Building a Better Future: Fall 2024 update

Osseo Area Schools is gearing up for a busy summer of construction in 2025, with the groundwork being laid now for nearly 10 upcoming projects.

John Morstad, executive director of finance and operations, said the district is working through the bulk of the heavy design work now, and many projects will go out for bids by the end of this month. 

By the summer, Morstad said nine construction projects will be underway, including Maple Grove and Osseo senior high schools, the new elementary school, Brooklyn Middle School’s second phase, four elementary schools: Oak View, Woodland, Rush Creek and Basswood, and a maintenance storage space at the Educational Services Center. 

“It’s going to be a little crazy, but in a good way,” he said.

North View Middle School’s renovation is already complete, with flexible learning spaces, learning on display, flexible furniture and more.

This summer’s construction work will include updated library media centers, outdoor classrooms at all elementary and middle schools without such a space, flexible learning spaces, enhanced security, updated career and technical education spaces at the high schools and capacity-related additions/renovations to Maple Grove Senior High.

When it comes to security, Morstad said the district is working with experts to study the best methods to improve current security measures. One example is implementing layers of security both at a building’s exterior and interior, such as the ability to completely isolate different levels of a building independently. 

Morstad said the district will be taking careful stock of these initial projects to assess what’s working and what could use modification for projects coming up in 2026 and 2027. 

“The key is that we are on track and on budget, and the community is already starting to see the things they voted for to better address student needs,” he said.