Echo
FRESHMAN FINDS PASSION
Drummer discovers strength in playing her music PAGE 4
SENIOR PLAYS TWO SPORTS Varsity athlete balances crosscountry and soccer PAGE 8
HORROR MOVIES TO WATCH Four movies to add to a Halloween queue PAGE 12
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 Volume 91 Issue 3 St. Louis Park High School 6425 W. 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Referendum to update district buildings
SLPECHO.COM
Photo used with permission from Mathew Thomas
About the proposed referendum High school
• High school offices relocate to district office space • Renovate former high school offices to become classrooms • New commons area • New link & learning commons/Media Center renovation • Renovate weight/fitness room • Renovate locker looms • 10 next century classrooms • Build new centralized kitchen
Middle school • Classroom addition including science labs • Expand lunchroom • Expand office & create secure entry • New performing arts space & orchestra room • Renovate Media Center • 10 next century classrooms • Update kitchen
Elementary schools • Remodel Cedar Manor School for Park Spanish Immension School • Peter Hobart Elementary School secure entrance • Air conditioning in all schools • Update furniture in all elementary schools • Update kitchens
Early Childhood & Central Community Center • Remodel Park Spanish Immersion School space for new Early Childhood Center • Create new Early Childhood center secure entry and parking • Relocate district office • Relocate Transition Plus • Remodel space for Adult Options • Maintain Central Clinic • Maintain gymnastics gym • Maintain swimming pool • Update kitchen Infographic Devin Raynor Source St. Louis Park Public Schools
Photo used with permission from Mathew Thomas
$100.9 million upgrade to be voted Nov. 7 Claire Kaiserman & Atticus Raasch clairekaiserman@slpecho.com atticusraasch@slpecho.com
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ccording to Superintendent Astein Osei, two different referendums will attempt to pass on Nov. 7. Osei said each referendum will address different needs throughout the school district. “We currently have an operating levy in place that’s set to expire,” Osei said. “There is no additional tax impact – it would be the same tax impact that residents are currently experiencing. It would help with funding teachers, staff supplies and just the basic general pieces you need to run a school district.” According to School Board chair Jim Yarosh, a bond referendum is necessary for making improvements to buildings in the district. “(Park is) an inner ring suburb. We’ve got older facilities, we don’t get enough funding every year to do major improvements that buildings require after a while,” Yarosh said. (Bond referendums are) really the only way, under school finance laws, to do something like this.” According to Osei, the proposed bond referendum will put forth $100.9 million to provide renovations to facilities around the district.
“(The referendum) really encompasses all sorts of different projects across the district,” Osei said. Freshman Luci Jensen said she looks forward to the new changes the referendum will bring. “I think (the new referendum will) have a positive outcome,” Jensen said. “If we’re getting new materials, new everything, (the school is) better.” Freshman Ryan Barnett said upgrades such as the proposed large common area would bring the student body together. “It would be nice if we had a central commons area that everyone can go to because it seems We’ve got older like everyone is spread facilities, we don’t out around the whole get enough funding school,” Barnett said. every year to do Osei said the administration will continue major improvements to aid the community that buildings require through the referendum after a while. process and answer Jim Yarosh any questions posed to School Board chair them. “We’re not just sitting back just because the community’s always supported us,” Osei said. “It is important to make ourselves available to answer any questions they have (about the referendum).”
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School Board candidates discuss personal values Five candidates run for three spots
Anne Casey School Board candiannabellastrathman@slpecho.com date Anne Casey said her mimifhima@slpecho.com experience developing the administrations’ Strategic Bruce Cantor Plan and her urge to bring School Board candidate diversity to the board gives Bruce Cantor said he looks her the proper experience to to meet each students indihold her board position. vidual needs. “I have a big picture “When we talk about perspective from having achieving success one served on the Strategic Plan student at a time, I like team,” Casey said. “I’d like looking at potential. We to bring geographic divershould be meeting every sity to our board because I student’s potential, wherthink it is important for all ever their potential is, that’s of our city to be reprehow we should measure sented.” success. Have you met your Christine Johnson potential, have you met Christine Johnson is also your potential, I think that’s running for School Board really important,” Cantor this election cycle, but was said. unavailable for response. Mimi Fhima & Annabella Strathman
Photo Grace Farley Fresh start: Park School Board member Bruce Richardson speaks about child development during a school board meeting Sept. 25.
Mary Tomback School Board candidate Mary Tomback said she looks to use the position to give voice to those who may not usually have a say in what happens in the community.“I want to be a voice for people in our community whose voices perhaps aren’t loud enough, who aren’t heard,” Tomback said. “We are truly trying to create a leveled playing field for each and every student no matter what their background or their challenges. I want to make sure that our schools
are safe for all of our students they need to come ready to learn.” Karen Waters School Board candidate Karen Waters said the position should be dedicated to serving the Park community. “I believe in the fact that (the board position) is a service to our community,” Waters said. “If you are a service oriented leader, you are thinking about multiple viewpoints, and that’s important to me because I think that that’s how we will remain a top school district.”