The St. Paul (Minn.) district has begun planning for a new elementary school as well as renovation of an existing campus to create a community-wide middle and Montessori elementary school.
The projects come on the heels of the district's decision to close six schools over the next two years, reports The St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Construction of a new Bruce Vento Elementary will begin in 2024 just east of the existing building. It is expected to open in 2025 and will accommodate about 800 students from Bruce Vento as well as John A. Johnson Elementary, which is closing because of low enrollment.
The building that now houses Obama Elementary is also scheduled to undergo extensive renovations beginning in 2024. Once renovations are completed, the campus will serve as both a Montessori elementary school and a middle school that caters to students accustomed to the Montessori approach.
Obama Elementary now accommodates about 875 students; the renovations will increase capacity to about 1,000 students.
