St. Paul, MN – Uriah Ward, the 35‑year‑old chair of the St. Paul School Board, is steering the district toward higher literacy rates, clearer budgeting and a modest rebound in student enrollment. Ward, a former middle‑school social‑studies teacher and doctoral candidate in public administration, was first elected to the board in 2021 and now leads its three at‑large members.
Governance model and budget transparency
Ward says the board’s new governance model was built to bring community voices directly into district planning. “We go out to the community, gather feedback, turn that feedback into goals, and then monitor those goals at every meeting,” he explained. The board set district‑wide goals for the first time and now tracks progress at each board session.
He also authored a new budget policy that, according to Ward, “dramatically changes the way we do budgeting and makes our process more transparent.” The policy requires the administration to demonstrate how community input shapes spending decisions, giving parents and neighbors clearer insight into how funds are allocated.
Addressing enrollment decline and immigration impacts
Ward acknowledges that St. Paul Public Schools have faced declining enrollment, partly due to a lower birth rate and what he describes as “the Trump administration’s anti‑immigration stance,” which has made it harder for new families to settle in the city. He notes that the district’s enrollment share rose from 60 % to 61 % of school‑age children—a modest but positive shift.
In response, the board created an enrollment and retention committee, working with the superintendent to welcome families back to the district. Ward emphasizes that the effort is ongoing and that the board will continue to monitor results.
Supporting student well‑being
Even as the district confronts tighter budgets, Ward says mental‑health staffing and restorative‑practice initiatives remain priorities. “We allocate resources to mental‑health support staff and focus on restorative practices so we punish less and restore more,” he said.
The board also revised English‑language learner (ELL) staffing, moving from whole‑FTE allocations to 0.2‑FTE increments. While some educators worry this could limit relationship‑building time, Ward says the district is evaluating the impact and will adjust as needed.
Board’s stance on ICE operations
Ward condemned the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge, calling it “evil” and “horrifying.” The district issued a resolution prohibiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and posted notices barring ICE officials from school properties. Ward stresses that the board will continue to guard against any future immigration‑enforcement actions that could disrupt students and families.
Looking ahead
Ward plans to remain on the board to see these initiatives through, ensuring the district stays true to its newly established procedures and continues to provide effective, collaborative leadership for St. Paul’s children.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
