Monday, February 28, 2011
The new ice would allow all local hockey teams to practice within the community. But it would also require more community money into the project.
School board meshed with hockey board Tuesday evening when St. Michael-Albertville school board member Jeff Lindquist updated the board on the latest hockey board meeting, which is homing in on its efforts to build a second sheet of ice onto the Albertville arena. Paul Youngquist of ARY Architects, who has handled all of the school district’s recent construction projects, gave the hockey board some preliminary design and cost estimates at the latest meeting, which took place on Feb. 7. His initial estimate came in at $4.9 million, followed by a scaled-back estimate of $3.3 million, which cut such amenities as a two-story atrium entrance with additional concessions, shower facilities, storage and office spaces. It would also cut seating …
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A dozen students honored by District 885 school board at Monday's meeting.
A group of exceptional high school students were honored by the St. Michael-Albertville school board Monday night with the district’s Courtesy and Respect Award. These first trimester award recipients were nominated by the different academic departments and voted on by the entire high school staff. To be eligible for the award, students must meet high standards in the following area: academics, decision-making, extra and co-curricular skills and conduct. “I want to congratulate the students and their parents for winning this award for a fantastic job in the classroom and outside the classroom,” high school Principal Dale Carlson said. “Keep up the good work and congratulations.” “I wish we had a little bit more fanfare,” Superintendent Dr…
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
With Principal Dale Carlson's retirement just a few months away, the board and administration bantered as they searched for a solution.
With current high school Principal Dale Carlson retiring at the end of this school year, the St. Michael-Albertville school board and superintendents debated – and sometimes strongly disagreed – on how involved the school board ought to be in the hiring process. Superintendent-elect Dr. Jim Behle said it was important for all the stakeholders' opinions to be heard regarding what qualities they would like to see in a high school principal, including high school staff, students, parents, district administrators and the schools board. However, Behle suggested that the board take a more hands-off approach than they are accustomed to when it comes down to the actual hiring process. Behle suggested that the board members offer their opinions on …
District 885 board members voted to increase pay for participants on select committees, including the two boards that screen principal and superintendent candidates.
The St. Michael Albertville school board had a busy Monday evening of reorganizing their board for the New Year, adding new board member Jeffrey Lindquist in Charles Lefebvre's vacant seat and filling various positions as representatives or on committees. As part of the reorganization the board voted on their own compensation rates, and new board chair Douglas Birk proposed an additional compensation for board members who serve on negotiation committees for various contracts. Birk suggested maintaining the current base compensation amounts, which are $3,200 per board member per year, with an additional $600 for chair, $200 for treasurer and $600 for clerk. However, he moved to correct what he saw as an omission in the compensation system. …
Monday, December 27, 2010
The board's longtime chair has helped guide District 885 through unprecedented growth. Now, he said, it's someone else's chance.
Charles Lefebvre's presence on the school board has been a constant for the past 18 years in St. Michael-Albertville, during a time where not much else has remained unchanged. Lefebvre began his service to a school district of 1,605 students in four buildings, and he ended his tenure overseeing a district of 5,400 students in seven schools plus a community education center. The district's budget went from just over $6 million total to a $39 million dollar budget in the general fund alone. Through it all, Lefebvre pushed the district to stop comparing themselves to state averages and instead push to be among the elite districts statewide. "Charles Lefebvre has been an outstanding leader on the STMA school board, Superintendent Dr. Marcia …
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
After two years of asking, Zahler Photography has finally been given the green light to be the district's local photographer, boosting a local business, much to the chagrin of a regional giant.
If you're a parent with a student in the St. Michael-Albertville system, you've likely gotten photos of your child's smiling face from Lifetouch Photography this year. Next year the name on that package won't be Lifetouch, but it may sound just as familiar. St. Michael's own Zahler Photography-which has been a St. Michael mainstay for 30 years- will be snapping away for the district. Two years ago, the first time Zahler Photography owners Dan and Greg Zahler approached the district, District 885 Superintendent Dr. Marcia Ziegler said they didn't feel the company had that capacity to handle such a student population. However, a second pitch made to the district last year convinced Ziegler that the local company is up to the job. "They came …
Scott
6:25 am on Sunday, April 10, 2011
Maybe we need a special tax on all the businesses that will benefit from this. They can pay for it. more ›