Message from the Superintendent

Spring Lake Park Schools, MN - District 16

NEWS

School Closing/Alerts

From the Superintendent

Cable TV Schedule

Current Letters

2007 - 2008

- July 18

- May 8

- April 3

Archived Letters

2006-2007

- June 10

- May 5

2005-2006

- May 9

- April 7

- July 5

2004-2005

- June 8

- May 9

- April 8

- March 7

- July 15

Message from the Superintendent

Dr. Don Helmstetter,
Superintendent, 2007 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, with some young learners with high
ambitions.

Greetings!

Thanks for stopping by to visit our web site! I think you'll be pleased by what you will discover.

School District 16 serves students and families from the cities of Blaine, Spring Lake Park, and Fridley. This is a great place to learn, to live, to work, and to play.

With 4,600 students, District 16 considers itself and its school community to be personal in size, extra-large in opportunity. Our mission is: �High expectations, high achievement for all. No excuses.�

We are just the right size:

We have three K-3 elementary schools (Woodcrest, Kenneth Hall, Park Terrace), each with over 400 students, and a grades 4 & 5 elementary school (Westwood Intermediate) with 600 students. A new 700-capacity K-3 elementary school will open in the fall of 2008 and replace Kenneth Hall Elementary.

Westwood Middle School has 1,000 students.

The grades 9-12 Spring Lake Park High School , with its 1,300 students, is the prefect size for teaching and learning.

Learning Alternitives Community School (a recent Minnesota Alternative Program of the Year) has over 250 learners.

In addition, the district has a highly successful online distance learning academy and The Lighthouse Program for highly-driven, highly-able students.

All staff participate in professional learning communities, assessment for learning training, and are focused and committed to ensuring the success of each and every student.

Our students are improving each day. They thrive in this environment.

A comprehensive, exciting $96 million long-range Facilities Improvement Plan was approved by our supportive community in February 2006. Planning and renovation and signifcant construction is now well underway at all sites.

The plan provides extensive, even dramatic, improvements to all of our schools. A new K-3 school, Northpoint Elementary, is now nearing completion. It is located in the high-growth area of Blaine, near Highway 242 (Main St.) and Cloud Drive, and will open in the fall of 2008.

All schools are being renovated, expanded, and improved. All are receiving additional classrooms. Spring Lake Park High School will be "nearly-new" after completion of its improvements.

Periodically, I write a brief message to staff, parents, and the community. My comments generally are written following a meeting of the School Board and reflect the current "state of the school district." The most current of these messages are available for your review too by clicking on the buttons in the column to the left.

I am always eager to hear from district parents, residents, students, and staff. I can be reached by utilizing the comment page found on this web site or by telephone at 763-786-5570 . My mailing address is 1415 81st Avenue NE, Spring Lake Park, MN, 55432. And, my e-mail address is dhelms@district16.org.

Here's to a great school year of working together to build a better place for our children.

Sincerely,
Dr. Don Helmstetter
Superintendent of Schools