EP Schools exploring new TASSEL campus

Eden Prairie Schools is looking for a new home for its TASSEL Education Center, after the City of Eden Prairie terminated its current lease at 8040 Mitchell Road.

Starting with the 2014-15 school year, TASSEL has occupied the City Center space that had been previously occupied by C.H. Robinson. However, the school district said it needs to move out of that space by the end of the year to make way for expansion of Eden Prairie Police Department facilities.

Dirk Tedmon, executive director of marketing and communications for Eden Prairie Schools, said, “This spring, we learned the City of Eden Prairie would be terminating our lease agreement at the City Center, which is where our TASSEL program is housed.

“Because of the importance and success of TASSEL, we want to maintain the program and began looking for alternative space — both through leasing and purchase,” he said.

Advertisement

“After much consideration and discussion with the board, we are exploring an option to purchase a building and land that can help us grow into the future.”

Two Eden Prairie properties reported to be under consideration are the former United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) campus at 11902 and 11840 Valley View Road, which was put up for sale in April, and another located at 10125 Crosstown Circle.

The school board has discussed potential purchases of these properties in closed sessions at recent meetings, but the findings have not yet been made public.
 
“In addition to housing TASSEL, this space could offer other unique opportunities for our students and community in the future,” Tedmon said. “There is a lengthy process to purchase a building; we will know more in the coming months.”

Tedmon said that funding for any purchases would come from the district’s lease levy. “Funds used for building purchase are managed out of our lease levy and cannot be used for staffing, programs, or those types of needs,” he said. “Likewise, the funds used for staffing and programs does not impact the money used to purchase buildings.”

About TASSEL Transition

The TASSEL Transition program is a post-high school choice program for students 18-21 years old who have disabilities requiring an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), plus significant needs in at least two of the three transition areas: post-secondary education and training, employment, and independent living skills.

The program’s goal is to prepare students to achieve independence by providing services, supervision, and supports tailored to individual transition needs.

TASSEL serves students directly at Hennepin Technical College South Campus in Eden Prairie as well as at the TASSEL Education Center, currently at 8040 Mitchell Road.