Dakota County
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Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Droste running unopposed Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste is seeking fourth term in the Nov. 4 election. He is running unopposed for the first time. Page 2A
OPINION Election preview The ECM Editorial Board previews the Nov. 4 election with a roundup of its endorsements. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Author’s haunted house
October 30, 2014 • Volume 129 • Number 35
Taxes, health care highlight 57B forum
Candidates in 58B offer varying solutions
Packard, Wills share similarities, differences on issues
Garofalo, Vagts speak on health care, economy
by Andy Rogers
by Andy Rogers
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
SUN THISWEEK
How to improve the economy, heath care options, a potential budget deficit, and public transportation funding were the hot topics during a House District 57B candidate forum on Oct. 22 at Rosemount City Hall. The forum was organized by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The two candidates running in 57B, which covers portion of Apple Valley, Rosemount and Coates, are incumbent Anna Wills, a Republican from Apple Valley, and Denise Packard, a DFLer from Rosemount. Packard highlighted her health care background as a registered nurse for Medica and that she would put people head of politics. “I’ve made a career built around compassionate care,” Packard said. “I work with solutions not gridlock.”
Denise Packard Anna Wills Wills cited her civic work as a legislative assistant in the Minnesota Senate before becoming the current representative. During her second term, she said her goal would be to balance the budget without increasing taxes. She said she worked on a bipartisan bill to provide tax credits to businesses hiring veterans. “My focus is on not increasing state spending, so more families can keep more of their money and do with it how they see fit,” Wills said.
Health care Wills has concerns about MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance exchange developed after federal approval of the Affordable Care Act. Wills said she would favor a See 57B, 6A
Legislative candidates in District 58B spoke of their policies and how it would affect Minnesotans during a forum organized by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 22 at Rosemount City Hall. Pat Garofalo, a Republican, and Marla Vagts, a DFLer, are running in the district that covers Farmington and portions of rural Dakota and Goodhue counties spoke about health care, the economy taxes, transportation and other issues. Garofalo is running for his fifth term. In 2012, Garofalo won District 58B with 59.47 percent of the vote. He said one of his primary goals is to not leverage tax increases in the future by making spending commitments today. “We have a federal government that’s completely out of control,” Garofalo said. “It’s fairly obvious that the federal
Pat Garofalo Marla Vagts government, at some point, is not going to be able to borrow $500600 billion from the Chinese anymore. Those are going to be service reductions at that federal level that the states are going to have to pick up. “The better we can position ourselves as a state and prepare for a long-term future is the best thing that we could be doing.” Vagts said she would work to stop wages from being stagnant and make education affordable. She supports raising the minimum wage saying it will help everyone because the money will go right back into the economy and help businesses. “I know too many families that are struggling,” Vagts said. “They need a break. They need some help.” See 58B, 6A
Record crowd haunts park
Dakota County author offers residents a chance to tour her family’s haunted house with a cup of tea. Page 19A
SPORTS
Irish ends Tigers season The Rosemount High School football team remained undefeated in playoffs with a win over Farmington. Page 12A
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PUBLIC NOTICE In today’s edition are the minutes for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board’s Sept. 22 regular meeting. Page 13A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A Announcements . . . . 13A Public Notices . . . . . . 13A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 14A News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000 Delivery 952-846-2070
An estimated 3,725 children and their families descended on Rosemount’s Central Park for the 32nd annual Haunted Woods Trail for tricks and treats. The attendance figure was a new record on a night when it was cool, but not enough that it warded off the ghosts, superheroes and Disney characters who wound their way through the park to stop at treat stations run by various community groups and businesses. The children and their families also had a chance to take photos at a series of photo opportunity areas. Rosemount Halloween Committee co-chairman Mike Bouchard said the event went very well with the help of dedicated volunteers and assistance from city employees in the police, parks and public works departments. More photos are online at SunThisweek.com and inside this edition. (Photos by Tad Johnson)
Farmington approves its own teacher evaluation plan Controversial plan differs from the state by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Farmington School District has a new teacher evaluation plan, but not everyone is singing. The plan doesn’t include a provision that 35 percent of teacher evaluation will be based on student achievement, which caused some disagreement among board members. The measure passed 4-2 during Monday night’s meeting with members Laura Beem and Julie Singewald voting no. Beem said she disagreed with not following the 35
percent provision since it was brought to the board in June. “If teachers are not successful in helping students achieve then we failed the student,” Beem said. “I really believe we need to follow the state statute on this. What example do we set for students that we say our situation is so unique that the law does not apply to us?” Beem asked: “Why are 99 percent of the schools fine with complying with the 35 percent and we’re not?” Superintendent Jay Haugen said that he feels
few schools are fine with the statute and the status quo needs to change. Farmington earned Innovation Zone designation from the Minnesota Department of Education giving the district more freedom in pursuing original solutions and initiatives. Spring Lake Park, another Innovation Zone district, is following Farmington’s path as well. “In every way we follow the intent of the law,” Haugen said. Haugen said the district wants to fundamentally change the process. “If it really was going
to matter, then it may be worth it,” Haugen said. “There’s no empirical evidence that this kind of a system has any impact on student learning. We know building relationships matters. Finding more leadership opportunities matters. We know getting to know our kids better on every level makes a difference. … It’s a thing that shackles us to the past. We want to do it a different way. We’ll use the Innovation Zone as a shield.” Director of Educational Programs Barb Duffrin said at a workshop on June 9 that many subjects
don’t have standardized tests, and abilities vary across subjects. She said the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments and ACT tests are good for measuring programs to see if they’re offering the correct classes, teaching to the standards and correctly offering intervention, but not necessarily for teachers. Board chair Tera Lee said some students may be engaged but are bad at taking tests. On Monday, Duffrin said the district is confiSee TEACHERS, 8A