Schools Lease 7,500 SF in Bandana Square

ST. PAUL, MN-The school district here recently leased 7,500 sf of space in Bandana Square, an office and retail complex in Energy Park to house special education and Indian education staff at a rental rate of about $12 per sf. The move is to make room for its French Immersion elementary school program at a former school building near Lake Como that it leases from St. Andrew Catholic Church.

The French Immersion program, with about 160 students, has run out of space at the current school it shares with the Highland Elementary neighborhood program.

The school district is preparing to invest $2 million in the former parochial school, including fire sprinklers, elevators and a new kitchen area. The French Immersion program is expected to move into the St. Andrews building in the fall of 2002.

It is expected the special education and Indian education staff will move to the new quarters sometime late this year.