Integration District busing continues

Pioneer Press Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:59:27 -0700
East Metro Integration District will bus North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale students through at least July 2009

A popular desegregation program is exploring how to help families in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school district. Superintendent Carl Wahlstrom said the East Metro Integration District will pay to bus the school district's students at least through the end of the 2008-09 school year, even though North St. Paul is ending its participation in EMID a month before its school year ends. The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale board voted unanimously this week to withdraw from the integration district effective June 30, 2009, and explore a partnership with other suburban districts instead. That means big decisions for the families of about 180 school district students who attend EMID's two year-round schools: Harambee Elementary in Maplewood and Crosswinds Arts and Science School in Woodbury. The students still could attend the schools, but the school district is no longer required to provide busing. The integration district - which serves St. Paul and nine suburban districts - also is exploring what kind of transportation options it could offer those families after 2009, Wahlstrom said. He said they could offer busing for a fee or possibly pay for it through grants or other means. "We haven't completely closed the door on helping these families after the 2008-09 school year," Wahlstrom said. "But we don't have anything definitive yet."

[[keywords: Schools;Living;Maplewood;]]