Criteria for deciding school closures is odd

In the Feb. 28 article “Polk supporters make case for saving school,” Mary Ellen Maske said, “Thirteen of our 24 elementary schools are not identified as schools in need of assistance.”

This was how Maske justified the selection of Polk Elementary School for closure when they had gotten off the No Child Left Behind list. By doing simple math, this means that 11 other schools are on the list. Does the district think the public is so simple-minded we cannot see all schools are not performing “equally” as they would have us believe?

Maske, the district's executive administrator for prekindergarten through eighth grade, made it very clear that academic success had not been one of the criteria used in selecting which schools would close. She then explained, with the support of Mary Meisterling, that if teachers were concerned their school could be closed if academic success was not achieved it would make for a very hostile work environment!

So, let me get this straight, teachers, those responsible for molding our children's future, are not rewarded for good work because it might hurt the feelings of those that are struggling? Who is putting our children first?

No one is suggesting that a school be threatened with closure if it doesn't perform, but if the district is in such dire need of money that they need to close a school, then choose from the bottom! Where are the standards?

Danielle Scott

Cedar Rapids