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Mahtomedi Mn. became the first school district in the state of Mn to close open enrollment. This is a very important change in policy based on school board recommendations.
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| New Wildwood Elementary |
The Mahtomedi school board last week voted to close open enrollment at all grades. That's rare enough in Minnesota, where school districts typically welcome nonresident students and the state-aid dollars they bring, but what makes Mahtomedi extraordinary is that even some of the younger siblings of current students are being excluded.Says Josh Verges writer for the St Paul Pioneer Press.
Open enrollment has been a hot topic for years in Mahtomedi, where 31 percent of all students live outside the district. That fact frustrates residents who blame outsiders for high taxes, but school officials say nonresident students help fill classrooms, which is good for the district's budget.
Yale Norwick, a Realtor and owner of WildWood Realty and former Mahtomedi Mayor, said a housing boom for young families had the district building new classrooms two decades ago. But as those families' kids graduated, the parents stayed in their homes, and resident enrollment plummeted.
Now, the board is looking to limit open enrollment in order to protect the quality of its programs. Mahtomedi's test scores are very good, and many families are drawn to its engineering programs.
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| Mahtomedi Mn. Real Estate |
These programs get students a head start and are supported by local companies such as 3m, Medtronic etc.
The school board for district 832 of which Mahtomedi is a part has committed to "right-sizing" its high school at around 1,200 students, which is big enough to pay for Advanced Placement classes and a popular engineering program without cutting kids from sports teams. But to get to that number, they need to reduce class sizes in the lower grades.
"As a member of the community a parent former Mayor and a business owner I see both sides of the issue here" says Mr Norwick. "Nobody wants higher taxes but we all want to be part of a top tiered school district we all want our kids to do better than we did and that sometimes comes with a price".
"The balancing act is never easy but in the end what we get are smarter kids increased property values and a higher standard of living in our community, it's a win win situation ".
Here is what open enrollment currently looks like in Mahtomedi according to the Pioneer Press and the MN Dept of Ed.
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| Mahtomedi Mn. High School |
3,287: Total K-12 enrollment in Mahtomedi Public Schools in fall 2013
1,008: Open enrolled in from other districts
59: Mahtomedi residents open enrolled out to other districts
If you are interested in looking for Real Estate in the Mahtomedi School District contact:
Yale Norwick Owner of Wildwood Realty over 25 years in the Mahtomedi School District
Wildwood Realty
917 Arbor Ave.
Mahtomedi, Mn.
651-426-5232
www.wildwoodrealtymn.com
