School recommendations appear to target poor

Superintendent Dave Benson gave his recommendations (on school closings) after getting advice from a list of very influential, and some wealthy, “external advisers” in the Cedar Rapids community. Through this process, Benson stated that the “poor” were not targeted but it seems more and more that they are. Why not have regular people on these committees? Or at least people from Polk Elementary or even Coe College? Is there an income requirement to be on these committees to be heard or taken seriously?

Did any of Benson's committees even consider the academic success that Polk has achieved and continues to achieve or did they just see 90 percent free/reduced lunch and decide to close this school since all the families that live in that area are just too “poor” to put up a fight?

Also, Benson proposed to change the boundaries to Viola Gibson Elementary so that the students in the Agin Court Apartments and the Five Seasons Manufactured Home Community south of Blairs Ferry Road will now go to Hiawatha. Did the district separate the rich from the poor here, too, like the parents wanted?

I was at those meetings, I heard those parents. I do not want my children at any school that does not welcome diversity. Polk needs to stay open. Success is worth saving!

Nicole Sales

Cedar Rapids