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Prior Lake-Savage Unified Champion Schools expand to 11; students describe inclusion benefits
Summary
Board heard that the district’s Unified Champion Schools program grew from 2 to 11 schools in one year. Staff and students described inclusive activities, fundraising and plans to expand classes and events.
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools reported rapid expansion of its Unified Champion Schools program, growing from two participating schools to 11 in one year, and staff and students described new inclusive classes, extracurricular activities and fundraising partnerships.
Superintendent Michael Thomas highlighted the growth and turned the presentation over to Michelle Chuka, who credited staff and student leadership for the expansion. "More students with and without disabilities are learning, playing, and leading together through unified programming," Chuka told the board.
Staff and student speakers described district activities that now include Unified physical-education electives, a Unified cooking class ("Unified FACS"), unified track-and-field days, inclusive libraries, morning-announcement features and preschool inclusion activities. Hannah Ring, a speech pathologist at Prior Lake High School, summarized the program’s history and called the district "one of 17 Unified Champion districts in Minnesota." Student leaders said the program helps build friendships and leadership: student Ethan Glenn said, "Unified represents all students of all different disabilities ... we just really wanna give everybody the same opportunity at the high school."
Funding for the expansion comes in part from Polar Plunge fundraising: Megan Head explained that, as a unified district, about 50% of Polar Plunge proceeds now return to district programming (with 30% earmarked for sports team fundraising and 20% for unified programming). Head estimated the district would receive about $3,200 from recent Polar Plunge proceeds to support events and trips; staff also reported about $15,000 raised by a plunge team this year.
Staff described next steps including expanding unified classes at middle and high school levels, more inter-district events (a baseball game against Shakopee scheduled for May was mentioned) and exploration of inclusive playground equipment. Presenters emphasized that unified programming is voluntary for students and staff and that much of the work is staff- and student-driven.
The board received the update as an informational item; no action was required.
