HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 12-09 Harmony hearing to be continued to January THE REVIEW ,.nnuesofa u _, Single Copy 30` WED.,DEC.9, 1981
Harmony hearing to be
continued to January
By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS Juker noted: that there are 1,126 North St.Paul,said he has concluded,
Staff Writer students from north of Highway 36; after consulting teachers and ad-
Maplewood has 490 housing units ministrators,that class size is the single
The parents of children at Harmony proposed for construction north of High- most important variable in the quality of
School got a reprieve of sorts Dec.3 when way 36,and North St.Paul has space for education. According to his statistical
the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale another 60 residences right next to analysis, the Harmony students who
District 622 School Board extended its Harmony. In light of such growth would be transferred to other schools if
public hearing on the possible closing of potential,how can anyone say Maplewood Harmony is closed would find themselves
the school in northwestern Maplewood. has declining enrollment?she asked. in classes that are 21 to 26 percent larger
Due to a failure to adequately publicize Juker,like several other citizens who than their current ones. By closing
the hearing,the board had to delay it until spoke that evening,urged the board to Harmony,the district would alter busing
at least Jan.7. make cuts in special classes and patterns that would bring more students
There was, however, another more programs rather than closing buildings. to some schools and less to others,
ominous reason for the postponement. "We didn't have half of these things when thereby creating a large range of class
The financial prospects for both the state, I was in school,"she said,explaining that sizes among the schools
which provides 57 percent of the district's students take some classes just because SMIT AND OTHERS also noted that the
revenues, and the district are looking they are fun and easy, with little enrollment decline in the district may
grim,and the board needs time to con- homework or thinking required. have reached its bottom point. Kin-
stder the possibility of closing a second dergarten enrollment, which has been
school next year.(See the related story on The school district's Budget Review underestimated in past years, is
this page.) Committee is now looking at cutting"the projected to climb from 654 in 1981 to 721
"The board is postponing the hearing so-called frills,"Bell told the audience. in 1982.
because there is a distinct possibility that After cutting almost $4 million in The school closing decisions will hinge
we will have to close more than one school programs in the last five years, the largely on financial considerations and
as early as next year,"Board Chairman district is no longer at the point of cutting Jim Drexler,1175 Ripley Ave.,addressed
Jerry Bell told the crowd of ap- frills,but will have to cut very important his remarks to that issue.Turning to the
proximately 90 people."There is a very programs,he continued. audience,he took a straw poll of those
distinct possibility that our finances will who would be willing to have their taxes
be cut even more than we thought "Buildings perhaps are more ex- raised in order to maintain the quality of
before,"he continued. pendable than teachers are,"he noted. education in the district.
While postponing the hearing,the board Candy McDonald,a Harmony parent, When he asked who would favor a 10
still heard from a number of speakers argued that closing schools and creating mill tax increase, averaging out to an
who advocated that Harmony be left crowded classrooms severely harms the additional$200 per household,roughly 30
open. Maplewood Councilman Norm children's educations,more or less off- people stood.When he asked how many
Anderson and Councilwoman Fran Juker setting the fine quality of the programs were willing to see the average class size
both urged the board not to close the the district offers. With the current in the elementary schocl rise by six to
school. enrollment of 4,500 students in nine eight students,the room was silent and
"Public bodies can reverse them- elementary schools, the average child people remained seated.
selves,"Anderson noted."I am hoping only receives 10 minutes per day of in- It was a graphic demonstration of
that this meeting is not in vain. dividual attention from his or her parents'willingness to spend the money
teachers,she argued. necessary to maintain a good educational
"YOU HAVE TO see beyond the end of "Is it better to have a well-balanced system.It also was a heartening sign for
your nose," Anderson told the board, program with all the frills and dumb board members who may have to propose
suggesting that the closing of Harmony students,or maintain our(the district's) a tax increase to cushion the impact of the
could create more problems in the long reputation as an excellent institution?" budget cuts,but Bell was still cautious.
run than it would solve.Maplewood faces she asked. "We don't want fancy Only 32 percent of the voters in the district
the same financial pressures as the school programs, we want stability for our have children enrolled in the school
district,he said,adding that it is better to kids,"she continued. district,and passage of a tax referendum
move cautiously in such matters. The Steven Smit, 2182 E. Radatz Road, is far from assured,he warned.
district could try to close rooms within
schools with excess capacity rather than ,.. '.' an
closing an entire school,he suggested. . . All