Action of the School Board Action of the School Board 01/26/15 | Page 5

Cole said teachers have changed the way they view conflict as a result of this training.
Before training they saw a misbehaving student as battling them. Now they try first to understand why the student is misbehaving. They also learn how to de-escalate situations.
McGonigal said the district has seen not only a reduction in discipline situations but also
gains in achievement. When he observes in classrooms where Choice Theory and Restitution Theory are used, he finds students more engaged in learning.
The district’s goal is to train as many staff as possible. McGonigal said Hicks is in high
demand. She not only provides sessions for large groups of staff, but also goes into classrooms to work with individual teachers who request help. She is working with all teachers
who are in their three-year probationary period.

Plans for elementary additions presented

Chuck Holden, chief operations officer, presented plans to expand Wilson Elementary
School in Anoka and Johnsville Elementary School in Blaine. The additions are needed to
increase space at both schools, both of which are nearly at capacity.
The additions at the two schools will be similar to the additions done this past year at
Adams, Eisenhower, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Sand Creek Elementary Schools, and
will include new classroom space as well as kitchen and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades.
Plans for each site can be found in the Johnsville/Wilson Additions PowerPoint on the Jan.
26, 2015 School Board agenda.
Earlier this year, the School Board approved a plan to create a kindergarten center at Wilson, bringing in 155 Ramsey Elementary School kindergarten students to ease overcrowding there. The common spaces at Ramsey, such as gymnasiums and cafeteria, did not have
capacity to handle added students so the addition was planned instead for nearby Wilson.
The 10,900 square-foot Wilson addition will include seven new classrooms — four new kindergarten classrooms as well as a new art room and music room. In addition, the kitchen
and cafeteria at the school will be remodeled, a new HVAC system installed, and other
small projects will be done.
Johnsville School is at capacity with 791 students and its attendance boundary area is in
an area of Blaine expected to experience rapid residential housing development over the
next few year 2