Brainerd officials are throwing their support behind reopening Whittier school in north Brainerd.
The Brainerd City Council Monday unanimously approved a request from the Brainerd Neighborhood Schools Coalition to submit a letter to the school district supporting the coalition's effort to re-open Whittier for the fall of 2009. Council member Mark O'Day was absent from Monday's meeting.
Whittier Elementary was closed last spring as part of the district's $5.5 million in budget cuts.
Krista Soukup, representing the coalition, said it was hoped the coalition and the school district could collaborate on reopening the school. She said the coalition has reviewed the district's finances and found research that shows closed schools can have an impact on cities.
Closing schools, she said, affects tax base, quality of life and quality of education for students.
"Our coalition believes all neighborhood schools in Brainerd are both valuable and vulnerable," Soukup said. "Whittier school is best served as a public school."
"Our coalition believes all neighborhood schools in Brainerd are both valuable and vulnerable," Soukup said. "Whittier school is best served as a public school."
The coalition requested Council President Kelly Bevans read a prepared letter at the Oct. 13 school board meeting. The consensus of the council was to have council member Bonnie Cumberland add to a letter presented by the coalition that is to be read before the school board.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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