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Saint Paul Public Schools move forward with progressive program changes
Media Release
Office of Community Relations
Contact: Howie Padilla
Office: (651) 767-8104
Saint Paul, Minn – The Saint Paul Board of Education Tuesday passed motions allowing expansion of two successful programs and the establishment of the district’s first Hmong magnet program. The changes approved by the Board will take effect in fall of 2008.
“These changes help us address specific requests from our families and community members,” said Saint Paul Superintendent Meria Carstarphen. “We know that the programs will have broad appeal to our current families and to families who will enroll their students in our district in the future.”
School officials also committed to continue seeking family, staff and community input on implementing of the changes that will shape the district. Included in the changes for 2008-09 are:
- A combined program for Linwood A+ Elementary and Monroe Achievement Plus Community School to establish a K-8 articulated A+ arts focused curriculum, building on the success of Linwood’s program.
- A combined program for Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet school and Cleveland Junior High School to establish a PreK-8 articulated aerospace science focused curriculum, building on the success of Farnsworth’s program.
- Establishing Phalen Lake Elementary as the district’s first Hmong magnet program with a Core Knowledge Curriculum that has a focus on Hmong culture and language. Jackson Preparatory Magnet will continue offering Hmong dual language programming for children to become bi-literal, bilingual and bicultural.
Other changes that were presented, but did not require Board action are:
- Gender-specific academies for boys and girls will be offered at North End Elementary.
- The development of a combined Environmental Science and Technology Institute is being explored at Humboldt Junior High and Humboldt Senior High.
- Two options are being explored for Homecroft Elementary. One is to develop programming to be determined this winter with staff and community participation members. That programming could include Early Education to grade 8. The other option would call for moving eighth- to 12th-grade students from smaller Alternative Learning Centers and Special Education programs to the Homecroft building.
Carstarphen said an advisory team also will be established to help guide proposal development for Homecroft Elementary. The first meeting to discuss the next steps for the school is scheduled for January 7, 2008, at 6 p.m. at Highland Park Senior High School, 1015 South Snelling Avenue.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: More information and updates on Saint Paul Public Schools program changes will continue to be available at www.spps.org.
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