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Birch Lake Elementary reports enrollment uptick, new accessible playground and 2025'26 academic goals
Summary
Birch Lake Principal Julian Stankey told the school board enrollment climbed to 246, staff totals about 73 with 39 licensed staff, and the school installed an accessible playground. He highlighted growth in multilingual and special-education programs and set 2025'26 targets for reading and attendance.
Julian Stankey, principal of Birch Lake Elementary, told the White Bear Lake School Board that the school's enrollment has risen to 246, a three-year high, and staff totals are about 73, including roughly 39 licensed staff.
Stankey said Birch Lake is a Title I site with roughly 15% multilingual learners, about 31% of students receiving special services, 53% qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and about 1% in a highly mobile or homeless category. "It's actually 246," Stankey said when board members questioned a slide showing 244.
The principal highlighted programming that expanded this year, including a third section of the CubS program for students with higher medical and developmental needs and two sections of early childhood. He described a new, fully accessible playground installed in August and celebrated a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 12 co-hosted with the PTA and the Chamber of Commerce: "It is super accessible for all students," Stankey said, noting ramps that reach roughly 80% of the structure.
On academics, Stankey said Birch Lake met two of three school goals last year and set targets for 2025'26: 65% of grades 1'5 to score low risk on FastBridge CBMR assessments and 63% of multilingual learners in grades 2'5 to score low risk on the FastBridge reading assessment. He said the school is focusing on tiered instruction (tier 1 core instruction, tier 2 targeted intervention and tier 3 intensive support) and on raising average daily attendance to 90%.
Board members asked how the district measures multilingual learners in first grade; Stankey explained that the FastBridge CBMR assessment is administered only to grades 2'5, which is why first-grade ML students are not included in that specific ML metric. Trustees also pressed for clarity about staffing numbers and FTEs; administration explained the total staff figure includes part-time employees, paraprofessionals, nutrition services and outside specialists who may be shared across buildings.
The presentation closed with an invitation for questions and board members thanked Stankey for the update. The board then moved on to the next agenda item.
The board received the presentation; no formal action was required on the update.
