St. Francis School Board Advances Work-Based Learning Program, Highlights Literacy Gains and Wellness Efforts

ST. FRANCIS, MN — The St. Francis Area School Board has approved major steps toward launching a comprehensive work-based learning program and celebrated district progress in early literacy and student wellness during its most recent meeting. Board members also addressed ongoing public health compliance, staffing shortages, and community engagement efforts.

Work-Based Learning Program Moves Forward

A central focus of the meeting was the rollout of a new work-based learning (WBL) program designed to strengthen Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways and prepare students for the modern workforce. The initiative will allow students—initially seniors, with plans to extend to juniors—to earn academic credit through paid or volunteer employment aligned with their career interests.

Participating students must complete a career seminar course, maintain strong attendance and professionalism, and commit to at least 10 work hours per week. Reliable transportation is required to leave school early for job shifts. All placements must comply with state safety standards, which prohibit student employment in certain high-risk sectors.

To support the program, the board considered adding a half-time business and marketing position, with the possibility of expanding it to full-time. The position is needed both to oversee work-based learning and to accommodate additional course sections tied to the new sophomore personal financial management requirement. District officials noted that approximately 35% of eligible CTE salary costs could be reimbursed via federal Perkins funding, which supports high-quality CTE programming nationwide.

New Principals Report Strong Literacy Momentum

The board introduced two new elementary principals, Carla Winter and Jamie Carpenter, who delivered updates on district literacy initiatives. St. Francis is implementing structured and explicit reading instruction through two core programs:

• UFly for kindergarten through second grade
• Bridge to Read for third grade

Both programs provide systematic instruction that gradually builds from foundational skills to more advanced literacy concepts. Winter and Carpenter also highlighted robust family engagement, including a recent Title I and Access Family Engagement event that drew 280 RSVPs, signaling strong community support for early learning.

District Prioritizes Student Wellness and SEL

The district continues to enhance its social-emotional learning (SEL) framework through the Second Step curriculum and the recently launched “You’re Not Alone” therapy dog program, which brings trained dogs into schools to promote kindness, empathy, and emotional well-being. The district also continues its “Making a Difference” recognition initiative, which encourages nominations of students who positively contribute to their school and community.

Vaccination Compliance and Staffing Challenges Addressed

Health officials reported a 92.7% measles vaccination rate, short of the state’s recommended 95% threshold for herd immunity. The district is working to assist families in meeting state requirements, including providing access to notarization services for those filing conscientious or religious exemptions.

Staffing challenges—particularly in special education—were also discussed. Administrators acknowledged that shortages continue to strain service delivery and educational outcomes. Board members commended the human resources team for ongoing recruitment and retention efforts amid statewide hiring difficulties.

Community Engagement and Administrative Updates

The board received an update from the community engagement task force, which has conducted facility tours and collected stakeholder feedback. A special meeting will be scheduled for the task force to present its full set of findings.

Routine administrative actions included canvassing recent election results and approving work agreements for the district’s information technology staff and bus drivers.

Strong Community Participation Noted

The meeting concluded with board members highlighting recent school and community events, with particular praise for the Veterans Day program at St. Francis Middle School, which saw strong student involvement and was recognized for its thoughtful planning and execution.

MinneapoliMedia