Galtier saved! Neighborhood elementary school to remain open

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By JANE MCCLURE

It’s a new day at Galtier Elementary School, as parents and supporters work to increase enrollment. The school community plans a public celebration 5:30-7:30pm on Thur., July 21 at the school, 1317 Charles Ave. The school community wants to thank everyone who helped during the battle to keep the school open. There will be free activities, as well as some food for purchase to support the school.They’re also welcoming families interested in the school as an option for their children.

On a 4-3 vote on June 21, the St. Paul School Board voted to keep Galtier open. Superintendent Valeria Silva had proposed that the school close in 2017. Silva had argued that the improvements needed to keep Galtier open would increase Galtier’s budget from $1.259 million to $1.96 million. Silva said that students could be sent to Hamline Elementary starting in fall 2017.

But Galtier parents rallied, with dozens attending School Board meetings to make the case for the school. Many contended that the school district hasn’t given Galtier the resources it needs to survive and thrive and that closing the school would hurt its families.

Galtier was a citywide magnet school before it became a neighborhood school under Silva’s Strong Schools, Strong Communities program. Enrollment dropped to 158 in 2015-16 and is projected at 144 this fall. Supporters contend that the school district hasn’t done enough to help promote the school and that allowing Hamline Midway families to have children bused out of the neighborhood has hurt Galtier.

In the weeks up to the Galtier vote, parents speculated that it could be a 4-3 split to either close or save the school. They cheered when the vote went their way.

School Board Member John Brodrick was the most vocal about saving Galtier, saying that district officials were pulling the rug out from under the school and not giving parents time to boost enrollment. He was joined by Steve Marchese, Zuki Ellis, and Chue Vue, who turned out to be the swing vote. John Schumacher, Mary Vanderwert, and Jean O’Connell voted for the closing.

The 4-3 vote was part of a lengthy and contentious School Board meeting in which Silva’s tenure as superintendent was ended and School Board Member Jean O’Connell resigned in protest. O’Connell is done effective June 30. Silva will stay on for a time as a district consultant.

The School Board also voted to close a projected $15.1 million budget gap.

Galtier parent Clayton Howatt said the vote to keep the school open signals a new day as parents, teachers and other school supporters focus on increasing enrollment. Galtier parents, students and school officials hosted an open house June 29, which was attended by several prospective families.

“School Board members have told us they want to see Galtier not just thrive but survive,” Howatt said. Ideas for how Glitter engages parents could be tried at other struggling neighborhood schools.

As they work on other ways to boost enrollment, parents are also reaching out to area colleges to see if they can partner with Galtier.

“We’re moving on and trying to increase enrollment,” Howatt said. School supporters recently changed the Facebook page Save Galtier into Grow Galtier. They’ll use the page and other means to promote the school.

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