Mahtomedi community education reports enrollment gains, hires communications coordinator
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Summary
Community education reported expanded programs, new partnerships and measurable social-media growth; officials said a newly hired communications coordinator helped boost outreach and enrollment for targeted classes.
Kate Anderson, the district’s community education director, told the Mahtomedi Public School District school board on Nov. 10 that community education expanded offerings and increased engagement in the 2024–25 year.
Anderson highlighted participation and program results, saying the district’s career internship and volunteer fair drew ‘‘over 400 students and approximately 60 adult volunteers’’ and that the community garage sale included ‘‘over a 100 families’’ and raised ‘‘over $900 for scholarships.’’ She added that a new partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources produced a family fishing night that attracted about 30 people.
Anderson also described a new communications hire, introducing Nori Ness as the district’s full-time communications coordinator. ‘‘We’ve gained 95 Facebook followers in that 6 month time period, 96 with our Instagram,’’ Anderson said, noting a ‘‘124% increase in our views on Instagram’’ and improved reach and interactions that the district uses to boost enrollment in low-attendance classes.
The presentation covered early childhood changes: Anderson said community ed added a second Monday/Wednesday/Friday full-day preschool section to address parent demand and reported serving 139 preschool students and 63 children in the ECFE caregiver program. She said the program moved to a tiered registration system to prioritize current Mahtomedi families, which reduced out-of-district enrollments.
The update also listed facility support and safety investments community ed has provided to partner associations, including outdoor rink lighting, two portable AEDs for associations and new locks at a middle school conference area. Anderson said those efforts are part of a broader strategy to use district facilities to deliver community programming.
Board members praised the showcase of student work and the community ed team’s efforts. Anderson previewed upcoming events — including two youth nights a year, a Page Turner Challenge middle-school reading program, and a gratis babysitting class for residents at Lincoln Place — and said the department will continue piloting partner-hosted and neighborhood-based offerings.
The board did not take formal action on the community education update; Anderson said staff would continue developing programming and report back.