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See him, feel him. Chameleon Theatre Circle presents the rock musical ‘Tommy’ in Burnsville. See Thisweekend Page 9A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan
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MAY 13, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 11
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/6A
Celebrating 90 years
Public Notices/6A & 14A
Sports/7A
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Erin Johnson
Real Estate/14A
Activity fees rise in District 196 by Jessica Harper
Hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the Caponi Art Park in Eagan on May 7 to celebrate founder Anthony Caponi’s 90th birthday, which coincided with the opening of the park for the 2011 season. The event included ice cream, cake, live music and a formal presentation honoring Caponi, a sculptor and former art department chair at Macalester College, who was born in Italy in 1921.
Classifieds/10A
While families attempt to pinch pennies in this tough economy, those in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District will be forced to pay higher activity fees next school year. The School Board unanimously approved on May 7 raising fees by $10 for high school athletics and fine arts activities in the 2011-12 school year to help balance the budget. The measure is part of the district’s $8.5 million budget adjustments approved by the board in March. Though it’s a relatively small amount, the increase will result in steep fees for some popular sports. For instance, hockey and football
fees will be raised to $185 for the 2011-12 school year. “This is not something we look at cavalierly,� Board Member Art Coulson said. “We understand $10 can make a difference between a kid being able to play a sport or not play a sport.� The board also approved a proposal to impose a $10 graduation fee. This will go toward the cost of running the events, said Tony Taschner, communications director for District 196. Both activity and graduation fees are waived for students who qualify for free-and-reduced lunches, Taschner said. Booster clubs sometimes offer scholarships as well for those who do not qualify for a waiver, he said. There are no fees for
caps, gowns or diplomas. In addition to raising activity fees, the School Board approved, in a 4-2 vote, a 5-cent increase to its lunch prices to meet a mandate signed by President Obama earlier this year that requires school districts to charge $2.34 within the next two years. Board members Rob Duchscher and Bob Schutte voted against the proposal. “Our prices were reasonable. I’m appalled that the federal government can control lunch prices when it’s a local issue,� Duchscher said. Schutte agreed, saying that he felt the federal government was over-reaching its authority. Board Member Mike Roseen was absent.
Breakfast prices will not change. The goal of the price change is to establish equity among free-and-reduced and full-price lunches. Currently, District 196 charges $2.05 for lunches at its elementary schools and $2.20 for lunches at its secondary schools. The school district receives $2.72, however, in federal reimbursement for free lunches. Any excess money is stored in the district’s food service fund. The district is required to use this money solely for food service and cannot use it for the general fund. E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
Banquet space is vacant no more Burnsville family continues entrepreneurial tradition with Royal Banquet & Ballroom by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A large commercial vacancy in Burnsville’s Heart of the City has been filled, thanks to a local immigrant family with a long entrepreneurial history. The Vong family of Burnsville has signed a three-year lease for the banquet and kitchen space at Grande Market Square, according to Regina Vong. The youngest child of Narin and Somaly Vong, she manages the new Royal Banquet & Ballroom, which opened April 2. The mixed-use Grande Market Square and Grande Market Place buildings opened in 2004, the first new projects in the Heart of the City redevelopment district.
Grand Market Square, on the northwest corner of Burnsville Parkway and Nicollet Avenue, has been hampered by vacancies but may have turned a corner. The Vongs, hoping to attract Asian weddings and other events, will occupy an 11,000-square-foot space that has been mostly vacant since another banquet and events center, the International Chefs’ Culinary Center, closed in October 2008. The third floor of Grande Market Square was vacated roughly a year ago by Nichols Financial Services Co. and Nichols Development LLC, said Skip Nienhaus, Burnsville’s economic development coordinator. But a portion of the third See Banquet, 16A
Photo by John Gessner
Regina Vong of Burnsville manages Royal Banquet & Ballroom, located in the long-vacant second floor of Grande Market Square in the Heart of the City.
District 191 may face budget shortfall, adjustments Public invited to forums on spending priorities by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Submitted photo
Last year’s Eagan Fun Run, which had about 500 participants, has been changed to the 5K Your Way Activity Festival and will include bikers, rollerbladers and walkers, as well as health and wellness activities.
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 may face a budget deficit of $2.1 million next school year unless adjustments are made, district officials
say. Officials are considering, among other options, using money from the district’s fund balance to balance the budget without cutting spending. “If we do that, we will still meet state statute and not be penalized,� District 191 Finance Director Lisa Ryder said at a May 5 School Board workshop.
The shortfall is primarily caused by declining enrollment and flat state funding, Ryder said. Student enrollment has declined by 100 to 150 students per year for the past few years, said Ruth Dunn, communications director for District 191. Ryder noted that enrollment numbers for 2011See Budget, 14A
Eagan fun run revamped as District 191 parents: Reduce ‘5K Your Way’ activity festival class sizes, invest in technology Now bikers, rollerbladers can join runners and walkers at family-friendly fitness event by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Last year, Eagan’s 5K fun run celebrated its 25th anniversary. This year, the event is getting a makeover to be more inclusive of other activities. “This year we have completely revamped the event,�
said Kerry Phillips, recreation supervisor for the city of Eagan. “The ‘your way’ part of the new name means that participants have their choice to bike, roller blade, run or walk the 5K course in a noncompetitive, fun environment.� The Eagan 5K Your
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THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Way Activity Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 21 at the Eagan Festival Grounds at Central Park. The city wanted the event, which drew about 500 people last year, to encourage residents of all fitSee 5K, 14A
As Burnsville-EaganSavage School District 191 faces a potential $2.1 million budget shortfall, residents hope the district will still be able to invest in technology and lower class sizes. “We need smaller class sizes so children can learn
better,� Rosalba Medrano, a mother of a Nicollet Junior High School student and a Burnsville High School grad, said through an interpreter. Medrano was among 15 parents and other residents who gathered at Cedar School in Eagan on May 10 to discuss what they felt needs to be pre-
served within the budget next school year. The forum was one of three held this week. Several parents, including Medrano, said they specifically would like a to see a smaller teacherstudent ratio within the English Language Learner program. See Forum, 15A
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