Terry Gunderson shared this letter she wrote to the 622 board on 21 January 2008.
I am a 16-year resident of Maplewood and have had children attending Crosswinds and Harambee for nine years. I urge you to support 622’s continued membership in the East Metro Integration District.
Based on the recent presentation to the board and the information I have been able to gather, 622 does not appear to have an adequate plan in place for integration efforts should it withdraw from EMID. At the very least, please delay this decision and instruct district administration to outline more fully what would take EMID’s place, what the timetable and key steps would be, and how this would improve integration efforts throughout the district. Putting together a new collaboration will require years of work and the buy-in of all stakeholders, especially parents, as we saw with the creation of EMID. Take the time needed to make the best informed decision possible -- not just by considering what you see as EMID’s limitations but also by taking a close look at all options.
I support 622’s stated goal of improving integration efforts at all 622 schools and not just focusing on EMID. At Harambee and Crosswinds, our children have had the opportunity to learn and play with children from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. This is my wish for all children, and I hope 622 is successful in making it a reality. However, I do not see how pulling out of a successful collaborative moves you any closer to that goal. It would have just the opposite effect if 622 would be partnering with more racially isolated districts. Please sit down with EMID staff and consider how you might work together to build on the existing collaborative and expand its successes in District 622 schools. I think you have their attention.
EMID schools are a tremendous asset to 622 for reasons in addition to integration, offering one of the few public school choices in our communities. While I know people who have been satisfied with 622 schools, my husband and I determined after much research that they were just not a good fit for our family. In an era where options and choice are the norm, EMID provides an important option that makes our communities more attractive to families.
Finally, I cannot say how important this school community has been to our children. Many of their teachers have become family friends, taking an interest in their development long past the years in their classroom or school. The relationships with their fellow students are invaluable. Our fifth grader has a photo hanging in her room that was taken with four of her closest friends. One friend is white, one black, one Hmong, and one American Indian -- all arm in arm with huge smiles on their faces. That is the face of EMID. I hope some day it is the face of Richardson, Weaver, John Glenn, Tartan and the others. Until then, please see EMID for the model that it is -- a model that you helped create through your support and that can be built upon to benefit all families in 622.