Stakeholder survey: School district receives positive feedback

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Students, families and staff have now weighed in on how they think the district is doing in terms of the daily student experience and achieving its goals outlined in the strategic plan.

More than 4,000 people took the survey: 1,220 students in grades 3-5; 2,118 students in grades 6-12; members of 675 families; and 299 staff members all took the time to fill out the survey. Director of Technology Mike Christensen said the district plans to brainstorm how it can reach more families and get a higher participation rate for next year’s survey.

Although the survey dates back to 2013, this was the first survey the district has sent out since COVID-19.

“The results will be used to celebrate what we are doing well and develop action steps for continued improvement into the next year,” Christensen explained.

Superintendent Jeff Holmberg added, “It gives us a nice snapshot to be able to identify themes but also

Overall I am satisfied with my student’s educational experience this year’s tick season in Minnesota.

Q: Will there be a lot of ticks this year?

A: It is always a good bet that there will be plenty of deer ticks in Minnesota in the spring and summer. Last year, despite drier than normal summer weather, the state saw fairly typical numbers of immature ticks. This year, those ticks will have grown to be adults or nymphs. Based on last year's number, I expect we will have a fairly average year for deer ticks, and that means there will be plenty of them around. A cold April may limit the number of adult ticks active in the early spring, but those ticks will come out as soon as the weather warms up, especially as daytime tem- peratures exceed 60 degrees.

Q: What types of ticks are most common in Minnesota?

A: Deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and American dog ticks (“wood ticks”; Dermacentor variabilis) are common in Minnesota, and both commonly bite people and pets. Although both species can potentially transmit diseases, deer ticks are more concerning because they are often infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

Q: Where are ticks most prevalent?

A: Deer ticks require a refuge with a high humidity level, such as the forest leaf layer, so they

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The Centennial School District invited students, families and staff to participate in a survey. Approximately 90% of parents said they are satisfied with their student’s educational experience.

SEE STAKEHOLDER SURVEY, PAGE 11

Centennial School Board Snippets

• Beginning next year, the high school will launch a Manufacturing Pathways program that will include four courses. Some upgrades to the space and equipment will take place both this summer and next. The program will focus on creating partnerships with local and regional businesses and prepare students for a career in manufacturing.

“We are building a program that will allow us to partner with businesses and trades that will allow students to go from high school, to internships, to a career,” Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Mark Grossklaus said.

Centennial High School Principal Tom Breuning added, “We have had multiple meetings with manufacturers and they are all saying that there is a shortage of skilled workers out there. So, for us it is truly a win-win. We have students who want to be in manufacturing classes and we have manufacturers that want skilled workers.”

• Expenditures for the 2023-2024 school year are projected to be $127,202,232. Executive Director of Business Services Patrick Chaffey explained that the district is projecting a deficit of $2,131,022, which is a result of the updates for long-term facilities maintenance projects, the voter approved operating referendum plan, food service capital projects, trust fund retirement payments and the 2022A bond refunding payments. For a detailed breakdown of the 2023-24 budget, visit the district’s website at www. isd12.org.

• For $330,000, the district will acquire property located at 4608 103rd Lane NE, Circle Pines. Chaffey said the property fits the long-range plan for the high school campus.

• Three transportation contracts are now in place with Safe Tree, Lorenz and Collaborative Student Transportation of Minnesota (CSTMN) for next school year. Chaffey explained that the Safe Tree contract represents a 5% increase over the current contract, whereas the Lorenz contract represents a 4% increase from the last contract (2020-21). Safe Tree and Lorenz are both one-year agreements and CSTMN is a three-year agreement with a 3% increase each year.

• A new chiller unit will be installed on the north side of the west high school building this fall or spring. Contracts include the chiller unit from Johnson Controls for $273,930, the installation from BSI Mechanical Inc. for $147,900, and the building automation/control valves from NAC Mechanical & Electrical Service for $12,317.

• Effective at the end of this school year, Scott Swedin will be placed on an unrequested leave of absence (ULA). Another teacher was proposed to be placed on ULA at the school board’s last meeting, but due to increased enrollment, that did not happen.

• The 10-year long-term facilities maintenance plan is now in place with Northeast Metropolitan Intermediate School District 916.

• The district received positive feedback on its stakeholder survey regarding its progress on its strategic plan and daily student experiences. (See full story on pages 1 & 11.)

The next school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 19, in the board room at the District Office.

Shannon Granholm www.presspubs.com

Circle Pines City Council Snippets

• It’s that time of year again when the city is looking for volunteers to plant flowers in the roundabout in front of City Hall and the Centennial Library. “It’s time to get that garden looking great again,” Mayor Dave Bartholomay said. Those interested in volunteering should contact Janice at 763-350-9534.

• It’s good news all around for Circle Pines from the legislative session that just wrapped up. Bartholomay reported that the city will receive $217,000 from the $210 million public safety aid package to help with local police and fire costs. The city’s local government aid (LGA) will also increase by $22,000 for a total of $459,000 next year.

Lastly, Anoka County received $200,000 for the missing trail connection in the Rice Creek North Regional Trail Corridor.

• Marsh Heating and A/C

Public Safety Brief

and Earth Wizards Inc. now have licenses to do business within the city in 2023.

• Craig Petska is the new chair of the Planning Commission.

• Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC) continues to work on its new building. The City Council already approved a conditional use permit (CUP) and has now approved a site plan for 4203 Woodland Road, the former Centennial Alternative Learning Center (CALC). NTIC also owns the property at 4201 Woodland Road. In a month or two, assuming NTIC receives the OK from the Metropolitan Council, the City Council will consider approval of a more detailed site plan to reconnect the two buildings, which were separated in 2005.

• Three property owners have been granted hardship deferrals for the 2022

Lino Lakes man killed in ATV accident

Samuel H. Sylvester, 26, of Lino Lakes, was operating an ATV in a Ramsey County nature preserve when he crashed and died.

According to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Fish Creek Natural Area in Maplewood around 3:45 p.m. Monday, May 22. Once on full street reconstruction project assessments. If the annual assessment amount is greater than 1.5% of an individual’s annual income, a hardship deferral may be granted.

• Tom and Vickie Molin can now build a new home on their vacant property, located at 76 East Golden Lake Road. The Molins plan to move into the new home and their daughter and her family will move into their existing home at 78 East Golden Lake Road. Because the home is located in the shoreland overlay district, the council had to approve a CUP, which includes some erosion control measures.

The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at City Hall.

Shannon Granholm

scene, deputies located Sylvester trapped beneath the ATV. Sylvester was an employee of Native Resource Preservation, a company that was under contract with Ramsey County Parks and Recreation to conduct a controlled burn in the nature preserve, the sheriff's office said.

Investigators are looking into the accident.