Neighbors say 'no' to special ed program

A proposal to remake St. Paul's Homecroft Elementary School into a home for older special education and alternative students has collided with stiff neighborhood opposition and could be pulled from an ambitious plan to transform several St. Paul schools.

After a community meeting attracted about 150 neighborhood residents -- nearly all against the plan -- several school board members indicated they may be willing to delay implementing changes and explore other ways to energize and improve the 86-year-old school in the southwest corner of Highland Park.

In fact, Board Member Tom Conlon, a Highland resident, said he would propose pulling the Homecroft plan from the district's set of proposals for a year.

Other proposals include expanding popular arts and aerospace programs from elementary schools into the middle grades.

"At this point, that's my plan," Conlon said after Wednesday night's emotional meeting. "I'm open to a number of choices that would keep this school open."

St. Paul schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen and her staff have introduced an ambitious set of proposals to radically remake several schools.

Some, like Homecroft, have missed testing targets for several years and must make major changes to improve under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Others, such as Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet and Linwood A-Plus Elementary, have been successful. The idea, Carstarphen has said, is to improve schools that need it and to replicate programs that work.

But the Homecroft plan, which would take several middle and high school programs and put them into what has been a K-6 school, drew flak from neighbors when it was introduced last month. Many complained the public was let in too late on the process.

"I have never seen such total disrespect for a community and for a community process," said Margo Fox, a former school board chairwoman and Homecroft parent. "Whether or not this plan is a good plan, we haven't had a chance to really know what it is." Others said they worry about how older students -- especially those in special education programs -- would affect the neighborhood.

"I can't have my kids come up here and play after school, apparently," said Rhonda Johnson.

Despite assurances from district staff that the students pose no risk and would benefit from the move, many said they wanted the school board to do more to explore keeping a viable elementary program there.

Yet, the neighborhood hasn't chosen Homecroft for years. Fewer than half the school's students are from the area. The school has long struggled to attract children from the immediate neighborhood, as well as the broader Highland Park community. Half of its enrollment -- currently 236 -- is made up of students in a bilingual program bused from around the city. Other students attend the school's language academy. Robert Brandtjen, an area resident, said nearly half the area's school-age children attend private schools or charter schools. For that, he blamed the school district.

"They go to private schools because you're not addressing their needs," he said. "You do not have to take the school out of this neighborhood. You have to put resources back into it." One idea, Conlon said, may be to pair the popular early years International Baccalaureate program at Highland Park Elementary, for which there has been a waiting list, with Homecroft -- similar to what the district is proposing with Farnsworth and Cleveland Junior High.

The school board, which has approved the change in committee, is set to take a formal vote on all the proposals on Tuesday. School board Chairwoman Elona Street-Stewart said board members are listening to the community and may be open to alternatives.

"No one truly has their mind made up," she said. "The board wants to be thoughtful."

James Walsh • 651-298-1541