CCAgenda_04Sep8 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS MINUTES August 25, 2004 Mayor Sue Gehrz called the regular Council meeting to order. PRESENT: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb, Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no commentary from the audience. PRESENTATIONS: Superintendent John Thein, Roseville School District 623 Superintendent Thein thanked Falcon Heights for being such a wonderful part of the Roseville School District. The School District has seen increased enrollment at the Falcon Heights Elementary School because people find Falcon Heights and the School District attractive for raising families and to move to. He reviewed the District's goals for 2003-2006: Achievement, Communication, Instruction, Diversity (ACID). He acknowledged Administrator Worthington's active involvement in the community and the schools, and said that through the Rotary Club she • has led the kids' voting program. During the summer, the School District serves about 3,000 students. These are students who are making up classes and/or attending enrichment and music classes to improve their academic skills. The District distributes a survey every three years to its students, staff and district parents. This year the survey was distributed in February and the results were very positive. A number of school districts, including Roseville, are going through declining enrollment as student populations are decreasing. At one time the District served over 13,000 students. This year, there will be about 6,400. This area has an aging community but houses are starting to turn over. A lot of young families are choosing Roseville, Falcon Heights and this area. The School District has involved its citizens in an Educational Planning Advisory Committee that is looking at how the District's facilities, buildings and resources can best be utilized over the next 5-10 year period. The preliminary report has come back and he will be putting together recommendations for the School Board to consider. That information will be made public and a formal presentation will be made in November. There is not a central local gathering place for people in this area, but the neighborhood schools serve as gathering places. This is something that gives a community an identity. Roseville Area Schools is proud of its neighborhood schools. People who choose to live in this area do so because they like the small neighborhood schools. Council member Kuettel said there are many volunteers at the Falcon Heights Elementary School who are not associated with the school in any way, i.e. they don't have children or grandchildren who go there. However, they are Falcon Heights residents who want to help and they attend reading programs to work with the children. The Falcon Heights City Council, to • help with declining enrollments, helped bring about the SE Corner development, which will increase the student population.