More bad news on the war against academic failure

Yet more bad news greeted the defenders of the status quo in the fight to save public education today.

Minneapolis public schools, a continuing hot spot is all but lost...

The loss of students to charter schools and other competitors has dropped Minneapolis from the state's largest school district to third place behind Anoka-Hennepin and St. Paul, where enrollment is more stable.

The troops are considering abandoning their equipment on the battlefield...

Another sign is that the dismal budget forecast is forcing the district to realize that it can't afford to operate all its current buildings. It's already
inventorying classrooms.

But the people behind this tragic failure have no new battleplan, instead the call is raised to stay the course..

But there were also some encouraging signs in a budget presentation to the school board. One is that the bleak outlook caused by falling enrollment is
prompting the district to consider spending that can help stanch that trend.

Many outspoken critics are now openly mocking the notion that throwing cash at the problem will have any effect, and are claiming that such tactics are only dragging out the quagmire and will result in further academic casualties.

As of today, the count of lost student has risen into the thousands in Minneapolis alone. One high ranking district official is quoted as saying "They're dropping like flies! I won't be surprised when the first tunble weeds start blowing down the hallways."