South High Master Plan Request by South High, City Council, SHS Foundation and Corcoran Neighborhood1/15/2016 --------
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mark Bollinger <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 9:14 AM Subject: RE: Comprehensive Vision for ABE/South High Campus To: Jenny Arneson <[email protected]>, "Cano, Alondra" <[email protected]> Cc: Michael Goar <[email protected]>, Jennifer Lindquist <[email protected]>, Jesse Winkler <[email protected]>, Eric Gustafson <[email protected]>, LisaBeth Barajas <[email protected]>, Phillip Koski <[email protected]>, Judy Ayers <[email protected]>, Ray Aponte <[email protected]>, Siad Ali <[email protected]>, Carla Bates <[email protected]>, "Gomez, Aisha" <[email protected]>, "Artichoker, Coya H" <[email protected]> Good morning Council Member Cano, Chair Arneson, and Others, We appreciate the community continuing to show interest and wishing to be involved and engaged in our Schools and their programs. Thank you! We do have a plan toward your thoughts and request below, but needed to take time to evaluate our financial position and staffing capacity before moving forward. We review and adjust our 10-Yr Capital Plan annually for best, updated applications, based on bonding options and potential opportunities. We have completed most of FY16 and are now working on FY17, which will allow us to make the best decisions on moving forward on this project. Our Plan moving forward after we complete the above includes the following: Demolition of the existing structures on the recently acquired real estate on East Lake Street, between 21st Avenue South, 20th Avenue South and north of our current South H.S. athletic fields. The existing structures have brought illegal activity and consistent maintenance expenditures to Minneapolis Public Schools. It has become more than a nuisance and is costing MPS money that can be better used to aid and enhance our primeary mission of education. In our initial evaluation, there is no reason for MPS to maintain these structures; rather, the availability of the land offers other, more useful opportunities to our mission. We will be recommending demolition of all of the structures as soon as we complete our assessment of funding to properly identify the funding source for this project. We will need the support of the stakeholders in this important first step. Visioning Because Minneapolis Public Schools needs to provide, and has planned a cooperative space for our Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Transition Plus (T+), the newly acquired property is adjacent to the South H.S. property to the south and the MPS Fieldhouse & Property connected with the YWCA to the east, we believe it important to develop a vision for the sight from a holistic view before focusing on part as a project to provide space for our ABE and T+ programs. Our Plan is to develop 2 (two) groups: 1) internal team that includes MPS Staff, an Architect, and a Developer, and 2) an Advisory Committee of about 10 – 12 members that represent the Board of Education, Transition Plus, Adult Basic Education, South H.S., neighborhood organization(s), and possibly other entities as appropriate. We will send a message to the entities of the Advisory Group with more details and requesting a name of their representative, as the preparation process is completed and approved and ready to move forward. These 2 (two) teams would work to develop an applicable and suitable vision to use for project(s) moving forward. We will be recommending the development of these 2 (two) groups with a construction method, planning process, and schedule as we complete our assessment to identify funding in its support. It is our intent to move this process to completion of a vision as soon as possible to maintain a timeline that started with the sale of 2225 East Lake Street. Project Because Minneapolis Public Schools desires to provide appropriate space for our ABE and T+ program, after selling the current building and property to Hennepin County, within a reasonable time period, it has been determined that a project to be determined from the above mentioned vision will need to occur. Because Minneapolis Public Schools has limited funds, remains conscious of the tax levy to its public, and continues to work in addressing the many needs at our other schools in the District, a project will be determined that best meets all needs and limits. We will recommend a project from within a vision as accepted above. MPS believes developing a vision for the entire site as mentioned above is sensible as it helps define needs and enhancements from a big-picture view to focus to best use of space for all stakeholders. MPS also remains aware of the core mission & vision of the District, that includes all schools, students, and funding needs. We hope to be in a position to begin visioning for the site soon. I would be glad to be the primary contact source in leading this to a project. I hope this helps, but know I am available for any questions, comments or concerns. Best, Mark Mark W. Bollinger Deputy Chief Operating Officer Minneapolis Public Schools 1250 West Broadway Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55411 Telephone: 612-668-0285 E-mail: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Jenny Arneson Sent: January 20, 2016 07:22 PM To: Cano, Alondra Cc: Michael Goar; Mark Bollinger; Jennifer Lindquist; Jesse Winkler; Eric Gustafson; LisaBeth Barajas; Phillip Koski; Judy Ayers; Ray Aponte; Siad Ali; Carla Bates; Gomez, Aisha; Artichoker, Coya H Subject: Re: Comprehensive Vision for ABE/South High Campus Thanks so much! I spoke to Mark Bollinger today and he plans to respond to this email in more detail tomorrow along with action steps. 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 Jan 20, 2016, at 1:38 PM, "Cano, Alondra" <[email protected]> wrote: Dear Director Arneson, It was a pleasure to run into you this morning and thank you for your time discussing the contents of this letter. As you might recall, I’m submitting this letter on behalf of a group of stakeholders who have been meeting over the past months to talk about the needs of South High School in a context where there are a lot of moving pieces as they relate to the ABE building, purchasing of new land, and the pending improvements of the school. Per your suggestion, I’m including MPS staff who are likely to lead on some of this. Attached you will find the letter explaining our perspective on the issue and requesting a meeting with you, the appropriate staff and any other Directors you would recommend. We would like to begin this much needed conversation to have a better understanding of the strategies in place and gather more cohesion for not only the future of this area (encompassing South High and the new ABE location), but also the ways we could all work together to help achieve this broader vision. Per your request, I’ve informed Corcoran Neighborhood Organization of your interest in having them speak to the Holland Neighborhood – this connection is in the making and we look forward to sharing updates on this conversation when we meet. Can you please let me know the best way to proceed with scheduling a meeting so my office can help us with the logistics? Respectfully, Alondra Alondra Cano │Ninth Ward Minneapolis City Council Member 350 South 5th Street – Room 307 │ Minneapolis, MN 55415-1382 612.673.2209 │[email protected] │ www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ward9
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