by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Nine months of gestation work by a committee studying the Sartell-St. Stephen School District led to the birth of its findings at a working session of the school board Nov. 16.
The findings were not surprising: increasing enrollment growth will require more space, and facility updates are needed.
The Community Schools Planning Committee recommends a 10- to 15-year facilities plan that includes a new high school for grades 9-12 and the creation of more space and new grade configurations within the other current schools.
The total plan, if implemented, could cost up to $150 million, but school officials caution there are yet many factors to be considered as the plan is scrutinized in the coming months. The plan is not set in stone; it could change in many respects along the way.
One of the challenges, the committee concluded, is to make sure all schools are made up to date for the state-of-the-art standards that are – and will be – expected of all students as the 21st Century progresses.
Another challenge is if a new high school is built, where exactly should it be located?
The committee’s many hours of work was informed by more than 100 Sartell residents, school-staff members, city officials, business people, senior citizens, alumni and other school-district officials. Nine four-hour meetings were held during the nine-month period.
The committee examined topics such as enrollment numbers, enrollment projections and future needs for students and residents.
The school board thanked the committee for its hard work.
“The process we went through in determining the needs of facilities for the district was extensive and comprehensive,” said Jeremy Snoberger, a parent and member of the committee. “There are so many variables to consider while planning for facilities for the next 10 to 15 years, and hopefully being thoughtful, even beyond that. We came up with one plan, a plan we feel provides our district with the best value. There are sure to be some things that will change and be improved to the initial proposal with even more insight and information.”
Krista Durrwachter, school board chair, said the task now is to align the plan with “community, educational and financial impacts” while considering the potential for partnerships and collaborations.
The next steps in the process will be discussed at a school-board working session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 in the District Services Learning Center.
Updates on the long-term school plan will be published in the Newsleader during the coming months as the board further pursues the options.
Brent Snoberger points to a graphic as he prepares to outline the long-term recommendations for school needs in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. A planning committee, of which Snoberger is a member, spent nine months studying district needs. The plan was presented to a working session of the school board Nov. 16.
