2016.02.01 RESO 2016-03 Position re closing of Withrow School

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RESOLUTION 2016—3 APPROVING A POSITION REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF THE WITHROW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS PROPOSED BY THE STILLWATER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEREAS, the voters within the Stillwater Area Public School District voted to pass a Levy in 2013 and a Bond in 2014 in order to fund the area schools in a variety of ways; and WHEREAS,many voters understood that the passing of the levy and bond meant that no schools were to close in the foreseeable future; and WHEREAS, the Stillwater Superintendent proposed the BOLD initiative which would result in the closure of three elementary schools in the district: Withrow Elementary, Marine Elementary, and Oak Park Elementary; and WHEREAS, the proposal to close schools emerged from inside the district, without input from the general public and without sufficient details provided to the city or the public; and WHEREAS,the Hugo City Council recognizes the value to the community of each school facility, which serve as venues for social interactions, activities and recreational opportunities, and WHEREAS, the City strives to expand and improve partnerships with all school districts within the City and collaborate for the purposes of providing the community with educational and recreational activities that result in improvements to the quality of life for the citizens; and WHEREAS, the proposal to close schools does not consider the impact on the communities; and WHEREAS,the Stillwater Area School Board members either did not receive the City's invitation to attend the January 4ffi City Council meeting, or refused to attend to discuss the merits and consequences of this initiative; and WHEREAS, the process and timeline outlined for deliberation of this important decision, which may have widespread community impact, is short and scripted without time for legitimate debate and careful consideration of ideas and alternatives; and WHEREAS, Withrow Elementary is an important community asset located within the City of Hugo and has recently received U.S. Department of Educational National Blue Ribbon Award for academic excellence; and WHEREAS, Withrow Elementary School is located in a rural setting without municipal services such as city sewer and water, and further,it is located along low traffic roadways,in an agricultural zoning district; and WHEREAS, the existing zoning, lack of public improvements in the area, and surrounding land use patterns makes the viable re-use or sale of the building unlikely, leading to possible