A discussion to possibly close or limit open enrollment within the St. Michael-Albertville School District sparked a firestorm of activity at Albertville City Hall, and has motivated at least two of the city’s leaders to explore conversations with neighboring ISD 728 (Elk River, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman schools) in an effort to change current school boundaries.
The issue hit the city’s desk, collectively, in full force at the Albertville City Council’s first meeting in May, about two weeks ago. That sparked a letter from Mayor Jillian Hendrickson and Council Member Walter Hudson to the community, stating the city will “listen” to the discussion and take concerns about Albertville residents being somewhat closed off from District 885.
“We realize it’s a long shot,” Hendrickson told North Wright County Today recently. “You realize that it takes a lot – both at the local level and the state level – to make this kind of change. And there are a lot of financial decisions that go with it. But you have to at least try, on behalf of your residents.”
The concern from families in residential areas of Albertville such as Towne Lakes and Hunter’s Pass is that future students – the STMA board has said current students will be somewhat ‘grandfathered’ in – would be forced into ISD 728. A new school in Otsego, which is closer to those two developments, is on the way. But even ISD 728 officials have said that building will be close to capacity when it opens for the 2017-2018 school year.
Here’s the letter posted publicly by Hudson and Hendrickson:
At any given meeting of the Albertville City Council, the only people typically found in attendance are the staff present to brief us. The items which come before us are typically routine and uncontroversial. Every once in a while however, an issue packs the house with concerned citizens.
Such was the case at our first meeting in May. A father shared a story about his five-year-old daughter with special needs. He explained that she was expected to take an hour-long van ride in one direction before spending two and a half hours in school, only to spend another hour in the van on the way home. Hardly ideal, the situation was one of several brought to our attention by residents of the Towne Lakes and Hunters Pass neighborhoods. Situated on the north side of I-94 in Albertville, these homes are nonetheless excluded from the St. Michael / Albertville school district. Students from these families default to Elk River schools, though many opt to open enroll in STMA.
The ability to open enroll may soon be limited. The STMA school board will consider restrictions to open enrollment at their May 16th meeting. While currently enrolled students would likely be allowed to remain in attendance through graduation, the closure or limitation of future open enrollment could have a profound impact on families with younger children. This potential complication for many of our residents has prompted renewed discussion of a broader issue, the boundaries of the STMA school district.
Albertville saw explosive development at the turn of the century. The current school district boundaries were drawn long before that. They reflected the culture of the time. Back then, the land north of I-94 was populated by farms, and the residents who lived there identified more with their northern neighbors in Otsego and Elk River than they did with Albertville residents to the south. Times have changed. Today, families living in the Towne Lakes and Hunters Pass developments identify with the broader STMA community.
“My son is a Knight, through and through,” one father told us. “He goes to Albertville Friendly City Days. He’s participates in FYCC.” Yet he can’t get a bus to school in his neighborhood, due to the technicality of living outside the district.
Changing the boundary to bring our northern Albertville neighborhoods into the district will not be easy. The process requires both the STMA and Elk River districts to arrive at agreement on where the new line should be drawn. Only then could our elected representatives in the legislature be expected to move forward with the change. That likely means finding an equitable trade which could prove politically complicated. Many established stakeholders are quick to label the goal as too difficult to achieve. That said, what we saw at our meeting on May 2nd suggests that it is possible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. The issue will remain whether addressed now or later. The first step toward resolving it requires leadership.
While we on the city council lack the authority to compel a change, as elected officials we can act as advocates to both the school boards and the legislature. Our involvement in that capacity has precedent. We lobby both the state and federal government on behalf our our community. Advocating a position before the school boards which serve our city proves no different.
After hearing the testimony of residents and discussing the issue as a council, we passed a resolution to investigate the inclusion of Albertville’s northern neighborhoods in the STMA school district. Conversations among staff of the relevant entities has already begun, and we hope to facilitate a broader public discussion of the issue soon.
To keep up with developments and get involved, visit the residents’ public call to action page www.facebook.com/UnitedSTMA They will be organizing the effort to advocate for a change of the district boundary. Also consider liking the City of Albertville page www.facebook.com/cityofalbertville , and regularly visit our website at www.ci.albertville.mn.us for news of upcoming meetings and agendas.