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Board approves Hmong project timeline; parents and district will co‑lead needs assessment
Summary
The school board approved a timeline for the district’s Hmong Project needs assessment, instructing district staff to work with a community-based work group to survey Hmong students, parents and staff and return reports to the board.
The Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education unanimously accepted a timeline Tuesday for a district‑community “Hmong Project” needs assessment that parents and community members have pushed the district to complete.
The work group will be composed of Hmong parents, Hmong staff, students, district staff and three board members; its charge is to develop a mission and vision, gather input from Hmong students, staff and families via surveys and focus groups, identify programmatic investments and produce recommendations to the board. Board members approved the timeline after extended discussion about staffing, community trust and likely resource needs.
Parents and organizers told the board they volunteered large amounts of time to develop the plan and urged the board to approve the timeline so the work could begin. Gao Vang, a parent and Home Project member, told the board volunteers were already spending many hours and that the project was “worth” community investment. District staff said several departments will participate on the work group, including research, evaluation and assessment and the office of family engagement; administrators said staffing support would be assigned and that some translation, outreach and other supports will be necessary to reach the Hmong community.
Board members raised budget and time concerns. Director Allen asked the authors to provide a cost estimate for the effort; Chief Turner (district administration) and others said the initial burden will be primarily staff time and volunteer time to meet, with some additional expenses possible such as translation and childcare for meetings. Board members asked administration to provide interim progress reports and to quantify resource needs as project planning advances.
The timeline presented calls for finalizing the work group this spring, conducting preliminary planning in June and July, launching surveys and engagement in the fall, and returning a recommended resolution and report to the board in November 2025. The board passed the timeline unanimously and directed administration to collaborate with the Home Project work group and return updates on scope and budget as the work proceeds.
Ending: District staff and Hmong community leaders will begin convening the work group, with the board expecting interim updates and a full set of recommendations by November 2025; the board did not appropriate a separate budget with this vote.
