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Northeast Metro 916 outlines special education, ALC and career-and-tech services to Columbia Heights board
Summary
Officials from Northeast Metro Intermediate District 916 presented enrollment, program and funding details, including that Metro Heights ALC serves Columbia Heights students and will move to a new location; the board heard that ALC funding is 100% state aid while special education services are billed to member districts.
Officials from Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 (Northeast Metro 916) gave the Columbia Heights school board an overview of services, enrollment and funding across the intermediate district’s 17 programs.
Scott Thomas, director of education services for Northeast Metro 916, and Dave Haven, executive director of special services, told the board that 916’s programs serve multiple member districts and deliver services that are inefficient for small districts to provide on their own. The presenters said 916 served almost 5,800 students across its programs in the prior year and reported current enrollment around 2,004 students for the current year in the programs they reviewed.
Metro Heights Academy and Columbia Heights students
The presentation reviewed how Columbia Heights students access 916 services. The presenters said 71 Columbia Heights students currently attend Metro Heights Academy and that last summer roughly 171 Columbia Heights students attended summer and related programs. The district representatives said Metro Heights’ regular enrollment capacity is about 220 students and that enrollment is prioritized for member districts; when space is available open-enrollment requests are accepted.
Funding and programs
Presenters said area learning centers (ALCs) such as Metro Heights are funded 100% through state aid and do not generate a separate bill to member districts. By contrast, special education services provided by 916 are billed to member districts. Northeast Metro 916 staff highlighted a range of services: itinerant related services (a large team of specialized staff who travel to member districts), career-and-technical education (in partnership with Century College), two residential care-and-treatment facilities and alternatives to suspension programs (Project Return).
Planned facility change
Northeast Metro 916 told the board Metro Heights Academy will move this summer to a site on University Avenue commonly known as the former Cummins building; presenters said the new site is about a mile closer to Columbia Heights and will open in time for the next school year.
Board questions
Board members thanked 916 staff for on-site tours and asked about capacity and how itinerant services work. In reply, presenters said itinerant staff travel between schools to provide specialized services and that 916 prioritizes member-district students when enrollment is limited.
Ending
Board members invited continued partnership and tours; 916 staff thanked the board and said they would coordinate visits to the new Metro Heights location once the move is complete.
