[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",5979451,"mediaKeyId","5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1","parentId",5774357,"title","District review shows drop in suspensions and early gains in literacy and math growth","audioSeconds",2406,"startMs",1799000,"endMs",4205000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1&start=1799&end=4205","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1/thumbnail_1799000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979451/Minnesota/District-review-shows-drop-in-suspensions-and-early-gains-in-literacy-and-math-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979451-d90300bf06de19c8ffb77fa2db98e6e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034948&Signature=Nt0gEng0F0bOivVGx2AA1rZK8Tk~66N4k46k9SXmNJyl1K~z1n1y2ppWKREvSYM5YB7VTu7Ean4Oon9ATAGx8EU3qy302ZwmJu6~5L9P5OzHNcDLeHR5V~Z1V2o6N0JJM2ZkvQGK3BlEEzgYU9bN8hfIpOhbWdF3udkIlhAJWV5sT7A0VoFOL-ucUVP7n0VwcJQhuFDZGxN41a-m7h0EitIsri5yP6FNHC1ASdMVXpxg7IeOWlddE5HF24Xe4ejfxRXhf8Sa8WtRvLjVD6PiQW-DHYkKcu4qtQxsjXybq4RqPiMNOuNGHObljRpy22UaSlRfcTxjf7P81MLydjrhmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Cloud Public Schools","date","2025-09-18T01:46:55Z","article","The St. Cloud Area School District on Sept. 17 reviewed outcomes from its 2023–25 strategic plan and presented early academic and climate results that administrators characterized as measurable progress in multiple areas.

Donna Roper, executive director of research, assessment and AI integration, told the board the district’s in‑school suspension rate fell from about 11 percent in 2022 to roughly 5.6 percent, a decline Roper attributed to tiered supports, restorative practices and consistent system responses. Roper stressed the district had not relaxed disciplinary standards: suspensions continue to be used for safety‑related behaviors defined in the code of conduct.

Academic measures showed mixed but improving trends. Early literacy data from district screening tools (FastBridge) and the aReading measure showed incremental gains: the district reported a rise from 38 to 42 percent of students meeting the aReading benchmark (K–2). Roper highlighted a strong kindergarten cohort, with 761 kindergartners counted and notable early literacy screening results (letter‑name and letter‑sound mastery rates higher than recent years). For elementary math, the district’s iReady diagnostic showed the share of students two or more grade levels below falling from 41 percent in fall to 23 percent by spring and students at or above grade level rising from 11 percent to 39 percent over the same period.

Middle‑grade growth on the STAR assessment showed student growth percentiles generally above the national median (50), indicating typical or better‑than‑typical year‑to‑year progress in reading and math for sixth through eighth graders, though Roper noted some year‑to‑year variation. On statewide Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results, St. Cloud remained below statewide proficiency averages: Roper presented reading proficiency of about 33.7 percent in St. Cloud versus the state 49.6 percent, and math proficiency at roughly 24.8 percent versus 45 percent statewide. Roper framed these as outcome measures that will guide targeted instructional work rather than the sole focus of improvement efforts.

Roper also reported that English‑learner students make up about 21.7 percent of the district — roughly double the state average — and that while EL proficiency lags statewide averages, growth metrics show St. Cloud EL students progressing at similar rates to peers statewide. The district noted staffing and programmatic investments for EL and students with interrupted formal education remain priorities.

The presentation highlighted innovation and career readiness work: expanded Modern Classroom practice and AI literacy in middle grades, high rates of FAFSA completion (59.5 percent), career and technical education concentrator graduation gains, 305 students in PSEO and 170 dual‑enrolled students last year, and recorded student work‑based experiences.

Board members praised the progress and asked for deeper dives on specific items such as student perceptions of kindness and the interaction of phone use and social norms, the district’s mental‑health supports, and program support for students with interrupted formal education.

Next steps: the administration will maintain multi‑year dashboards and metric plans and conduct regular reviews (October, January, April and a year‑end reflection in June) to monitor progress and guide resource allocation.

Sources: Strategic plan outcomes presentation at Sept. 17, 2025 Board of Education meeting; district assessment dashboards and presenter remarks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9-17-2025 Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District staff presented a 2023–25 strategic plan outcomes review Sept. 17 that showed a drop in in‑school suspensions from about 11 percent in 2022 to roughly 5.6 percent and early literacy and math diagnostic gains across several measures.","taxTitle","St. Cloud Public School District, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",13558,"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},5979462,"Board certifies preliminary levy at maximum; final hearing set for Dec. 17",796,214000,1010000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1&start=214&end=1010","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1/thumbnail_214000.jpg","/articles/5979462/Minnesota/Board-certifies-preliminary-levy-at-maximum-final-hearing-set-for-Dec-17","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979462-d278880a8b4a08261895b0d2c02b81c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034948&Signature=gQW8qbR8-naD2oFBXXDl9sj1kP2KB~fFTJLq5QWtK9Pvsq4feCAyhImkwA5MkdP1q9y9Xan9AmUipkY5jOPMxd2Mh93KyEX4lm3W1BBO~6FooHXUiQ3BHgXl0L8bMGJfBvJcywp~J2Wt34kYZRhBsIKYi73ws5XqkLueBl5NQ4pHwcVsdo-2SmhA0oM6JbPQ-fkUCzSRq~sk~m8sK0tbTOPBfav0Ze2NZj4sEULxkYFS2H2WJmykzhGrYvDDmPJn3EMdj5LCbVB9gjmubv7gtoEFemd1eCS2KDezEOKJCfljGgM7AKw6uwVU42Zri7yO6LiUKHCFieGDH90jkrMC0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Cloud Area School District Board of Education on Sept. 17 certified the district’s 2025 (pay 2026) preliminary levy at the maximum amount calculated by the Minnesota Department of Education. The motion to certify the preliminary levy passed on a board roll call with all members voting yes.

Board and administration framed the levy as a three‑part calculation covering the general fund, community education and debt service. Amy Scalarud, executive director of finance and business services, told the board the district’s levy dollar increase is about $1,658,000, a 4.7 percent rise in dollar terms driven primarily by increased debt service tied to the referendum the district approved last spring.

Scalarud said some changes offset the levy increase: long‑term facilities maintenance (LTFM) levy was intentionally reduced to balance earlier adjustments in the building lease levy, and certain excess debt service adjustments reduced the tax impact compared with earlier projections. Administration said the net dollar increase is roughly $500,000 lower than projected before the referendum — about a 20 percent reduction from prior estimates — and that the levy’s effect on a taxpayer’s rate will depend on final tax capacity numbers from local assessors.

Officials emphasized the difference between levy dollars and tax rate. Scalarud said the district does not set the tax rate and cannot yet determine the final rate because local tax capacity figures are not final; assuming a tax capacity movement similar to last year, administration estimated the levy would translate to less than a 1 percent change in tax rate for an average property. Board members asked for concrete household impact; administration referenced the district’s online tax calculator used during the referendum and noted previous estimates had shown a roughly $39.96 annual impact on a $250,000 home for a $65 million borrowing, and that the actual impact should be lower than that figure given the offsets.

Discussion at the meeting documented components driving changes: general fund increases were tied mainly to enrollment growth, the reemployment (regular unemployment) levy rose because pandemic‑era reimbursements no longer offset costs, and community education amounts shifted between levy and state aid categories so that total community education revenue was not reduced though its allocation changed between sources.

Action: Al Dahlgren moved to \"approve certifying the preliminary levy at the maximum amount,\" Scott Andresen seconded, and the board approved the motion by unanimous roll call vote. Heather Weems, Scott Andresen, Natalie Copeland, Al Dahlgren, Zack Dorholt, Diana Fenton and Shannon Hawes were recorded voting yes.

Next step: administration will present the final levy certification at the board’s regularly scheduled December meeting. Scalarud announced the final levy certification hearing will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17, 2025; the district will provide time for public comment in accordance with truth‑in‑taxation requirements.

Why this matters: The levy decision sets the maximum property tax authority the district may use in fiscal planning; certifying the maximum preserves flexibility before final calculations and public hearings, and the debt service component reflects ongoing repayment of referendum borrowing.

Sources: Presentation and discussion at the Sept. 17, 2025 Board of Education meeting; Minnesota Department of Education calculations and truth‑in‑taxation presentation schedule.","The St. Cloud Area School District Board of Education on Sept. 17 certified the 2025 (pay 2026) preliminary levy at the maximum amount calculated by the Minnesota Department of Education, with the board approving the motion by unanimous roll call.",{"_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},5979445,"Board reviews revised gifts‑to‑personnel policy; wording aligned to statute",2547,7000000,4453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1&start=7000&end=4453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1/thumbnail_7000000.jpg","/articles/5979445/Minnesota/Board-reviews-revised-giftstopersonnel-policy-wording-aligned-to-statute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979445-310fb899dddda1c7e4a57b892fcba330/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034948&Signature=j94LUhRdl9DCUiSsP09p0yQ4-ExHXlF~Jv8U--4SfG0ZvUdzu~CTVNHs7OsN9BRLmvkbzpCVErpbec9rqqW0QPvrfFlq32m5x9UjDYi~qv3D4S7Cg-OF7nWdLLHXfI6D69YEzehIkAWPYLVl3hVX3uyBfD5Oc4JYDwiMAJJBQnFzIYsoiV45Qogd8fGsrqllzwB5N~rJpm6RhiHfLofHjOudy~2r-aVMF8QI9NIj02ieE~aNk78IAFMrCJwy8u2RYgsCgF88dYNjSLCRjsJydUfZU2ktjcHFU33xVYYcv16V~IE5r8AWXepy0VSnGYjo9hDC8t-OXmCWLkccNpaXXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Cloud Area School District Board of Education on Sept. 17 received a second reading of proposed revisions to policy 421 (gifts to district personnel). Amy Scalarud, executive director of finance and business services, said the draft returns the district’s stronger purpose statement, adjusts terminology to match state law and restores a clear definition of “school district official.”

Scalarud said the board’s finance committee recommended several edits before the second reading: the purpose statement was returned to district language that focuses on avoiding conflicts of interest and impropriety rather than solely avoiding appearances; the policy now refers to acceptance of \"services of insignificant value\" (aligning with statute) rather than using the MSBA template word “items”; and where the MSBA draft used the phrase \"resale value\" the revised district text uses \"cost\" to align with statutory phrasing.

The revised draft also reintroduces a comprehensive list of who is considered a school district official to eliminate ambiguity about covered roles; committee edits removed obsolete local job titles and reorganized the list for clarity, Scalarud said. Other changes noted by administration were grammatical clean‑ups and insertion of statutory wording in places where the district wanted strict alignment with state law.

No final vote was taken at the Sept. 17 meeting; the policy was presented for a second reading with the committee’s recommended edits and will return for final consideration in a future meeting. Finance committee members and administration indicated the changes were designed to make the district policy match statutory terms and to reduce room for inconsistent interpretation.

Why this matters: Board policy sets standards for staff conduct and acceptance of gifts and services; aligning local policy with statute reduces the risk of conflicting guidance and helps staff and officials apply a consistent standard when considering offers to employees or district officials.

Sources: Policy presentation and finance committee discussion at Sept. 17, 2025 Board of Education meeting.","The board on Sept. 17 reviewed a second reading of proposed revisions to board policy 421 (gifts to district personnel), with administration saying edits were made to align wording with state statute and to clarify who constitutes a \"school district official.\"",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5979457,"District reports 266 more students this fall; kindergarten enrollment jumps to 761",515,1013000,1528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1&start=1013&end=1528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774357-0f095eb2bddde269725ecf14069b18c1/thumbnail_1013000.jpg","/articles/5979457/Minnesota/District-reports-266-more-students-this-fall-kindergarten-enrollment-jumps-to-761","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979457-c6101303b4f33868229c647a9c2c650d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034948&Signature=oNmMR-E8Rb86LrgWoff-JXF-wi~9SJ44HvdGEqKYKQyFMsbBmqnASVpLIAWvmki6VxWG8DyA-JT3Jn-NLbFDEatLdFQxDpjJgxQdTKk-9he5mug7RbD-OAie0-ugaXsG8P9ZY--QyAGOHlgmeRwAoAxn2~~dn1gWaIIrzi1j7GWu7Pw8ZNHPf1gm3vbNkU4Ho0DQ6xWwTC1ZRmNyqgTT-9ZYnMX~Z2Jt-gIkQolZlzw1TLfnU9Qq4ONUVa5jAUYNC15HMYtCAdmgxn~8nKD2nHvZrBVxd5A1DTlEBd7VbI0jat6evBrM6Tg7z9PXx2B3upONFWn8jrMZTpOfBvloLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Cloud Area School District reported a net increase of 266 K–12 students, a 2.9 percent rise from last fall, during its Sept. 17 board meeting. Amy Scalarud, executive director of finance and business services, presented the district’s second Friday count and said elementary enrollment accounted for the bulk of the gain; the district is 223 students higher at the elementary level compared with last fall.

Scalarud and Shannon Avison, executive director of community education and community partnerships, said kindergarten enrollment increased to 761 students (projected 680), a notable gain that contributed substantially to the district’s overall rise. Secondary enrollment showed a smaller net change: middle level rose by 47 students (most at South), while high school enrollment declined by 21.

Avison described the welcome center’s summer intake work: the welcome center enrolled hundreds of new‑to‑district students over the summer (staff clarified during the meeting that the correct figure discussed was 817 new‑to‑district K–12 enrollments, not the earlier misstated “over 1,000”). Of those new‑to‑district students, about 235 were new kindergarteners; many other kindergarteners had been enrolled previously in district preschool programs.

Administrators noted programmatic and counting details that affect comparisons: McKinley alternative site is excluded from the district’s traditional secondary counts because its day‑to‑day enrollment fluctuates; alternative and care‑and‑treatment sites showed increases that also contributed to the overall gain.

Board members asked how the rise affects space, staffing and boundaries. Administration said immediate next steps include monitoring add/drop activity over the coming weeks, reviewing class sizes and schedules, and assessing staffing needs. Two kindergarten teachers were added in August; district officials said further hires could be required depending on continued enrollment shifts. The board’s boundary redesign team is already reviewing space pressures; staff said boundary changes are being considered but no formal boundary change was proposed at the Sept. 17 meeting.

Why this matters: sustained enrollment increases affect staffing costs, classroom configurations, long‑term facility needs and levy calculations because several levy components are tied to enrollment. The district said it will continue to monitor counts and report further updates to the board as staffing and space analyses proceed.

Sources: Enrollment presentation and question period at the Sept. 17, 2025 Board of Education meeting.","St. Cloud Area School District reported a K–12 enrollment increase of 266 students (2.9 percent) based on the second Friday count, with the elementary grades — and kindergarten enrollment of 761 students — driving the rise, administrators said Sept. 17.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District review shows drop in suspensions and early gains in literacy and math growth

Board certifies preliminary levy at maximum; final hearing set for Dec. 17

Board reviews revised gifts‑to‑personnel policy; wording aligned to statute

District reports 266 more students this fall; kindergarten enrollment jumps to 761