Education: The Belle Plaine school system provides a comprehensive educational program for all students, from preschoolers through adults. Special emphasis is placed on meeting the unique needs of each individual with excellent educational opportunities for all. Belle Plaine Independent School District #716 has well-equipped public elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. The students and professional staff enjoy an excellent student to teacher ratio.

School Board Members:

Mr. Bruce Bartelt	Ms. Michlelle Morrison
149 Sunset Dr.	11213 182nd St.
Belle Plaine, MN 65011	Belle Plaine, MN 65011
(612)873-4331	(612) 873-4345
Mr. Marty Grotberg	Ms. Betsy Ollhoff
310 N. Elm	135 O'Brien Pkwy
Belle Plaine, MN 56011	Belle Plaine. MN 56011
(612-873-2296	(612 873-6142
Ms. Becky Gullickson	Mr. Bruce Schmidt
621 E. Court St.	127 S. Eagle St.
Belle Plaine, MN 56011	Belle Plaine, MN 56011
(612) 873-5633	(612) 873-6928

Superintendent/District Office	612-873-2400
Elementary School	612-873-2401
Junior High School	612-873-2402
Senior High School	612-873-2403
Events/Special Notices	612-873-2413

Belle Plaine School District #716 - Mission Statement:

The mission of the Belle Plaine Schools with its favorable location and strong spirit of community cooperation, is to provide life-long educational opportunities that will increase self worth.

This will be accomplished by utilizing exceptional resources, including facility, curriculum, technology, and a caring staff.

These programs will meet the changing needs of the individual learners to prepare them to be responsible participants in a rapidly changing society.

The Belle Plaine School District with a K-12 student population over 950 students has an excellent comprehensive preschool through adult education program. We are proud of our:

1. Adult post-secondary training. Approximately 98% of our students graduate. 70% go on to additional post-secondary training, i.e., technical, college, and the armed forces.

2. Graduation Standards Testing: Belle Plaine District 716 ranked very high on the January 1997 and 1998 Graduation Standards Tests. Of the 227 school districts in the state reporting, only 12 districts ranked higher than Belle Plaine in math and reading tests administered to the 8th grade class. The percentage of eighth grade students at or above a 75% score in 1998 were: reading 70% and math 90%.

3. Comprehensive Community Services courses tailor-made to suit business/community needs in such areas as: General Education Diploma, welding, ag-machine repair, computer applications, wellness/health fitness classes, parenting and child care, and math, reading, and communication refresher courses. We will provide your basic employee training needs and/or coordinate your training needs with area training institutions.

4. Career Guidance and Work Study Program which generates an excellent partnership and cooperation between schools and local businesses.

5. Vocational curriculum that prepares our students to serve our agri-business community offering courses in: power mechanics, metals, welding, agri-business management, construction trades, natural resources conservation, horticulture, and landscaping.

6. Computer application/programming courses for students and adults in three well-equipped labs.

7. Well maintained facilities and grounds. All facilities are maintained to the highest standards. The District has also purchased 40 acres of property to meet the next phase of future expansion needs as growth in the District continues.

The District perceives its strengths to be a comprehensive curriculum generated by a dedicated staff with small student-teacher ratios and an outstanding extra curricular program.

The Belle Plaine School District serves Scott, Carver, Sibley, and LeSueur counties. There is an elementary school, a junior high and a senior high. Each of the schools were remodeled and expanded with completion in the summer of 1995.

Elementary staffing follows a structure that encourages team teaching. Staff and students are divided into four units with leaders who meet weekly with the principal to plan and coordinate better ways to teach individuals.

Environmental education is emphasized in all elementary grades. As a culminating activity for grade 6 environmental studies, a week is spent at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finland, Minnesota.

Junior high includes accelerated math, a foreign language and three years of science, as well as numerous enrichment opportunities.

Three years of German are offered in high school. Senior high students must take three years of Social Studies and English, one of Science from among four classes offered, and one of Math; Math offerings include Advanced Math, Advanced Algebra, Math applications, Geometry and Calculus.

Each School has a computer lab. Keyboarding, word processing and Lotus are introduced in elementary school. The elementary computer lab is staffed by a full-time specialist. Junior high students are introduced to basic programming and graphics, and keyboarding/word processing is emphasized. Senior high students may choose programming, advanced programming and computer applications.

A program for high potential students includes a teacher-coordinator working two-thirds time in the elementary school. Secondary provisions include a teacher-coordinator and advanced-placement classes. There are opportunities for self-directed research.

Programs are offered for those with learning, perceptual, emotional and physical disabilities. There is elementary and secondary adaptive physical education. A program called Positive Learning and Understanding of Self helps students with academic problems not caused by learning disabilities or other impairments; it attempts to help students remain in school and have it be a successful experience. Belle Plaine belongs to the Minnesota River Valley Special Education Cooperative, which supplies psychological services and programs for severely disabled students.

The District has an early childhood family-education coordinator who offers preschool and parenting programs through community education. A nursery school program for children 3 and 4 is offered.

Belle Plaine participates in the Minnesota Educational Effectiveness Program. The district perceives its strengths to be a dedicated staff with small student-teacher ratios and an outstanding extra curricular program.

All three schools within the district are North Central Accredited.

In addition to the fine local school system, Belle Plaine is within 25 miles of Hennepin Technical College, 40 miles of Riverland Technical college, 35 miles of Normandale Community College, 25 miles of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, and the numerous other educational institutions in both the metropolitan and Mankato area.

Average grade size and student:teacher ratios

Elementary

Average grade size: 83.7 students

Student to Teacher ratio: 22:1

Junior High

Average grade size: 92 students

Student to Teacher Ratio: 23:1

Senior High

Average grade size: 96 students

Student to Teacher Ratio: 23:1

 

Community Education: Belle Plaine offers community education classes reaching out to a variety of ages and interests. Examples include small business management courses, skills enhancement and enrichment programs including computer skills, Early Childhood Family Education, fitness classes like aerobics, interior design and more

College level courses are offered in Belle Plaine through the collaborative efforts of area schools and higher education facilities. Accelerated education classes are offered to high school juniors and seniors who are college bound, thereby allowing high school students to gain college credits.

Community outreach to senior citizens includes congregate dining, transportation services, community events planning and available, affordable housing.

Community Services

612-873-2411

Service Clubs: Active service clubs are a hallmark of the Belle Plaine community. Priceless contributions by the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Rotary Club, American Legion, Veteran's Club, S.I.E.R.R.A. Club, and Sportsman's Club create essential community spirit and pride.

Library: the Belle Plaine Library, part of the Scott County Regional Library System, maintains and has access to a full range of educational media. Construction was completed for the new 5,280 sq. ft. public library in May of 1995, replacing an outdated facility. The new structure features a high-tech meeting room and several computer terminals which are available to all users. Planning is underway to equip the high-tech meeting room with video teleconferencing capabilities offering citizens and business owners tremendous potential savings in time, travel and lodging.

Belle Plaine Public Library	125 West Main Street
M, W, TR : 1:00-8:00 pm	612-873-6767
T, F : 1:00-5:00 pm
Sat : 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Child Care: Kids' Company, a program for elementary-aged children held before and after school, meets the needs of parents who work earlier or later than regular school hours. Registration forms are available through the public schools. Several local child care providers are available including many licensed by Scott County to ensure high quality care at a reasonable cost. Resource and referral information is available at the Belle Plaine Civic Center.

Belle Plaine Civic Center

612-873-5553

Created by Christopher L. Pouliot for Belle Plaine, Minnesota.
Last Modified 04/29/99