Impressed With Visit To Minnetonka Schools

To the editor:

Earlier this month, we had an opportunity to visit Minnetonka School District to observe the elementary school programs. We want to express our gratitude for the hospitality, insight and candor provided by Superintendent Dennis Peterson, school board member Lisa Wagner and other Minnetonka School District leaders. We came away inspired to offer similar innovations in our own community.

We come from a school district in Oregon that is very similar in size and demographic to Minnetonka. We were impressed by the Minnetonka language immersion programs as well as the use of technology in the classrooms. Dr. Peterson’s team gave us the opportunity to meet with parents and teachers at each school. We were blown away by the quality of the educational programs in Minnetonka.

We were especially impressed that enrollment growth has not been limited to the language immersion program. After making a key decision to begin language immersion in 2007, enrollment has also increased in the English Program in Minnetonka. We believe the reason is obvious: new families can see that Minnetonka puts the needs of children first. New students have brought new revenue, enabling wonderful new programs such as the enhanced elementary fine arts program. Minnetonka is also drawing top educators from all over the world.

It’s clear that the district’s bold investment has resulted in huge returns that will benefit your community for years to come. You are lucky to have such amazing educational opportunities offered in your neighborhood schools.

-Bob Barman and Teri Oelrich (Lake Oswego, Oregon School Board), Sarah Howell and Lara James (Lake Oswego, Oregon parents)