A few more thoughts on Polk

I wasn't there for the vote on Polk. All I know is what I read in the papers. But I do have a few thoughts.

It's disappointing, obviously. I held out some faint hope that the board would listen to the overwhelming opposition from parents and community leaders and grant at least a reprieve. Didn't happen. Six of seven went along with Superintendent Dave Benson. Not shocking, I guess, considering that the district's reaction throughout this process to any public pressure or criticism was to circle the wagons and dig in.

We're losing a successful school in a neighborhood that needs one, and at a time when public education is under fire for its failures. The district saves money, but next year this time, they'll be talking again about budget woes and declining enrollment. Not much will have been gained, but much will be lost.

I think teachers and staff will do their best to make this transition as smooth as possible, but it's going to be really difficult for a lot of these families.

We might feel better about this if there were a clear educational benefit, but there still isn't one. The district has talked in broad terms about equity and access, both important, but the facilities process was not designed to spark any sort of new student achievement push or an effort to step up the district's educational game. It was designed to manage continuing decline and bolster budget reserves. That's pretty much it.

As bitter as folks feel now about this decision, wait until the district's administration starts moving into its new $44 million headquarters in the next few weeks.

But maybe it's not all for not. I think if this process has a legacy, it should be that we start paying closer attention to how our school districts are governed. I'm as guilty as anyone, but it needs to change.

Over the last decade, voter turnout for school board elections in Cedar Rapids has averaged 3.5 percent, with a high of 5.3 percent in 2011 and a low of 1.62 percent in 2009. We've all got excuses (I skipped the last Linn Mar board election for no good reason.) But these numbers are beyond pathetic.

The Cedar Rapids School District teaches 16,000 kids, has a $185 million general fund budget, (far larger than the city's $100 million budget) is one of the city's top employers and makes decisions that significantly impact the way this community grows and develops, or doesn't. And as of now, they're elected by only a tiny sliver of this community. And then we wonder why they're not more responsive.

I tend to fixate on the City Council, but the school board is every bit as important, if not more so. They deserve much more attention, and I, for one, plan to give it to them. It's really the least I can do.