Osseo Area Schools Ask For Input On All-Day Kindergarten Space Proposals

The state’s decision last session to fund All-Day Kindergarten presents both an exciting opportunity to accelerate early learning and a need for more space at Osseo Area Schools. 

At a Dec. 17 public work session, Superintendent Kate Maguire presented two recommendations to the School Board regarding strategies to accommodate the expansion of All-Day Kindergarten districtwide.

Supt. Maguire’s recommendations outline what she believes is the best course of action to provide the space needed for the expansion of All-Day Kindergarten.

• The first recommendation is to return Cedar Island, Fair Oaks and Oak View to grade configurations that match the rest of the elementary schools in the district, with transition beginning in 2014-15;
• The second is a preliminary recommendation to configure grade levels districtwide as preK-5, 6-8, 9-12 beginning 2015-16 and to seek community feedback on that proposal.

You can learn more about these recommendations by watching the work session presentation and board discussion and reading the comprehensive report of the work group studying all-day kindergarten.

The School Board invites residents to provide feedback on the superintendent’s preliminary recommendation for districtwide grade configuration by attending one of these information sessions:

• Jan 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Maple Grove Senior High Forum Room
• Jan 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Osseo Senior High Forum Room
• Jan 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Park Center Senior High Forum Room

You can also provide feedback by:

• Emailing welisten@district279.org or
• Submitting this web-based feedback form.

The School Board will take action on the Cedar Island/Fair Oaks/Oak View recommendation on Jan. 21.

Following community engagement activities, the superintendent will provide a final recommendation regarding districtwide grade configuration to the School Board on Feb. 10, followed by action on Feb. 25.