Year-round schedule challenges students

While much has been written in support of the renewed academic success at Polk Elementary School, we feel it is important to analyze why Polk works for the students who go there.

While the wider district continues to see a net outflow because of open enrollment, Polk with the year-around schedule produces results within a much more challenging environment than most other elementary schools in the area. The year-around school schedule was instituted to improve the outcomes for the student population it services.

With the estimated savings of $562,000 from closing Polk, the district will only need an additional 100 students to open enroll out of the district to eat away the entire savings. We believe the school board needs to consider carefully the socioeconomic and financial risks of closing a success story, Polk Elementary School.

Scott and

Jan Overland

Cedar Rapids