Community Engagement Task Force

Princeton Public Schools Community Engagement Task Force

Join us as we work together to shape the future of our schools! Our Community Engagement Task Force is bringing together staff, parents, and community members to explore solutions for the challenges facing our district, including funding, facilities, and innovative learning opportunities. Your voice is essential in this process, and we encourage you to be a part of the conversation.

To RSVP for our next meeting or to learn more, please contact Emily McKinnon at emily.mckinnon@isd477.org or call 763-389-6184.

Community Engagement Task Force Recap: November 12, 2024

On November 12, 2024, the Princeton Public Schools Community Engagement Task Force met to explore spaces within Princeton High School. Groups took guided tours of Princeton High School facilities and the Task Force collected ideas, thoughts and feedback from attendees, which included:

• Career & technical education spaces
• Original 1966 high school building
• Locker room spaces, weights and cardio areas
• Boiler room and upper mechanical room

Next Steps: We collected a variety of questions from Task Force members to address their most pressing concerns, and we’re committed to gathering the requested information and providing responses in the coming weeks. Task Force members are encouraged to keep the conversation going—by sharing feedback, participating in future discussions, and staying engaged in the decision-making process. 

The next task force meeting will be held on December 10 2024, at 6:00 PM at Princeton High School Media Center. This session will include further discussion of our current facility needs, and how those needs have changed over the past several years. We encourage all community members to join as we work together to shape the future of our schools.   

If you have questions please reach out to Emily McKinnon at emily.mckinnon@isd477.org.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Even if you can't make it to all meetings, we encourage community members, families, and staff to join these meetings and make sure your voice is heard. 

Community Engagement Task Force Recap: October 22, 2024

On October 22, 2024, the Princeton Public Schools Community Engagement Task Force convened to review budget challenges and plan for a sustainable future for our district. 

Key topics discussed:

• Survey Insights: The meeting began with an overview of recent survey data on K-12 Education in Minnesota (provided by the Morris Leatherman Company). This information will guide our priorities as we make strategic recommendations. 
• Budget Review: A deep dive into the district's financial situation underscored the ongoing struggle with a structural deficit, highlighting the need for thoughtful solutions.
• Next Steps: The meeting concluded with a call for ongoing community input. We collected a variety of questions from Task Force members to address their most pressing concerns, and we’re committed to gathering the requested information and providing responses in the coming weeks.

Task Force members are encouraged to keep the conversation going—by sharing feedback, participating in future discussions, and staying engaged in the decision-making process. Additionally, we are looking for a community co-chair to partner with the district in facilitating future meetings. This role will help ensure that a diverse range of perspectives is included and that all community voices are heard.

The next task force meeting will be held on November 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Princeton High School Media Center. This session will include an optional tour of the school and a discussion on the history and current needs of our facilities. We encourage all community members to join as we work together to shape the future of our schools. 

For those interested in taking a leadership role, or attending the next meeting, please reach out to Emily McKinnon at emily.mckinnon@isd477.org or call 763-389-6184.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Even if you can't make it to all meetings, we encourage community members, families, and staff to join these meetings and make sure your voice is heard. 

Community Engagement Task Force Recap: October 8, 2024

On October 8, 2024, the Princeton Public Schools Community Engagement Task Force gathered to discuss the evolution of teaching and learning within the district. The meeting focused on how our educational practices have adapted to meet the needs of today’s students, and how our facilities could align with our vision for the future.

Key topics included:

• Academic Innovations: Superintendent Ben Barton and Jessica Town-Gunderson, Director of Teaching & Learning, outlined priorities for student growth and highlighted the importance of personalized instruction.
• Tiger Career Academies: Heather Sorenson, Tiger Career Academies Coordinator, emphasized the expansion of hands-on learning opportunities and the goal of equipping every graduate with industry-recognized credentials or workplace experience.
• Visions for Student Success: Ryan Jensen, Principal of Princeton High School, discussed the importance of holistic student development, while Activities Director Darin Laabs highlighted the role of extracurricular activities in building leadership skills.

Looking ahead, the next task force meeting on October 22, 2024, will cover insights from a state survey, technology spending reports, and strategies for addressing our district’s structural deficit. All community members are encouraged to join the conversation as we work together to shape a sustainable future for our students.

Even if you missed a meeting, you're welcome and invited to join the conversation! 

Next meeting:
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Princeton High School Media Center
Topic: Addressing Budget Challenges & Planning for Our Future

All community members are welcome!

Recap of Task Force September Meeting: Shaping the Future of Princeton Public Schools

On September 24, 2024, community members came together to continue crucial conversations about the future of Princeton Public Schools. The meeting focused on developing in every student the ability to succeed in an ever-changing world. 

Presenters Jodie Zesbaugh and Matthew Hammer from Ehlers Public Finance Advisors shared facts and insights on Minnesota school funding and balancing priorities.

• How school funding works 

• How Princeton Public Schools compares to other districts

• Discussion on the current and future facility needs (including “the why” for the repairs and upgrades) 

• Balancing priorities like class sizes, career and technical education (CTE), and keeping current programs strong

Thank you for the good turnout and active participation. You are helping to shape a positive future for Princeton Public School students, team members, and all communities served!  

If you were unable to attend this Community Engagement Task Force meeting, we encourage you to join in on this important conversation! Join in on the conversation on Current Learning and Teaching Today and the Next Decade on Tuesday, October 8, at 6:00 pm at Princeton High School.

Thank you for engaging in community discussions about critical issues facing the future of our Princeton Public Schools. Our schools are owned by our community. Your involvement is important to making informed decisions in the future.

On March 27, 2024 dozens of community members gathered to learn about and discuss financial and facilities challenges facing our schools. A summary of that meeting and recommended next steps will be provided here. Please follow the issues and get involved in the discussion.

The Challenges

• Princeton Public Schools has a revenue problem. We receive $3,000 per student less than the state average. We have stretched funding as far as it will go and provided an outstanding education for students. However, the budget situation is not sustainable.

• Federal pandemic funding expires this year (-$1.2 million), enrollment is declining (-$600,000), inflation is 3.7%, and our state basic state aid will only increase by 2%. Expenses are growing faster than revenue.

• We have a $2.5 million structural deficit.

• There are only four ways school districts can increase revenue:

  • Increase state funding (legislative action)

  • Grow enrollment (birth rates are declining)

  • Gain voter approval of a local referendum 

  • Increase fees, grants, and fundraising (unlike to generate enough)

• We have long-term facility needs studied by groups in 2013 and 2019, estimated in 2019 at more than $55 million. Costs are increasing.

• Educational expectations are changing, and our career-technical-vocational spaces are inadequate at present to provide a career-ready workforce.

Get Involved in Finding Solutions

We are asking families, alumni, students, and community members to get involved in finding solutions to complex challenges. As owners of our schools, we hope you will want to learn more and get involved. Please submit questions here. If you'd like to volunteer, please share your contact information.