St. Paul elem. school slated for closure will stay open
A St. Paul school that was recently slated for closure will stay open, after all.
Superintendent Valeria Silva announced tonight that she will keep open Four Seasons Elementary. She had planned to close the year-round arts magnet because of low enrollment.
Silva said at a community meeting Wednesday that parents of Four Seasons students had presented a viable option since she first announced its closure, and she'll incorporate their ideas.
"As long as it's feasible and doesn't sacrifice the goal of student achievement, she's always been willing to look at other options," said district spokesman Howie Padilla.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Four Seasons will now stay open, though it will still be moved to a different building. The district will still use the Four Seasons building to expand its special education programs at Bridge View school, which is located right next door to Four Seasons.
The new Four Seasons location hasn't yet been decided. The arts theme will also stay, and the school will remain a magnet with citywide busing, but it will no longer be a year-round school.
The move was one of several contained in a three-year strategic plan for the district that aims to entice students to attend schools closer to where they live.
Final approval of that entire plan is expected in mid-March.