Students urge green space and showcase Aquila Elementary leadership program at board meeting

Two student groups took the public-comment portion of the Saint Louis Park School Board meeting on Wednesday to press for student-centered projects and to highlight school leadership work.

At public comment, student presenters identified as Sarah and Esther asked the board to support an outdoor green space at the middle school, describing potential benefits for learning, community-building and mental health. The presenters said they polled students and staff during their outreach and reported that "100%" of those interviewed said not being outdoors had a negative effect on learning and mental health; presenters also cited roughly 90% who said an outdoor green space could help build community.

"So what is a green space? The green space would be an outdoor area for teachers and students to visit and would hopefully be a place where teachers can hold their class and students can learn in the class," one presenter said. They outlined two location options, listed pros and cons (shade, proximity, potential distraction for choir/band or PE classes) and said the school's Green Team would lead fundraising and grant-seeking efforts.

Later in the meeting, Aquila Elementary staff and students described the school's leadership program, which began in the 2022'023 school year with staff support and now includes multiple teams (leaders-in-training, leadership team, recess leaders and breakfast-club leaders). The presenter said the program now engages "over 50, close to 60" students across fourth and fifth grades and shared examples of student-created resources such as orientation videos and student-led assemblies.

Chair Mancini said staff would follow up with the presenters after the meeting; Aquila staff offered to bring additional student voices to a future board meeting.

The board did not take formal action on the green-space proposal during the meeting.