Re-vote on Anoka-Hennepin school closures starts tonight

The state's largest school district begins the process Wednesday night of re-approving a plan to close schools. The district's original closure vote didn't follow proper procedures.

In September, the Anoka-Hennepin School Board voted to save money by closing six schools and reconfiguring two others.

The district later learned it hadn't given enough public notice before some public hearings.

The board will hold a public hearing Wednesday night and a final vote Monday.

Parent Mike Pazandak is among those hoping the board will use the second chance to reconsider the plan.

He has two children at one of the school's slated to close, Riverview, and he says he's worried about grouping children from two shuttered schools in a location that also will be so close to two other schools.

"Having these children spread out a little bit more and having them put back in local, friendly, neighborhood schools is a much safer," Pazandak said. "And many studies prove that smaller elementary schools provide better learning opportunities."

But Superintendent Dennis Carlson says the board will listen to any suggestions that come from the public, but in the end, he expects the same vote as last time.

"We've got to close enough buildings that gives us about $3 million in terms of a budget, in terms of savings, and we're going to move around 2,200-2,300 students," he said.

"It's not a pleasurable task to go through."

The closures are the first for the district in 50 years. The public hearing Wednesday night will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Blaine High School.