North High WILL Have a Freshman Class in 2011

Photo from Minnesota Public Radio.

Photo from Minnpost.

Post by the Hawthorne Hawkman, photo credits linked above.

The Star Tribune recently reported in error that there would not be an incoming freshman class at North High this year.  However, a proud North High parent posted to the Minneapolis Issues Forum an email from Superintendent Johnson that indicates the exact opposite.  Organizers who have recruited new students repeatedly say that the number one barrier to getting committed students, parents, families, and other supporters is the concern that North High will close.

Since Johnson specifically stated on May 9, 2011, "I am pleased to announce that North High School will welcome a ninth-grade class in the fall of 2011," we need to spread the word that our North High Polars will indeed have a freshman class this year.

Superintendent Johnson's email is reprinted in full after the jump...

North High is Saved! Now the Real Work Begins.

Post and video by the Hawthorne Hawkman

After much deliberation, and an outpouring of community input, Superintendent Johnson's proposal from last week was brought before the Minneapolis Public School Board as a whole.  Due to other job commitments, I was unable to attend the rally before the meeting, and missed some early parts.  But I stayed until the end of the meeting and recorded the vote that kept North open.

There are several hours of footage to upload and review.  Until I have the chance to get a well-written post up about the broader issues, people can feel free to check out my Youtube channel for the videos I took during the meeting.

The VERY short summary of what happened is this:  Johnson's proposal was presented, and amended to allow for the chance of a freshman class continuing to attend North High in 2011 (her previous proposal called for North to not accept incoming freshmen in 2011 while creating a new program, phase out the existing school, start a new North in 2012, and add a class each year until there would be a full school in 2016).  In order for there to be a continuous student body at North High, we in the community will need to work with the school board to recruit an incoming freshman class of 125 students by March of 2011.

And if we can do that, I bet we'll wind up with a better football team too.

The vote is over and now it's time to get to work.

Reactions from Johnson's New North High Proposal

Post and photo by the Hawthorne Hawkman

I'm guessing by now most everyone reading NXNS has heard Superintendent Johnson's proposal to continue with a phasing out of North High, take a year off to develop a new model, and re-open a new North High in 2012.  (although not necessarily in the same building; we'll get to that)  In looking at chatter on Facebook, the Strib, and elsewhere, reactions to the plan are varied - ranging from calls for a failing school to be shut down immediately to feelings that this "plan" has nothing of substance that is different than Johnson's original proposition.

While my initial response did not embody such extremes, it was still mixed.  My first thought upon hearing Johnson's new idea was, "This might be as good of a deal as we're going to get."  My SECOND thought was...

Bernadeia Johnson Announces Plan to Press Reset Button on North High

Post and videos by the Hawthorne Hawkman

POST COMPLETE. All video footage from the press conference has been uploaded and added.

Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson called a press conference this morning to announce plans for North High. The buzz was that she would continue with the plans to phase out the existing North High, but there was speculation that somehow the school would be saved. After all, if plans to close were moving ahead as previously announced, why call a press conference to remind the community that you're doing something incredibly unpopular?

In essence, her plan now involves closing down the existing North High, phasing out current enrollment, working with the community on a plan during 2011, and re-opening a new North High for incoming freshmen in 2012, then adding a grade each year.

Plenty of news media were there, and the Strib and KSTP at least have articles and some footage up already. But the initial details were broken first on the NXNS Twitter feed, proving once again the speed and agility of non-traditional media.

More video footage will follow after the jump, as soon as it's done uploading on youtube...

"School is in Session. We Hope You're Taking Notes. There WILL be a Test!"

Post, videos, and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Over 250 northside residents and North High supporters gathered for a community forum on Monday, October 18.  We told the Minneapolis Public School board and superintendent exactly what the community thought of their proposal to close down North High School.  Board members Madden, Williams, Lee, Stewart, Davis, and Flanagan were in attendance, as well as state Representatives Mullery and Champion, state Senator Higgins, and a representative from Congressman Ellison's office.

Superintendent Johnson began with a series of slides that gave an empirical account of North's decline while conveniently managing not to take any School Board responsibility for such events.  The slides began...

MPS Reasons for Closing North High

Post by the Hawthorne Hawkman, image from Minnesota Public Radio.

At Monday evening's community forum about the future of North High, the Minneapolis Public School board passed out a sheet that outlined their reasoning (or lack thereof) for proposing the closure of North High School.  That document can be found here.  However, in the interest of placing this document in a forum where people can comment openly or anonymously on the validity of the proposal and how it will impact our children and our community, I am re-posting it on North by Northside.

I do encourage everyone who comments here to forward their comments to Ms. Johnson and all school board members (and before the election, also to the candidates).

Here, without any further editorial commentary on my part, is the document in question:

Frequently Asked Questions | North High School

Updated October 18, 2010
Why is North being recommended to phase out?
Many factors led to the recommendation, but the bottom line is this:

Congressman Keith Ellison on North High School

Post by the Hawthorne Hawkman, image from the Keith Ellison Wikipedia page.

Over 250 people gathered at the North High School auditorium tonight to voice their support for keeping the high school open.  Minneapolis superintendent Bernadeia Johnson and six school board members were on hand to (hopefully) listen.  More posts are sure to follow, but here are Congressman Ellison's words regarding North High:

October 18, 2010

Dear Students, Community Members and Supporters of North High School,

As a long time resident of North Minneapolis, and someone deply concerned about the viability and growth of this neighborhood and all neighborhoods that make up North Minneapolis, my position is that North High School should remain open until we have had a true community wide dialogue regarding education, housing and public investment with a clear commitment to the near north section of Minneapolis.

When I reflect over the last half decade, I do not recall forthright conversations about the future of North High School.  What has taken place though is...