This is a letter to the Pioneer Press written by David Skoglund.
Regarding "North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale / District wants own integration solution" (1.17.08)
Regarding ISD 622's intention to pull out of the East Metro Intigration District (EMID). As a parent and taxpayer in 622 with a child who attends one of the EMID schools, I must cry foul. The school board is rushing this decision because they have a Feb 1st deadline to give notice to withdraw from EMID. In their haste I feel that they are only thinking of the short term potential financial considerations and not the practical implications of withdrawing from a successful, innovative, and historic integration program. EMID has over ten years of history, yet 622 has devoted about a month of study to their decision to pull out (they intend to vote on January 22nd at their meeting). In that short month, there has been little or no involvement of the parents, students, and the community at large in the process. That is completely unfair and should not be tolerated within a democracy. The school board has a duty to listen the families it serves, not just their internal committee. The pa rents and students of EMID urge the 622 school board to put on the brakes and involve us in the process. We don't think that the board has given this matter the attention and serious thought that it obviously deserves.