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Board approves Jefferson Elementary school forest partnership with DNR
Summary
The board voted to approve a proposal to designate about 3.24 acres near Jefferson Elementary as a school forest in partnership with the Minnesota DNR, citing outdoor learning, habitat restoration and erosion control; next steps include DNR state review and implementation planning.
Jefferson Elementary principal Melissa Bruschi and principal intern Jesse Pigman presented a proposal to designate roughly 3.24 acres adjacent to Jefferson Elementary as a school forest in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Bruschi described the plan’s goals: regular outdoor learning for pre-K through high-school threads, habitat enhancement (removing invasive buckthorn), erosion control on a hillside, DNR naturalist support for curriculum and stewardship, and student engagement in long-term monitoring. Pigman described site details and access constraints and said the site has been reviewed with City of Mankato staff and DNR contacts.
“Once approved by the board, the state will review it and, if accepted, we gain access to the DNR network and resources,” Bruschi said, asking the board for consideration and eventual approval.
A board member moved to approve the school forest designation and another board member seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote. Board members praised the proposal as a strong fit for the district’s outdoor learning and sustainability priorities and asked about access, maintenance and potential student career-pathway connections with the DNR.
District staff and principals said next steps include submitting the recommendation to the DNR for state review, developing plans for habitat enhancement and access improvements that balance student access with protected bluff areas, and coordinating facilities and maintenance for upkeep.
