St. Paul school committee weighs two options to relocate Hmong studies program, delays decision for more community work

The St. Paul Public Schools Committee of the Board on Oct. 7 reviewed competing proposals to relocate the districtbHmong studies program and return fifth grade to the Tukey (Zucchi) lower campus, but did not take a final vote, instead directing staff to reconvene the facilities work group and engage affected communities before bringing the item back.

Superintendent Stanley told the committee she could not recommend either option at this time, citing districtwide financial pressures and competing community impacts. "I cannot recommend either option," Stanley said, while also acknowledging the Hmong community's long-standing concerns and the district's obligation to take a systemwide view.

Administrators presented two primary options. Option A would reopen Prosperity as a standalone school to house Hmong studies, allowing fifth graders to return to the Tukey lower campus but limiting future growth because Prosperity is a small (two-section) building. Option B would colocate the Hmong studies program at Hazel Park, which administrators said could accommodate a larger program with remodeling and operational changes.

Chief Collins and other staff walked the board through enrollment and cost figures, stressing that transportation was the single largest driver of the budget range. Chief Collins said the difference in cost scenarios depends heavily on proposed school start times; shifting start-time tiers could require "somewhere between 9 and 11 buses" to transport students to Prosperity in one scenario, with transportation accounting for more than 80% of the variation. Administration gave a cost range for Option A of roughly $2.6 million to $3.5 million and for Option B of about $1.4 million to $2.4 million, noting one-time facility and furniture purchases, additional staffing (library, counselors, SPED allocations) and nutrition and custodial costs.

Presenters also outlined programmatic impacts. Chief Collins said Hazel Park currently hosts five center-based special-education classrooms; moving Hmong studies sections into that building could require reassigning two of those center-based sections to other schools, which would alter service placements and staffing. Board members repeatedly raised concerns about disrupting special-education students, pressuring the administration for more precise cost estimates, and emphasizing the limited time to plan ahead of the next school year.

Multiple board members noted the district's fiscal context. Superintendent Stanley and others reminded the committee that the district faces a multi-million-dollar shortfall should the November referendum fail: "We will face a $37,000,000 shortfall in 26-27 school year should the referendum not pass in November," Stanley said during the discussion, framing the board's caution.

Several directors also emphasized the Hmong community's history with district facility decisions and asked that the work groupbincluding Hmong parentsbbe reconvened with new cost and impact information. Director Vu and others urged the board to include Hazel Park community representatives in further conversations about the colocation option.

By the end of the committee meeting the board reached a consensus to pause on a final vote, reconvene the Zucchi facilities work group with updated financial and impact data, engage Hazel Park and affected families, and return to the Board of Education with findings in November or no later than December. The committee did not approve any relocation at the Oct. 7 meeting.

What happens next: administration will reconvene the facilities work group, conduct additional community outreach with Hazel Park and Tukey families, refine cost and transportation estimates and return to the board with a more detailed recommendation and timeline.

Actions recorded: the committee voted unanimously earlier to amend and approve the meeting agenda; there was no formal vote on a facilities action on Oct. 7.