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Local senior’s second act: standup comedy. See Thisweekend Page 10A-11A
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville March 16, 2012
VOLUME 33, NO. 3
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Announcements/3A
FHS 2009 grad runs for Farmington School Board
Jake Cordes champions innovation by Laura Adelmann Thisweek Newspapers
A 2009 Farmington High School graduate has announced his candidacy for the Farmington School Board. Jake Cordes, 21, will graduate a semester early from the University of St. Thomas in December with a Jake Cordes business administration: leadership and management degree, and is campaigning to join the School Board as a champion of classroom innovation and student learning. “I’m in a unique position now,” Cordes told Thisweek. “I bring a different perspective, because I’ve seen first-hand what works and what doesn’t work.” He is a proponent of iPads for students, and suggests the district save money by using electronic textbooks. Cordes also suggests course material be written by teachers who lead the classes. “They would still write it to meet the graduation standards, but they could teach what they want to teach,” Cordes said, describing the change as inspiring an “environment of innovation.” Encouraging that level of input will help the district retain and attract the best, most qualified teachers, another platform of his campaign. Technology in the classroom should be a goal of the board, Cordes maintains, and its focus on student achievement. He is critical of past “strife” among board members, district staff and administration. “I want to get things back on track in the district,” Cordes said. “I bring a sense of duty and respect. “If my fellow citizens elect me to the district, I would remember I’m here representing them and not here to carry out my own agenda or inflate my ego,” he said. Noting there are “many great young minds out there,” Cordes asks voters not to “hold my youth against me.” Long interested in politics, Cordes, nephew of former Farmington City Council Member LaCelle Cordes, said he is inspired by other younger people serving in public office, including Matt Little, a Lakeville City Council member who recently announced his candidacy for mayor. “What inspires me is that he’s young and has the drive to do what he thought needed to be done,” Cordes said. “He didn’t wait for anyone else to do what needed to be done. He stepped up there and did it himself.” For years, Cordes has also sought leadership positions, including in the FHS Tiger Leadership Club, Link Crew, Graduation Committee, and National Honor Society; he was also captain of the FHS swim team. In college, he served as treasurer and vice chair of the College Republicans. “Each semester, we had to set a budget,” Cordes said. “The basic principles of setting and keeping a budget apply in both Cordes, 5A General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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‘Positioned to Thrive’ New marketing effort coming to Lakeville
by Aaron M. Vehling Thisweek Newspapers
When it comes to selling Lakeville to the region, state and neighboring states, the city is “Positioned to Thrive.” That is the new tag line developed as part of an overall marketing effort the city is undertaking with the help of urban planning consultants Arnett Muldrow of North Carolina. Among the goals is the idea of showing prospective businesses, residents and tourists what sets Lakeville apart from other suburbs in the metro. It is a way to
recruit new businesses by targeting and engaging corporate site selectors and decision makers, said Community and Economic Development Director Dave Olson. “There are a lot of cities (in the metro) with populations of 40-to-50,000,” Olson said. “It portrays a positive brand image for Lakeville.” Olson will present the full plan at the March 21 State of the City presentation, but he offered a preview at the Downtown Lakeville Business Association meeting on March 14.
The strategy is not just a method for attracting new people to the city, though. It also is about growing and retaining existing businesses, according to the plan. The $32,000 marketing plan, paid for by a grant from Dakota County, was borne of an extensive process that involved more than 36 interviews, a number of roundtables and Arnett Muldrow’s detailed “community reconnaissance,” regional tours and photo shoots. The firm also interviewed local high school stuPositioned, 5A
North girls lose tough game to Hopkins
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Lakeville North girls basketball players Amanda Goodman, Erika Moede, Caroline Sjoberg and McKenzie Hoelmann make their way off the court after a tough loss to Hopkins in the quarterfinals of the 2012 State Girls’ Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 14. The Panthers lost 51-29 as Hopkins took advantage of 20 Lakeville North turnovers. Lakeville North finishes the season with a 21-9 record.
Proposal would pay back schools early
Garofalo’s high priority is teachers union president’s risky manuever by T.W. Budig Ecm Capitol Reporter
House Republicans propose to cut deeper into the state budget reserve in order to speed up the repayment of the K-12 school-funding shift. House Education Finance Committee Chairman Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, described his legislation as “good news” for Minnesota schools, but the move was described as risky by the state’s teachers union president. Already, some $318 million, by law, has been designated to pay down the more than $2 billion lawmakers have borrowed in education funding to craft recent state budget agreements. The dollars come out of recent state budget surpluses, which have replenished the budget reserve. Garofalo’s bill would add an additional $430 million to the outgoing one-time school funding — an additional $780 in per pupil funding — but also depletes the budget reserve. “I think it’s a higher priority to pay back the debt than to have the
Photo by T.W. Budig
State Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, talks during a Capitol press conference regarding a bill that would funnel more money to schools. Gov. Mark Dayton has called the proposal an election-year ploy and the Education Minnesota president deemed it risky. cash in hand,” Garofalo said. R-Maple Grove, described the The state would still have $577 bill as reflecting what Republimillion in reserve, Garofalo said. cans have been hearing from the His bill passed the House edu- public. cation finance committee today “We believe we’re on a good on a 14 to 5 vote. track,” he said of the state budget. House Speaker Kurt Zellers, Proposal, 5A
Public Notices/12A
Yellow ribbons all around Dakota to become Yellow Ribbon county by Laura Adelmann Thisweek Newspapers
Dakota County is poised to build the biggest local network of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon cities in the state. Co nnec t ing Yellow Ribbon cities to form a comprehensive support network is Dakota County’s goal as it is proclaimed a Yellow Ribbon County by Gov. Mark Dayton at a 3 p.m. recognition ceremony March 30 at Trinity Evangelical Church, 10658 210th St. W. in Lakeville. The cities of Apple Valley and Burnsville will be proclaimed Yellow Ribbon cities during the event and West St. Paul is expected to attain its Yellow Ribbon status this year, said Dakota County Veterans Services Director Lisa Thomas. Since Farmington became Minnesota’s first Yellow Ribbon City in 2008 by committing to provide services to soldiers and military families, Dakota County has led the state in showing soldiers appreciation for the sacrifice they have made. Skilled Yellow Ribbon volunteers in Lakeville recently patched a ceiling leak for a soldier getting ready to be deployed. Numbers of Yellow Ribbon volunteers and businesses will combine efforts this week to assist the wife of a soldier serving overseas with a move from Bloomington to Farmington. One day after her worried call to Annette Kuyper, Minnesota’s director of military outreach, moving boxes were delivered to her, an army of volunteers organized to help her pack and clean, two moving trucks were reserved, and Subway Farmington and Cub Foods in Bloomington agreed provide food for volunteers. That kind of action demands collaboration, the heart of Dakota County’s function as a Yellow Ribbon County. “Any veteran in Dakota County that needs any type of resources can call,” said Dakota County Veterans Services Director Lisa Thomas. “We may not be able to help them immediately, but we could connect them with someone who can.” The county’s involvement is not intended to take over or direct local efforts, but to enhance and connect them to provide a comprehensive network of resources bold enough to grow from providing help to solving larger societal problems military face, Kuyper said. Working as a network, businesses, organizations, government, the faith community and individuals can, for example, work to address military unemployment, which has proven to be a bigger problem in Minnesota than other states, Kuyper said. Rich Davey, a 20-year member of the Apple Valley American Legion, service officer and chaplain, said soldiers’ stress of reintegration is magnified by a weakened economy. “I’ve heard so many things about people coming back afYellow Ribbons, 5A