[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6364632,"mediaKeyId","2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899","parentId",2163251,"title","Board approves voluntary pre-K fee for out-of-district students and raises community-education fees","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",4691000,"endMs",4868000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899&start=4691&end=4868","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899/thumbnail_4691000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364632/Minnesota/Board-approves-voluntary-pre-K-fee-for-out-of-district-students-and-raises-community-education-fees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364632-673709526adc73dbe6ab6a5250dccdc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1777173406&Signature=W~uD3lIGHOWF0pG9vFICG4knPvaYxY-7Y2hHC8wrJEfN1CaSrs8cV0SlnG86KN-zs2nDdtHPkgmgF9AUo~UN-HF~s2b1v33k6~Gm8ZEBFGq9p5u3J0orT5YH5nbfo4q6fvqGIlTYvquOInCTNhRpkOHPss5R4GRq4UzvoiO8solXl5lKTDUu6ILo3GwZcnZSUJPOIMzXrZ6xnFrdKvEAdpos1O51c5SoB1e71dfV73EwVzvDvvvssIsPzTSxJitNIgW2LVF6qWvCl3bwFCPxA9VCEVx1dSzggeVV-WlH7bcOxrqAD-pQttR-QAsWHrxxsWhte9TB4IO7bp758TP3EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST","date","2025-01-29T20:59:07Z","article","The Columbia Heights Public Schools board voted Tuesday to adopt a monthly fee for certain voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) slots and to increase community-education fees for childcare and early-learning classes.

Voluntary prekindergarten: District staff asked the board to approve a monthly fee of $345 for students attending the five-day AM or PM pre-K program who do not qualify for state VPK funding. Director Stonkel explained that the Minnesota Department of Education changed eligibility rules for VPK funding and that some enrolled children would no longer meet state qualifications; the board voted to permit district administration to determine VPK eligibility and to charge the $345 monthly fee for out-of-qualification slots. \"For those students who do not qualify for any other qualifications … there would be a fee to cover the costs,\" Stonkel said during the action-item presentation. The board adopted the motion by voice vote; the clerk recorded that the motion carried after a voice vote and no roll-call tally was taken. Board members said only a handful of students are expected to be affected.

Community education fees: The board also approved an approximately 5 percent fee increase for Adventure Club and Mini Adventures childcare programs and for Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and Pre-K 3 classes, noting that community-education programs must cover their own operating costs and that ECFE/Pre-K 3 fees had not been raised in more than a decade. Director Stonkel presented the proposal and the board approved it by voice vote. Board members said academic program elements will remain fee-free while childcare and enrichment activities can carry modest fees.

Votes at a glance:
- Voluntary prekindergarten fee: Motion to approve $345 monthly fee for students who do not meet VPK funding qualifications and to permit district-determined eligibility. Mover: Julie (board member). Second: Jessica (board member). Outcome: Approved (voice vote; motion carries). Notes: District staff said the number of affected students is very small; prior to VPK funding the district charged a fee (approximately $110) but VPK funding removed that fee; new fee applies only to slots without qualifying status.
- Community education fee increase: Motion to approve ~5% increase for Adventure Club, Mini Adventures, ECFE and Pre-K 3 fees. Mover: Julie (board member). Second: Laura (board member). Outcome: Approved (voice vote; motion carries). Notes: Increase intended to maintain program self-sufficiency; academic elements remain fee-free.

No roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes for either vote; both actions passed by voice vote. The motions and outcomes were recorded during the action-items portion of the board meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting January 28th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Columbia Heights Public Schools board approved a $345 monthly fee for voluntary prekindergarten slots that do not meet state VPK qualifications and voted to raise several community-education fees by roughly 5 percent.","taxTitle","COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",38741,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364638,"Columbia Heights outlines summer 2025 offerings: Summer Encore returns, expanded EL and credit-recovery options",1279,3030000,4309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899&start=3030&end=4309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899/thumbnail_3030000.jpg","/articles/6364638/Minnesota/Columbia-Heights-outlines-summer-2025-offerings-Summer-Encore-returns-expanded-EL-and-credit-recovery-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364638-d12f7a3a57113feecd65a4966afeaa58/orig.mp4?Expires=1777173406&Signature=L8QCwtPQfYtW84FDRRY~15O24G897XnKfYFwh24EQbYDmIv4UA4GVMQCEWkp5rmCSuWgzlfz1ddFOwCqXxPhBRAp8sDG~ZW4OFrstG-qzbRP7vzNILIV74ntLghXRy-oWLYdRi9bnuQwWmeJF05~y5YjUOdRHkZMNo7WIaqQaB4u2W2cBy4qmWAI0QYe7W8Lv1ETIywr6fbCAEcgGiisMMdVZ2K5YW4bGPUFaUbo1g7KBUz6Cm5bKFuQcP1trlvxgMbB05O~vfmnrLwKMNGtxJTkLqkurmc-fWcMrPzhN4jmJGfjhVfUJsjvFNmVdjgq~buO3Qdu5zzOi5lTJAmpOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia Heights Public Schools staff presented their summer 2025 programming plan Tuesday, announcing that Summer Encore (the district’s theme-based summer learning program) will return and that multilingual learners and students in need of credit recovery will have integrated and targeted options.

Director Jodi Gadient and program leaders described offerings that include Summer Encore (incoming kindergarten through incoming eighth grade), summer credit recovery for high-school students, extended-school-year services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), activity- and athletics-focused camps, community-education classes, Mini Adventures childcare and Blooming Heights garden work. District staff said Summer Encore will run July 7–24, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., at Highland Elementary and the high school; the district will provide transportation for students who live outside walking zones.

Why it matters: Returning Summer Encore restores a multi-week summer learning opportunity district families missed last year and provides targeted academic acceleration, enrichment and childcare supports. Assistant superintendent and program leads emphasized that the summer plan aims to combine academic skill-building, language development for English learners, and practical supports such as breakfast and transportation.

Key program details presented:
- Summer Encore (rising K–8): July 7–24, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., breakfast before programming; locations: Highland Elementary and Columbia Heights High School. Registration will be open to students enrolled for the 2025–26 school year; staff will post details when finalized.
- Extended school year / special education (ESY): July 7–24, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; ECSE (early childhood special education) activities at the Family Center; teacher PD day June 13.
- Secondary credit recovery: June 6–27 (off June 19), and July 7–22 for the second session; on-site 8 a.m.–12 p.m. and virtual 12:30–2:30 p.m.
- Activities and athletics: camps and conditioning for mainly grades 6–12; offerings included theater triple-threat camp, a new yoga camp, driver’s education, babysitting certification and summer aquatics.

District staff said Blooming Heights (the district community garden) will continue youth and teen engagement, including a farm-stand component, and that staff are pursuing multiple funding sources (including county partnerships) to support teen employment and program costs. The community-education coordinator noted a small fee structure remains for childcare programs where applicable, while academic elements are offered without fee. Board members thanked staff for restoring Summer Encore and noted cross-departmental coordination — food service, buildings and grounds, transportation — is critical to running summer programs.

Quotes used in this article come from district staff who presented the summer 2025 plan during the meeting.","District staff presented plans for Summer Encore, extended learning for multilingual learners, credit recovery schedules and enrichment camps, and confirmed transportation and dates for the 2025 summer programing cycle.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364642,"Area legislators brief Columbia Heights school board on compensatory aid, federal funding risks and immigrant-family supports",2209,835000,3044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899&start=835&end=3044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2163251-ff7d63e903cfece59ad36ad099c44899/thumbnail_835000.jpg","/articles/6364642/Minnesota/Area-legislators-brief-Columbia-Heights-school-board-on-compensatory-aid-federal-funding-risks-and-immigrant-family-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364642-9c2b142663b94f665759c02f37d538ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1777173406&Signature=KGdUmmlmOqq8ucBBYIfr9yBYjPe57zjVIemVGrJSYjM2B2myhImhUFCl6xyBpLOraH78hs2ciZWBlFRzCunT2xiZGxWKPtwNBcukCOIJy4AF8n5MfS8TG1tcABAil4cOlX18zj2SZH0lH7mqxHv4HqjgGr0GJav78Mn~lsT8OZ8TML4Dur79Lh4S085rhFFbuxa6uLfiT0ZepW-xtR2h-zOGceC55VOEH~Ge01iXQY9uOt-5rPw0PUbLGOepVTxXIAYtVjELOrpaoTrjcjqMxhSQKYUPz9aAh1ITbK-UJJ9spFp-RDF-kY3lLhZ0eotHEDFfwpuEqi24Q8L~SFs0Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Senator Mary Kunish and state Representatives Sandra Feist and Cagle told the Columbia Heights Public Schools board Tuesday night that the state Legislature is beginning work on education funding matters that could affect the district, and they warned that federal funding and immigration policy changes at the national level are creating uncertainty for local schools.

The legislators spoke during the board's regular meeting in the community room. Senator Mary Kunish, chair of the Senate Education Finance Committee, described ongoing work on attendance and truancy pilot programs and said the Senate so far is preparing for a smaller budget target for the coming biennium. “We are expecting a pretty slim target this year financially,” Kunish said, and she urged districts to weigh where limited dollars should go. Kunish said the Senate previously added targeted dollars for special education and English learner revenue in a prior session but does not currently expect the same large increases.

Why it matters: Columbia Heights officials told legislators that a proposed change to state formulas could sharply reduce district revenue tied to compensatory aid. Superintendent Stenvick told the board that Columbia Heights is likely to be “one of the biggest losers in this new formula,” and that the projected change could equal roughly 70% of the district’s fund balance if not addressed. Board members asked legislators to prioritize a fix.

Representative Sandra Feist outlined proposed work on compensatory revenue — the state aid targeted to students who are academically underprepared — saying her bill would preserve the use of free-and-reduced-price-meal forms and direct-certification data as proxies while also creating a working group to study the formula’s mechanics and possible alternatives. “We’re gonna ask this group of brilliant people … to really come together, do some really deep thinking, and come with some recommendations to the legislature in a couple years,” Feist said. She added the Department of Education has offered options that would affect Columbia Heights and that, in some scenarios, “Columbia Heights Public Schools was on the list” of districts that would lose funding unless the formula is adjusted.

Representative Cagle said she plans to pursue infrastructure and transportation priorities — including Safe Routes to School, transit corridor planning and school-bus safety measures such as stop-arm cameras — and asked board members to keep the Legislature informed about local needs. “The more that we can move towards transit-oriented and non-car dominant communities, the better,” Cagle said.

The legislators also addressed federal-level changes and immigration-related uncertainty. Kunish said she is “very nervous and very apprehensive” about federal actions that have removed online resources and paused funding streams, and she urged districts to share practical budget impacts with legislative committees. Feist, who practices immigration law, urged careful handling of communications to families and community members and said Minnesota lawmakers will defend state laws that protect students’ access to school.

Board members raised specific local concerns: Julie (board member) pressed for rapid clarification about a roughly $5.5 million federal grant that previously flowed through the state and into district programming; Superintendent Stenvick and district staff said they are tracking guidance and court actions and will report back. Board chair Granlund thanked the legislators for attending and asked that they return with an end-of-session update if scheduling allows.

Quotes are drawn from remarks during the legislative update portion of the meeting.","State Senator Mary Kunish and Representatives Sandra Feist and Representative Cagle updated the Columbia Heights Public Schools board on early legislative activity, possible changes to compensatory revenue formulas, federal funding uncertainty and local programs that could help students and families.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves voluntary pre-K fee for out-of-district students and raises community-education fees

Columbia Heights outlines summer 2025 offerings: Summer Encore returns, expanded EL and credit-recovery options

Area legislators brief Columbia Heights school board on compensatory aid, federal funding risks and immigrant-family supports