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General <br /> <br />Conditional Use Permit <br />Request For <br />555 Railread Drive <br /> Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> <br />The preperty in question is located at 555 Railread Ddve, Elk River, MN 55330. The building is <br />situated between Railread Drive and 3rd Street (formally the True Value Hardware Store). A request <br />is being made to operate a Montessod Pdmary and Elementary School on the premises. A <br />Montessod School would provide an alternative means of education for Elk River and surrounding <br />communities. Parents would have the opportunity to enrell their children in a classreom setting that <br />utilizes the Montessori teaching methods. The following documents support our planning, careful <br />thought, and vision to safely and successfully operate a Montessod School. <br /> <br />What is A Montessod School <br /> <br />Montessod philosophy dates back to 1900, when Dr. Maria Montessod, the first female Italy <br />recognized as a medical doctor, developed her teaching techniques while at an Orthophrenic School, <br />a school for the mentally disabled. She was astounded by how well these children responded to her <br />teaching techniques. Mada thought if the same techniques were applied to healthy children, "Why <br />shouldn't they do much better work in school than they did?' She left the Orthophrenic School and <br />began applying her teaching techniques to healthy children and realized she had "developed a way to <br />set free children's personality and learning capabilities in a ma[velous and surprising way." <br /> <br />Montessori emphasizes careful preparation of classrooms that respond to the specific needs and <br />tendencies of children at each stage of development. These "prepared classreoms" are sensitively <br />created and maintained by a Montessod teacher to previde optimum conditions for independent <br />activity and full development of individual potential. <br /> <br />The prepared classreom is more than materials; it involves the careful coordination of space, people, <br />and time as well as the selection of activities and materials. The way in which these elements are <br />combined will vary according to the stage of development. Montessori teachers are carefully trained <br />to link children to activities and to promote a positive emotional climate in the classroom. Yet each <br />classroom provides full opportunities for individual development within the context of a social <br />community. <br /> <br />Why This Location <br /> <br />First of all, the location of this building when compared to Elk River's major readways and other <br />educational facilities is ideal. There is easy access to the building frem both Highway 10 and <br />Highway 169. For those parents that commute into the metro area, little time would be added to drep <br />offtheir child at this location. Elk River provides a centralized location for families in the surrounding <br />communities, such as Rogers, Ostego, Zimmerman, and Big Lake. <br /> <br />Secondly, some elementary aged children may need to use the current school bus system, in which <br />case very little additional cost would be incurred due to its close proximity to St. Andrews Catholic <br />School. The Montessod's school schedule would coincide with St. Andrews to provide for proper <br />drop off and pick up times. <br /> <br />Lastly, there are very few buildings of this size available for lease in the city of Elk River. <br />Furthermore, this building would not require a major renovation project to make it suitable for <br />educational purposes. The alternative to leasing an existing building would be to construct a new <br />facility, but that would be too costly at this time. <br /> <br />Page 1 of 3 <br /> <br /> <br />