2011 Year in Review: Emotional Year for Lakeville Schools

It's hard to deny that 2011 was a year of upheaval for the .

Following the failure of a levy referendum in November of 2010, district officials knew there would be major changes in store for 2011 as the board was tasked with trimming millions of dollars from its budget.

Few knew or even expected what the consequences would entail, and a winter packed with meetings, proposals, and tears captivated the community for months.

It can also be argued that the budget process wasn't the biggest story of 2011.

On March 15, Superintendent Gary Amoroso on July 1. The surprise announcement made his January promise of "" all the more prophetic when the district hired . Snyder was selected after an extensive search, and has a strong background in technology-based education and collaborative communication—something Amoroso wasn't necessarily known for.

“I believe Dr. Snyder will bring a fresh approach … she’s a visionary,” said Board member Bob Erickson in July when she was hired. “She’s a rising star in the field of education.”

But enhancing the district's position in the realm of technology isn't going to be an easy sell with the community, at least not after the dramatic budget cuts that dominated most of last winter.

As the new year dawned, it became clear that 2010's levy vote failure was going to lead to some staggering budget cuts. And when staff for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, few knew how pervasive the cuts would actually be.

Hundreds of parents, staff, students, and community members attended work session after work session throughout February and March as details emerged of what was going to be cut.

When it was all said and done, the School Board opted to , , effectively increasing class sizes district-wide, cutting elementary art specialists, and even eliminating programs entirely, such as fifth-grade band. Outside of the classroom, .

Meanwhile, the year wasn't so bad for Lakeville's seniors.  at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, for both Lakeville North and South high schools. More than 1,000 combined to receive their diplomas.

The district also had great news in September when it was revealed that Lakeville's students were among the according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Education.