was going to be some extensive public discussions before =
any more drastic solutions were tried.

    The real savings happen by laying off teachers; closing schools =
reduces capacity and lessens options and saves a little money.  Closing =
some schools will likely be necessary, especially if enrollments =
continue to drop.  But let's first get a plan in place that makes sense =
to the majority, so that even more families don't leave the district =
because of a short sighted budget 'fix' that leaves them feeling like =
unwanted step children.

And, Bill Kahn, I don't think you need to apologize to the list for =
keeping Pratt's situation up for discussion.  I would rather that  it =
were one of many associated threads that included Kenny's, Hiawatha's, =
Northrop's, Howe's, etc. plight.

Dan McGuire
Ericsson, which was only slated to be renamed and reorganized