As many parents would be, Emmanuel Tanimojo was apprehensive to move his two boys to a new elementary school.
“Initially, we were not happy,” Tanimojo said. “We felt like, ‘What’s going on?’ ”
But when Valley Crossing transitioned from a multi-district collaborative to a South Washington County district school, Tanimojo’s sons were slated to move to the Stillwater district’s newly built Brookview Elementary in Woodbury. Two days into the new school year, Tanimojo is glad they did.
“The building looks nice; the teachers are warm and welcoming,” said Tanimojo. “It’s been a smooth transition. They love it.”
Stillwater and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan are two east metro districts opening new elementary schools this year. Both schools were built to meet increasing enrollment driven by new residential construction and the growing demand for early-learning programs.
The two schools were paid for with capital levies approved by district voters in 2015. Stillwater’s Brookview cost about $25 million and Rosemount’s East Lake had a budget of $27 million.
BUILDING NEW COMMUNITIES
Opening the new schools required redrawing attendance boundaries to fill the new buildings with a mix of students from other schools. Principal Mark Drommerhausen of Brookview and Miles Haugen of East Lake say that as a result, staff members have to make extra effort to ensure students are comfortable in their first days at their new school.
“It is all about relationships and connecting with families,” said Haugen. “We are building a community. We want families to know this is their school and their community.”
Building East Lake in Lakeville, the Rosemount district’s 19th elementary, changed the attendance boundaries of five other schools, but few parents complained.
Stillwater was a different story. Construction of Brookview coincided with school leaders’ decision to close three elementary schools, two of which were in the northern part of the district, where enrollment was stagnant or declining.
Under the “Building Opportunities to Learn and Discover,” or BOLD, plan, students from Marine, Withrow and Oak Park elementary schools are being bused to other schools in an effort to use resources more equitably and efficiently. The closures upset some parents and are being challenged in court.
Drommerhausen says the majority of Brookview students do not come from the three buildings the district closed last spring, although some attended Valley Crossing. Nevertheless, Drommerhausen said it was important that both students and staff feel comfortable at Brookview.
To bolster that effort, the school held community meetings and events, such as fundraisers and a roller skating night, to build new bonds between staff and families.
“We wanted to welcome families,” Drommerhausen said. “We had tremendous turnout.”
MORE NEW STUDENTS EXPECTED
Both new schools will be under capacity this school year, but there is plenty of potential for more new students to move into their attendance boundaries. The Woodbury and Lakeville communities where the schools are located are experiencing residential housing booms.
“Houses are popping up and new families are coming in weekly,” Haugen noted.
Brookview began the year Aug. 28 with 430 students, and East Lake will start Sept. 5 with 540 students. The new facilities have the capacity to serve 500 and 700 students respectively.
In addition to opening new elementary buildings, both districts are in the midst of other construction to add classrooms and improve buildings.
Drommerhausen helped oversee those efforts in Stillwater for the past two years while Brookview was being built. A few days into the school year last week, he was glad to be back with students and staff.
“We had a great first day. The second day was awesome,” Drommerhausen said. “It’s very energizing.”