Our school facilities are more than buildings — they’re community spaces that support learning, connection, and pride. At St. Francis Area Schools, we’re committed to maintaining these spaces for the health, safety, and success of our students, staff, and community.
At St. Francis Area Schools, we understand that our district is a direct reflection of the community we serve. The School Board and district leadership are committed to a facility planning strategy that reflects community priorities, supports student learning, and ensures responsible use of taxpayer resources.
To make certain future facility decisions are student-focused, fiscally responsible, and community-supported, St. Francis Area Schools is expanding communication and engagement through:
A Facility Master Planning Website
Community Engagement Task Force: Join the Team!
A District-Wide Community Survey
We will continue to share updates through this website, district emails, and social media channels.
Our ongoing commitment throughout this process is transparency, collaboration, and open communication.Â
Between September 30 and October 27, 2025, St. Francis Area Schools conducted a community-wide survey to gather input on district facility planning. Every household received a postcard with survey details, and thanks to your participation, we collected valuable feedback that is helping shape our Facility Master Plan.
We’re truly grateful to everyone who took the time to share their voice. Your input is making a real difference as we work together to determine the best path forward for our schools and community.
The Community Engagement Task Force is a group of dedicated community members who provide valuable insight and input to the St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education as it plans for the future of our schools.
Throughout the process, Task Force members have engaged in learning and discussion around:
District demographics
Facility assessments
Current educational programs and practices
Facility tours
School finance basics
The overall financial health of the district
The information shared and gathered through these meetings will directly inform the District’s ongoing Facility Planning efforts, ensuring that future decisions reflect both community priorities and student needs.
During the first meeting, the Community Engagement Task Force learned that their work will culminate in a recommendation to the School Board regarding the future of St. Francis Area Schools facilities.
The group explored how school buildings influence student learning and how evolving educational needs shape facility planning. Task Force members also participated in interactive exercises to share what they brag, worry, wonder, and bet about the district — fostering meaningful conversation and reflection about its strengths and future opportunities.
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The evening began with a tour of the St. Francis Learning Center, led by Director Ben Craig. The facility is in good condition and was identified as one of the district’s strongest buildings. Task Force members noted potential improvements and discussed how the space supports students and staff.
The group then participated in a presentation and demonstration of MySiteIQ, the district’s system for tracking and managing facility assets, led by Brian Peters and Michael Smith from SitelogIQ, with support from Chris Lindquist.
A review of the community survey’s initial findings was scheduled but will be shared at a future meeting.
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The Community Engagement Task Force continued discussions about the district’s long-term facility planning. The meeting featured guest presentations focused on school finance and community partnerships.
Michael Hart from PMA, the district's financial consultant, provided an overview of how Minnesota school districts are funded and shared comparative data for St. Francis Area Schools. He also presented a sample bond scenario to help explain financing concepts. (This example was for instructional purposes only; the School Board has not made any decision to pursue a referendum.)
City of St. Francis representatives Kate Thunstrom and Paul Carpenter discussed upcoming city projects and ways the City and District can collaborate to meet shared goals. Task Force members asked questions about community development and infrastructure, including the Bridge Street project.
The meeting also touched on the district’s Transportation Building, with a video tour featuring Peggy Tesdahl and Chris Lindquist in production for a future session.
The next meeting will be held on November 17 and will include a tour of St. Francis High School and discussion of indoor air quality (IAQ) improvements.
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The evening began in the Saints Room before a guided tour of St. Francis High School, led by Principal Doug Austin and Community Education Director Chris Lindquist. They provided valuable insight into how different spaces support—and sometimes limit—teaching, learning, and the overall student experience at SFHS.
The tour lasted about an hour and was followed by a 15-minute discussion back in the Saints Room. Task Force members shared thoughtful reflections and questions that continue to shape a clearer understanding of the building’s strengths and needs. The tone of the evening was positive and focused on collaboration.
Eisenhower Matrix Activity
Following the tour, members participated in their first Urgency vs. Impact exercise using the Eisenhower Matrix. Working in groups, participants evaluated high school project ideas in three categories:
Learning Environment
Building Systems & Safety
Enhancements
Each group generated a variety of observations and potential project ideas based on the tour. This activity marks the first step in a process that will be repeated for each facility, with ideas added and refined over time to build a prioritized list of needs districtwide.
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The Community Engagement Task Force met on November 24 for tours of Cedar Creek Elementary and East Bethel Elementary. The walkthroughs provided valuable insight into how each building supports teaching and learning, as well as the daily challenges faced by staff and students. Special thanks to Principal Carpenter, Principal Kivi, and Chris Lindquist for leading informative and focused tours.
Following the tours, members completed Eisenhower Matrix activities for both schools, identifying and prioritizing facility needs across three categories: learning environment, building systems and safety, and enhancements. The combined results from all groups will help guide future discussions and planning.
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The Community Engagement Task Force met on December 2 for a tour of the Early Childhood Family Center and a discussion about how the facility supports early learners and families. The walkthrough highlighted both the strengths of the space and the limitations that impact programming and services. Task Force questions and reflections demonstrated a growing understanding of early childhood education and its critical role in St. Francis Area Schools.
A special thank you to Mrs. Kandi Danielson, who provided an excellent overview of the program, the students and families it serves, and the unique needs of early learners. Chris Lindquist also offered helpful context and insight throughout the tour.
Following the walkthrough, members completed an Impact and Urgency activity to help identify and prioritize facility needs for the center.
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The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9 at St. Francis Elementary School.
The Community Engagement Task Force met for its seventh session with a tour of St. Francis Middle School, led by Principal Heidi Critchley and supported by Chris Lindquist. The walkthrough provided valuable insight into how the building functions day to day, highlighting spaces that support teaching and learning as well as areas that limit instructional and operational needs.
Members viewed a pre-tour video prior to the meeting, which helped establish shared context and allowed for a more efficient tour and extended group discussion. Task Force dialogue was particularly strong, with members asking thoughtful questions and making connections across previous building tours.
The meeting concluded with a review of the Eisenhower Matrix output for the middle school, capturing the group's reflections on urgency and impact. Because several members were unable to attend, the priorities activity was postponed and will be completed after the next facility tour on January 6 at St. Francis Elementary School.
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The Community Task Force participated in a virtual session to review a demographic study presentation led by Hazel Reinhardt. The presentation focused on enrollment trends, population changes, and projections for St. Francis Area Schools.
This session provided important context to support future facility planning decisions, helping the Task Force better understand how demographic trends may impact the district moving forward.
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The Community Engagement Task Force met for its nineth session, marking an important transition in the facility planning process. With all district building tours now complete, the group is shifting from learning and observation toward synthesis and prioritization.
The meeting included a debrief of the recent demographic study presentation, reinforcing that demographic data is one of several tools used to inform planning and must be considered alongside local context and community insight. Task Force members also toured St. Francis Elementary School, led by Principal Karla Winter, and completed an Eisenhower Matrix activity to identify and prioritize potential facility improvements based on the tour and shared input.
The group also participated in its first community priority-ranking exercise, focusing on what they believe the broader community values most when it comes to school facilities. This activity helps distinguish personal preferences from community-wide priorities and will inform future discussions.
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The Community Engagement Task Force met for its tenth session on February 2 to begin shaping a formal recommendation for the future of St. Francis Area Schools facilities. Building on more than 20 hours of meetings, tours, and community input, the group transitioned from information gathering to prioritizing potential projects and solutions.
Members reviewed key data from previous meetings, including tour summaries, Eisenhower Matrix results, and emerging themes. Through small group work, participants identified priority projects for each building based on impact, urgency, and overall value to the district.
The meeting also included a gallery walk and dot voting activity, allowing members to indicate areas of agreement and identify projects with strong support. This was followed by a full group discussion to begin forming consensus around potential recommendations.
The Task Force also introduced strategic considerations—focusing on long-term planning, critical facility needs, and opportunities to enhance learning environments—which will continue to be developed in the next meeting.
The Community Engagement Task Force met on February 9 to continue refining the work developed throughout the facility planning process. This meeting focused on reviewing a summary of consensus project ideas identified across all district buildings.
Task Force members participated in an accuracy check, ensuring the project list reflected the group’s collective input and identifying any additional items that should be considered. The discussion reinforced that these projects are not final decisions, but rather a reflection of the group’s shared understanding of district needs based on tours, data, and community input.
This meeting served as an important step in preparing for the Task Force’s final presentation to the School Board on March 26, where their work and recommendations will be shared.
The Community Engagement Task Force met for its final session to present its work and recommendations to the St. Francis Area Schools School Board. This presentation marked the culmination of months of learning, collaboration, and community engagement focused on the future of district facilities.
The Task Force shared an overview of its process, including facility tours, data review, community input, and priority-setting activities. The presentation highlighted key themes and considerations that guided their work, as well as a set of recommendations developed through thoughtful discussion and consensus-building.
The Task Force expressed appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to this process and emphasized its commitment to supporting informed, community-driven decisions moving forward.
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