Bond Election Precincts Page 5
Veterans Day Events
Homecoming Week
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Page 27
November 2017 | Volume 25, Issue 4
Make your vote count on Tuesday, November 7
www.the-courier.org | news@isd15.org
The Courier
Independent School District 15 Communications Department St. Francis, Minnesota Serving the communities of Andover, Athens Township, Bethel, East Bethel, Linwood Township, Nowthen, Oak Grove, St. Francis and Stanford Township
Challenges ISD 15 bond referendum will address Katrinna Dodge
1. Safety and security
On November 7, residents of Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) will vote on the proposed $80 million bond referendum. The impact is an estimated additional $1.74 annual tax increase on the current value of a $200,000 home on top of current tax rates over a 25-year period. With one question on the ballot, ISD 15 plans to address three main challenges with the upcoming bond referendum by partnering with the community in building our future together:
We are ensuring all ISD 15 buildings where students are attending have controlled access at main entrances, improving onsite traffic flow, and safe student pick-up and drop-off areas. Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for ISD 15. Onsite traffic flow and pedestrian safety Proposed improvements will address community needs for onsite traffic flow. Providing onsite traffic signage at schools will increase the drop-off/ pick-up experience and driver and
Staff Writer
pedestrian safety. One of the proposed improvements would be dedicated onsite turn lanes along Highway 47 at St. Francis Middle School. Secure main entrances Improving main entrances at all school buildings to have controlled access will raise the level of monitoring anyone entering and leaving academic buildings throughout the school day.
2. Outdated classrooms and community spaces Learning in the classroom has changed since the 1950s and 1960s,
St. Francis Community for Drug Awareness (SFCDA) and Vision Quest in Oak Grove hosted the Dash for Dreams Warrior Course on October 7. Eighty participants braved the 10-obstacle course to raise money for drug awareness. The youth challenge (pictured) was held prior to the adults taking the course. Photo Submitted by Michelle Anderson
when the majority of our school buildings were built. Today’s 21st century classroom has an emphasis on collaboration, individualized instruction and technology integration. Modernizing classroom spaces is preparing our students for the workforce and postsecondary options. American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance Updating community spaces, such as the football stadium, to be ADA compliant will allow this space and others to be more inclusive and accessible for community members, students and staff with disabilities. Special Education We will reorganize existing spaces within school buildings which will improve the learning environment to meet the needs of special education students. Career and college readiness We are modernizing classroom spaces to prepare students for post-secondary opportunities and the workforce after high school graduation. Updating our learning spaces, such as vocational tech, science labs, computer labs, music rooms and more, creates a welcoming and engaging learning environment. Recapturing instruction space By reorganizing and recapturing existing instructional spaces, these improvements will provide better educational experiences for students. Two additions are planned. The construction of a 10-classroom addition at St. Francis Elementary School will allow grades four and five students now housed at St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) to return to a K-5 setting. This will allow SFMS to recapture the second floor space to meet the needs of their students. A four-classroom Continued On Page 7
Mansetti’s is celebrating 14 years in St. Francis! November 13-19, we are offering y our 14-Year Anniversary Special. Onl
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Sun 11:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Mon-Th 11 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sat 11:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Come in all month long and sign up for weekly prize drawings!
Inside Schools in Action..................................... 2 School Board Highlights...................... 10 Community Education......................... 12 Community & Business........................ 16 Sports & Outdoors................................ 28 Meetings, Events & Benefits................. 31 Life........................................................... 32