Anoka-Hennepin district targets six schools for closure

Minnesota's largest school district will close six schools and reconfigure two others as it deals with declining enrollment and a projected budget deficit.

[Incredible70]

"Two of the schools will reopen for different uses. " - What the heck for? More administration space? They should be selling these schools and using the money to build a backup cash fund to pay for their follies rather than sticking the taxpayer with every little problem they have managing money. According to the radio news today, they are estimating enrollment will continue to decline for 20 more years...are they going to mothball these buildings for 20-30 years until they are needed again?

[Met]

Can you get us the list of schools?

[Stanley]

Sounds like they could have closed another school or two in the past 5 years... but then the parents scream because the distances their kids have to travel increases. And then busing costs increase dramatically. So, now they are closing six all at once... Sounds pretty drastic. What are the projected class sizes with those schools closed?

[Catcher Interference]

This is not a new problem, folks. Visit any inner-ring suburb (Columbia Heights, Richfield, Saint Louis Park) and turn the clock back 20 years. It takes real leadership to make these changes happen and happen correctly. Not for the faint of heart.

[kecker]

When each of those cities has half a dozen schools in them, it doesn't do much to just name the cities. Name the schools please.

I don't disagree with closing them. It's a well known fact that enrollment will decline greatly and they simply aren't needed for the foreseeable future. However, what's being done with the closed schools?

[Captain Obvious]

Gee I hope this means for administration.

Enrollment is not dropping. The tax base is dropping. Inner city schools are having problems keeping the taxpaying people going to these schools. They keep letting the POS of society keep going for free while da babies momma aint paying any taxes because she is a welfare system leeching wh*re.

Society needs to go back to having the opinion being on welfare is for people who need it and not see it as a lifestyle.

[Mom in MN]

Funny they cried and cried to the taxpayers to build a new elementary 5-10 years ago. Of course it always comes up when the teachers contract is up.

[Unbelievable]

When are these schools going to start being fiscally responsible? Why is that the monies are supposed to go to the kids when in all essence, we don't know where it is really going? I am also confused how the dist. can say that they have a decline in enrollment when the Andover/Coon Rapids/Blaine areas are the fastest growing amongst younger families...

Here's an idea...quit giving the program leaders and superintendants huge salaries with great perks! How about decreasing the amount of "administration" each shool has! That ought to save PLENTY of money for "the kids."

[9to5r]

Captain Obvious wrote:

Gee I hope this means for administration.
Enrollment is not dropping. The tax base is dropping. Inner city schools are having problems keeping the taxpaying people going to these schools. They keep letting the POS of society keep going for free while da babies momma aint paying any taxes because she is a welfare system leeching wh*re.
Society needs to go back to having the opinion being on welfare is for people who need it and not see it as a lifestyle.

Yes it's a vicious cycle, isn't it? Adding more low income housing in the cities equalsc chasing the tax-paying citizens out.

[Unbelievable]

Another thing I was pondering is that if there is such a decline in enrollment, then why are people complaining about too many kids in classes? Didn't they just fix their own problem?

Lastly, if these schools close and it "saves" them $700K, just imagine what it will cost to re-open the schools when they have enrollment spikes...

[Incredible70]

Unbelievable wrote:

Another thing I was pondering is that if there is such a decline in enrollment, then why are people complaining about too many kids in classes? Didn't they just fix their own problem?
Lastly, if these schools close and it "saves" them $700K, just imagine what it will cost to re-open the schools when they have enrollment spikes...

Let's do some math...

The facts:
1) Declining enrollment is projected for 20 more years
2)$50,000 total compensation average for all employees at a school - yes, I'm making that up, and it is way too low, but good enough for my example
3) 100 employees in a school - teachers, aids, administrators, nurses, janitors, cooks, etc.- again, made up but what I would say is a fair estimate based on my kid's schools

20 years X 100 employees X 50,000 per employee per year =

$100,000,000!

That is $100 Million over 20 years saved, not counting inflationary costs and actual operating expenses to keep them heated and maintained while they sit empty.

ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS for ONE SCHOOL!

If they sold the school buildings, they would also have the money earned that could be making interest the whole 20 years. But we know that schools can't save money...all they can do is spend more and get less for it.

[Catcher Interference]

So...how are the graduation rates? Standardized test scores?

[Who would not]

I would not want my kid going to school in Brooklyn Park so good close all schools in Brooklyn Park.And let the thugs run the streets even more!!

[Citizen Tom]

Captain Obvious wrote:

Gee I hope this means for administration.
Enrollment is not dropping. The tax base is dropping. Inner city schools are having problems keeping the taxpaying people going to these schools. They keep letting the POS of society keep going for free while da babies momma aint paying any taxes because she is a welfare system leeching wh*re.
Society needs to go back to having the opinion being on welfare is for people who need it and not see it as a lifestyle.

Of course enrollment is dropping--at the rate of about 500 per year. That is one medium sized elementary school of lost students per year. Don't you think something should be done sooner than later?

[Citizen Tom]

Unbelievable wrote:

When are these schools going to start being fiscally responsible? Why is that the monies are supposed to go to the kids when in all essence, we don't know where it is really going? I am also confused how the dist. can say that they have a decline in enrollment when the Andover/Coon Rapids/Blaine areas are the fastest growing amongst younger families...
Here's an idea...quit giving the program leaders and superintendants huge salaries with great perks! How about decreasing the amount of "administration" each shool has! That ought to save PLENTY of money for "the kids."

You will notice that there are NO Andover or Blaine schools closing. Those areas are growing. The older areas with the older schools have older families...

(As far as administration goes, have you been in a school lately? Do you have any idea how much of an administrator's time is spent crossing "T's" and dotting "I's"? Following unfunded federal mandates?)

[Why would you]

Why would you have any schools in brooklyn park.so the good kids see the thugs and gangs and try to learn at school.Wake the hell up people.