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I think most would agree that we want PPS to be fiscally responsible.  Maintaining 9 comprehensive high schools is not fiscally responsible.  Two high school's have to close.  I personally know some folks who live in the Jefferson cluster and are passionate about keeping Jefferson open.  I also personally know folks who live in the Jefferson cluster who would never send their kids to Jefferson.  Every high school has their supporters.  If you were at the Marshall meeting a few weeks ago after the closure of their school was announced you would have seen hundreds of people passionate about maintaining Marshall as a comprehensive high school.  If you were at the Franklin meeting back in April you would have seen the same.  

As a Latina, an educator, and a parent, I don't think closing Jefferson or Marshall is about race.  It's a difficult decision.  I was surprised the Board was willing to take this stand.  But it's one that needs to be made.  If it was my neighborhood highschool (Franklin) I'd be sad, I'd be dissapointed, and I would take my energy and invest it into my newly defined comprehensive neighborhood school. 

I'm disappointed that PPS hasn't reached the socieconomic parity amoung the high schools that they were aiming for.  It still boils down to the same thing though, if the district is going to be fiscally responsible they need to close two high schools, period.

posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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