The Building a Better Future plan addresses scholar mental health needs. What exactly are these needs?
The Building a Better Future plan addresses scholar mental health needs. What exactly are these needs?
Often these are called social-emotional supports in education. Social-emotional supports help scholars learn to get along with others, which is critical to success in school, life and work. Scholars then effectively apply their knowledge, attitudes and skills to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Research shows that the presence of social-emotional supports enhances academic performance and reduces classroom disruptions. Also, the state's 2021 Safe Learning Survey and Osseo Area Schools 2021 parent/caregiver survey both had a fifth of families saying they need mental health supports for their scholar(s). Along with classroom teachers who directly teach social emotional curriculum, other district staff members that help achieve this work are school counselors, school psychologists and social workers.
Sometimes students exhibit a need for more targeted mental health supports. The district provides co-located mental health services through a partnership with Lee Carlson, Inc. and St. David’s Center. Some students receive mental health supports through special education, where students work with the district’s licensed social workers and/or licensed special education teachers to receive the support they need.
Our district has been committed to investing in our school buildings in an equitable manner. Investments by city from 2018 to today, including Building a Better Future projects, shows that Brooklyn Park will receive about $2 million more than Maple Grove (Maple Grove 41.6% of dollars, Brooklyn Park 42.5% of dollars).
Yes. The district has owned property in the northwest Maple Grove since 2008. Today, this is the northwest corner of 101st Ave N and Troy Lane.
Enrollment trends were expected to grow when the land was purchased. That expected growth is being seen and experienced in our schools today.
Building a Better Future will be adding outdoor classrooms to remaining elementary and middle schools. Currently there are outdoor classrooms at Zanewood Community: A STEAM School, Rice Lake Elementary School and Brooklyn Middle STEAM School.
Brooklyn Middle STEAM School uses their outdoor classroom all year long, including for science, math, English, art and physical education classes. They've also invited in special guest speakers and held community meetings and schoolwide celebrations in the space.
The safety and security of our students, staff and community is the highest priority of the district. The approved technology levy is funding the technology needed for safety and security improvements at district schools. The bond will be addressing safety and security needs in relation to the physical school buildings. This includes improvements to the entrances at Maple Grove, Osseo and Park Center Senior High Schools and additional safety/security enhancements at all schools in order to meet district standards as well as the latest safety/security best practices.
The majority of construction will be completed in three to four years. The included graphic shows the construction start times for each school. Please note, many of our schools have multiple phases or projects that are part of their improvements so you’ll see construction coming and going in some cases, as well as stretching over multiple school years.
Social-emotional supports help scholars learn to get along with others, which is critical to success in school, life and work. Scholars then effectively apply their knowledge, attitudes and skills to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Research shows that the presence of social-emotional supports enhances academic performance and reduces classroom disruptions.