Board Action Update
Saint Paul Public Schools
Regular Board of Education Meeting
April 20, 2010
In tonight's update:
  •  Budget Update
  •  Board Listening Session
Early Wednesday morning the Board of Education recessed until 4 p.m. This Board Action Update represents action that was taken before the recess. For a complete recap, visit www.spps.org or look for a follow up Board Action Update in your inbox Wednesday evening.
Budget Update

Board members approved District budget proposals for fiscal year 2011, eliminating $25.2 million of the anticipated $27.2 million shortfall. Included in the approval is to discontinue one school program, relocate two school programs and co-locate five pairs of schools. Co-located schools will have two school programs located at one site,with school leadership and staff moving with the program. The approved changes will be effective for the 2010-11 school year, beginning in September 2010.

The Board approved the following changes:

  • Discontinue the program at Arlington Senior High School; however next year's enrollment options for current 10th and 11th grade Arlington students have not been determined. Further discussion on enrollment options for these students will continue as the Board reconvenes at 4 p.m.
  • Relocate Washington Technology Middle into the Arlington Senior High School site
  • Relocate Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary into the Washington Technology Middle site
  • Co-locate Ames Elementary and Sheridan Elementary into Hazel Park Middle School Academy site
  • Co-locate Franklin Music Magnet into North End Elementary site
  • Co-locate Prosperity Heights Elementary into Hayden Heights Elementary
  • Co-locate Hazel Park Middle School Academy into Battle Creek Middle School
 
Community meetings are scheduled for schools affected by the proposed changes. Click here to view the meeting schedule and locations.

The entire presentation from tonight's meeting will be available on the Board's Web site Wednesday afternoon. In addition, you can view a rebroadcast of last night's Board meeting on Saint Paul cable channel 16 at noon on Thursday, April 21 and Saturday, April 24.

Also, included in the approved motion:
  • The net elimination eight central administration positions
  • Shared principals in low enrollment elementary schools
  • Athletic field maintenance to be funded by the individual school budgets
  • Itinerant Instrumental Music Program
    • An alternative option of providing students in SPPS the opportunity to participate in the Itinerant Instrumental Music Program as an Alternative Learning Center Extended Day program. The program will run two days per week after school. Transportation will be available. This will allow students participating in the program to remain in class during the school day, while allowing them the same amount of time per week dedicated to the music program.
  • Middle school athletics
    • The Board approved a recommendation that allows the District to maintain all middle school athletic programs at all middle and junior high schools that currently offer athletic programs.
  • District administration reorganization
    • The Board approved several Human Resource transactions including several changes. As part of a reorganization of central administration, the approved structure will save as much as $945,000. A new organizational chart will be available online on Wednesday.

Board of Education listening session
In addition to Board of Education meetings, members are interested in hearing from staff and community members at the upcoming listening session:

May 13, 7 p.m.
Neighborhood House
179 Robie Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55107

Continuation of Board meeting
A continuation of the April 20 Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 21 at 4 p.m. at the District Administration building, 360 Colborne St. in St. Paul.

This update is a service of the Office of Community Relations of Saint Paul Public Schools. Please direct questions or comments to community.relations@spps.org or by phone to 651-767-8110.