Eden Prairie News - Forum topic - Comments

I totally disagree with the

tortuga — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:56:53 -0600

I totally disagree with the editorial. This has certainly NOT been a fast and furious process. There have been focus groups, time for feedback, etc for 2 plus years. Look at the school district website to see all the communications during this process. Also, please read the facts instead of speculating. Having EHSI take over one of the elementary schools was never an option. Two of the quadrant schools are too full and two have space and EHSI is currently running in two locations which are all unacceptable. Oak Point has room and was created only to handle peak enrollment during the 90's and is now too big to include only two grades. Boundaries were going to have to be redrawn regardless of the decision and I for one am glad the district using all the information they have collected and THEIR EXPERTISE have decided to finally go back to the neighborhood school model which is better for everyone. Finally, the district has said it will wait to implement new start times after the facilities' decision has been made.

PUBLIC COMMENT/SCHOOL BOARD

Ritzen — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:47:51 -0600

PUBLIC COMMENT/SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

BE ADVISED THAT THE "PUBLIC COMMENT" PORTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IS BEING LIMITED TO 10 INDIVIDUALS (3 minutes/individual) PER VIEW (for/against Superintendent recommendation of K-6 facilities option).

THEREFORE, IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 MAKE SURE YOU CALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE YOUR NAME PUT ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT LIST.

The editorial was right on

cporter — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:40:00 -0600

The editorial was right on with "What's the hurry to make the decision on school facilities?" It certainly seems fast and furious. The spanish immersion school seems to be pushing everything and for children that aren't necessarly from EP. What about the current 4th graders? Would they go to Oak Point for one year and then get sent back??? I'm all for less transitions. I have just been patiently waiting for the district to change the school hours. Let's do one thing at a time and not rush. We are trying to even picture adding 2 grades to the currently full elementary schools! More information is definitley needed. EP has never had 6th grade at the elementary level and that deserves more planning. It sounds like class sizes would go way up to fit everyone in. Please don't tell me that we would be back to classrooms outside the schools in trailers! Thanks for writing what was on my mind in today's editorial.

This is ridiculus!

NG — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:18:35 -0600

This is ridiculus!

What a nice service, Karla!

Mathias Baden — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:27:40 -0600

What a nice service, Karla! And an interesting article, too.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

The Eden Prairie Players

EdenPrairiePlayers — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:51:06 -0600

The Eden Prairie Players with The Eden Prairie Historical Society present:

A Reader's Theater Version of

A Christmas Carol

When: Saturday and Sunday December 12th & 13th
Time: 2:00PM
Location: Cummins-Grill House 13600 Pioneer Trail Eden Prairie

Very limited seating - reservations strongly recommended

Call (952) 949-8305 for reservations
All Seating is General Admission

Light refreshments served following performance

Free-Will donations accepted

For information visit: www.edenprairieplayers.com

Jennifer, the article is

Karla — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:17:23 -0600

Jennifer, the article is posted here:

http://www.edenprairienews.com/community/karla/found-story

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

A local blogger/parent has

EP Epistle — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:09:41 -0500

A local blogger/parent has been asking the Eden Prairie School District for public data regarding money the district is spending on diversity training. She has yet to get any answers.

http://www.theactivistnextdoor.com/component/content/article/87-12-milli...

Also, Eden Prairie School district promotes school board candidate Tori Hill with diversity training brochure

http://www.theactivistnextdoor.com/component/content/article/1-blog/83-n...

Thanks for the

Karla — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:21:40 -0500

Thanks for the information!

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

The links below connect to

Leah Shaffer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:28:43 -0500

The links below connect to my start times stories from 2008.

http://www.edenprairienews.com/news/schools/district-mulls-change-start-...

http://www.edenprairienews.com/news/schools/no-changes-school-start-time...

This graphic is from the

Karla — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:41:43 -0500

This graphic is from the Eden Prairie School District Web site, www.edenpr.org.

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

This is not the first time

EP Epistle — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:11:48 -0500

This is not the first time I've heard of Glenn Singleton. He has created controversies in school districts around the country. It is appalling that the Eden Prairie School district would arrange for his services.

Singleton's Ideologies are rather simple: By definition, all white people are born as racists. While Singleton is a self-labeled "diversity trainer" - his expertise is in creating adversity for those who retain his services.

By comparison, much of what we've learned about Van Jones, Obama's Green Jobs Czar, in recent days, pales in comparison to what Singleton has said and written.

Eden Prairie Wedding

morelandmn — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:16:22 -0500

Eden Prairie Wedding Photographer www.bellavitastudio.com

A simple school budget

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:32:37 -0500

A simple school budget solution. Here is a link to the “Getting to $10 Million” article published by Eden Prairie News on May 14, 2009, including reader comments posted May 16th, May 18th and June 7th:

http://edenprairienews.com/news/school-board/getting-10-million-105

I recommend grabbing a cup of coffee and perusing the reader comments. While you are at it, pull out your 2009 Hennepin County Property Tax bill and look at line 9a to see what the Eden Prairie School District is already pulling from your household budget. Included in the reader comments of May 16th and again June 7th is the following proposed solution that will take care of the projected $10 million problem and avoid any reduction in educational & extracurricular services to the students of Eden Prairie:

“As I reviewed the 2008-2009 EP School District budget, I noticed that is roughly $64 million in salaries & wages, plus $17 million in employee benefits. That is $81 million – you might pause and ponder that number for a minute . . . pause, pause, ponder, ponder. I would propose the following: 1) put an across the board salary freeze into effect for the next 3 years – no salary & wage increases; 2) put an across the board 5% salary reduction in place for the same 3 years - $12/hr employees would get $11.40, $30/hr employees would get $28.50, $50/hr employees would get $47.50/hr, etc.; 3) guarantee all existing jobs (barring performance-related issues) for the 3-year period – no decrease in jobs. Roughly speaking, these steps would produce about $12 million, more that the predicted $10 million shortfall. The extra $2 million would be invested and distributed to all employees that stayed for the full 3 years as retention bonuses at the end of the 3-year period with no pro-ration for staying less than the 3 years. Voila – we cover the $10 million and pay employees a bonus for remaining employed.”

Let’s not make this more complicated than it has to be. The superintendent and board can take care of this on their own without getting the citizens of this community all in an emotional frenzy. They were elected / hired to manage and I recommend we hold them to that task. Please follow the link and read through the full comments previously posted - it is good reading. This is important.

I completely disagree with

stonegate — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:12:25 -0500

I completely disagree with the Editorial writers comment about our reward being failure for the session ending without a balanced budget. The legislators did NOT do their jobs, they did not listen to the governor when he said no more taxing the people! Did they think he was kidding? They had a job to do and could not. So... Pawlenty did what he had to do. It will be difficult and yes, some things will go and other reduced, but you can thank the "I am in it for me" legislators for that. SOMEONE has to get the spending and the DFL party under control in this state. Minnesota is already one of the top 5 most expensive states to live in! If the DFL party had it's way we would be up there with CA and NY! It must stop. I for one applaud his decision to get it done and the legislator will have to live with the changes due to their inability to DO THEIR JOBS. It is after all what they are paid to do. Shame on them.

Kla, Ep resident since July 2007