Continued: Learning a new routine in the Osseo schools

The first day of school Tuesday marked a big change for Naomi Wills and her kids: They started out at a bus stop bound for a big, new school.

In past years, the morning routine involved Wills walking son Luke and daughter Larissa the two blocks to Osseo Elementary. Younger daughter Natalie, not yet in school, would tag along. Then, more often than not, Wills would linger and chat with the principal and teachers.

But Osseo Elementary, loved by parents, teachers and kids for its small size, hometown feel, and convenient walking distances, was closed by the cash-strapped Osseo School District last year.

"One of the first things that hit me when we found out the school was closing was that all those years my kindergartner would walk with her older siblings to school, and, now, she won't get to walk there," Wills said.

It's a sign of the times in education. Districts find themselves millions of dollars short, and have to start cutting. In the Osseo district's case, a levy request in November that was only partly successful and funding from the Legislature that many educators complained was insufficient resulted in a crippling $16.3 million deficit.

Closings were only the start

Osseo not only had to eliminate two schools -- Osseo and Brooklyn Park's Edgewood Elementary -- but also had to revamp the programs at four other elementary schools, and lay off scores of teachers.

A number of districts have threatened that, without financial relief, they will have to look at shutting down schools next year. Those districts include Anoka-Hennepin and St. Louis Park. Robbinsdale threatened school closings this year, but backed off in the face of public opposition.

Hoping for help from St. Paul

Most districts are hoping that next year's Legislature will provide some relief, and DFLers are poised to propose massive spending increases, possibly involving tax increases. Prospects for such a spending hike are uncertain given the tough financial times and predictions of a large state budget deficit.

More and more, school districts are going, with mixed results, to their voters for tax increases to balance the books. This year is no exception. Though exact figures are not available, it's likely that several dozen districts statewide will put levy questions on the Nov. 4 ballot. Minneapolis, for instance, will ask voters for $60 million a year over eight years.

Osseo is another district looking for more tax money. The school board decided to pose two questions to voters: one asking for $8 million a year for 10 years, the second proposing $5 million a year over five years to pay for technology and training.

When Osseo Elementary closed, over the objections of parents and teachers, Luke, Larissa and new kindergartner Natalie were moved to Elm Creek Elementary, in Maple Grove.

Elm Creek is absorbing 146 of the 274 displaced Osseo Elementary kids, swelling its population to about 650 students in grades kindergarten through 6. Wills will have to put her kids on the bus or drive them to school.

Closings saved $800,000

The school closures, which saved the district $800,000, turned the rest of the district into a diaspora of displaced elementary school students. In the case of Osseo Elementary's kids, almost half wound up at Elm Creek. Another 44 were assigned to Palmer Lake Elementary, in Brooklyn Park. Edinbrook, also in Brooklyn Park, picked up 24, and Woodland, another Brooklyn Park school, got 11. The rest were scattered among nine other district schools.

Though Elm Creek Principal Jim Meyer said his staff has increased from last year's 75 to 80, he estimates class sizes will shoot up this year between four to six kids.

"It's a little more of a challenge, but I think we're going to be able to absorb it," said Meyer, who spent about a half-hour before school start time Tuesday directing traffic in the parking lot and greeting parents and kids at the doorway.

Osseo Elementary has taken several steps to make the transferred students feel welcome. Familiar faces help: Three teachers made the move from Osseo to Elm Creek. Also, the Elm Creek folks consulted with Osseo's staff about clustering Osseo kids together in classes at Elm Creek. Fifth-grade teacher Dan Baker, a transfer, said he was happy to discover that some of his fifth-graders this year were fourth-graders he had taught in an Osseo Elementary reading class last year. The Osseo kids are generally gung-ho about the new school, he said.

Kids were nervous and upset

"I know that last year the kids were nervous," he said. "And some were upset. Many had parents fighting hard to keep the school open. That does take a toll, but I think it helped having three months separating the emotional end from the exciting and upbeat new beginning."

After dropping her kids off at the bus stop, Wills drove to Elm Creek to meet them getting off the bus. She wondered how she could connect with the staff at Elm Creek now that she will have to drive her kids or put them on the bus.

"I see the principal here greeting people," she said. "But how many parents are going to show up here? You have to find different ways to connect."

Luke and Larissa got off their bus and showed how resilient kids can be in the face of change. Luke said he actually preferred taking the bus to walking. And Larissa?

"It's pretty much fun," she said. "Because you're up high [riding in the bus]... I think it's pretty good. I can make some new friends."

"It's different," Wills said. "It's a different school, a different staff, a different principal, and different ways of doing things. That's OK. We're hoping that things are going to be good, but we can't expect that things are going to be the same."

Norman Draper • 612-673-4547