by Kurt Nesbitt
Contributing Writer
Efforts to reduce enrollment at Twin Lakes Elementary in Elk River have resulted in a decision by district officials to vacate an assistant principal position.
In 2015, a School District 728 committee recommended boundary changes to reduce enrollment at Twin Lakes by 200 students to address overcrowding at the school, which forced teachers to use the school’s media center for classroom space. The district held off making any changes for the past school year and developed a short-term, one-year plan for Twin Lakes.
District officials realized the enrollment boom is caused by housing growth in the eastern sections of Elk River, where Twin Lakes is located.
This January, the Elk River Area School Board reassigned about 140 Twin Lakes students and another 85 open-enrolled and in-district transfer students to Parker and Lincoln for this fall as a short-term fix.
District officials met with Twin Lakes parents to discuss options but ultimately did not adopt any of the solutions recommended by the district Policy 4004 committee.
On Monday night, the School Board voted to place an assistant principal at Twin Lakes Elementary on an unrequested leave of absence from that position, which represents equivalent of one full-time position.
Tim Caskey, executive director of human relations for Elk River Area Public Schools, said enrollment at Twin Lakes has now declined to where it no longer needs an assistant principal. He said Twin Lakes was the only elementary school with such a position.
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