51萝莉

President's Corner

Downsizing, merging and redistricting are not new issues for school districts. I experienced such a challenge early in my career as superintendent of the Anoka-Hennepin Public School District, which spans two counties northwest of Minneapolis, Minn.

From its beginnings in the 1950s to today, the school district has grown from a one-high-school district to a system of more than 45 education facilities spanning early childhood through adult transition programs.

During the financial crisis in the early 2000s, the school board voted to close several schools in areas where populations were stagnant or declining. While necessary and clearly communicated to the impacted areas of the district, the outcome left families feeling frustrated with the loss of their neighborhood schools.

In 2016, we faced a new challenge: Growth on the fringes of the district meant we needed new buildings in new areas less than a decade after closing older ones. Knowing that the previous closures frustrated some families, I knew communication and community collaboration were key to success.

Throughout the two-year planning process, we gathered community input and encouraged engagement. The effort paid off as voters approved our Fit for the Future referendum to address facility needs. After the two new elementary schools opened and new boundaries were implemented, the majority of parents supported the outcome.

A few hours north of Anoka-Hennepin is mining country. The school districts of Virginia, Eveleth and Gilbert benefited from the financial boom of mining from the 1950s through the 1970s, yet by 2018, circumstances had changed significantly. Virginia High School鈥檚 graduating class, which once boasted 300 students, had shrunk to around 100. Eveleth-Gilbert, which consolidated in the mid-1980s, peaked at around 200 graduates and shrank to 70.

Noel Schmidt took over the superintendency of the two districts in 2016, aware that difficult times were ahead. He was tasked with maintaining community pride while paving a path forward that made financial and educational sense.

In 2018, the two districts began discussing the need to consolidate education opportunities, starting with a plan to build new facilities. Schmidt鈥檚 time was filled with listening sessions and community meetings. Some passionate families pleaded to maintain the experiences they were used to. Other families were tired of the 鈥渙ld way鈥� and wanted education to change. The No. 1 priority was high-quality education for the current and future generations of students.

The two districts held more than 150 community meetings, and the school boards had more than 20 combined meetings. Groups of teachers, parents, school board members and business leaders visited schools out of state. They conducted community surveys, intentionally done in paper and pencil to reach community members who did not participate in online options.

The surveys revealed that the majority supported something new. The decision to jointly build facilities was approved in 2019, and the districts voted a year later to consolidate and become the Rock Ridge School District.

The outcome has been positive, providing incredible educational opportunities for students in future-focused facilities that promote project-based learning, career academies, flexible learning spaces and improved outdoor facilities for the school district and the community.

Downsizing, redistricting and merging are a reality. Whether a district is urban, suburban or rural, school leaders need to constantly monitor the needs of their community and plan for the future. The Rock Ridge School District is a great example to learn from. Special thanks to Noel for sharing his story and his leadership on behalf of his students.

We usually make the right decision when we focus on providing the best for our students and community.

David Law is 51萝莉 president for 2025-26.