ISD 279 ACHIEVE Program to Move to Former Osseo Elementary Site

It’s been a long road for the to reoccupy the former Osseo Elementary building in Osseo.

However, it appears District 279 has reached a final destination for the vacant building  - a new home for the ACHIEVE program.

“After considerable time spent in research, community engagement and relationship building, we will be moving the ACHIEVE program to the site,” Superintendent Kate Maguire told the District 279 School Board during her meeting report April 17. “The ACHIEVE program serves secondary age students who require special education services in a separate facility due to their disability.”

The former Osseo Elementary school building, located at 324 Sixth Ave. N.E. in Osseo, had once been a site of contention and legal action between District 279 and the city of Osseo. The building was closed in 2008 as part of Osseo School District budget reductions. Osseo had initially rejected an proposed plan last year to move the district’s Osseo Area Learning Center into the building, according to a March 2011 StarTribune.com article.  

“We’re pleased with this opportunity, in that what the move will provide for the school district – both in terms of improved facilities for our students and financial savings for taxpayers,” Maguire said, indicating it allows the district to move out of leased facilities, saving the district more than $450,000 each year.

A timeline for the ACHIVE program to move into the former Osseo Elementary building has yet to be determined.

More information on the Osseo School District ACHIEVE program can be found on the District 279 website here.

To view the April 17 Osseo School District School Board meeting, click here.