Burnsville is getting all jazzed up for the seventh annual Art & All That Jazz Festival on Aug. 20-21. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND PAGE 9A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville AUGUST 13, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 24
www.thisweeklive.com
Public Notices/5A
Opinion/6A
Announcements/8A
Real Estate/11A
Classifieds/13A
Sports/18A
District, seven Lakeville schools School board backs parents, miss state ‘No Child’ targets district gives enrollment update Proficiency levels increase or remain steady, but district having difficulty keeping up with accelerating goals by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Lakeville’s students and their teachers are improving. In many cases, significantly. Almost across the board, Lakeville’s students increased their proficiency in reading, math and science on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment-II, a state mandated test required of Minneso-
LAKEVILLE
ta’s public school students. Despite the progress, however, which in many cases blew away state averages, the scores aren’t
keeping up with ever accelerating targets set forth in the federal No Child Left Behind Act. As a result, the Lakeville Area Public School District, as well as seven of its schools, failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress. “We recognize we have some growth to make,� said Jason Molesky, Lakeville’s assessment and accountability coordinator. “But I See Lakeville, 5A
by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The Farmington School Board heard an enrollment update at the Monday, Aug. 9, board meeting held at Boeckman Middle School. Linda Goers, the district’s human resources director, reported that initial enrollment numbers at the elementary level were down by 82 students, and total student body enrollment was at 3,219, down from an earlier projection of 3,301. School administrators
Taylor Jerde with Merlot poses for a photo outside the cow barn after receiving a blue ribbon in the 4-H dairy judging Tuesday at the Dakota County Fair.
FARMINGTON
and elementary principals plan to talk again Aug. 16 to look the numbers at each grade level, said Christine Weymouth, assistant superintendent who
was sitting in for Superintendent Brad Meeks at the meeting. “I want to say to parents that we are going to do our very best in balancing and placing FTEs where they need the attention,� Weymouth said. The district is still receiving in-district elementary transfers after parents finalize daycare plans for children, said Goers. “I am confident and the principals are confident and they watch out for you and your concerns See Farmington, 5A
Madore wins DFL primary Former state legislator will challenge incumbent Rep. John Kline in November by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photos by Rick Orndorf
Andrew Kisling from Hudson, Wis., competes in the quick-sawing contest at the All American Lumberjack Show at the Dakota County Fair.
Anastasia Smith’s photo of a horse’s nose finished in second place in the student photo contest at the Dakota County Fair.
Prize-winning red peppers were displayed in the Horticulture and Foods Building at the Dakota County Fair.
In a mirror of the DFL gubernatorial race, primary voters on Aug. 10 repudiated a party endorsee, this time in the south metro. Former state representative Shelley Madore received 19,973 votes over Dan Powers’ 16,522, a 10 percent margin. “I am very pleased and grateful,� Madore said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “Voters saw a real challenger for (U.S. Rep.) John Kline.� Shelley The DFL Party establishment ofMadore ficially endorsed Powers at its convention in Duluth in April. He was unreachable by the time this story went to press. “I think Dan ran a competitive race,� Madore said. “Now it is time for us to focus on John Kline.� Madore will challenge Kline this November for his seat in the Second Congressional District, which encompasses most of the south metro.
Where’s the beef? Madore said she will continue her 35 Cent Tour, which is designed to showcase the effects on the district of Kline’s “no pork stance.� For every federal tax dollar, she said, Dakota County only sees 35 cents on the dollar compared to an average of 77 cents in other Minnesota Congressional districts. She said that might be perceived as protecting our tax dollars from being wasted. “In reality,� she said during the primary campaign, “Mr. Kline has refused to request federal tax dollars for important community projects, even when asked by our trusted county, city and school leaders.� Troy Young, communications director for John Kline, issued a statement on behalf of the congressman. “Kline remains committed to listening to his constituents and restoring the values of limited government, personal responsibility and economic freedom that open the door to opportunity and prosperity,� Young said. See Madore, 17A
More workforce, affordable housing comes to Lakeville Forty countyLAKEVILLE subsidized rental units The CDA specializes in finished near Airlake providing housing services for low- and moderate-inIndustrial Park by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Lakeville generally isn’t synonymous with workforce housing. The median home value in Lakeville is estimated by the city at $233,700. But Lakeville is also home to the metro’s largest industrial complex south of the river, and Airlake Industrial Park has more than 4,000 blue collar workers, many of whom call Lakeville home. That’s why the Dakota County Community Development Agency has put a large focus on Lakeville. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
come households, according to Sara Swenson, assistant director of administration for the CDA. And Swenson said that this month the CDA is putting the finishing touches on 40 rental townhouse units in a development called Meadowlark. Swenson said the families moving into the rental units, located along 210th Street, right across the road from Airlake, will pay less because their rent is partially subsidized through tax credits, grants and other money the CDA receives. Swenson said a twobedroom unit in Meadow-
lark goes for $625 a month. Similar sized two-bedroom apartments go for $968 around the area, Swenson said. “It’s quite a difference in price and allows families affordable rent so they can save for other things, like reliable transportation or a down payment on their own house,� Swenson said. But families who apply for CDA housing can have a combined income of $45,360 or less to qualify, Swenson said. “We’ve seen people come in who have lost jobs and unfortunately have foreclosed on their homes,� Swenson said. “They come to us for help. And we’re seeing more people come through our doors than ever before.� Lakeville is now home
Photo by Derrick Williams
Meadowlark, a 40-unit affordable housing development along 210th Street in Lakeville, is almost finished. The Dakota County Community Development Agency project will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom rental townhouses to families in need of affordable housing. The development is the fourth such CDA neighborhood in Lakeville. to four CDA developments that offer affordable rental housing – the most in the county, Swenson said. Cedar Valley, Country Lane and Prairie Crossing,
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along with Meadowlark, give the CDA 139 rental units in Lakeville. There are only 552 CDArun units across the county, Swenson said.
“It’s important to have that kind of housing available in Lakeville,� she said. “It’s growing and will be home to a lot of people in the coming years.� Meadowlark has been years in the making, according to Lakeville’s economic development director, David Olson. The site was a former dump, and before the CDA could build, the site needed to be cleaned up, he said. “It’s a great project,� Olson said. “For one, it cleaned up and redeveloped an old dump site, which wasn’t likely to be done privately. And two, it’s the type of housing that workers from the industrial park can benefit from.� Olson said the purchase See Housing, 17A
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