St. Cloud council continues review of proposed private school after safety and traffic concerns raised

The St. Cloud City Council voted on Feb. 13 to continue a decision on a conditional‑use permit for Christ Centered Academics, a small private school that proposed operating Monday–Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a site that also hosts a church and food pantry.

Melissa Dunklin, the city’s director of community development, told council staff recommended denial because adding a school to a site where a food pantry and church activities already generate queuing could increase traffic backing up onto East U.S. 192 and Old Hickory Tree Road and interfere with right‑of‑way safety. Planning Commission had recommended approval with conditions tied to stacking, site changes and an expiration if the school leaves the property.

Why it matters

Council members and residents focused on immediate safety and operational issues — possible vehicle stacking into the public right‑of‑way, building and fire code compliance at an existing modular classroom and public allegations about past practices at a different facility used by the school. The council postponed final action to allow inspection, additional information and a staff review.

What applicants and residents said

Annette Moore, who identified herself as the school’s principal, said the program is small — 13 students and three staff — and serves children with special needs who receive state scholarship funding (she referenced the program formerly called McKay). Moore said the church altered the food‑pantry process to eliminate the drive‑through stacking and that the pantry now operates as a walk‑up distribution so vehicles no longer queue into the roadway.

Opposition and safety concerns

A former student, identified on the record as Draven Moore, described disciplinary and safety concerns while he attended the school, including windows that had been nailed shut in a classroom, crowding and food‑handling practices he said were unsanitary. His father, James Moore, told the council the City had previously ordered other locations used by the school to close for code noncompliance and said the modular classroom lacked sprinklers and adequate exits at earlier locations.

Council action

After public testimony and discussion, Mayor Christian B. Robertson moved to continue the item to the council’s March 13 meeting to allow staff inspections and additional documentation. The motion carried on roll call with a 4‑0 vote (Council Member Ken Gilbert recused because of a conflict and did not participate in the vote). The council asked the city manager and the fire chief to inspect the present site and report back on any code or life‑safety issues and directed staff to include information about the food‑pantry operations and any prior enforcement history in the packet for the March hearing.

Ending

The council set a March 13 continuation. Pending the staff inspection and factual updates, the council will revisit the conditional‑use permit and any proposed conditions.