Cooperative districts seek state funds for facilities serving high-need students

Scores of Minnesota school districts aim to use new levying authority and help from the Legislature to ensure students have a safe, appropriate place to learn.

Wednesday, members of the House Capital Investment Committee heard HF4282 which calls for $12 million from bond sale proceeds for two different special education cooperatives in northern Minnesota which have maxed out their available space. The committee took no action.

It’s unusual, but necessary for the cooperative districts to get bonding dollars, bill supporters say.

Some school districts fall through the cracks when it comes to funding crucial infrastructure because they don’t have the same tools to raise revenue as other districts, said Rep. Jeff Dotseth (R-Kettle River), who sponsors the bill.

Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative in the Arrowhead and Area Special Education Cooperative No. 997 near the border with North Dakota are seeking $6 million each to construct Setting IV facilities.

Students needing Setting IV facilities can have severe learning difficulties and may face behavioral challenges which may make typical classrooms unsafe. An example given at Wednesday’s hearing included a student throwing a chair out the window.

While school districts intend to seek additional lease levy authority as provided by 2023 legislation, state funding is necessary to help ensure students with the highest needs in rural areas have the same access to quality education, said Tiffany Litman, executive director at Area Special Education Cooperative.

The Northern Lights Academy is a cooperative serving 12 districts in Aitkin, Carlton, Lake, Pine and St. Louis counties. A new facility would allow the academy to consolidate into one building instead of two and offer day treatment, preschool, and transition services for 18- to 22-year-olds. The $6 million it seeks would cover about half the estimated facility construction costs.

The other project would be in Crookston and serve 11 districts near the North Dakota border. The plan is to construct a 15,000-square-foot facility at an estimated cost of $8.8 million with two large classrooms, six work/learn spaces, and a calming and seclusion room.