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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2011
EDEN PRAIRIE
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Tackling the test I
Two EPHS students earn perfect ACT scores
BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
t’s a college-bound student’s dream come true and it’s happened twice this year at Eden Prairie High School. Brandon Barker and Kobie Spaeth both earned perfect scores on the ACT. Barker, an Eden Prairie High School senior and Spaeth, a junior, scored a 36 on the ACT, a college entrance exam that can be a bane to many a high school student with test fatigue by the time they need to get ready to apply for college. But, both Barker and Spaeth offer similar advice: Don’t stress it. “Usually if I’m ever nervous, I’ll just tell myself, ‘Slow down, calm down; you know what you’re doing,’ and that usually does the trick,” said Spaeth. Aside from taking the test in the ninth grade and a practice test the previous summer Spaeth didn’t do much studying. But then, he said he’s always been comfortable with testing, “especially standardized tests.” “You kind of get to know them after awhile.” Barker took the test the previous summer but wanted to improve his score. He bought a book of practice tests and went through them. But nailing the
PHOTOS BY LEAH SHAFFER / REPRINTS AT PHOTOS.EDENPRAIRIENEWS.COM
Brandon Barker and Kobie Spaeth earned perfect scores on the ACT test. perfect score? “I didn’t expect that, at all.” The fi rst time he took the test Barker scored lowest in the English and science sections, so the practice tests helped him in that regard. “The main thing about them was just getting used to the format so that’s why taking the practice tests helped,” he said.
Barker advises that students take the test early so they can have that opportunity to retake. “Get sleep, be ready for it and don’t worry about it too much.”
SKILL-BUILDING Beyond getting perfect scores, Barker and Spaeth have one other thing in common. They’re very busy. There is no trick to getting a
perfect ACT score, but it helps to have a rigorous academic background. “Getting a thorough grounding in just basic math skills will not only help you a lot for the test but I’m sure later in life,” said Spaeth. The same goes for basic grammar, he added, noting the use of bad grammar when students are on Facebook.
It’s important to know basic grammar and how to write well, said Spaeth. He practices what he preaches. His days are packed with rigorous college classes since he’s enrolled in a program that allows him to take University of Minnesota classes while still in high school.
ACT to page 11 ®
Does Eden Prairie have the right level of affordable housing? City official urges mentorship among neighbors BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
Depending on who you talk to, Eden Prairie either has too many or too few affordable housing units. The issue even ties into the recent school
boundary controversy as boundary lines were redrawn to redistribute low-income children who are clustered in affordable housing in northern Eden Prairie. “It’s an interesting balance to try to have,” said city Housing and Community Services Manager Molly Koivumaki during a recent presentation at Pax Christi Catholic church. The presentation was the second in a series about poverty in the city and Koivumaki talked about the issue of affordable housing.
ing but “we’re not actually close to the top,” said Koivumaki. In some apartments, the lease lists five but there might be 10 people living there, she said. “People are doubling up,” noted Koivumaki.
SECTION 8 Affordable housing is more complicated than just one type of housing complex.
Housing to page 12 ®
Pax Christi presentations on poverty The affordable housing presentation was the second in a series offered at Pax Christi Catholic Community. The first presentation, titled “An Eden Prairie Perspective on Poverty,” was held Dec. 7.
‘Service is just so ingrained in her’
Eden Prairie School Board 2012 Eden Prairie News is profiling outgoing School Board members Carol Bomben and Kim Ross. This week, we feature this story about Board Chair Carol Bomben and, on page 4, questions for the board members. In 2012, the Eden Prairie School Board will include new members Karla Bratrud and Dave Espe, along with re-elected members John Estall and Holly Parker and returning members Ranee Jacobus, Suzanne Kutina and Chuck Mueller. The first School Board meeting of the year is Jan. 10.
“The city is very invested in affordable home ownership,” said Koivumaki. It’s unlikely there will be further construction of additional Section 8 housing complexes such as the two found just off of Edenvale Boulevard. The city has moved away from a policy where low-income housing is so concentrated. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need for more affordable housing. People may complain that Eden Prairie has so much affordable hous-
After 16 years, Carol Bomben leaves Eden Prairie School Board BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
PHOTO BY LEAH SHAFFER
After 16 years on the Eden Prairie School Board, Carol Bomben is taking a break. As manager of The Preserve and as a representative of EP Schools on the board of Intermediate District 287, she will remain busy.
During her last meeting, Eden Prairie School Board Chair Carol Bomben had a message for her fellow board members. “Always remember: It matters to children what we do every day, the decisions that we make,” she said. Bomben, who decided to not seek re-election this fall, has spent 16 years on the School Board; served on every one of the board’s standing committees; was director of the Minnesota School Boards Association; served on the Association of Metropolitan
School Districts, Minnesota State High School League and serves as a representative on the board of District 287.
RECOGNITION AND HONORS Bomben is one of those Eden Prairie individuals that knows just about every official in the city; she has immersed herself in the ins and outs of public policy. In December, Bomben received the top honor from the Minnesota School Boards Association, named to the 2012 All State School Board. She was one of only four board members out of the 2,300 school board members state-
INSIDE OBITUARIES/3 OPINION/4 SPORTS/8-9 CALENDAR/14-16 CLASSIFIEDS/17-19 LIVING IN EP/20 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6682 EDITOR: (952) 942-7885 OR EMAIL EDITOR@EDENPRAIRIENEWS.COM.
wide to receive the award. Criteria for the award includes MSBA training; strong leadership; excellence in boardsmanship; communication skills; visionary thinking; demonstration of concern for students, staff and taxpayers; and support for the nomination from stakeholders. “It never fails to amaze me how many people know and care about Carol,” said Board member John Estall. “For Carol, it has always been about staying focused on the needs of students,” he said during the Bomben’s last meeting, Dec. 13.
Bomben to page 11 ®
VOL. 38, ISSUE 8/52 © SOUTHWEST NEWSPAPERS
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