You may have read that an Edina neighborhood in the Hopkins school district (#270) is trying to become part of the Edina school district (#273). Round one did not go well for them.

In what could be a precedent-making decision, the Hopkins school board voted 7-0 to keep the Parkwood Knolls neighborhood, prompting unhappy residents to vow they will take their fight to the State Capitol.

This result was of course very predicable.  Follow the money:

 

"The financial impact would have been devastating," Hopkins Superintendent John Schultz said after the meeting. "It's a very complicated issue. We had to think about all the variables."

Ultimately, this money argument is almost silly, since a minor boundary change like this should net to almost zero ongoing expense once whatever small one time costs are paid.  And this is not the first such example of a public school district trying to improve its fund balances by improving its "balance of trade" with neighboring disticts.

On the other hand, the notion of city - school boundary alignment seems intuitively desirable, especially when your address says Edina but your children's diplomas will not.  Oh, but we're in the top 15 says Hopkins.  They're good enough, they're smart enough, and doggone it, US News & Report likes them!

I wish these parents luck at the Capitol with the Democrats firmly in control, even if the DFL hasn't granted their Big Education friends quite as many wishes of late.