Saturday, May 18, 2013
Also in this week’s recap – A Mother's Day fire ruins things for Eagan apartment residents and Lakeville Public Schools ponder a run at a referendum.
Take a trip around Dakota County and the south metro with this week's rundown of top news stories. For the original story, simply click on the link in the headline. Paving Paradise? Lebanon Hills Trail Plan Worries Residents Dakota County officials have plans to develop a 6.5-mile, paved bike trail in Lebanon Hills Regional Park to increase recreational opportunities. But some residents would prefer the park stay as pristine as possible. Eagan Council Warms Up to Proposed Pilot Knob Improvements The consternation that marked a January meeting on the proposed reconstruction of a portion of Pilot Knob Road was nowhere in sight last week. What to Do with the Sperry Water Tower? The 146-foot-tall water tower in Eagan is a money-maker for …
Abigail Alt was voted in 4-1 on Thursday night.
The Burnsville School Board has a full complement once again. Thursday night, the Board of Education chose Abigail Alt to fill the the vacancy left by Paula Teiken, who resigned in early March due to an impending move. The Board opted to appoint a replacement, as they did when former Board Member Gail Morrison left in June 2011, rather than going to the expense of an off-year election. Nine people went out for the seat, though one of the candidates, Bob John, dropped out at the last minute. Alt, a Burnsville woman and mother of two, was chosen after two rounds of voting. The second and third runner up for the spot were Scott Hume and Bill Streff, respectively. "I was thrilled and very honored. It's a big responsibility serving the board…
Monday, May 13, 2013
The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Board of Education will have nine candidates to choose from.
By Friday, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Board of Education will once again have a full roster. Thursday the Board will choose a successor to Paula Teiken, who left the district in mid-March. Interest in the vacant seat has been high, not unlike 2011, when 10 people went out for a seat on the board after longtime Member Gail Morrison left. The nine up for the seat are: The Board held a roundtable with the candidates on May 2. They will choose the new school board member by a simple majority vote. The meeting will take place at the Diamondhead Education Center at 6:30 p.m. Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter| Blog for us
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Statistics suggest an apparent paradox: More teachers are bowing out for retirement, and more are staying on indefinitely.
Blame it on the Baby Boom. This week, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District bid adieu to 26 employees, who are up for retirement. Together, they have given a total of 634 years to the district, a massive sum that nevertheless represents just a single drop in an incoming tide of retirements that will soon be changing the face of Minnesota's educational system. About 31 percent of Minnesota's active teaching population can call themselves boomers (those born between 1946-1964), according to the Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association (TRA). The tide of new retirees will crest in about 2015. Officials in Burnsville say the effect on the local district will be noticeable, but not unwieldy. On average, about 50 teachers leave each …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Also in this week's headlines, a possible monastery in the south metro and a dribbling duo. Plus, Patch says farewell to Mr. Northfield.
Take a trip around Dakota County and the south metro with this week's rundown of top news. EHS Grads Will Dribble Across Minnesota on Awareness Mission Alex Daley and Matt Scott want to bring soccer fields, sustainability and social change to urban areas in the U.S.—and are about to embark on a trans-Minnesota journey to spread the word. On Eve of Outlet Mall, Jensen's Supper Club Seeks Reinvention Jensen's plans to invest as much as $900,000 into a series of internal and external renovations designed to expand parking and update the 17-year-old restaurant's ambiance. Neighborhood's Affordable Housing Development Fears Unfounded, Officials Say A 50-unit housing development designed for low- to moderate-income families got a green light …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Mitchell J. Dawson was selected from a pool of 15,000 finalists.
Mitchell J. Dawson, a Burnsville resident and senior at Apple Valley High School, is among the winners of the $2,500 National Merit Scholarships released Wednesday, the organization announced. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selected the Burnsville student from among 15,000 finalists in the 2013 National Merit Program. The winners are judged to have the best combinations of “accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.” The number of winners in each state is proportional to the number of graduating seniors in the state. A committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors selected the winners using: This year’s competition began when 1.5 million juniors across 22,000 high …
Thursday, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Board of Education consented to a three-year contract with new Superintendent Joe Gothard that includes annual pay raises.
Thursday night, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District sealed the deal with its newly-chosen superintendent, Joe Gothard. The Board of Education approved unanimously approved a three-year contract with Gothard which will take effect on July 1, 2013. The contract provides Gothard with an initial base salary of $185,000. Gothard's salary will step up to $186,800 during the second year of the contract, then $188,600 during the third. The contract also includes an extensive benefits package. Here are some of the highlights: However, the contract also gives the Board a certain amount of leverage over the incoming superintendent. The Board may evaluate Gothard's performance "of its own initiative" whenever its sees fit. They may also …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Also in this week's wrap: A reprieve for Northfield students, and Sobriety High gets kicked off the state's financial bus.
Take a trip around Dakota County and the south metro with this week's rundown of top news. For the original story, simply click on the link in the headline. Watch Out Motorists: Major Interstate 35E Closures Start May 3 MnDOT will be closing portions of Interstate 35E and 35W in May to make repairs to the freeway interchange in Burnsville. Parkview Will Open on May 3 for 'Last Hurrah' Proceeds from the golf course, which is slated for redevelopment, will go toward several local charity causes. Eagan Actress Nominated for Second Tony Award Eagan High School graduate Laura Osnes earned her second Tony Award nomination for her role as Cinderella. Sobriety High to Close After School Year Concludes After 21 years of service to students …
Friday, May 3, 2013
After widespread technical troubles, the Minnesota Department of Education will allow schools more time to complete the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment exams.
Schools have been granted a small reprieve in the wake of technical turmoil plaguing this year's Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment exams. Wednesday, Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius announced that the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) would allow schools more time to complete the online tests. The original deadline was May 10. Schools in both Burnsville and Shakopee reported persistent problems with online math and readings exams, which make up the bulk of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). The MCAs are the benchmark tests by which children, teachers, schools and districts are judged for annual yearly progress, a key component of the educational reforms instituted by No Child Left Behind. Students experienced…
Thursday, May 2, 2013
After 21 years of service to students struggling with addiction, Sobriety High is calling it quits.
Officials at Sobriety High have announced that the 2012-2013 school year will be the recovery charter's last. "It's a difficult business model to sustain," said Executive Director Paul McGlynn, who added that a longtime donor pulled out a few weeks ago. "That was a game changer." If Sobriety High is to survive, it will need an immediate infusion of about $400,000 to avert imminent closure of both its campuses, which are located in Burnsville and Coon Rapids. McGlynn judged the odds of a sudden turnaround to be "pretty slim." Sobriety High has a relatively long history. McGlynn said Sobriety High has been around—in one form or another—for 21 years. It started as an alternative learning center in Edina. In 2003, the ALC became a charter and…
Clare Kennedy
6:36 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013
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