Quad Community Press

Page 1

Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED CIRCLE PINES, MN

Want to advertise here? Call 651-404-1200

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020 VOL. 39 NO. 4 www.quadcommunitypress.com $1.00

ELECTION 2020: See Quad area results on PAGE 6

Centennial marks spike in cases among students, staff BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

On Thursday, Nov. 12, Centennial students in grades 6-12 will shift from the hybrid learning model to distance learning. The school board presented the recommendation at a special meeting Nov. 3. Superintendent Brian Dietz, Director of Human Resources Dan Melde and Executive Director of Business Services Patrick Chaffey detailed the timeline of events leading up to the recommendation and how the recommendation was reached.

Open mike

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Dean Ravenscroft, 29, of Blaine, served for six years in the National Guard. Shortly after completing basic training at Camp Ripley, he was deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months.

National Guard broadened vet’s experience Not every 22-year-old envisions celebrating their birthday in Afghanistan. Dean Ravenscroft, 29, of Blaine, enlisted in the National Guard in October 2011 at the age of 21. At the time, he was attending Minnesota State University, Mankato, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in construction management. “(Joining the military) is something I wanted to do from a young age,” he said. “I always thought I’d do it.” Perhaps Ravenscroft was inspired to join the military because of the many family members who also served. His uncle was in the Navy, his great-uncle served in

the Marines in Vietnam, his grandfather was in the Navy during World War II and his great-grandfather was a Marine in World War II. As a kid, Ravenscroft recalls seeing his great-grandfather’s discharge papers displayed on a wall in his grandmother’s home. “At the time I didn’t realize the significance, but as I got older, I thought that was pretty cool.” While attending college, Ravenscroft was hanging out with a roommate one day when he spotted a pamphlet for the National Guard. His roommate told him he was meeting with a recruiter the next day and Ravenscroft agreed to go with him so he didn’t have to go alone.

BY THE NUMBERS 41.9 million 3.3 million 1.4 million 18 million 1.2 million 38,000 294,377 111,668

Estimated number of Americans who have fought in wars, from the American Revolution in 1775 to Desert Storm in 1991 Veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2011 Number of active-duty military service members in the U.S. or deployed in more than 150 countries Approximate number of veterans in the U.S. at the end of last year Number of veterans who live in poverty Number of veterans who were homeless at the end of last year Veteran population in Minnesota (6.8% of adult population) Vietnam War veterans in Minnesota (37.9% of veterans)

SEE VETERANS DAY, PAGE 8

OOF NEW R S! NT DISCOU

SEE CENTENNIAL CASES, PAGE 12

AllCityAgency.com

We’ve teamed up with to offer you great value and coverage

NEVER SHOP FOR INSURANCE AGAIN!

TM

Atlas l Insurance Broker of the Year

(651) 484-1213 NEWS 651-407-1227 quadnews@presspubs.com

Don’t Wait Until Your Current Policy Expires

ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com

Independent Insurance Agent CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com

Call Us Today For a Free Quote!!

CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com

PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 artmanager@presspubs.com

683728

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

Two parents and one educator shared their opinions with the board during open mike. Jessica Fu said moving to distance learning will have severe consequences on kids. “They will be crushed, as they will lose the lose the last bit of normalcy they are clinging to. Their education will suffer … They will lose valuable connections and their drive to succeed,” Fu said. “It will cause our kids to risk spiralizing into depression, coping with drugs and falling victim to abuse and neglect. Our kids will be lost, and they may not come back.” She added, “If we don’t need to close gyms, bars and private schools, why must we do this to our kids, to our public school?” Parent Sarah Bordewyk presented the school board with a petition with 500 signatures from people who oppose the transition to distance learning. “In-person learning is in the best interest of students. There are tremendous longterm and far-reaching risks for not keeping schools open. Distance learning affects school attendance, academic performance, post-secondary education, it widens socioeconomic gaps and it significantly impacts mental health,” Bordewyk said. “I have talked to parent after parent whose kids are literally failing classes. These kids are excellent academic performers, and they are failing. Our kids are struggling with anxiety and depression.” Bruce Woznak, Centennial Education Association (CEA) president, spoke up for staff and school board members. “I do care about the kids. I hear their viewpoint. I don’t disagree. Teachers don’t disagree. The guidelines were given to us by MDE and MDH. We are following their guidelines. This should not be put on our backs,” he said. “We cannot pit teachers


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.