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NEWS
Echo Wednesday, January 11, 2017
WEB PREVIEW
(The police-chief) should be someone who makes sure everyone is safe and isn’t biased based on gender or race. Anna Wert, freshman
Metz announces resignation, future plans
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Star Wars spinoff sparks interest
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he newest installment of the Star Wars franchise shines as a stand-alone film within the greater universe of large scale spaceship battles, unique aliens and exciting lightsaber duels. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” is directed by Gareth Edwards, who delivers an entertaining film that adheres to the themes of the original saga while providing a new visual aesthetic. Sam Birnberg sambirnberg@slpecho.com
Photo Mira Swartz
Captain recognized for performances
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enior varsity captain Bauer Neudecker scored two goals with two assists during the varsity hockey game against Osseo Dec. 6, resulting with a 10-0 Park victory. Dec. 6, Minnesota Hockey Hub announced Neudecker as a nominee for player of the week for the first week of the season. “I think that I have been playing well so far,” Neudecker said. “I hope that I can keep it going throughout the season.” Anna duSaire, William Phelan & Amber Tran annadusaire@slpecho.com williamphelan@slpecho.com ambertran@slpecho.com
Superintendent to work on racial equity nationwide Maggie Bahnson & Raphy Gendler maggiebahnson@slpecho.com raphygendler@slpecho.com
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uperintendent Rob Metz announced he will resign, effective June 30. Metz spent 19 years in the district as principal of Aquila Primary Center, high school principal and Superintendent. Metz said he plans to begin working as deputy director of the Building Assets Reducing Risks (BARR) team. “I’m going to retire on June 30 and then one day later on July 1 I’m going to start a new job. So I’m going to be working for a group called BARR, it stands for Building Assets Reducing Risks,” Metz said. “It’s a program that started at St. Louis Park High School about 15 years ago.”
Interim police chief in place John Luse retires, replacement search begins
Photo Kailey DeLozier
Theater’s ‘Anatomy of Gray’ debuts Friday
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uniors Thomas Bryant and Annabella Strathman rehearse for the winter one act, “Anatomy of Gray.” Junior Jake Henry said he is preparing for a successful show. “I’m surprised it came together as well as it did, but it came together. Sound, there is not a lot for the show so it should be fine,” Henry said. Showings will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 13 and Jan 14 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 15. Hanna Schechter, D’aviyan Robinson & Will Huyck daviyanrobinson@slpecho.com hannaschechter@slpecho.com willhuyck@slpecho.com For more content go to slpecho.com twitter.com/slpecho facebook.com/slpecho
The School Board met Jan. 9 before its regularly scheduled meeting to discuss a timeline for naming a new superintendent. Metz and district human resources director Richard Kreyer joined the meeting, where the Board discussed the possibility of hiring a search firm. Metz said BARR focuses on helping freshmen pass classes. “If you pass all of your classes in ninth grade you’re more than likely going to graduate in four years,” Metz said. Metz said BARR received a federal grant and asked him to work for the organization. “They got a $20 million grant in November and are going to go to 110 more high schools across the country,” Metz said. “They asked me to work for them.” Metz said he feels proud of the district’s work toward closing the achievement gap under his leadership. “What I’m really passionate about is working to close the
Maggie Bahnson, Ethan Brown & Mimi Fhima maggiebahnson@slpecho.com ethanbrown@slpecho.com mimifhima@slpecho.com
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ccording to City Manager Tom Harmening, after previous St. Louis Park police chief John Luse announced his retirement in August, the city began conducting a search for a new officer. According to Harmening, interim police chief Chad Kraayenbrink will be in place until a new police chief is selected for the position. “(Kraayenbrink) is more than competent to serve to that capacity on an interim basis for the next couple months,” Harmening said. Freshman Isaac Wahl said he hopes the new police chief will consider the points of view of all groups within the community. “The police chief should keep
achievement gap. And we’ve actually done it in some places in St. Louis Park,” Metz said. School Board chair Joe Tatalovich said the district benefits from Metz’s leadership. “We’ve been really pleased with Rob’s work as Superintendent the past three and a half years and he has a great opportunity,” Tatalovich said. Metz’s tenure as Superintendent saw multiple community tragedies. Metz said he feels proud of how the community handled these tragedies and supported one another. “I spent quite a bit of time my first year (as Superintendent) working through that process with the families, the staff at Peter Hobart, lawyers and legal lawsuits and that was quite a challenge,” Metz said. “I think we did that about as well as we possibly could’ve.” Metz said unity has been crucial for the St. Louis Park community. “There’s a lot of things
Leaving a legacy: Superintendent Rob Metz sits in his office, working on plans for the remainder of the school year. Metz retires in June after the 20162017 school year ends. A new superintendent is still to be determined.
Photo Mira Swartz
Metz career summary 9 years as principal at Aquilla Elementary School 6 years as principal at Park High School 4 years as St. Louis Park Schools Superintendant
Infographic Jacob Stillman Source Echo
you can’t control, but you can control what you do once something happens,” Metz said. “I was very proud that we stuck together, we didn’t break into pieces and blame each other,” Metz said. As he moves forward, Metz said he feels motivated by his successes in St. Louis Park. “I’m going to try to work through BARR to help as many students graduate from high school as I possibly can, and who knows, maybe change the way high schools operate around the country,” Metz said.
in mind the new generations and their opinions, especially since St. Louis Park is a big community,” Wahl said. “Keep in mind that there is a diverse community here and not generalize to one specific group of people.” According to Harmening, interview panels will be formed with a variety of people from the community once the candidate list consists of around five applicants. Photo Nathaniel Sturzl “We will also include people On duty: Interim police chief Chad Kraayenbrink works in his office Jan. 5. Kraayenbrink will be in the interim police chief position until from the community as well a new chief is chosen early February. (in the panels). So, in (the) case of the school district I will be for our next police chief, we asking if Superintendent Metz Interim police chief want to make sure whoever that • would be interested in sitting Kraayenbrink worked in it is has a good understanding on one of the interview panels,” the department for over of the importance of that issue,” Harmening said. 30 years Harmening said. Harmening said recent racial • 64 people originally apFreshman David Khabie said tensions are an important factor plied for the position he hopes the next police chief in the final decision. • Applicants will be narchosen will have an unbiased “It’s incredibly important, rowed down to five and mindset. obviously some of the things then will be interviewed “I would want to see them that have happened in our • The new chief will likely be country in the past couple years, make sure that they’re using announced early February their right-sense and not pulling the high-profile kinds of things people over because of their race have certainly heightened that Infographic Maggie Bahnson Source Tom Harmening or religion,” Khabie said. and it’s clear that when we look