Editorial: Worthy goals, many hurdles in St. Paul

Star Tribune Editorial

The St. Paul school board adopted a sweeping and controversial school reorganization plan this week that will change attendance areas and eliminate some magnet programs.

Although legitimate questions about strategy remain, it's time for the community to unite behind the strategy.

Earlier this year, Superintendent Valeria Silva unveiled a plan that dismantles the district's long-touted choice program.

To be phased in over three years, the new approach will involve less busing because many students will be limited to attending schools in their home region -- unless they provide their own transportation.

The plan is designed to improve student performance through more-consistent instruction from school to school. More academic support will be available -- including subject-area specialists, classroom technology, extended hours, and Saturday and summer school options.

And, as the district faces another projected $20 million deficit, the plan will bring some budget savings.

Before the board unanimously approved the plan on Tuesday, the St. Paul NAACP and some parent and student groups expressed fears that the new configuration would cause more racial segregation.

While racial diversity exists in the six regions, there are socioeconomic disparities. The community-based strategy could indeed increase the levels of concentrated poverty in some schools.

At the same time, a wide array of plan supporters, including other minority community leaders, the mayor and several legislators and foundations, have praised the new approach. About half of the city's 38,000 students perform below grade level, they say, and bold action is needed to turn that around.

As for district finances, the new plan should shave about $10 million from the current $30 million busing budget. And with the reconfiguration, Silva expects to generate an additional $22 million in new revenue by adding 3,500 to 5,000 students to the district.

That projection is based on a consultant's formula for how much of the student market share the district could "reasonably expect" to attract with more successful schools and expanded high-demand programs, such as the Chinese immersion program that will be created at Benjamin E. Mays Elementary.

School leaders are hoping to win back some of the St. Paul students who are currently attending charter or private programs, while also attracting more students from other districts.

The goals set by the district for improved academic achievement are admirable.

Still, big questions remain: Can the district do a better job with the most challenged community-based schools? Will the curriculum changes improve learning enough to attract more families?

And if more schools have central-office-directed curriculums, how will they also have the flexibility to create innovative programs to attract more students?

Now that the plan has been adopted, St. Paul families -- and others in Minnesota school districts faced with academic challenges and boundary changes -- should monitor its progress and hold the district accountable for delivering on its promise.

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