Full slate awaits optimistic St. Paul schools' 'hero of hope'

Joe Gothard describes himself as a "hero of hope."

The new superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools has visited 55 district schools and shared photos on a Twitter account carrying his "hero" handle.

He's held a dozen "listen and learn" sessions. He's heard people speak of experiences with the state's second largest school district — and with the broader community.

"Some of that conversation hasn't always been easy," Gothard told the school board this month. But he offered an upbeat take on his first six months. "Far more have come and said how proud they are, and the wonderful experiences they've had, too. In both cases, you can learn a lot."

Now, the action starts.

January will see a ramping up of Gothard's plans to set a new strategic direction for the district. Families will attend a school-choice fair for preschool and kindergarten programs that are pivotal to reversing the district's enrollment woes. Contract talks with teachers and staff members are bound to intensify.

Here is a look at some of the work and challenges ahead.

Building(s) for the future

When touring facilities, Gothard said he has engaged in a "scavenger hunt" of sorts, seeing buildings configured in unique and incredible ways. But he said the district still has a ways to go to facilitate 21st-century learning.

St. Paul, unlike the majority of state school systems, does not have to win voter approval for bond proposals. It has more than $190 million worth of projects underway as part of a five-year, $484 million plan approved by the board in 2016.

At Como Park Senior High, teacher Eric Erickson has spoken of the enthusiasm for more natural lighting and open hallways, modern classrooms with flexible seating and other amenities, "producing smiles when students imagine their future in those spaces."

Scaffolds are in place for a three-story addition at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus school. Some neighbors see the project as too intensive for its Crocus Hill space. But the district, backed by the City Council, deemed it a long-overdue update for a school community with diverse backgrounds and needs.

At year's end, the school board also gave permission for the district to make a purchase agreement for the former Crosswinds Arts and Science School in Woodbury. Gothard wrote recently that the district had the bonding and levying authority to meet the $15.3 million appraisal price and that a purchase would save taxpayers the cost of a new building.

Setting a new course

As leader of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school district, Gothard led community conversations that produced a new strategic plan and a voter-approved building bond and technology levy. He came to St. Paul in July with the expectation that he would help set a new course for St. Paul.

So far, a consultant, Greenway Strategy Group, has been hired to assist in the effort — at a cost of up to $146,130. Gothard said the group is analyzing reports ahead of the expected launch of a community survey in mid-January. Then, he and his senior staff will draft strategic themes for the community to consider during a series of meetings across the city.

The board will receive a final report in April, followed in June by a proposed set of actions to be taken.

Raising academic outcomes is a major goal.

The move comes nearly seven years after former Superintendent Valeria Silva unveiled a Strong Schools, Strong Communities strategic plan that relied on neighborhood schools as a way to boost student achievement. But the achievement gap persists, and Silva's hopes of increasing student enrollment by the thousands went unrealized.

Attracting students

This month, Gothard joined St. Paul Mayor-elect Melvin Carter at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for four new preschool classrooms at the Rondo education complex. An uptick in preschoolers factored into an unexpected rise this year in the number of district students who generate state funding. Subtract the preschoolers, however, and the district continues to see a decline in the number of students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The long-range forecast isn't encouraging.

"We need babies to be born," Kate Wilcox-Harris, the district's chief academic officer, said in an enrollment briefing this month.

On Jan. 20, the district will host its annual school choice fair for early childhood, preschool and kindergarten students at Washington Technology Magnet School.

Forging deals

Across the state, teachers in 120 school districts have reached deals on new contracts, with average salary increases of 2.2 percent in the first year and 2.4 percent in the second year, said Chris Williams, a spokesman for Education Minnesota.

St. Paul and its teachers union remain divided over resources that may or may not be available.

The union wants the school board to join it in pressuring corporations and tax-exempt institutions to contribute financially to schools.

The district wants the union's signature on an application to enter the state's Q Comp alternative pay program, which currently has a waiting list.

A mediation session is scheduled for Thursday.

Anthony Lonetree • 612-673-4109