Board Action Update
Saint Paul Public Schools
Continuation: Regular Board of Education Meeting
April 21, 2010
In tonight's update:
  •  Arlington Senior High School program update
  •  Review of action updates from April 20 meeting
Arlington Senior High School program update
The Board of Eduction approved a plan Wednesday during a special continuation of its regular Board meeting to allow current Arlington Senior High School juniors who are on track to graduate next year to finish their education at the school site. The plan is contingent on a viable number of students, at least 150, choosing to enroll in the program as next year's seniors. The vote to allow next year's seniors to stay at the school was taken at a continuation of the April 20th meeting, which lasted into the early morning hours before members called Wednesday's continuation to discuss proposals for Arlington Senior High School students.
 
Prior to that, the Board approved plans to help balance the District's budget, which includes a $27.2 million shortfall for the 2011 fiscal year. Included in the approved plan was the option to discontinue the Arlington program and relocate the Washington Technology Middle into the site under a 7-10 grade configuration, continuing the Bio-SMART educational program which focuses on career opportunities in the biotech industry. The approved plan for the site and its students means a cost savings of $443,000 to the District.
 
District staff will meet with families Wednesday, April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the school's Great Hall to begin helping students to plan the school's transition.

 
Review of Action from April 20
Board members approved the District's 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
  • Relocate Washington Technology Middle into the Arlington Senior High School site
  • Relocate Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary into the Washington Technology Middle site
  • Co-locate Hazel Park Middle School Academy into Battle Creek Middle School
  • Co-locate Ames Elementary and Sheridan Elementary into Hazel Park Middle School Academy site
  • Co-locate Franklin Music Magnet into North End Elementary
  • Co-locate Prosperity Heights Elementary into Hayden Heights Elementary
 
Community meetings are scheduled for schools affected by the proposed changes. Click here to view the meeting schedule and locations.

Also, included in the approved actions:

  • The net elimination of eight central administration positions.
  • Shared principals in low enrollment elementary schools.
  • Athletic field maintenance to be funded by the individual school budgets.
  • Close four swimming pools at Arlington Senior High School, Cherokee Heights West Side School of Excellence, Murray Junior High School and Paul & Sheila Wellstone Elementary
  • Maintain middle school athletic programs at middle and junior high schools that currently offer athletic programs.
  • Provide SPPS students the opportunity to participate in an 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.
  • Human Resource transactions including the appointment of Dr. Kate Wilcox-Harris as Chief Academic Officer, which becomes effective May 3.

The entire budget presentation from the April 20 meeting is available on the District's Web site. In addition, you can view a rebroadcast of the April 20 Board meeting on Saint Paul cable channel 16 on Thursday, April 22, noon and Saturday, April 24, 10 p.m.

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

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.