Policy changes and staff turnover at area schools

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Withsummer reaching its halfway point on August 7, the thoughts of many parents will soon be shifting to the coming school year. Here’s a look at what has been happening at area schools this summer and what to expect for the new school year.

School District 197 - ISD 197 approved its 10-year facilities maintenance plan at its June board meeting and intends to address deferred maintenance projects throughout the district this year. The work is funded by about $2 million secured through the District’s local property tax levy. The funds may be used only for deferred maintenance projects and health and safety projects.

The school board recently approved a new middle school schedule to be implemented in the 2024-25 school year. The board will be exploring further details this year. Under the new schedule, grades 5 and 6 will have a 6-period day and will no longer have recess. Those grades may have less instructional time of core subjects to provide more time for electives. All grades will have “flex time” to allow for building relationships, physical education, music and art.

The District recently completed its wellness triennial assessment report, which reviews its progress toward wellness goals. The report shows that the district is meeting its goals in nutri- tion promotion and education, physical activity, school-based activities to promote student wellness, and having nutrition guidelines on all foods and beverages on the school campus. One goal that has only been partially met relates to the marketing of foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks criteria established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The board also approved a joint powers agreement with Dakota County to secure a grant from the Statewide Health Improvement

ISD 197 is ramping up efforts to promote Smart Snacks that meet federal guidelines.

WSP City Council suspends the sale of smokeable marijuana

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Asof August 1, it’s legal for adults age 21 and older to purchase recreational marijuana in the state of Minnesota. However, you won’t find any for sale in West St. Paul, at least for now. On July 10, the West St. Paul City Council adopted an interim ordinance restricting businesses from selling products with smokeable marijuana flower until January 1, 2025.

This is in response to the passing of the recent state law legalizing the sale and use of recreational marijuana for adults ages 21 and older in Minnesota, which was signed by Governor Tim Walz on May 30. The suspension gives the city more time to decide if or in what ways it will regulate how businesses sell cannabis flower. Medical cannabis and any other cannabis products, such as gummies and other edibles infused with THC, that could be sold legally before July 1 of this year are not prohibited by the moratorium.

While the moratorium has an end date of more than a year away, it could be lifted sooner. In July 2022, the City Council adopted a similar interim ordinance following the legalization of edible cannabis products containing up to 50 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. By November, it had lifted the moratorium and approved an ordinance that established several conditions