Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville JANUARY 14, 2011

www.thisweeklive.com

Lakeville Messages/2A

Opinion/4A

Announcements/5A

Public Notices/5A

NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Author and baseball buff Stew Thornley to speak Jan. 18 at the Robert Trail Library. See Thisweekend Page 12A

VOLUME 31, NO. 46

Sports/6A

Classifieds/7A

Game-changing budget proposal hits 194 Lakeville schools could see large classes, 100 fewer teachers, fewer activities, one fewer elementary school by Aaron Vehling

Administration, teachers differ on shared pain after 10 years of budget cuts

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Fewer activities and sports, larger class sizes and a closed elementary school are the likely results of the budgetadjustment discussions in Lakeville public schools. District administrators presented the first draft of their budget-adjustment proposals to the School Board at a special Jan. 5 meeting and talked about it further at the Board’s Jan. 11 meeting. The result is essentially what Superintendent Gary Amoroso calls a “systemic change� in the way the district will operate. The plan addresses a $15.8 million budget deficit the district faces beginning in 20112012 and continuing in 20122013. Among the activities included for elimination are the gymnastics programs and debate teams at the high schools, some middle school music instruction and bands, competitive cheer and some levels of choir and some drama performances. This has drawn some vocal opposition. An audience of about 100 people crammed

by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

When a community faces a paradigm shift of pervasive proportions – in this case, major changes in Lakeville schools because of budget issues – it often evokes strong emotions and spirited, thoughtful debate. This has come out as the school board, district administrators and teachers and staff discuss how to balance the budget while retaining a high-quality educational system. Superintendent Gary Amoroso said at the School Board’s Jan. 11 meeting that the current budget proposal reflects the ninth and tenth year of budget adjustments in the district. “So far, we’ve adjusted more than $20 million in this system,� Amoroso said. Shared pain, he said, is only now coming about. “It has been about protecting our classrooms,�

Photo by Aaron Vehling

This is a portion of the crowd that gathered to give voice to the concerns of people affected by the Lakeville school district’s proposed budget adjustments, which include eliminating several programs and staffing positions. into the School Board chambers on Jan. 11. The audience members held up signs, tossed out the occasional vocal affirmation and offered up some

spirited applause, as students, staff and parents pleaded with the Board for reprieve during the public comment portion of the meeting.

In an interview this week, 2009 Lakeville South High School graduate Sarah Rosenthal said that it is getSee 194 Budget, 3A

he said. Only about 8 percent of the cuts over the past eight years have been teachers, he added. This compares to 36 percent who were education assistants, 18 percent from buildings and grounds and 8 percent from administration. “We wanted to do everything we could to support and protect our classrooms,� he said, “but with the $15.8 million deficit we can no longer do that.� He is not the only one to make the assessment that teachers need to share more of the pain. Ruthie Nelson, a junior at Lakeville South, said the district should freeze teacher salaries for two years. “Any teacher ought to be willing to take a temporary pay freeze,� Nelson told the Board and administrators before an audience of almost 100 people crammed See Cuts, 10A

New school board members push for change Members vote 4-2 to cut their salaries by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

For the controverseyembroiled Farmington School Board, change started in dramatic fashion at its 2011 inaugural meeting, Jan. 10. With three new members, School Board incumbents Julie Singewald and Julie McKnight found themselves in the minority, unable to stop a board pay cut or review of the full investigative report against Board Member Tim Burke. Based on an eight-page summary of the approximately 600-page investigative report, the 2010 board had censured Burke for possibly violating the Board’s conduct codes and state data practices laws. The matter has been recommended for review by a city attorney for possible

charges. Neither Burke nor his attorney have read the entire report, but Burke has maintained the district has withheld information, and has expressed frustration that the prior board refused further review of those issues. But Burke may have found support in newly elected members, Tera Lee, Brian Treakle and Melissa Sauser. The three were voted into leadership roles: Lee is chair, Treakle, vice-chair and Sauser clerk. The new majority then determined a full review of the report is needed; McKnight and Singewald voted against full review. Lee said after members read a redacted version of the full report, they will determine if further consideration of its findings are

ple’s behavior, as cited in the report, should be considered by the board. “Right now, the purpose is to get an understanding of all the investigator found, because we did pay $10,000 for that investigation,� Burke said. The district has also been billed approximately $3,000 more for November legal expenses related to the report, and it is expected additional charges will be on December’s bill.

Pay Cuts Singewald and McKnight also were the only opposition to Burke’s motion to cut board member’s pay from $5,200 to $4,500 for the chair and from $4,200 to $3,600 for other members. Citing anticipated budget challenges, which were later quantified by District Finance Director Jeff Priess as a $1.8 million deficit, sti-

Photo by Laura Adelmann

Incumbent School Board Member Julie McKnight congratulated new school board members Tera Lee, right, Brian Treakle and Melissa Sauser, left, after swearing them in to office. During the meeting, McKnight unsuccessfully opposed many of their votes, including one calling for board review of the full investigative report of Board Member Tim Burke. warranted. consider a closed topic.� Singewald cited concerns Burke, who was elected about additional costs of treasurer, supported the “rehashing, what I would review, and said other peo-

pends for additional or unplanned meetings were also eliminated. McKnight and Singewald opposed all cuts because they said the money helps them make up to their families for their time they sacrifice with school board activities. In reviewing the budget, Priess said 80 percent of district expenditures are on salaries and benefits, indicating cuts may come from that area. In passing the board pay cuts, Treakle said, “We’ll be faced with a lot of cutting this year‌it may be employees. If we don’t show we’re contributing ourselves, I don’t see how we can look teachers in the face and say you have to go home, but we’ll keep our salaries.â€? Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com.

City administrator a finalist Rep. Holberg says voters want for top job in Eden Prairie government tight-fistedness Steve Mielke has worked for Lakeville since 2004 by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Lakeville City Administrator Steve Mielke is one of three finalists for a city manager position in Eden Prairie. Mielke, who has been with Lakeville since 2004, said that Eden Prairie had asked him to apply for the position in November. He decided to pursue it to see where the opportunity led, he said. Before coming to Lakeville, Mielke was the city manager of Hopkins, where he was instrumental in redeGeneral 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

veloping its iconic downtown. His experience in redevelopment in that built-out city is among Mielke the qualities that would qualify him for the position in Eden Prairie, he said. The other two finalists, according to reports, are current Hopkins city manager Rick Getschow and Ryan Schroeder, city administrator for Cottage Grove. Mielke and the other fi-

nalists will meet residents of Eden Prairie on Jan. 19 and then the Eden Prairie City Council will make a final decision on Feb. 3

Manager vs. Administrator The positions are slightly different. Mielke said a city manager has the power to hire and terminate staff, whereas a city administrator must defer to a city council on such matters. E-mail Aaron Vehling at aaron. vehling@ecm-inc.com.

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Lakeville legislator brings local values to state government by Tim Budig ECM CAPITOL REPORTER

Never before has House Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Mary Liz Holberg felt a keener appetite among voters for government tight-fistedness. “And they (voters) want to make darn sure things get turned around before their kids are in a whole world of hurt,� Holberg said of government spending. Holberg, a Republican from Lakeville, traces the origins of the state’s projected $6 billion budget deficit in part to the last legislative session – to an unwillingness to make tough decisions. There has been a rash of commentary blaming former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty for the big deficit, but Pawlenty was far more willing to make structural cuts than Democrats, Holberg argued.

Photo by Tim Budig

Mary Liz Holberg “So trying to wring the deficit around only Pawlenty’s neck is unfair,� she said. How Republicans and Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who’s expected to propose tax increases on wealthier Minnesotans, See Holberg, 11A

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