Minneapolis superintendent wants a North High freshman class

Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson is recommending that the school board allow a ninth-grade class at North High School next fall.

In November, the district told a community group that rallied to save North that it must recruit 125 students or there'd be no freshman class.

But Minneapolis Schools spokesman Stan Alleyne said support from North High parents and alumni has been strong.

"All of the players who are intimately involved in this process are excited about where we are and we didn't want to do anything right now to slow down that momentum," Alleyne said.

The group, Friends of North, has commitments from only 52 students to be in the 2011 freshman class. But the group's president, Marcus Owens, said Johnson's change of heart indicates a much better rapport between the district and community.

"The partnership is really starting to grow," Owens said. "And I think you can see that with the decision like this, and seeing the value that having a continuous educational program go through there really sets this new program, that's going to open in the fall of 2012, up for success."

North High will debut a new high school program in the fall of 2012. Exactly what type of program that will be has not yet been determined.