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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 11-18 Maplewood council objects to school closing report THE REVIEW i, Minnesotay'" Single Copy 301 WED.,NOV. 18, 1981 Maplewood council objects I to school closing report p By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS gets less than its fair share because the would not be able to accept walkers Staff Writer seven-member school board is dominated because of the lack of sidewalks, he by six North St. Paul residents. argued. Larry Gilbertson, 2900 Mary Lane, School board members have little to Gilbertson also doubted the district had found a surprisingly receptive audience fear from Maplewood voters,who turn out adequately calculated the costs of busing when he went to the Nov. 12 special in low numbers for school district elec- students.While the school closing is ex- meeting of the Maplewood City Council to tions,according to Gilbertson.North St. peeled to save roughly$200,000 per year, criticize the school district's apparent Paul residents,on the other hand,vote Primarily in salaries,that could easily be plans to close Harmony Elementary heavily in the elections and have a offset by busing costs,he warned. School,1961 E.County Road C. "The first three years after Gladstone Council members Fran Juker and greater voice in school district policy,he continued.Maplewood residents need to closed it went into the red because of Norm Anderson and Mayor John Greavu more closely follow school district offsetting transportation costs,"he said. strongly endorsed Gilbertson's argument developments and voice their concerns to "I don't want to see that happen again." that the closing of Harmony would place • city council members,he added. undue hardship on residents of nor- School district officials deny ulterior GILBERTSON RECOMMENDED that thwestern Maplewood,who have already motives in closing schools in one the district take a look at reducing the seen two elementary schools in their area geographic area. community eduction program and close in the last six years.The council g"Were certainly not picking on possibly close a junior high school,rather went so far as to suggest studying theMaplewood or any other community," than close Harmony. possibility of forming a separate school District Superintendent William Wood- district just for Maplewood. In the worth said. representative on the district's school- meantime, City Attorney Don Lais is closing committee, Frank Merry, 2231 preparing a resolution expressing the THE BOARD IS at least one month Radatz Ave.,noted that once the com- council's objections to the closing of away from making a final decision on the mutes had chosen the criteria for Harmony,which will be considered at the school closing issue, Woodworth con- evaluating the district's 10 elementary Nov.18 council meeting. timed.Thus far,a citizen committee has schools, there was little doubt that Maplewood is the largest city in the reported that Harmony is the most likely Harmony would rank as the most likely North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school to close,but that committee will school to close.Even though he has three School District 622,contributing 60 per- not make its official recommendation children at Harmony and hates to see the cent of the district's taxes,and it is not until Nov.18.The committee weighed a school close, he went along with the getting a fair shake from the school number of factors—classroom space, committee's unanimous report because board,according to Gilbertson.In 1979, media and special education facilities, Harmony so far outranked the other when the school board agreed to close safety hazards,transportation costs and schools, according to the established Hazelwood Elementary School,it bused marketability of the sites—in making its criteria,Merry explained. former Hazelwood students to Weaver decision.The school board expects to hold Yet,Merrysaid there were some im- Elementary, 2135 Birmingham, rather a public hearing on the subject Dec.3 and rtant factors which were not considered than shifting them to Harmony,the closer vote on the matter Dec. 17. - po school, Gilbertson said. That policy in the committee's deliberations. The suggested that the school board already The public hearing is intended to give committee did not try to weigh the fair- knew that Harmony would be the next to citizens the chance to express their ness of closing another northwest close,he continued. opinions and bring up new information,so Maplewood school when that area already Juker agreed the closing of Hazelwood the decision to close Harmony is not final has had two schools closed recently,he foreshadowed the selection of Harmony at this point,Woodworth noted. said.Nor did it consider the alternatives as the next school to close. Gilbertson has some new information for dispersing the Harmony students to and policies to suggest. The citizens other schools,he added. "THE NORTH ST.PAUL schools would committee,which studied the matter,was Harmony Principal Tony Johnson be empty if they drew the boundary lines not aware that County Road C probably is expressed confidence in the citizens „bo Maplewood kids went to Maplewood going to be upgraded within the next few committee's choice. Harmony has schools and North St.Paul'lifds to North years,enabling students to safely walk to regularly ranked as a likely school to St.Paul schools,"Juker said. the school on the new sidewalks. The close and he sees no reason to doubt the She, Anderson and Greavu all ex- committee gave Harmony a low ranking, committee's rationale for its decision,he pressed their feelings that Maplewood in part,because it assumed the school said.