Education Today

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August 3, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Area school districts look to iPads for learning

Officials aim to provide devices to all students in near future by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

As area school districts strive to boost student achievement, many are looking to the latest technology for assistance. Several districts including Lakeville, Farmington and Burnsville-Savage-Eagan are rolling out initiatives that provide iPads to students. Although students will be able to plug into the latest technology, they won’t be doing it on the newest version. In an effort to save money, all three districts purchased the iPad2 instead of Apple’s latest version. Farmington spent $303,684 in May for a three-year lease of 630 iPads for teachers. This is the first phase of four in a district initiative to give all 6,500 Farmington students an iPad by 2013. Each iPad will have textbook, video and applications to address learning disabilities. “We have known for ever that for every student to succeed, they need their education to be individualized,” said Jay Haugen, superintendent for Farmington Schools. “These devices help us monitor students’ progress and help them learn on an individual basis.” Haugen noted that many of the reading and math applications available on iPads will enable students to learn in accordance with their own abilities. “We want to customize education for every child,”

he said. Being among first districts in the south metro to launch such a program hasn’t come without a few challenges, Haugen said. “It’s always a challenge when you are one of the beginners,” he said. “We’ve looked at a few other districts who are using iPads and find incredible success.” Presently, the iPads are available in select classes and grade levels. Students can use the iPads only in school until the district completes new policies pertaining to the devices. Once the policies are in place, students will be able to take the devices home. Several teachers plan to upload

short videos for students to view at home and discuss in class. “If all works well, we’ll have another purchase during the school year,” said Jim Skelly, communications coordinator for Farmington School. In July, the Lakeville Area School District purchased 1,300 iPads for $800,000 as part of its iLearn 194 technology initiative. The district took one-time money to create a grant program in which teachers apply to acquire iPads. Applicants must prove that they have a plan to use the devices to improve student achievement. So far 32 teachers and another 108 support staff in all grade levels have been approved to receive the devices. Beginning this school year, some classes will have one iPad to be shared by all students while others will have one for each student, depending upon its use. Lakeville’s program aims to provide every student with an iPad in the future. In addition to the districtowned iPads, officials are working to provide opportunities this school year for students to bring their own iPads to school. When using the iPads, students will be able to create videos, read e-books, take notes, write papers and much more. Other applications will enable students to learn at

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iPADS, from 2B their own pace. “It’s designed for teachers to monitor where all their students are at and who needs additional help,” said Lisa Snyder, superintendent for Lakeville Schools. The district’s greatest challenge has been in combating misconceptions about technology in the classroom. “We are still working through the public perception that kids don’t need technology in school,” Snyder said. “I think we really have to teach people that technology is for learning, not just gaming.” The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District will be providing iPads to students next school year but on a much smaller scale. The district recently purchased 60 iPads, which were funded in part by a type of state special education aid that funds alternative learning tools for struggling students. These iPads are available only to students who are struggling academically and are determined to be in the greatest need. “The key benefit is that it will provide another mode for students to engage in math and reading,” said David Bernard,

director of instruction for District 191. District 191 plans to purchase more iPads throughout the school year depending upon the availability of funds, Bernard said. There are no plans to purchase all students iPads due to the district’s bleak financial picture, but individual schools are looking to buy iPads with funds they have raised, Bernard said. “If this proves to be effective, we would like to purchase more in the future, but it depends on resources,” he said. Area district officials plan to spend the school year studying the device’s capabilities and its effectiveness as a teaching tool. Teachers in all three districts have spent much of their summer training on the devices and learning how to effectively integrate them into the classroom. Lakeville officials are analyzing teachers’ engagement with the devices and have seen positive results. “We’ve noticed an incredible improvement in productivity,” said Trisha Harvey, digital learning coordinator for Lakeville Schools. Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ecminc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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August 3, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

New families welcomed to School District 194 Following are answers to frequently asked questions from families that are new to Lakeville Area School District 194 Which school will I attend? There are 3 ways to find your school: • Use the Attendance Area Finder at www.isd194.k12.mn.us • The web site also includes maps of attendance areas. • If you can’t determine your school using attendance area finder or the maps, send an email with your address to SISsupport@isd194.k12.mn.us or call (952) 232-2048. How do I register? You will need to fill out a registration form located at the district’s website and take the forms to your school to register. Also, you need to fill out a release of records form, so that your records can be transferred from your old school district. Where do I catch the bus? If you have questions or need additional clarification, visit the Schmitty and Sons website at www.schmittyandsons.

First day of school arrives

com/school.html or call (952) 469-2256. On Feb. 10, 2009, the Lakeville School Board approved $6 million in budget adjustments for the 2009-10 school year. One of the approved adjustments affects student transportation. Effective with the next year, elementary, middle and high school students living less than 2 miles from their school building may be eligible to purchase bus service. All students who qualify will receive a letter with information on how to sign up. The Transportation Department web pages includes links to forms, online payment, policies, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Which supplies do I need? Check the school websites for supply list information. The high schools request that students bring paper, pencils, and pens the first day of school. Teachers will inform students of the supply needs on the first day of class. Is childcare available before and after school? See welcome, 6B

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Students at Westview Elementary in Apple Valley (above) are all smiles as they arrive at school for the first day of classes on Sept. 6, 2011.

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Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT August 3, 2012

The wheels on the bus ...

Photo by Rick Orndorf

At the end of the first day of school in 2011 students lined up for the bus at Pinewood Elementary in Eagan.

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emic District 191’s acad 3 -1 2 1 0 2 r fo r a d n le ca

The academic calendar for the 2012-13 school year was finalized in June by the Burnsville-EaganSavage School District 191 Board of Education. The first day of school for most students will be Tuesday, Sept. 4, but there are exceptions. Juniors and seniors at Burnsville High School will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 5, as will eighth- and ninth-graders at Nicollet Junior High. All kindergarten students will start school on Thursday, Sept. 6, so they can meet individually with their teacher before school starts. There is the traditional weeklong break for students in October

for parent-teacher conferences and the state teacher convention. Winter break will begin Saturday, Dec. 22, and end Wednesday, Jan. 2. Spring break will take place during the last week of March. The five late-start days will be Sept. 26, Nov. 14, Feb. 13, March 13 and May 15. Principals and teachers focus on analyzing assessment data, developing actions plans and participating in professional development on those days to boost the academic achievement of their students. The school year will end on Thursday, June 6, and commencement for the Burnsville High School Class of 2013 will be Friday, June 7.

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August 3, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

welcome, from 4B Yes, Community Education offers childcare through their Kid Zone Program. What kind of programs are available through Community Education? Community Education offers a variety of adult, child, Early Childhood Family Education, and aquatics programs. It also administers the pre-kindergarten screening. What types of kindergarten programs are offered? School District 194 offers full- or half-day kindergarten. Visit the Community Ed Kindergarten Options page for more information. Is there a pre-school program? Community Education offers preschool programs, both school-year and one-time events, through its Small Wonders Program. Are Special Education services available? Information about Special Education is available online through the Departments page. For more information, contact Renae M. Ouillette, director of special services at (952) 232-2048 or rmouillette@isd194.k12.mn.us. When does school start? Visit the website’s Calendar page for district and school calendar links.

New exterior entrance is next step in high school renovations As part of ongoing renovations at Burnsville High School, a new exterior main entrance is being constructed this summer. “It will be a striking architectural feature that welcomes people to our flagship school,” Superintendent Randy Clegg said. Last year, science and math classrooms were updated. Other projects have improved handicapped accessibility and air quality. Bathrooms have been upgraded and lockers have been replaced. The main office was modernized and moved to the front of the building. Next year, upgrades will be made to the cafeteria and a student commons will be created. “Updates being made at Burnsville High School not only improve its curb appeal but, more importantly, make it a very up-to-date facility that offers a 21st learning environment for our students,” Clegg said. Two architects from ATS&R who are working on the project are graduates of Burnsville High School. They are Mark

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An architect’s rendering shows a more defined main entrance to Burnsville High School. Hayes, class of 1977, and Eric Anderson, who graduated in 1995. “As an architect who has specialized the last 25 years in the design and renovation of educational facilities, I have worked with many school districts,” said Hayes, “but this is truly a once in a life-

time opportunity to be able to give new life to the high school that I graduated from.” Hayes’s interest in architecture began in a class he took as a student at Burnsville High School.

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Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT August 3, 2012

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Fall sports registration begins on FeePay

952-953-0779 ��

Registration for the fall high school sports season began July 23 on the FeePay” online system. FeePay is the new way in District 196 OPEN ��HOUSE ��NIGHTS �� WE �� OFFER: �� to register children for sports and fine Every ��Tuesday ��Night ��in��August �� arts activities, add money to their school Quality�� programs �� for �� children �� meal account, pay for fee-based transweeks�� through �� 12 �� yrs �� since 1998. �6�� 6:30 ��- 8:00pm � �� portation service and eventually most Come ��Visit! �� Ask�� about�� enrollment �� opportunities! �� other school-related costs and Community Education activities. There are no credit card transaction fees assessed to �� the user when using FeePay for payment. �� There are two ways to access FeePay �� to begin the registration process. The easiest is through the SchoolView portal. Many families already have a SchoolView account to access information about their children, such as attendance, testing and grades. The FeePay tab is located on top toolbar of the SchoolView main �� page. District 196 families that do not �� have a SchoolView account can start one �� by contacting their child’s school to get their SchoolView access key. � �� The other way to access FeePay is to �� go to District196.feepay.com. This method requires the user to create an account with a unique username and password. Once logged in, the user needs to add each child to their account using their student ID and last name. This must be completed prior to registering and paying for fall sports or other activities dur-

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ing the school year. Once in FeePay, the user starts the registration process by clicking on the photo of the school buses titled Activities/Transportation. Information required for registration that was previously provided on paper forms will now be collected during the registration process on FeePay. The system does not allow the user to complete registration until all of the required information has been provided or is on file with the school, such as a current physical examination form if one is required for participation in the chosen activity. Paper forms for fall sports registration are still available and being accepted, but online registration on FeePay is strongly encouraged. Students with special circumstances may still need assistance from the athletics office to complete their registration. For more information, visit the FeePay help page on the district website. The FeePay system was developed by TIES, a technology cooperative of nearly 50 Minnesota school districts that includes District 196 as a member. By making it more convenient for parents to register and pay online, FeePay will help the district achieve its goal of significantly reducing the amount of cash and check handling in schools.

Farmington Area School Board meetings set Farmington Area School Board meetings will continue to be held the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Boeckman Middle School Little Theatre. The board will hold a work session the first meeting of the month and a business meeting the second meeting of the month, reversing the schedule from how meetings were held last year.

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August 3, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Finding their way

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Photo by Rick Orndorf

Oak Hills Elementary School students in Lakeville exit their bus on the first day of school on Sept. 6, 2011.

Student rights handbooks to be mailed Aug. 6 Parents and guardians of students enrolled in District 196 schools will receive the Overview of Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook for the 2012-13 school year. The handbooks will be mailed the week of Aug. 6 to every household with a child enrolled in the district, one handbook per household. The district publishes an updated version of the handbook prior to the start of each school year to inform students and their parents/guardians about the rights and responsibilities of students. In addition to mailing the handbook to homes, teachers briefly review the information with students at the start of the school year. The Overview of Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook includes a comprehensive list of regulations for student behavior as well as consequences for misbehavior. Consequences vary depending on the severity of the offense, the student’s grade level and previous violations by the same student. Changes to the handbook for 2012-13 that were approved by the School Board this spring include consequences for the following: • Damaging or tampering with safety and security equipment; • Recording and sharing recordings of staff members without their permis-

sion; • Theft or possession of stolen property with a value over $50; • Use of liquid and electronic cigarettes, and • Refusing to comply with parking regulations. The rights and responsibilities detailed in the handbook apply to District 196 students in any school or other district building, on district property, in district vehicles, at school bus stops and at school or district events. Consequences may also apply for misbehaviors which take place at other locations, but which directly affect school programs or activities. “It provides a good opportunity to remind our children of the expectations we have for their behavior at school, and the consequences for breaking the rules,” Superintendent Jane K. Berenz said about arrival of the handbook at students’ homes. Parents and students with questions about the handbook are encouraged to call their school principal. Qualification guidelines and information about registering for free and reduced-price school meals is included in the center of the handbook. The handbook will also be available on the district website, including a version in Spanish.

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Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT August 3, 2012

Superintendent says hello

10th-grade Post-Secondary Option ready available for use by Joe Nathan Sun Thisweek

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Superintendent Jane Berenz (right) and new prinicipal in the fall of 2011 at Westview Elementary School Tami Staloch-Schultz greeted students outside of the building on the first day of school last year.

People like Eric and Sam have great insights about free college courses via Post-Secondary Enrollment Options. And now, the Legislature has expanded PSEO to include 10th-graders. South metro two-year public colleges are ready to enroll high school students, including 10th-graders. But deadlines are strict, so interested students should contact colleges immediately. Responding to an earlier column, Eric wrote to the Forest Lake Times, “PSEO is a great option for high school students (who are) ready for it. I took my entire junior and senior year of high school through PSEO at St. Thomas University and not only saved a fortune in college tuition but actually spent those two years learning.” Sam, 17, earned an (two-year college) associate degree in May, and graduated from high school this spring. “I saved literally tens of thousands of dollars by doing this and got a jump start,” he said. As Minnesota Senate Education

Committee chair Gen Olson explained, “Some students are far more successful in ‘hands-on’ career technical courses than in traditional academic courses. We need to offer options.” Mary Kadrlik, PSEO admissions coordinator at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights told me: “The 10th-grade students that meet the admission requirements will be allowed to register for career and technical courses that are required to earn an Occupational Certificate at Inver Hills. All of our PSEO students may only take courses if they have met the prerequisite requirements for the course, and some courses are excluded due to academic and financial reasons.” A current list of Inver Hills’s Certificate Programs including course requirements can be found at the following link: www.inverhills.edu/ProgramsAndMajors/Certificates.aspx. “We are currently in the process of updating our website to include the new 10th grade eligibility information, so See post-secondarY, 10B

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August 3, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Day of learning

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Akin Road Elementary School counselor Jackie Brand greets students coming off the bus on the second day of school Sept. 7, 2011.

post-secondarY, from 9B hopefully it will be completed soon,” she said. Kadrlik can be reached at (651) 4503661, and mkadrli@inverhills.mscu.edu. Tenth-graders should register now for this fall. Tenth-graders who meet college expectations and have passed the state’s required reading test may take a free career/technical course on a college campus. If they earn at least a “C,” they may take additional PSEO career technical courses during their sophomore year. State funds will pay their tuition, lab and book fees. Following Legislative intent, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities guidelines permit a variety of students to try a PSEO career/technical course, not just those doing extremely well in high school. Colleges will determine which vocational/career/technical courses are available for students. High school juniors and seniors already may take free PSEO career/technical and academic courses. Research shows that young people who participate in various forms of dual credit are more likely not only to enter, but also to graduate from a two or four-year higher education institution. Moreover, Minnesota Department of

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Education research over the last decade shows that more than 90 percent of African American, Asian American, Latino/ Hispanic and white students who take at least 280 hours (three to four semester classes) of career-technical courses graduate from high school in four years. So the “achievement gap” in high school graduation is almost eliminated among these students. Everyone wants students to be successful with these courses. Recent research published by the University of Minnesota on thousands of “dual credit” students found: “Males, low-income students, and low-achieving high school students all appear to benefit from their participation in dual enrollment to a greater extent than their dual enrollment peers who enter college courses with more social, economic, and educational advantages … dual enrollment may well be a strategy for encouraging post-secondary success among students not typically seen as college-bound … contrary to the arguments of some critics of expanding dual-enrollment programs, dual enrollment can benefit a range of students, not only those who achieve at very high levels in high school. Indeed, dual enrollment may be the most beneficial to those

students who are often excluded from participation.” High school students helped the Center for School Change produce YouTube videos that explain the value of dual (high school/college) courses. These include Advanced Placement, College in the Schools, International Baccalaureate, as well as Post-Secondary Options. Some of these videos are quite lively, like the video entitled “Jump.” Thanks to Minnesota Department of Education support, the videos are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hmong and Somali www.centerforschoolchange.org/ dual-credit. Dual credit courses can help young people be better prepared for college, reducing the likelihood that they will take remedial courses. Taking these courses also can help young people save thousands of dollars in college costs. Opportunities have expanded. That’s a great gift to students and the state. Joe Nathan, formerly a public school teacher and administrator, and local PTA president, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

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Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT August 3, 2012

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Form a straight line

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Photo by Rick Orndorf

Kindergarten students are lined up and anticipating the start classes on their first day of school on Sept. 7, 2011, at School District 196’s Parkview Elementary in Lakeville.

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District 192 offers kindergarten options Kindergarten classes are part of the elementary school program in Farmington Area Public Schools. Along with traditional half-day, every-day kindergarten classes, District 192 also offers an all-day, every-day option called Kinder Journey. This is an optional, fee-based program run in cooperation with District 192 Community Education. The cost for 2011-12 is $3,300 for the year. Because of limited space, a random drawing is used to fill Kinder Journey slots. District 192 residents are given first

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priority and application forms are accepted starting on Kindergarten RoundUp day (see below). Call (651) 460-3209 for more Kinder Journey information. In addition, District 192 offers Kindergarten Complement, an extention of the half-day kindergarten program. It is a tuition-based, half-day program that allows your child to stay in the same school for the entire day. Learn more about Kindergarten Complement by downloading the brochure at the school district’s website: http://www.rschooltoday.com/se3bin/clientschool.cgi. ��

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August 3, 2012 Sun Thisweek ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

New principals welcomed at Meadowview Elementary and Boeckman Middle School

The 2012-2013 school year will begin with new leadership at two Farmington School District schools with the hiring of Lisa Edwards as principal at Meadowview Elementary and the appointment of Dan Miller as principal at Boeckman Middle School. Both positions were approved by the School Board at its Monday, June 25, meeting. The Meadowview Elementary principal position became available with the retirement of Jon Reid and Lisa Edwards emerged as the top candidate for the post. Edwards comes to Farmington with direct experience leading both an elementary school building and taking on additional district level duties. She served as elementary principal in Windom, Minn., since 2009 and has additional administrative and teaching experience in the St. Joseph, Minn., and Independent School District 196. Edwards holds an administrative licensure and masters of education in teaching and learning from St. Mary’s University, Winona and an bachelor of arts in el-

ementary education from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. Dodge Middle School assistant principal Dan Miller will now serve as principal at Boeckman Middle School. The position became available when Barb Duffrin was named director of educational programs for the district. Miller served as a middle school assistant principal in Farmington since 2005 and also served as interim principal at Boeckman from March to June 2010. Prior to work with Farmington, Miller served as a teacher and technology coordinator for Lakeville Area Public Schools. He holds a bachelor of arts from St. John’s University, a master of arts in learning technology and an educational specialist in educational leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas. Farmington Area Public Schools students are housed in five elementary schools, an extended campus facility, two middle schools and a comprehensive 9-12 high school. District enrollment is approximately 6,500 students.

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