Osseo Area Schools Showcase Latest Projects for Building a Better Future Plan
It was a busy summer of construction in Osseo Area Schools.
A variety of projects wrapped up just in time for the school year, including renovated media centers, an auto shop and a new school store.
Since voters passed referendums back in 2022 and 2023, district leaders have worked to plan and execute 66 different projects throughout Osseo Area Schools.
John Morstad, executive director of finance and operations, said the projects are set to be completed over the course of five years.
“Build a Better Future is a comprehensive facilities renovation across every school building that we have,” said Morstad. “With the goal of modernizing, bringing much more 21st century learning and next-generation learning models into the classrooms and into the learning spaces.”
CCX News got a look at some of the schools with fresh new renovations.
Osseo Senior High School
The new media center at Osseo Senior High.
On top of new signage, students at Osseo Senior High School were greeted with a brand new entryway on the first day of school.
The open space includes plenty of seating, windowed study rooms and a technology support desk. There’s also an adjoining media center filled with books for students to check out.
First-year principal Kim Berling, who served as interim principal last school year, said the start of the year has been smooth with the new space.
She said it’s a great spot for students traveling between schools.
“It’s just been super positive,” Berling said. “The kids are really excited to be able to use the space.”
Students interested in the trades also got an exciting upgrade to the auto shop. There was a much-smaller one in its place before.
Principal Berling said community input helped bring it to life. Students will get to work on their own vehicles and other ones brought into the shop.
“This is a new and improved state-of-the-art auto shop. It has six lifts and is just a beautiful space,” Berling said.
One of the six auto lifts in the new and improved auto shop at Osseo Senior High School.
Park Center Senior High School
Park Center also got new signage outside and throughout the school, but its most exciting additions this fall are inside its doors.
The first is the new school store, which Morstad said is staffed by students, and run by the business program at Park Center.
Each high school in the district will eventually get one. Students also run the social media for the store and create videos to promote it.
“They stock it, they do inventory, they treat it like a business,” Morstad said.
Construction workers were also putting the finishing touches on the new culinary space. Morstad said the culinary program is popular at Park Center and the new rooms fit that need.
“We’ve taken it to the next level, and upgraded that room so you have a full-on industrial or professional kitchen feel to it. That would be just like the same type of equipment that you’d use in a professional restaurant,” Morstad said.
The renovation also includes a teaching lab.
A construction worker puts finishing touches on the new culinary lab at Park Center High School.
Upgraded Elementary Schools
The library media centers at several elementary schools also got upgraded looks this school year. The elementary schools gained new outdoor classrooms. Those spaces will look similar to the ones at Oak View Elementary, which got its renovations done in summer 2025.
“What you’ll see when you go in there is a nice, big, modernized media center, a maker’s space, and some flexible rooms,” Morstad said.
Windowed rooms are able to be rented by classes to learn outside the classroom. They’re available in several different sizes.
Books at Oak View are also organized by genre to make it easier for students to find what they’re looking for in the library.
In addition to seating, the outdoor classroom space at Oak View also has a garden with running water.
Aspen Ridge Elementary, Fernbrook Elementary and Edinbrook Elementary got these upgrades this summer.
Principal Ryan Gibbs talks to a group of students at the Oak View Elementary outdoor classrooms.
Other Projects
According to District 279’s website, Maple Grove Middle and Osseo Middle also got some upgrades this summer. Park Center also has more upgrades to come.
Maple Grove Senior High has a variety of projects still ongoing, as well as Park Center. The new elementary school, Aspen Ridge, opened up this year, too.
Construction on the former Crest View Elementary site is also underway. District leaders are asking the community for feedback on what to name the new Brooklyn Park community school. You can get more details, and share your feedback through a form on the district’s website.
Osseo Senior High School
Park Center Senior High School
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