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Hmong‑program families tell St. Paul school board overcrowding, lost trust at Chi Chi campus
Summary
A parent told the St. Paul Public Schools Board of Education that the district’s consolidation of Hmong programs into Chi Chi Lower campus left classrooms overcrowded, separated pre‑K siblings and undermined trust; parents asked the board for immediate action and more follow‑through on facility recommendations.
Bridal, a parent of four students in Saint Paul Public Schools, told the Board of Education at its Sept. 23 meeting that recent facility decisions have left the Chi Chi Lower campus overcrowded and the Hmong‑language program struggling to serve students.
“Enrollment exceeds 600, classrooms are full, small‑group spaces are maxed out,” Bridal said, describing long lunches, capped enrollment and a 2023 relocation of pre‑K that she said happened without notice. She said a facility committee produced interim recommendations that were not implemented and urged the board to take action now.
The complaint centers on the district’s December consolidation that closed Jackson Preparatory Elementary and merged Hmong‑language programming into Chi Chi; Bridal said that decision has had “lasting consequences for students, staff, and family” and framed the issue as equity and cultural respect. She called on the board to follow the facility committee’s recommendations and restore community trust.
Superintendent Dr. Kent A. Stanley (identified in the meeting as “Doctor Stanley”) thanked speakers earlier in the public comment period and did not offer a specific corrective timeline during the public comment response. Board members later noted procedures for public comment and directed community members to the district website and board secretary for follow‑up.
The board did not take immediate formal action on the Chi Chi facilities issue during the Sept. 23 meeting. The public comment was recorded as part of the 45‑minute comment block; the district’s public materials and committee process were discussed elsewhere on the agenda.
Board policy on public comment directs speakers not to include personnel identifiers in public remarks; written remarks may be submitted to the board secretary and will be shared with board members. The district’s staff and facilities offices will be the appropriate contacts for follow‑up that requires operational changes.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2025; the district also scheduled a special meeting for Sept. 30, 2025, to act on the preliminary 2026 property tax levy, which may provide additional opportunities for staff and the board to surface facility‑planning items ahead of future votes.
