Thread by @freddieoconnell

Having just weeks ago wrapped up work on #Liberate37208, I’m frustrated that we didn’t have a more authentic community conversation about the future of @BVES_MNPS.

I’ve wondered for a while why we had two elementary schools walking distance from one another in this this area.

https://twitter.com/damonmtll_/status/1262732520392740865

I think the enrollment and fiscal challenges are real.

But I think the merger will wind up avoiding the biggest challenge @BVES_MNPS has faced since I moved to Salemtown: it serves more students experiencing #homelessness than any other @MetroSchools school.

This is correlated to an incredibly high student mobility rate (i.e., a lot of students either don't start or finish the academic year at @BVES_MNPS).

This has been an acute problem that won't resolve just because the students now get enrolled at Jones.

I have already made clear to @MetroSchools that I expect @CommAchieves to be established at Jones. That program has changed so many student and family lives for the better.

Besides the complicated questions and scenarios that arise from the socioeconomic circumstances of families at @BVES_MNPS, there are questions about leadership.

I can tell you @mhtaylor913 was constantly willing to innovate for her families. Like forming a partnership with @mwchc to help drive down chronic absenteeism by bringing high-quality #healthcare to campus and encouraging enrollment in social insurance programs.

Now the communities of Salemtown and Historic Buena Vista will have two largely empty school buildings (Fehr in Salemtown and @BVES_MNPS in HBV) with no strategy for how to repurpose them.

Here's one idea: how about affordable teacher housing?

Regardless, we further erode trust in institutions when we make consequential decisions like this with limited community participation in the decision-making process.

I know @MetroSchools has been the focus of a lot of fiscal scrutiny of late, but #Liberate37208 deserved better.