The real truth in this story is not any individual coach or player, but it is about the student, our students, now and future. What do we show them? How do we teach them? How do we help them create their foundation? How do we let them fall down and lift them back up again? How do we make them feel cared for and valued? How do we allow them to cheer each other on? How do we let them feel proud of who they are and where they come from? This is not about us. This is about them.
Please watch this video linked below. This is about the students. Their hopes, their dreams, their struggles, their failures, their successes. The athletic fields are about all of this and about our ability to be there to encourage them and to cheer them on and ourselves at the same time. VIDEO: 'We will go up! Are you with me?'By McKenna Ewen, Star Tribune 10/23/2012, 7:15am CDT An undermanned team at a large city high school, the South Tigers were followed on the field and off by Star Tribune videographer McKenna Ewen. http://www.mnfootballhub.com/news_article/show/186221?referrer_id=648058
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The South High PUSH (Parents United for South High) took place in the Media Center, Monday, December 12th. Site Council Co-chair Steve Richter opened the discussion about the South athletic fields. What we thought was going to happen for South in improving the safety, size and practice space that South High students have needed for years and MPS providing an equitable athletic facility....is not happening. What is happening, is the MPS is planning a building for two existing MPS programs, Adult Education (ABE) and Transitions Plus (T+). With MPS streamlining the bidding process in the first quarter of 2017 and plans for construction to happen in the second quarter of 2017, there is no time left for the South community to be quiet. If MPS constructs their building and finally comes up with a plan for South athletic facilities and says, "sorry, we needed 20 more feet, but we can't get you a properly sized field, or there is no room for lights, or the track has to stay six lanes" and so on. Richter went on to show that this is the fourth property that MPS has owned next to or near South High. Included in those properties are the YWCA, in which the agreement was to have a competition swimming pool which South High swimmers would be able to hold meets. Didn't happen. The Y fieldhouse property is still owned by MPS, yet it is often difficult to work out time for South athletes in their building. The 6.5 acre "Brown Institute" site sold by MPS in 2014 (that still has six more years available lease for ABE) was not considered with South. Number four, the Lake Street block between 21st and 20th. Adjacent to the South High field. This might be the last chance for space for South. We need to know that MPS has the space, has a plan, that will fit the needs of the students of South High and we don't have that from MPS. South High parent Scott Schluter then presented plans showing the South High fields running north/south to Lake Street. Plans utilizing the two half blocks from 19th to 21st. Plans that show the removal of 31st Street creating a inclusive and safer campus plan. Those plans also showed the school's needs and desires at that time. Those plans also addressed the need for more space in a school that had outgrown its classrooms with the addition of a third floor on part of the building. The other needs mentioned, including the athletic facility, were left on hold. Below is the plan showing the desired fields for South High. Why did no one at MPS involve South in discussions on properties that were part of their 1996 master plan? Who watches over the plan? It was then shown that since the 1996 South High Master Plan was formulated, designed and blueprinted, MPS has had EIGHT Superintendents! Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendents Since 1996 Peter Hutchinson Carol Johnson David Jennings Thandiwe Peebles Bill Green Bernediea Johnson Michael Goar Ed Graff The proverbial "ball" was dropped and it did not roll South High's way. Since then, the City of Minneapolis presented a Hiawatha/Lake Master Plan in 2000 (shown below). That plan also shows an enlarged South High athletic facility and the removal of 31st St to connect the school and the fields. The South High Foundation also submitted design plans years ago to MPS with a larger athletic fields footprint to help bring South up to an equitable facility and the money promised from MPS at that time never materialized. Even the neighborhood that South High resides in (Corcoran Neighborhood Organization) has sent a design proposal (below) to Superintendent Ed Graff to be considered as a "masterplan vision" for South. This shows that this problem is nothing new. This shows that designers, architects, city officials, alumni and neighborhood organizations for over 20 years have seen, have known and have spoken to the need for South High students to have a safe and equitable facility. Why MPS decides to build on land that was decided 20 years ago was part of the South High vision and then not include South High Adminstration, students or South High attendance area community is wrong. What can the South High community do before the streamlined MPS bidding process begins in January 2017? Go to the contact page. Email the Superintedent, the MPS Board, the MPS Athletic Dept, the South High Principal, the media, your friends, neighbors, city council. This is the fourth piece of land that MPS has owned next to South over the past 20 years, yet, for some reason, South doesn't seem be at the head of the table. 1996 South High School athletic facilities design as part of an encompassing master plan. MPS did part of this plan in adding a third story to part of the building. Hiawatha/Lake Station Master Plan 2000 http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/planning/cped_lakemidtown#P3_116 Corcoran Neighborhood Organization submitted this "Masterplan vision" to Superintendent Ed Graff 12/3/16.
Hi South High supporters,
There are some immediate items I would like you to know, ie. PUSH meeting and MPS Board Meetings. In the last email when we were celebrating a mini “yay” for at least getting a vote from the Board in favor of applying for a grant and MPS funds. We are now down to the last days of trying to get Superintendent Graff and the MPS Board to make a plan for South before they sign a building contract in the first quarter of 2017 that will lock South High into it’s current footprint. A footprint that is too small to support it’s students athletics in track and field, soccer, lacrosse, football, ultimate frisbee, much less any space for them to practice without being bussed all over Minneapolis. As always, please keep telling your Superintendent, your MPS Board members, your Principal AND your friends, neighbors, fellow students your thoughts and concerns and wishes. Superintendent Ed Graff [email protected] MPS Board http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/ South High Principal Ray Aponte [email protected] Other topics are highlighted below and are included in more detail on the www.mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com. http://mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com/ Thank you, Scott Schluter South High Parent [email protected] PUSH Meeting, Monday, Dec. 12th, 6 pm, SHS Media Center http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/p_u_s_h South High Athletic Field Updates 1. Introductions 2. What the South High community thought was happening with the land on Lake Street. (designs from 1996 and 2000 will be shown) 3. What MPS currently plans to build on the land adjacent the South field on Lake Street. (designs will be shown, MPS stated bids start Jan. 2017, construction slated for 2nd qtr. 2017) 4. What does South High School need to happen for the long-term future of the students regarding the fields. 5. What do we as the South High Community need to do right now? MPS Board meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 13th, 5:30 pm, Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway Av http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/calendar 5:30 public commentary signup http://board.mpls.k12.mn.us/public_comment We need you!!! There has been a public comment from someone from South High at each MPS Board meeting since July! Bids for the ABE/T+ start in January 2017. We need someone, parent or especially a student, (students make a big impact upon the Board) who can remind the Board that they should have a plan for South High BEFORE they sign any contract that forever locks down the South High Campus without considering South’s future! If you can speak, please let me know. I would love to know that we have South represented. I cannot make it this Tuesday, but am very willing to help anyone if they have a question on what they would like to say. MPS Finance Meeting, Tuesday, January 3rd, 4:30 pm, Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway Av Even though there is no public comment at these meetings, our MPS District 3 Board member Siad Ali has told us that it would be good to show South High interests as other high school communities are regularly in attendance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go to www.mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com to see past emails, press and contact information http://mpsneedsaplan.weebly.com/ Information on topics below will be expanded upon within the mpsneedsaplan blog site. Corcoran Neighborhood Organization sends a letter and South High Campus Master Plan proposal to Superintendent Graff - Dec. 3, 2016 Plan will be shown at PUSH meeting. While it is good that the local neighborhood is thinking of South High, South needs to be the driver in this conversation. Letter and plan will be available soon on blog site. MPS Field Plan Three does not meet South High field current footprint. Concerns that MPS has no plan that has architecturally measured options for South before land space is lost. Site Council in November attended by MPS architect and MPS facilities Director. http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/site_council_6 ABE and T+ building size and parking constraints discussed by architect. South High School Plans from 1996 showing a north/south athletic field and 31st Street removed. Minneapolis City Hiawatha/Lake Master Plan from 2000 showing 31st Street removed. Corcoran Neighborhood Organization submits South High Campus Master Plan to Superintendent Graff12/11/2016 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ed Graff <[email protected]> Date: Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 2:18 PM Subject: RE: South High Campus To: Flannery Clark Cc: Mark Bollinger <[email protected]>, Jenny Arneson <[email protected]>, Carla Bates <[email protected]>, Siad Ali <[email protected]>, Eric Gustafson <[email protected]> Flannery, Thank you for following up regarding your January letter regarding capital planning for the South High campus and adjacent area. Ideally, my goal is to have one capital planning process that is holistic in nature and incorporates plans for existing school communities with a uniform, district-wide process framework. Of course, the framework can be nuanced to accommodate unique needs at particular sites. My goal is for families across Minneapolis to understand that an equitable, transparent and accountable process, and set of criteria, is being used to prioritize capital dollars, engage families and other interested community members, and complete projects. I am meeting this week to ensure that the South High community and the process recommendations you have suggested are considered in the master planning work. In the meantime, I believe I owe the South High planning group a return visit just to update everyone on where we are, and provide information on our ABE/T+ program and the track and field improvements. I will be working with Principal Aponte to arrange a time. Until then, Ed Ed Graff Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools p 612.668.0200 a 1250 West Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Flannery Clark Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2016 4:10 PM To: Ed Graff Cc: Mark Bollinger; Jenny Arneson; Carla Bates; Siad Ali; Eric Gustafson Subject: South High Campus Dear Superintendent Graff, Please find attached our letter from January 2016, proposing a meeting on a long term Master Plan for the South High Campus. With the ABE/T+ project moving forward, we believe it is time to revisit the points addressed in the letter, and to convene a conversation about long term plans for the South High campus. I have also attached an example plan drafted by Phillip Koski, a longtime Corcoran resident and volunteer. I look forward to your response. Best, Flannery Clark Chair, Corcoran Neighborhood Organization |
Scott Schluter
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