Minneapolis Public Schools

[thespeedmccool]

Yeah, I don't see a reason why Minneapolis Public Schools shouldn't be under state direction. Consistent mismanagement by unserious people paired with an irrational electorate that doesn't want solutions. This isn't a Minneapolis-only problem, but it is exacerbated there by years of bad charter school policies, childless adult demographic shifts in cities, and other local peculiarities that make it hard for an electorate to swallow the necessary medicine.

That said, I think all school districts should be under state direction, so I'm not exactly out on a rhetorical limb here.

[SurlyLHT]

Yeah, I don't see a reason why Minneapolis Public Schools shouldn't be under state direction. Consistent mismanagement by unserious people paired with an irrational electorate that doesn't want solutions. This isn't a Minneapolis-only problem, but it is exacerbated there by years of bad charter school policies, childless adult demographic shifts in cities, and other local peculiarities that make it hard for an electorate to swallow the necessary medicine.

That said, I think all school districts should be under state direction, so I'm not exactly out on a rhetorical limb here.

I agree about state direction. If MPS should be under receivership so should Robbinsdale, and all of these failing Charter School the Strib has written extensively about. Our whole education system is a mess. If you looked up headlines about MPS, the Strib's series about Charter School issues and the articles about Robbinsdale School you can see there are broader issues. My Dad works for a rural district which has $40 million in deferred maintenance. Many schools like non-profits and local governments are facing a fiscal cliff. I predict a good number of charter schools will fold. A huge part of the problem is we struggle to get qualified School Board Members. Folks have opinions and run for the School Board, but opinions aren't qualifications.

[Tom H.]

Agreed - I feel my #1 duty when voting for my local school board is to vote in competent people, and keep out the crazies. Ideology is not front and center in that voting choice, because once stuff goes off the rails, it's near-impossible to rein it back in.