School board reviews building challenges, data strategies, bond projects
The Woodbury School Board met on October 8 to hear updates on school operations, instructional practices, and construction projects. While no votes were taken, the meeting revealed both successes and pressing challenges facing the district.
Principal Gina Doe presented a detailed update on Afton Lakeland Elementary, highlighting strong family engagement and consistent student growth in reading proficiency. However, she identified three major challenges: a growing population of multilingual learners with insufficient support staff, gaps in reading curriculum, and high class ratios in second grade that are impacting literacy instruction. The school's multilingual learner population has grown to 7% of students, a significant increase that strains existing resources.
The board also heard about the district's data-driven approach to improving instruction. Teaching and Learning Coordinator Sky Hooker explained how the district uses universal screening tools like FastBridge to identify student needs at all levels—from national benchmarks down to individual students. The district trains teachers in evidence-based reading instruction and uses collaborative teams to implement and monitor interventions. This system has been in place at elementary schools for three years and is expanding to secondary schools.
Three transportation policies were presented for their first reading: Policy 707 on student transportation, Policy 710 on extracurricular transportation, and Policy 711 on school bus video recording. These policies, based on state recommendations, formalize current practices and legal requirements. The district noted it often exceeds state requirements in transportation safety.
The board received updates on two bond-funded construction projects. The new Bayport Elementary School is moving forward after the district purchased land from St. Croix United Church, which included negotiations for an outdoor classroom. The city and church raised concerns about accessibility and traffic flow that are being addressed. Oakland Middle School's addition and remodel designs are being developed based on feedback from school staff and community members. Both projects remain in planning phases with no votes taken at this meeting.
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Votes (4)
Afton Lakeland Elementary School Building Update
Principal Gina Doe presented a comprehensive update on Afton Lakeland Elementary. Key strengths include a strong building culture with a 'all students are our students' mindset, high family engagement (90th percentile in district surveys, high volunteerism, good event attendance), and effective data-based decision-making. Challenges identified were the increasing population of multilingual learners with insufficient dedicated support, the need for improved reading curriculum and targeted resources for 'bubble students,' and concerns about second-grade class ratios impacting literacy instruction. The principal also noted the lean administrative and social worker staffing impacting instructional leadership time due to behavioral support needs.
District Data Use Planning for Instructional Leadership
Sky Hooker and Gina Doe presented on the district's data-driven approach to instructional leadership, emphasizing a 'data cycle' of informing, shaping, and driving. This involves universal screening (FastBridge, MCA) for all students, allowing analysis from national to individual levels. The district is moving towards K-12 consistent screening. The process identifies instructional gaps, supports teachers with training (e.g., Science of Reading), and uses collaborative action teams (CATs) to implement and monitor interventions. There's a focus on making data actionable for principals and teachers, with dedicated time for analysis to move from reactive to proactive problem-solving. This system has been implemented in elementary schools for three years and is in early phases for secondary schools.
First Reading: Transportation Policies (707, 710, 711)
Paul presented three transportation policies for their first reading. Policy 707, 'Transportation of Public School Students,' is a new policy based on the MSBA model, formalizing legal requirements and current practices. Policy 710, 'Extracurricular Transport,' is also a new MSBA recommended policy, clarifying the district's stance on extracurricular transportation. Policy 711, 'Video Recording on School Buses,' replaces the outdated Policy 7-Eleven 'Video Surveillance' from 2012, updating content on using video for student and staff safety. The policy committee noted that the district often exceeds state requirements, and a link to procedural details would be provided on the website.
Bond Update: Bayport Elementary & Oakland Middle School
Mark Wiberg, Paul O'wski, and Valerie Peterson provided a bond update. For the new Bayport Elementary School, they reviewed the lengthy process of acquiring land from St. Croix United Church, including negotiations for an Outdoor Classroom. The discussion highlighted the agreed-upon location for the Outdoor Classroom, adjacent to playground areas, and the ADA-compliant trail system. Concerns were raised by the church and city about ADA accessibility related to walking distance and the city's desire to limit traffic on the emergency access road. For Oakland Middle School, renderings of the addition and remodel were presented based on user group feedback.
Notable Quotes (13)
If you were to look us up but with our growth we're at 7% that's a significant number for the board to understand so from we're growing in that respect...
What I can say is in my school I say we have to go to Big Block before we can even consider other interventions special education and so through that we've seen less special education referrals...
Honestly I just can't Rave enough about the mobile desk you have I I just I love that because you're just everywhere...
If we start the school year at this a level of multilingual students and we have an influx of students and we may have less in one building and More in another we don't have the ability to transfer teachers to cover that so that's a real challenge for us...
I like to call this the Lifeguard approach of there's a reason the lifeguard's not already in the pool lifeguard needs to be at the higher level to assess who needs more assistance when they're in as well...
Our theory of change is uh with the science of reading if we train our teachers in the science of reading more students will read proficiently...
I mean done on my couch at home when time you know... so yes it isit right but it's not being done during the workday...
To identify uh you know where we're at within the system and devise solutions and work together collaboratively I mean people are really just um you know working their tailes off...
With through transportation we need to get the kids to school so that they can experience all this amazing learning that does happen here...
Transportation by school bus is a privilege and not a right for an eligible student...
There are certain areas where we go above and beyond what is required by the state... but that there would be a link to something connected to our policy for like more of a procedural piece for how we're doing it if there are exceptions...
Looking at purchasing this land um before we purchased it we we walked it um numerous times I did at least three times I know Dr Funk members of the architect team kind of walked and kind of see just certain aspects um the way the land's currently used with the garden and the Labyrinth and um kind of where they have their service and just different aspects of of the land...
Bayport is really clear they don't want any traffic on that road except emergency vehicles and the church well we should be able to bring our cars down here and drop people off and so it's Paul tell me if I'm wrong that's a pretty level it's a level enough to be considered Ada gently slops down...
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
State report card referenced to compare ML student percentages.
Survey showing high parent approval scores for Afton Lakeland's communication.
Consistent electronic newsletter used by Afton Lakeland Elementary for parent communication.
New MSBA model policy for student transportation, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
New MSBA recommended policy outlining the district's position on transportation for extracurricular activities.
Updated and revised MSBA model policy replacing an older video surveillance policy, outlining the use of cameras for student safety.
Existing policy from 2012 being replaced by the new Policy 711.
An update on the progress of construction and renovation projects funded by a voter-approved bond.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
District Data Use Planning for Instructional Leadership
Transportation Policy First Reading
Bond Update: Bayport Elementary and Oakland Middle School
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