What school building needs are being addressed with the Building a Better Future plan?
What school building needs are being addressed with the Building a Better Future plan?
These projects have been approved by voters to meet school building improvement needs:
- Adding additional safety and security enhancements to all schools.
- Adding safe and secure entrances to Maple Grove, Osseo and Park Center Senior High Schools to reach the safety/security standards already in place at other district schools.
- Expanding and modernizing career and technical education spaces at Maple Grove, Osseo and Park Center Senior High Schools and the Osseo Area Learning Center.
- Expanding and modernizing science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) spaces at magnet schools.
- Updating classrooms at all schools to accommodate varied learning needs, including the specialized services of special education, gifted/talented and multilingual learners.
- Updating classrooms and common areas with new furniture and flexible learning spaces at all schools.
- Modernizing library media centers to be more resourceful and accommodating of teaching and learning needs at all schools.
- Adding an outdoor classroom at all elementary and middle schools currently without such a space.
- Repurposing an existing elementary school to meet Community Education programming needs, including early childhood learning, adult basic education and enrichment opportunities birth through adult.
- Adding classrooms and a larger cafeteria at Maple Grove Senior High School to address current and predicted space constraints.
- Adding an elementary school in northwest Maple Grove to address current and predicted space constraints.
These projects were determined through a multi-year research process that involved students, staff, families and community members. Their work revealed critical safety/security needs, teaching and learning needs, and building space needs with regard to programming and current and predicted population growth. Read about their in-depth studies via the board document page of the district website.
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.