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Councilmember Russ Stark's Ward 4 E-News
March 2011
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In This Issue
St Paul Schools Plan
City/School District Collaboration
Light Rail Construction underway
Events

March 14  

Help decide the future of 1433 University 

 

April 9
Neighborhood Sustainability Conference 
 

 

Opportunities 

Sale on Rain Barrels and Compost Bins in St Paul 

 

 Make Mine Solar   

 

Leonardo's Basement kids & family classes 

 

Youth Job Corps taking applications 

 

Good Donor: Support re-use and local charities 


Quick links 

Saint Paul Schools Plan 


The bold new plan put forth by Superintendent Silva and the St. Paul School Board is on the minds of many St. Paul families.  Assuming the plan moves forward in a form similar to what has initially been proposed, the changes will be significant for the entire City of St. Paul, our neighborhoods, and the ways in which the City is able to collaborate with the School District.

In Ward 4, Hancock and Galtier Elementary Schools - both magnet schools in recent years - would be converted back to "community" or neighborhood schools.  St. Anthony Park, Groveland, and Chelsea Heights Elementaries would continue to be neighborhood schools, and Ramsey and Murray Junior Highs would transition to 6th -8th grade schools.  The "catchment" areas for Central and Como High Schools would shift, making Como the most likely destination for a larger proportion of Ward 4 High Schoolers.  The entire draft plan can be found on the School District's website at www.spps.org.
students crossing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The change is having a direct impact on my family, as I have an eighth grader at Capitol Hill whose transition to a high school next year has become less clear, and a fifth-grader at Adams Spanish Immersion where the 6th grade is being moved over to Highland Junior High this fall. While this major transition will present challenges for some families, I applaud the movement toward a more unified curriculum, toward more kids going to neighborhood schools, and toward the school district finding savings in the area of transportation costs rather than cutting resources going into the classroom. Data presented by the Superintendent shows that disadvantage students bussed to magnet schools in other parts of the City perform no better than their peers who attend neighborhood schools.

In Hamline-Midway, I am hopeful that the transition from 0 to 2 neighborhood schools will be a boon to families in the neighborhood who choose to keep their kids close to home for school.  I believe this trend will strengthen our communities and make it more likely that kids in our neighborhoods will be more connected to one another. 

City/School District Collaboration Hancock school

 

The schools realignment plan presents new possibilities for improved collaboration and efficiencies between the City of St. Paul and the School District.  In these times of dwindling budgets, both jurisdictions are motivated to find new ways of operating that can save money while retaining or even improving the overall quality of services - no easy feat.  For example, some schools are co-located with City Recreation Centers, such as at Chelsea Heights/NW Como and at Hancock.  At these locations, the School District typically operates their buildings from 8 or 9 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m., and Parks and Rec typically provides programming at the rec centers next door from 3-9 p.m. and on weekends. 

 

Today, most of the students at Hancock Elementary are bussed to school from their homes outside of the neighborhood and then bussed back home after school.  Neighborhood kids then utilize the Rec Center building next store for after school and evening programming.  But one can easily imagine a future in which kids in the neighborhood walk, bike, or in some cases are bussed to Hancock, and they are then able to also take advantage of after-school programming on site, before making their way home or being picked up by their parents. 

 

If the after-school programming could take place in the school building rather than the rec center, that would free up the space in the rec center for additional uses, such as programming for adults, and seniors, and other segments of the community.  The Hancock Elementary/Rec Center site, could ultimately transition to more of a full-service community center, better serving the needs of residents  and likely at a lower cost overall to the City and School District.

 

Light rail construction underway

 

Heavy light rail construction is starting on the western City limits, with utility work happening in places between there and Syndicate.  Now is the time to get on the Central Corridor update list if you haven't done so already.  This can help keep you up to speed on traffic and signal changes, as well as give you an idea of what's being done when.  You can sign up

here. 

 

If you have questions, concerns, or issues that need to be addressed related to construction, they should be directed to the Met Council's Construction Hotline at 651-602-1404.

 

If you don't get the response you need, you can contact our office, but the hotline is the most direct route to an answer.

 

Finally, don't forget to go out of your way to support University Avenue businesses during construction.  You can get a loyalty card here.  

Support Univ Ave businesses sign
Questions, comments?

Reply to this email, email us here or call 651-266-8640.

 
Photo credits
Student pedestrians photo from National Center for Safe Routes to school; Hancock School picture from St Paul Schools site.