A group of Albertville residents who reside in the Elk River School District approached the Albertville City Council to see what the city can do about including all of Albertville into the St. Michael-Albertville School District.
The city council, while wholeheartedly sympathetic, said it will do what it can, but that the matter is entirely in the two school districts’ hands.
SCHOOL BOUNDARY
Albertville residents might be surprised to learn that their own city hall is less than 50 yards from the Elk River School District.
Simply cross to the north side of County Rd. 37, and you’re in the Elk River district.
Included in that area are the city’s Towne Lakes and Hunters Pass residential subdivisions, not to mention the Outlet Mall and adjoining commercial areas.
Despite being located in the Elk River district, these Albertville neighborhoods commonly open enroll their students into STMA. That option may no longer be available, as the school district wrestles with building capacity issues, and is considering changes to open enrollment.
Albertville Mayor Jillian Hendrickson and City Councilor Walter Hudson recently summed up their reaction to the throngs of residents asking city hall for help.
“Every once in a while an issue packs the house with concerned citizens,” Hendrickson and Hudson said. “Such was the case at our first meeting in May. A father shared a story about 5-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.”
Hendrickson and Hudson noted that, while current STMA open enrolled students will likely be allowed to remain in STMA, “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.”
They noted the difficulty to change a boundary drawn long ago before Albertville saw its explosive growth.
“The process requires both the STMA and Elk River districts to arrive at agreement on where the new line should be drawn,” Hendrickson and Hudson said. “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.”
They promised to act as advocates to both STMA and Elk River school boards and the legislature.
“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,” Hendrickson and Hudson said.
To keep up with developments and get involved, they urged those interested to visit the residents’ public call to action page www.facebook.com/UnitedSTMA, and to follow the issue on the city’s website, ci.albertville.mn.us.
In other action, the council:
APPROVED a new liquor license for Hana 168 Restaurant at 6730 Laketowne Place (in the former John Hardy’s location). The restaurant will feature a sushi bar and French grill.
APPROVED a motion to require liquor compliance training for employees of Emma Krumbee’s Restaurant in lieu of a civil fine for liquor compliance violation (serving liquor before 7 a.m.).
CANCELED the Monday, May 16, city council meeting. The next council meeting will be Monday, June 6.
Contact Aaron Brom at aaron.brom@ecm-inc.com