(Taken from South High Site Council minutes - 11/28/16) http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/site_council_6 General Discussion – Athletic Field: Steve Richter just became more involved after some Washburn Site Council parents contacted him about 10 days ago. Scott Schluter has been involved and trying to find answer/information. He’s started a blog – mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com. The main concern is there has to be a long term plan. The property around South is being eaten up so there will be no possibility in the future to expand/improve. Richard Mammen was on the board in 2014 when the Brown Building was sold to Hennepin County and this plan started taking shape. In the Spring of 2015, the land on Lake Street was purchased to move ABE and Transition Plus into one space. Transition Plus is currently at the Wilder Building servicing approximately 280 to 300 students. The facility was built as an elementary school so it’s not ideal for students 18 years and older. Superintendent Graff has approved the decision to move forward with this plan. At the 11/15/16 school board meeting, the board approved to apply for a $350,000.00 grant for athletic field improvements at South and North High. Rick Wessling from Urban Works showed drawings of the plans for the space purchased on Lake Street. ABE will have 23 classrooms that will be shared with Transition Plus – since that program ends at 4:30 pm daily. This site was chosen because a large number of people that would use this facility live within a 2.5 mile radius. The close proximity to mass transit was also a factor. It was asked if other spaces were looked at – i.e. Cooper off Lake Street. That’s a building that would be sufficient in size and also fits the above criteria. Couldn’t Wilder be renovated to accommodate students 18 years and older? The district says Wilder’s lay out doesn’t work – rooms scattered, restrooms not appropriate for adults, lighting not sufficient. Does not serve as a state of the art facility. The district did look at the vacant Rainbow Foods building but that was not chosen. The Board was going to vote on the 5-year capital plan Tuesday, November 29th. This Lake Street property project was approved previously by the Board. Mike Prestine says the project is currently in the design phase. Once the design is approved, construction will begin. It’s a linear time-line. They figure it will be about 18 months before ground is broken. Site Council wants a community conversation regarding South – our needs. What can be done? What are the limits? What funds are available? Mr. Luseni gave a “silo” analogy. We don’t want individual programs/spaces going on all around us without working together. This could be an opportunity to benefit South and ABE/Transition Plus. Want to make it clear we are not opposed to a building for ABE and Transition Plus. Just want to find a way that will benefit the entire South High Community. Resolution: Want a conversation! We want to look at this as an asset – a comprehensive South High “Campus”. Steve Richter, Scott Schluter, Arthur French and other Site Council members will draft a letter. We want to express our concerns that there is no shared vision and we want to slow down the process so there is time to discuss how to integrate South High into this plan. We are not convinced there are any plans in the works in regards to South High’s needs. We want a plan in place before this process proceeds. Site Council members need to look at a few dates to attend PUSH meetings or hold Town Hall meetings to involve the South community and families. Frustration is high. The district may think South High was part of the conversation in 2014 when all this was being decided, but it was not – at least at the parent/family level. Future Agenda Items: Move forward with involving South High parents/families in regards to future plans for South.
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MPS posted on South High website that all our fields need is turf to be "top-of-the-line"!11/23/2016 MPS posted this notice (below) on the South High website their update on phase one and two of their strategic plan. Apparently all South needs for their fields to be "top-of-the-line standards" "will be accomplished by adding turf" (highlighted below in Tiger orange). What about the unusable track? What about shot put and discus? What about the long jump and high jump and pole vault? What about non-handicapped accessible bleachers? What about softball and ultimate frisbee and nordic and practice space? What about the fencing the District labeled as "poor conditon"? What about lighting? Are there seven more phases to their strategic plan? Who has the plan? Who was asked about the plan because no one in the athletic department at South High School has been allowed input!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (MPS posted this notice on the South High School website) North and South High athletic fields Athletics Department > North and South High athletic fields In 2015, the Minneapolis Public Schools Athletics Department developed a five-year strategic plan for programs and facilities. The strategic plan outlined multiple goals that support improving the quality of athletic facilities, as well as expanding the use of athletic facilities by all student groups and our community as a whole. The first phase of improving the athletic facilities was to develop community fitness centers at each high school. This has been completed. In previous years, the district has used funds from Hennepin County Youth Sports Program grants to help fund the fitness center upgrades. The second phase of upgrading Minneapolis Public Schools’ athletic facilities is to bring our fields to top-of-the-line standards, which we believe will be accomplished by upgrading turf at each high school. Hennepin County Youth Sports Program In our initiative to upgrade turf at North High School and South High School, we have applied for Hennepin County Youth Sports Program grants. The district completed an assessment of all of its high school athletic fields, and both North and South surfaced as having the highest needs. The Minneapolis Board of Education approved on Nov. 15 the submission of applications for the grants to support projects at both high schools, and the applications have been submitted. MPS will be notified in late December 2016 whether or not we have been awarded these grants. On Nov 23, 2016, at 4:41 PM, Stephen Flisk <[email protected]> wrote: Scott, I did receive your email on Monday and apologize it took several days to respond. Thank you again for our conversation after the board meeting last Tuesday, as I appreciate your continued advocacy and insight. It is clear that you not only want what is best for your daughter but for all of the students at South High School. As requested, I forwarded your questions to Rochelle Cox, Executive Director of Special Education seeking more background on Transitions Plus. Rochelle supervises that program and will likely have that full historical perspective. She will respond in detail after the holiday. Also, I did follow up with our communications department after the board meeting and they have prepared an overview of the HCYSG application and tentative timeline. They have pushed that out on our MPS website with a link on our Athletics page. To support the school level communication, HCYSG application notices were posted to each of the high school websites, which links the user back to our general website. We will continue to update through the websites, as well as encourage our principals to share updated information. Last week, I met with Principal Ray Aponte and we discussed an internal communication. Lisa Ramirez, South High School Public Relations liaison had been working on a school communication earlier this week. I will check with Principal Aponte on the status of the update. As we discussed briefly last Tuesday, the community engagement at South is tentatively scheduled to begin in February around the field. District staff will be reconvening after the holiday to discuss and I will communicate any changes to the engagement timeline should they occur. We are hoping that our application is successful! Regarding your questions on the Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 29th, I connected with Mark Bollinger, Deputy Chief of Operations on this and you additional questions. Mark will be presenting on the Acceleration 20/20 Strategic Plan, specifically Goal #6 which will be focused on the Capital Plan planning processes (1+5). My apologies for the confusion you encountered on the website, I have passed that on. There is no plan to discuss the ABE/Transitions + project during his presentation. There is no contract with a General Contractor for the project but Mark shared that he will be considering a 'Best Value' contract, which may be forwarded for consideration by the board in February or March. However, there is a contract with an architect that was approved last spring for the design of the ABE/ Transitions + site. The ABE/Transitions Plus project is the largest capital project for fiscal year 2017 at $29.0 M; Henry HS is budgeted at $28.73M. Finally, Mark shared that Superintendent Graff is supporting the development of a robust Capital Planning Process that will assess the needs of the District. This is all the information that I have at this point. I hope it was helpful in answering some of your questions. Possibly we can connect in the next week or two depending on your schedule. Have a great Thanksgiving. Stephen Flisk, Deputy Chief of Schools On Nov 23, 2016, at 4:29 PM, Jenny Arneson <[email protected]> wrote: Mr. Schluter, Committee of the Whole meetings are discussion based meetings that the board generally holds once a month. We use these meetings to discuss complex topics more in-depth and to review progress on our strategic goals. These are not business meetings and therefore, we do not make decisions or take votes at these meetings. We generally post our agenda one week in advance. I apologize if that didn't happen or our website has different information in different places. The agenda can be found here: http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/meeting_agenda_packet_and_minutes You will see that we are discussing the 6th goal of our strategic plan which relates to capital projects. As it is a Committee of the Whole meeting, we will not be making any decisions related to the ABE/T-Plus building. The board has previously discussed and voted on the sale of the building that currently houses ABE, and concluded that the Wilder Building does not does meet adequate facility needs for the T-Plus students (as we are trying to serve young adults in an an elementary building with facilities designed for young children). I've copied our board staff, Jesse Winkler and Jennifer Lindquist. They will looking into where it might say "TBD" on the website and work with our communication team to ensure our website is more informative and agenda accessible in a timely fashion. Sincerely, Jenny Arneson Chair, District 1 Minneapolis School Board 612-382-0734 Please note that the chair or vice-chair will respond to emails on behalf of the board, though individual board members may choose to respond as well. On Nov 23, 2016, at 11:38 AM, Scott S. <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Mr. Flisk, I haven’t heard back from you, so I’m giving this another try. There are the two past questions below and one new (third) question to which you may not know the answer, so I have included the Board since that third question requires their immediate response. If they would answer question number one, that would be good too. Questions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are open to whoever can answer. 1. Why does T+ need to move out of Wilder? And why right now? Is there a problem with the building? My understanding it that three years ago, the District was needing more space for an elementary school program, but now that isn’t the case. 2. You said that you would be getting communication from the District regarding this past Board’s meeting and “yes” resolution, along with dialog that the District also is looking to include the South High community in the planning discussion concerning the athletic fields. At first you said you thought that next step planning process would be occurring in February but then said you realized that timeframe needed to be stepped up sooner than that. I haven’t heard of any communication from the District to South and to the South High community. When is that communication happening? Just keeping the MPS “commitment question” alive and well the best I can. 3. Is there ANYTHING pertaining to the T+/ABE building/site/contract etc. that is happening this coming Tuesday, Nov. 29th, MPS Board meeting “Committee of the Whole”? There is nothing on the MPS website calendar for agenda except “TBD” and that is not helpful either. When we hear the desired buzzwords of “open” and “transparent”, a “TBD” agenda doesn’t help us believe it. 4. It is our understanding there is no signed contract for any specific building plan for the 20th/21st and Lake St. site. Is this true? 5. What was discussed at the 11/16 ABE/T+ advisory committee meeting regarding the change in building plans and how/when are meeting notes available to the public. 6. It is our understanding that this is the largest capital budgeted item in MPS. Is that true? 7. I have been told that Superintendent Graff has asked to re-evaluate all the capital projects in the District as there are more needs than budget. Is that also true? 8. Has Superintendent Graff stated publicly or privately that the $29 million T+/ABE project is the best use of a limited capital budget over any and all of the other capital needs in the District? I understand that these questions are direct and might be taken as confrontational. These questions have been asked many times without being answered, so it gets really frustrating. We really just want answers so we then understand what it is you, and hopefully “we”, are trying to achieve. We haven’t had answers. We want to work together. That would be so much more rewarding and less stressful and less exhausting and just more enjoyable. We haven’t had input as a community before any of these decisions are made, much less thought about. We want the best for our students to be able to learn, to grow, to play and to achieve. As members of the South High community, we want our students to have that opportunity. We realize that most of our students will have moved on from South before anything might happen. This is not only about our students, but the future students of South and the future students of Minneapolis. I personally want my daughters to come back to their class reunions, to hear about the wonderful things happening at South in the media, and know that the school they came from is doing well and looking forward to a positive future for MPS and the city of Minneapolis. Please listen. Please include. Please give pause. Please show a plan. Please communicate. Please value our students. Please value our voice, before South’s best long-term options are lost. (And without a conversation with South High administration, staff, students, community and MPS, we don’t know what that best plan should be.) Thank you, Scott Schluter South High Parent [email protected] Begin forwarded message: From: "Scott S." <[email protected]> Subject: Questions regarding South and MPS Date: November 21, 2016 at 9:12:59 AM CST To: Stephen Flisk <[email protected]> Hi Mr. Flisk, Thank you for reaching out to me after last week’s Board meeting. I’m following up on a question I asked you that you weren’t able to answer last Tuesday. 1. Why does T+ need to move out of Wilder? And why right now? Is there a problem with the building? My understanding it that three years ago, the District was needing more space for an elementary school program, but now that isn’t the case. 2. You said that you would be getting communication from the District regarding this past Board’s meeting and “yes” resolution, along with dialog that the District also is looking to include the South High community in the planning discussion concerning the athletic fields. At first you said you thought that next step planning process would be occurring in February but then said you realized that timeframe needed to be stepped up sooner than that. I haven’t heard of any communication from the District to South and to the South High community. When is that communication happening? Just keeping the MPS “commitment question” alive and well the best I can. Thank you, Scott Schluter leweyg 5 days agoThis Tiger alumni thinks maybe the students should protest and block Lake street until their demand are met - that is the way its done now....right?
Report as inappropriateShare LikeReply stike3 6 days agoLet's start out with an AUDIT! Past spent monies? Current? Future! Who, what, when, where... that is the beginning. Follow the money. "YES" for kids...where is the money going and where was it spent in the past? This info should not be hard to gather. Report as inappropriateShare LikeReply squirrel2009 6 days agoHit up some of the more successful alumni to possibly fill the shortfall gap in funding. ie: Josh Hartnett, Rachael Leigh Cook, Michael Bland and the entire alumni for that matter. We all know the importance of teamwork, extra-curricular participation and how it matters after high school as part of college and career building blocks. Report as inappropriateShare LikeReply jdlellis1 8 days ago One of the challenges for adults is recognizing the potential problems when teenagers do not have co-curricular activities (broader than simply athletics). Idle time with teenagers will result in a plethora of mischievous activities. Parents need to be at the forefront with schools lending a helping hand. Adults need to consider their parental responsibilities before engaging in activities resulting in a child. Despite the prevailing mantra, it is not others responsibility to provide for others children. P.S. The last statement does not apply to those with physical/cognitive disabilities. Report as inappropriateShare 1LikeReply cav1234 8 days ago Graff is responsible for this, as is Board Chair Arneson, and each Board Director. Graff and the Board have made and are making decisions that have a huge impact on South, Washburn, and other K-12 learning communities. Transparency, engagement, accountability, integrity, and good judgment have been lacking, so far, around these decisions. The South community has been working for over a decade to try to engage the District about the safety of and vision for its campus. The adult education building will set in stone South's footprint and thus extinguish the South campus' potential (bounded by the YWCA and then the adult ed building and its parking ramp). As this article ably touches on - but cannot capture the full depth of the situation - the adult ed decision by Graff and the Board blindsided South and everyone else. The District has a lease in the current adult education space (with bus route nearby and all) until 2023. Not a lease for adult ed expiring next year. Not five years from now. Seven more years on their lease. And yet they are putting K-12 education, their core mission, in line behind fast-tracking a $7 million adult ed parking ramp and new $22 million building. This is really appalling. That is all happening right now - this is the responsibility of Graff, Board Chair Arneson, and the rest of the Board. This is not about what kind of Superintendent he will be or whether he will turn things around. This is who he is. There was zero community engagement or transparency around the adult ed decision. And the fact Graff won't make facilities staff available to discuss the decision is proof in the pudding. Classic Minneapolis Public Schools - and now Graff - don't tell anyone about decisions until after they are made - if then - and then say it's a done deal and go run and hide. Worse, Graff and the Board are threatening to betray both South and Washburn. The District has now twice delayed adding promised space at Washburn, the only high school over its capacity in the district and a place where kids and teachers literally - quite literally - don't fit in the space. It is also appalling. See the Southwest Journal article about it this week. Graff and the Board don't seem to want to keep the promises made to Washburn's kids, teachers, and parents either. Graff likes to apologize for the bad process, but he never owns the actual decisions. He says he takes ownership of a total failure of engagement and transparency, but he'll do nothing about addressing the terrible result of the bad process. It does not do South and Washburn any good to be told the process was horrendous but they are stuck an unsafe campus at South and an inadequate learning environment at Washburn. Graff, so far, gives us the worst of both worlds - tells us we're being abused, but, so sorry, he'll does nothing about preventing irreversible injuries. Graff, Chair Arneson, and Board, it is not too late. Delay the adult ed building now and its parking ramp (!) right now. Use the $29 million in funds to meet past promises, and use the delay to engage the community. Report as inappropriateShare 3LikeReply fishing50 8 days ago@cav1234 What a great artical on how the school board really runs. Disfunksion in its worst selfish form they are Very poor leaders ..I am not involved any in any way with education but every time I have talked to someone that is they talk about how in ineffective it is. Report as inappropriateShare 1LikeReply Flash_Gordon 8 days agoBecause my college, Augsburg, didn't have track and field facilities, we trained at South High--first the dirt track at old South and then the state of the art track at "New" South. That was almost 50 years ago. As an MSHSL track official, I am required to inspect the facilities before each meet. Although I have strong feelings for this track, I would refuse to allow a meet to be held there based on the photo. Report as inappropriateShare 3LikeReply raleighmama 8 days agoFar too much importance is placed on high school sports. Public schools are tasked with providing a free education. There is no obligation to provide extracurricular sports. Fees and participation fees should cover the costs along with booster clubs raising money. Report as inappropriateShare 3LikeReply cav1234 8 days ago @raleighmama Saying there is too much emphasis and saying there should be no place for athletics in a public school's mission are two very different things, and I agree with the former but not the latter. And I invite you to compare the emphasis on sports in MPS with suburban districts. There is not too much emphasis in MPS. We don't even have a middle school sports program anymore. And high school athletics are encouraged, but for Friday Night Lights you'll have to look elsewhere. If one believes athletics have positive effects on binding kids to schools (and therefore education) and in healthy physical and emotional development, then completely privatizing public school sports is an idea that puts sports out of reach for all but the very richest schools (and even the very richest will be restricted and have very few opponents to play), and completely shuts out the many communities who cannot possible support sports programs through fees and booster clubs. Being familiar with MPS booster clubs, I can say we work very hard to raise funds that wouldn't scratch the surface in providing for an entire program in even one sport. Report as inappropriateShare 2LikeReply fishing50 8 days ago@cav1234 @raleighmama We need to put even more effort in mpls schools sports and extra curriclur because so many have other struggles. I think they one of the most powerful developement tools at really a bargain by comparason Report as inappropriateShare 1LikeReply ripclaw 8 days agoYet somehow the administration found money to build a brand new office building. I desperately hope Graff can turn this district around. Report as inappropriateShare 2LikeReply cav1234 8 days ago@ripclaw Don't forget 800 West Broadway, a career center, that that District did and is pouring money into. Then they are leasing out the beautiful new space - to other organizations. And having nice Board retreats there when they need to retreat from the new Davis Center. Meanwhile K12 education is shoved back in line. This is happening right now. The South and Washburn decisions are being made right now. This is not future tense for Graff. This is about showing our communities what kind of Superintendent he is and what his values are. Report as inappropriateShare 2LikeReply jdlellis1 8 days agoCo-Curricular programs (Speech/Debate, Athletics, Robotics, Fine Arts, Shooting, etc.) play a key contributing factor in social development of students. In addition the programs bind schools and/or districts together in supporting developing minds/bodies. Report as inappropriateShare 4LikeReply Flicka1492 8 days agoMinneapolis spends more per student than any suburban district. How are their facilities so bad? Report as inappropriateShare 3LikeReply cav1234 8 days ago@Flicka1492 Because Graff, the Board, and District Facilities staff insist on spending $22 million on a new adult education building and $7 million on a parking ramp - yes, $7 million on the adult ed parking ramp - rather than keep their promises and responsibilities to South for a safe campus and Washburn for enough space. They should honor their past promises and K-12 core mission by delaying the adult ed building and its no-doubt beautiful parking ramp and redirecting the $29 million. Report as inappropriateShare 6LikeReply slammer 8 days agoThose would be wants, not needs. Report as inappropriateShare 1LikeReply tuite002 8 days ago@slammer these are basic needs for a high school - a place where the community can also use to run as well when not in use. Even in far off Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands (Washington State) the track and associated facilities are better maintained for far fewer students. Report as inappropriateShare 2LikeReply On Nov 16, 2016, at 7:01 AM, Scott S. <[email protected]> wrote: Good news South High Supporters, Take a moment and give yourself a little pat on the back. Have a mini celebration, because the South High athletic fields took its first baby step in a LONG time tonight! But remember, the Tigers still aren’t walking yet, much less running on the track or field. It’s just good to see some little movement by the Board in a favorable direction. It was just a “yes” to agree to apply for funding from the Hennepin Youth Sports Program, but at least it was a “yes”. I have heard there have been a lot of “no” replies over the years, a lot of “we’re going to do this for you” over the years and we still don’t have a field, or a plan, so please keep talking, keep emailing, keep asking for a timeline, keep asking for space, keep asking for better communication, keep asking for South input, keep asking for a long-term plan. This is the first MPS Board meeting that I’ve stayed into the regular meeting. It is fascinating, exhausting, heart-wrenching and boring, all at the same time. I just wanted to share a couple of this evening’s highlights (at least to me). You can also watch the entire meeting on the MPS Board website. Don’t though, because there’s an old guy who nervously reads off his notes (me). Anyway. I first want to thank Timothy Rank and Monique MacKenzie who also spoke up for South High during the public commentary. Nice job! Clap, clap, clap! What I do want to mention was that the Board said resolutions brought up one month are usually voted on the next month. To me, the South High (and North High) athletic fields resolution to apply for funding seemed like a no brainer. You’re just asking for a “yes” to apply to see if you can get funding. That’s it. Anyway, rules are rules when it comes to big organizations. At that time, Director Arneson, Vice Chair of the Board, spoke up and asked if anyone had a problem with voting on this resolution tonight. She said approving it tonight would be a good sign of moving forward. She then asked Stephen Flisk, Deputy Chief of Schools, to give his opinion on timelines and whether waiting would make a difference or would voting now be better. Thank you Mr. Flisk for saying that voting yes now is better than waiting. Thank you Director Arneson and Mr. Flisk for getting some positive, though small, movement forward tonight! Director Arneson went on to say that this vote, this request for a grant and matching MPS funds, is not about specifics, but about resources. (And BTW, we need a lot more money than this grant and match for the fields.) It’s about the grant, not the design. She went on to say that this grant vote is about thinking differently and collaborating. This was good to hear. We need a different way of thinking and collaborating AND communicating. I so hope this holds true and that the Board and the District keep to these values. You’ve heard it, so let all of us help them keep them as well. Mr. Flisk spoke to me afterwards and explained more of the expected timeline. The grant application is in December. He was expecting the next step would be in February, but is very aware of the South High community’s desire to get moving now. Because of that, he expects the next step taking place much sooner, but I don’t have a date on that. He did promise a communication from the District to the South High community very shortly regarding the MPS Board vote tonight and what that means and what that doesn’t mean. (ie. we don’t have a plan yet, we don’t have a field yet, it’s not a done deal yet, etc.) I’m also looking forward to seeing what the South High students vision of South High should look like and what they want it to look like in the future. Some students are working on that this week. I hope one of them is your student! If not, ask them. What do they want, what do they think South High should look like, what South High should be in the future? For us, the future is in our hands right now. The property adjacent the athletic field might be what the future of South needs. The property that MPS has told us is a “done deal” for T+/ABE. But, it is not built yet. My understanding is that there will be more voting, movement, discussion on that property with the Board this month. We know we can build a football field, a lacrosse field, a soccer field, a 400 meter track with high jump and long jump in the existing footprint, but what about pole vault, discus, softball, baseball, ultimate frisbee, nordic, cross country and I’m probably forgetting something. And what about practice space for all of these students? Do we just keep bussing them everywhere while the Asst. AD and myriads of coaches spend hours on the phone trying to get the busses to show up on time or show up at all? Take a look at the MN Dept of Children, Families and Learning Guide for School Construction suggestion for 41 acres! (Thank you Monique) How about if we just keep the two acres MPS has on the north side of the field right now? So while I’m excited that we’re moving a baby step forward, let’s please remember that the District now has it’s fourth property (the 20th and 21st blocks of Lake St.) next to South that it is not utilizing for South. MPS had the YWCA property and was to have collaborated with the Y to have a pool South could use to compete with, but the Y built it how the Y wanted regardless. South had won city for 20 years in a row in swimming before then, according to South High Asst. AD Tony Stewart. MPS still owns the property under the Y’s fieldhouse, but can only use the property 2 1/2 hours per day, and only on school days. That two acres would have made great practice space for the students. MPS sold 6 1/2 acres that ABE (with six more years on its lease by the way) is currently sitting on that’s just a couple hundred feet from South. What could we have done with 6 1/2 acres? If there had been a long-term plan for South, for our 1921 students, would these same decisions to sell off property and to sell off opportunities for South students have been made this way? Mr. Flisk, Deputy Chief of Schools, when I asked him, what’s the one question for us to ask MPS, he replied, “What’s our (MPS’s) commitment to getting this done?" Keep asking the questions. Keep up the emails. Keep telling others. Thank you, Scott Schluter South High parent [email protected] As a South High School parent, I'm representing many in the South High Community with their replies (show replies) to say "yes" to the Board supporting the application process in regards to funding the South High School athletic fields.
With that approval, we look forward to having the South High Administration, students, staff and community give input in the design of the South High fields. Our question of when that design process will begin .... and ..... secondly, who in MPS will be the lead contact with that design? We would appreciate understanding the timelines sooner than later. There are questions that the South High Community have in regards to the lack of a long-term plan for South itself. What does the building do well now? What does the future of the building need help with? What does the staff need now and in the future? Most importantly, what do the students coming to South in 2020, 2030, 2040 need from the academics, athletics, clubs, social and community that South can then provide them? There really needs to be a long-term plan for South. This conversation WOULD NOT be happening if there had been a well thought out, administration, student and community led plan. I realize that we see this from the perspective of South High as it was brought to my attention that the District really has no long-term plan for any of it's students, staff or school buildings. I believe that the South High Community can be and would be an engaging resource for the District as South is in the crossroads of Minneapolis culturally, racially, academically and economically. We have a very diverse student population and would welcome being part of helping the District define and communicate it's long-term commitment to the current and future students and staff of District 1. It would be great if the number 1 didn't represent merely a number or an area, but an attitude and leadership example of what the students can be and what they will be. That the students really are number 1! This is more than just about turf. Please don't lose the message here. Our field is poor. The MPS plan even states that our track is unusable. Our bleachers are awful and are not accessible. We have no practice space AND we are about to lose valuable space next to the fields. We don't have money for coaches. On and on. Please approve the application process. Please also start the process immediately for a long-term plan for South .... and District 1. Hi South High Supporters,
I just wanted to give you an update since many of you were at the South High Media Center meeting with MPS leaders, parents and students on October 26th, as well as South High Boosters. A special thank you to our District 3 MPS Board Director Siad Ali for getting that meeting set up! There are three parts to this update so you can read everything or just what you want. 1. Where we are now. 2. Calendar of MPS Board meeting dates 3. Recap of the SHS meeting with MPS leaders at the South High Media Center on October 26th (Thank you to Jennifer Bochman!) 4. Questions collected from those attending the October 26th SHS meeting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, where are we now? Most importantly, we still have no long-term plan for South High School or the athletic fields. We were told by Superintendent Graff that the building on the land adjacent the South High fields is a “done deal”. The land is not being considered for South High. As was pointed out by a parent at the meeting, there is no signed construction contract at this time and both programs, T+ and ABE, have the ability to remain in their current buildings. T+ is currently in the Wilder Building and ABE is in the former Brown Institute building with six more years on the lease. That would give the District time, if just for a short time, to do what should have been done years ago in determining the long-term strategy for the South High Campus, its 1921 students, its 250 plus staff and the entire South High community and neighbors. This week, Mark Bollinger, MPS Director of Facilities, is presenting a feasibility study/proposal of what can be done with the current footprint of the SHS athletic field to Superintendent Graff and the MPS Board. The plan should be available at the end of this week after viewing by the Board. My understanding is that the field would be enlarged for soccer and lacrosse, the north stands would be removed, the track rebuilt (6 or 8 lanes not known) and a press box added. The grass athletic field and the grass practice field next to the school would be replaced with turf. There are no lights in the plan. An eight lane track would allow us to hold sectionals and state meets. This would allow us to invite other schools, other programs to our school and our city. Six lanes only lets South run conference meets. This does not address the problems with practice space or holding multiple games or night game opportunities. We still have the bussing issues the students and staff currently endure. South’s desire for a north/south field is not addressed, nor opportunities for softball, ultimate frisbee, homecoming, lighting etc. Whether the safety issues are addressed, ie. drainage grates and hard surfaces near field of play and track lanes due to lack of space, is unknown as well. The MPS Board will request funding from the Hennepin County Youth Sports Program and the NFL. On a side note Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Graff was led around the athletic field and track by a South High varsity soccer and track team member. There he was shown the current state of disrepair, safety concerns and lack of space issues with the track and field. Seeing movement to improve South is good, but does this fit what is right for South for the next year, five years, 20 years, 40 years? We need a solid plan, after all, we are in basically the same building that was built 45 years ago. Change is slow. Improvements, land acquisition and planning are probably not going to happen again. This needs to be done correctly. MPS has two acres of land under the YWCA’s gym. Should that have been used for South? MPS just sold six acres of land to the County with the ABE building. MPS now owns two acres on the north side of the South field. Where is South, the largest school in MPS, in these discussions of any of these decisions on its doorsteps? Is 30 1/2 Street an option for space? Is 31st Street an option for space? Let’s think this through and do it as best we can. Right now, the District is still deciding what they are going to do at South without first including the South High administration, students and community. It would be best for that to change first and quickly before any opportunities are lost. There is an MPS Board meeting at the Davis Center, 1250 W. Broadway, Mpls on Tuesday, November 15th. There is public commentary from 5:30-6:15pm. The Board meeting begins at 6:15. If you would like to speak in the public comment section, you should sign up on the MPS website linked here. Our presence at the next Board meeting is important. I would love to have you join me there! Wear orange! http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/public_comment.html There has also been a request from Brett McNeal to South High Booster parents to write a letter to the MPS Board members in favor of “turf, track, lights and bleachers” and to have MPS let us “be part of any decisions concerning South’s fields”. Anyone who would or could write a letter affirming the South High community to be included in the decision making process regarding the South High athletic fields and a long-term plan is greatly appreciated! If you would like to email the MPS Board members, they are linked here. http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/ I am expecting more information from Richard Mammen (cc’d). He has been brought in by MPS to help bridge the lack of communication between MPS and the community. He is a former MPS Board Director and also a former member of the MPRB. Hopefully, he can also help us understand this summer’s signed agreement between MPS and MPRB over shared use of MPS athletic fields. Information that I receive will be passed along as best I can. Along those same lines, if you want to share this with others in the South community, please do. If you know others who want to be receiving this information please send that along as well. I have talked with Ray Aponte, Cecilia Sadler, Richard Mammen and others for a better, more efficient way for parents/caregivers to communicate to the South High community without the ability to use school resources, ie Tiger Pride, phone calls, etc. Please share your voice with MPS. Thank you, Scott Schluter [email protected] South High parent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Calendar of MPS Board meetings There has been someone from the South High community who has spoken for South, for a safe and equitable athletic field and for a long-term plan for South at the past four MPS Board meetings. A special thank you to the students, parents and friends who have taken time out to speak up for South! Your voice, our voice, is important. Please remember these meetings if you can set aside your time and energy. I encourage you to come and say “hi” to me at the next Board meeting this coming Tuesday, November 15th. I’d like to meet another Tiger! It has also been brought to my attention, that the MPS Finance meetings are regularly attended by interested parties for the Southwest and Washburn High Schools. I was told it would be good for South to be represented. Please let me know if you have an interest with these meetings so we know we’re acknowledged. It is easy to sit on the sidelines, but really cold on aluminum bleachers all alone. Let’s do this together! MPS Board Meeting - Davis Center, 1250 W. Broadway Tuesday, November 15th, 5:30-6:15 public comment, 6:15 - 8:30 Board meeting Tuesday, December 13th Tuesday, January 10th MPS Finance Meetings - Davis Center Tuesday, December 6th, 4:30 - 6:00 Tuesday, January 3rd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recap of SHS October 26th meeting South High School Meeting with MPS Leaders for Long-term plan for SHS More than eighty South High School students and parents met with leaders from MPS over concerns that the proposed MPS building on the Lake Street block adjacent to the South High athletic fields will impact any possibilities of a safe and usable track and field. The fact that there is no long-term plan for the South High Campus is what South High advocates want to see before anything else is built. The meeting was held at the South High School Media Center from 5:30 - 6:30 on Wednesday October 26th to clarify information about the Transition Plus Program and Adult Basic Education joining the ‘South Campus’ in a new building on 19th and Lake Street, adjacent to the South High Athletic Field. Attending the meeting from MPS included; Superintendent Ed Graff, Asst. Superintendent (High Schools) Cecelia Sadler, Director of Facilities Mark Bollinger,Chief Academic Officer Susanne Griffin, Director of Special Ed Rochelle Cox, Director of Community Education Jack Tramble, Athletic Director Trent Tucker, Asst. Athletic Director Dave Wicker, Board Member Carla Bates and Board Member Siad Ali. Superintendent Graff communicated that he came to the meeting with numerous staff members as it is important for clarity. Parent Scott Schluter shared photos of the current state of the South High Athletic Field and track. He summarized the following perspectives from parents at South High School. “As parents we always thought there was a plan. What we thought was happening is not what is happening”....”As parents we want equity in facilities, we want a welcoming facility like other schools, we want safety, we want a regulation size field, we want lights which will build community…” . Scott also cited a recent interview given by Trent Tucker, District Director of Athletics, where Mr. Tucker was quoted as saying “Athletics is the front porch of a school”. Parents couldn’t agree with him more. Scott also cited statistics indicating the high correlation between students who participated in athletics, school attendance and academic performance. Superintendent Graff shared what the facilities on 19th and Lake Street will look like. He shared that ABE (Adult Basic Education) and Transition Plus are going to have a new building and it will be located on 19th and Lake Street. He commented on the opportunities this will bring to South High School, specifically discussing community service and mentorship opportunities for South students. Parents asked questions for clarification of what Adult Basic Education and Transition Plus are, as well as why the two programs are joining again in one building when approximately 11 years ago the programs coexisted at the Lehman Center and it was at that time, not a good match of programming. School staff responded that the two programs would be separated in the building and they were not aware of any previous concerns when the programs coexisted. A parent then redirected the meeting away from the above mentioned programs and towards the concerns about the Athletic Field as many of the parents, staff and Alumni were in attendance because they thought the recently purchased land was going to be used for an Athletic Field and they were unaware of district plans to build a building and relocate the said programs. Parents raised the concerns that the conversation surrounding the relocation of ABE and Transition Plus feels very tangential. Superintendent Graff stated that the District needs to do a better job of communication. He then shared the history of capital improvement. The priorities for Athletics was a primary focus on interior and secondary focus on Fields. He shared that South High School received money for an updated weight room along with other schools. He also commented on the facts that in approximately year 2000, there were no more Capital Improvements, they were placed on halt by the district.. The Roosevelt Athletic Field was completed before this halt in Capital Improvements. Improvements at Southwest High School and Edison were completed by private donors. There was no opportunity for parents to ask more questions so it is unknown where Washburn High School received their funding for the Athletic Field improvements in approximately 2010. (It is known that the Vikings helped out with a $200,000 grant as part of funding for the $1 million-plus project but it is unknown where the remaining funding came from). Superintendent Graff indicated that the District has acknowledged that South and North High Schools both have the greatest need for improvements. Concerns were raised by the audience, specifically two South High Alumni and members of the South High Foundation. The expressed concerns of mismanagement and lack of collaboration over the past 10 plus years. Parents specifically raised questions about the fact that in order to properly update the athletic field that it will require more land. There were no concrete direct answers from the district about this concern. Graff shared that in November of 2016 and February of 2017 they will be looking into a 5 year plan. Latest approval by the board will be June 2017 and at that time a committee will be formulated. Students from both the boys and girls soccer teams spoke about not wanting their peers to be envious of other schools and their facilities. They spoke about the risk of injury (manhole covers, sprinkler nozzles) and cited numerous problems that keep the soccer field from being regulation size, such as the track being too close to the field. Students have gotten hurt. Several parents raised concerns that the location for the ABE and Transition Plus programming at the Lake and Hiawatha juncture is not the best location for these programs, one parent remembering when the downtown location was actually most ideal. The athletic field is not mobile and needs this land. Other parents raised concerns about Minneapolis students not choosing to attend South High School, and what is the District going to do to make South High School great again, so parents and students can be proud of their school and others will want to attend. The crowd gave a roaring round of applause when a parent shared the importance of athletics and making South High School an attractive school for incoming students, by pairing wonderful athletic programs/facilities with the current wonderful academic programs/offerings that exist. Siad Ali closed the meeting at approximately 6:30, indicating he is committed to ABE, Transition Plus and the upgrades needing to occur on the South High Athletic Field. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTIONS COLLECTED FROM THOSE ATTENDING SHS MEETING 10-26-16 Is there enough space to really make improvements to the Athletic fields and facilities? Because once you build on the lot next to Lake Street, there really is no other land adjacent to the building. This seems completely short sighted… L Is it possible that the road north of the field could be absorbed into the plans to provide some additional space/square footage for south and the ABE/Transition Plus? I’m a parent of a graduate and a current student. I like it when things make sense, and it doesn’t make sense to not take advantage of land now available right next to this aging building and fields, to plan for the long term. It doesn’t make sense! Please put the other programs someplace else for that reason! It is my understanding that there are many more positive things at Wilder School that this new building won’t have. Powder horn Park – gyms, computer lab closeness to DMV. They refurbished and reopened Howe to meet the needs of Hiawatha Elementary. Has the Committee considered other properties of the district, such as Cooper for updating for ABE and Transition Plus? If the ABE and T-Plus building is put on hold, is there a quality facility/program that they can use in the interim if the plan needs time to change? Will extra coats that South high Accrues for practice busses, loss of gate fees… Busses to track meets be covered by District? Other schools don’t have these coats! Please consider the comments regarding the EBD Building – Not on the designated property – many other area locations available – Land needed for Athletics. Are you aware of the fact that South needs more room if we want to make a meaningful improvements? You can fix what we have but that would be wasting money on a space that will still be in adequate. We need more room if we want to compete and be proud. 1. The importance of a comprehensive plan for South building and Athletic field cannot be overstated. 2. Also, with middle school students participating in high school sports, the issue of practice space and busing is a safety and liability issue. (Middle school students left at field 2 miles away without Coach) Closing street between YWCA and South high. The school needs to be taken care of before other projects. These are safety concerns with stands, track and irrigation on the field. I’m concerned that south doesn’t have the land to make sure there are enough fields, I’m concerned that there are empty buildings owned by the district and yet we are using land that would be ideal for South use instead. Read about Jaime Lerner from Curitiba Brazil. He is really good at thinking outside the box. Check it out! I am a senior on the Hockey and Lacrosse team here in Mpls, my Grandfather graduated from South in 1961 and about every month he reminds me that he’s never seen me play at South. With a new field I can promise Lacrosse would move to South because the Coach wants to get the Native American population involve in their history and it would allow for Alumni to be more proud. |
Scott Schluter
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