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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011
EDEN PRAIRIE
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EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Seeing STEM in action BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
Increase: 3.9 percent
2012: $41,466,168 Increase: 2.6 percent
For the average homeowner The owner of the median value home valued at $326,800 would pay $1,101 in the city’s portion of property taxes, up from $1,095 last year. The difference is $6 annually, or 0.57 percent. Source: City of Eden Prairie
Council OK’s budget for 2012 SUBMITTED PHOTO
Students in Matt Hardy’s fifth-grade classes took on wind turbine projects as part of their STEM classroom projects.
MORE ONLINE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE SCHOOL BOARD NEWS www.edenprairienews.com
said Hardy. Similar responses could be heard from teachers around the district
who spoke during the previous Eden Prairie School Board meeting. Adam Cooke, from Prairie View, surveyed his class on what they thought of STEM. “They love our outdoor experience so far,” he said. Students at Prairie View work on an environmental project at the Edenbrook Conservation Area. “They also like when we connect the science and engineering to their
homework,” said Cook. That really increases the percentage of homework done, he added. When asked what could be improved, kids asked for more science time. “They want more reading that connects to it all too,” he said. According to the staff update on STEM, presented during the Nov. 30
STEM to page 11 ®
Board discusses possibility of performing arts center for Central Middle School In 1991 when Marilyn Rateike started work as a band teacher at Central Middle School, one of her predecessors talked about the need for a performing art space. Twenty years later that talk continues, as the Eden Prairie School Board is reviewing the idea of building a performing arts center at CMS. “We’re cautiously so excited about this,” said Rateike. “We’ve been talking about it for 20 years.” What’s in place at Central Middle School is the “multipurpose room,” a space that originally functioned as the “cafetorium,” said Rateike. “It’s not really an auditorium at all,” noted Rateike. “The acoustics are bad; the sound is bad.” The band and orchestra don’t even perform there. “We have to perform at the high school,” she added. The space essentially is an old gym
2012: $38,345,174
2011: $40,414,931
Teachers hopeful multipurpose room gets new purpose BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
2011: $36,894,313
Total budget
STEM
has gone from the abstract to the daily routine in many Eden Prairie classrooms. The Science, Technolog y, Engineering and Math program was implemented in 19 fi fth-grade classrooms around the district this year. The goal is that eventually it will be implemented in all classrooms in grades five and six and introduced to K-4 by 2013-2014. In the meantime, teachers are seeing the benefits of STEM in their classes. Fifth-grade Cedar Ridge teachers Matt Hardy, Barry Zeeb, Ryan Rice and Katy Anderson are among those who have implemented STEM in their classroom this year. “I think it’s a lot more reflective than we used to do,” said Rice. “We’re asking them to constantly reflect on what they’re learning” with writings in science journals and blogging. A l l cl a s sro om s i mplemente d 50-minute science blocks into their days this year. In previous years, they used to do science in units for two or three weeks. “Now it’s an everyday expectation,” said Zeeb. Part of STEM learning is implementing outdoor, environmental projects. For instance, at Cedar Ridge, students in Hardy’s classroom constructed wind turbines. “[Students] always have loved science but this idea that it’s everyday I think is a big deal,” said Hardy. Students always respond well to the hands-on science work. “Always cheers go around the room when you say [it’s science day,]”
General fund budget
with a concrete slab that functions as a stage. The room is too small for band or orchestra performances and, as drama teacher Katie Skramstad explained, its terrible acoustics make it not ideal for theater productions. Though a new theater space would greatly improve theater and art activities, “It’s not really about the after-school programming, it’s all the during the day programming,” said Skramstad. “It’s bigger than just a 7, 8 problem, you don’t have a place for your elementary students to go either,” said Skramstad. The school doesn’t have anywhere for kids to meet as teams during the day, said Rateike. “It would be so cool if we had a spot for a team to go,” she said. During a previous Eden Prairie School Board meeting, members heard from Wold Architects and CMS
CMS to page 11 ®
PHOTO BY LEAH SHAFFER
Backstage is tight for the multipurpose room at Central Middle School. The back areas are meant to function as a dressing room, but are packed with storage. Teachers Marilyn Rateike and Katie Skramstad hope a new CMS PAC is in the works.
General fund budget up 3.9 percent; average homeowner would pay $6 more per year BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com
The Eden Prairie City Council unanimously approved the budget for 2012 at its meeting Tuesday, although City Council Member Brad Aho questioned the use of the city’s budget stabilization fund. No residents spoke during the public hearing on the budget after a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Sue Kochevar and City Manager Rick Getschow. The 2 012 budget was set at $41,466,168, up 2.6 percent, with the levy at $32,258,990, up 0.9 percent from last year. The General Fund amount was $ 38,345,174, up 3.9 percent from 2011’s $36,894,313. However, Kochevar pointed out, the general fund increase is actually 2.7 percent when an increase in Parks and Recreation Department revenue is taken into account. The budget means a $6 or 0.5 percent annual increase in the city’s portion of property taxes for the median value home, estimated at $326,800. Kochevar said that 56 percent of homeowners will see a tax decrease, while 42 percent of homeowners will see a tax increase of 0.1 percent to 4.9 percent. She said a big change for property owners this year is the Legislature’s change to the Market Value Homestead Credit program. Previously a homeowner would see a value amount deducted from the property tax statement. That program went away.
Council to page 11 ®
VOL. 38, ISSUE 5/49
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