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School Forest Committee asks Marine on St. Croix advisory panel to pursue DNR 'School Forest' designation
Summary
Three members of the School Forest Committee told the MGDE Advisory Committee they plan to apply for a Minnesota DNR 'School Forest' designation for land north of the Marine school building; the committee recommended City Council approval of a Land Management Agreement so the application can proceed.
Jamie Souza, Leah Mahoney and Claire Bjork presented the School Forest Committee’s plan to return the area north of the Marine school building to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)–designated "School Forest," the Multigenerational Education District (MGDE) Advisory Committee recorded Feb. 18, 2025.
The presenters said the parcel would remain under municipal ownership but that DNR designation would open technical assistance and grant opportunities. The committee noted a Land Management Agreement between the City of Marine (Marine on St. Croix) and Marine Village School (MVS) is in process; the School Forest Committee will complete its DNR application once the City Council approves that agreement.
The advisory committee recorded its full support and recommended that both the City Council and MVS pursue the DNR designation and the associated Land Management Agreement. The minutes do not record a formal vote on the recommendation; the entry is listed as a committee recommendation in the meeting minutes.
Why it matters: a DNR "School Forest" designation can provide access to technical support and some grant opportunities for outdoor education and long-term land management, which would affect programming at the school and stewardship of the city-owned parcel.
Next steps: the School Forest Committee will submit an application to the DNR after the City Council approves the Land Management Agreement.
