Strategic Planning And Online Survey Begins

281 is asking for public input as it conducts a community planning process. This is a good thing (if they truly are listening to us), and residents should participate.

Planning Today for a Successful Tomorrow is a strategic planning process conducted by the school board and administration of Robbinsdale Area Schools. The resulting strategic plan will be used by the board as a guide in making decisions about the nature and extent of educational programs, staffing, facilities, resources and more. Input from community members and district staff members will help identify district values, renewed vision and mission statements and goals, strategies and action plans. The final plan will be presented to the school board on May 5.

The public is invited to participate by filling out an on-line survey (beginning March 17) and attending community visioning sessions in April:

On-line Survey – posted March 17

The Sun-Post adds:

The public is invited to participate by filling out an online survey and attending Community Visioning Sessions in April.

The sessions are currently scheduled 6 p.m. April 3, April 9 and April 15 at a location to be determined.

At the end of April, groups of community members and staff will identify district values, a renewed vision and mission with goals, strategies and action plans. The final plan will be presented to the school board on May 5.

1/4 of District 281 Students Attend Non-Public Schools Or Other Districts

The MN Sun-Post confirms what most residents believed about declining enrollment in District 281: Parents and students are voting with their feet.

A new report is shedding more light on open enrollment in Robbinsdale District 281 Schools.

Dennis Beekman, the district’s executive director of technology, told the School Board on March 3 that 76 percent of the 15,225 school-age children who live in the district attended District 281 schools in 2006-07, a number that has remained constant the last five years.

He said the report showed 1,425 District 281 resident students attended non-public schools, and 1,132 attended public schools outside the district.

The 24 percent who attend school elsewhere are split between non-public schools (9 percent), other public schools (8 percent), charter schools (2 percent), special education and other programs in Independent School District 287 (2 percent), and 1 percent each at Highview Alternative School, home schools, and the West Metro Education Program (WMEP’s Fair and downtown schools).

Residents who attend school elsewhere choose neighboring districts as follows: Hopkins, 288 students; Wayzata (287); Minneapolis (193); and Osseo (189). Others attended Brooklyn Center School District, St. Louis Park, Edina and Anoka-Hennepin schools, Beekman said.

Given the poor performance, violence and other issues at 281 middle and high schools, exporting to other districts and non-public schools will most likely continue and possibly rise.