Three New Principals Hired for Lakeville Elementaries

The school board approved the hiring decisions at a special meeting Tuesday.

Lakeville's elementary schools will have a big change in leadership. The school board approved the hiring of three elementary principals on Tuesday during a special meeting, Sun Thisweek is reporting. School: Eastview Elementary New principal: F. Taber Akin Experience: Former Lakeville Public Schools assessment and accountability coordinator, currently serves as principal at Sioux Trail Elementary in Burnsville Starting salary: $119,768 School: Christina Huddelston Elementary New principal: Jill M. Kelly Experience: Assistant principal of Data, Assessments and Intervention Coordination for school district in St. Francis, Minn. Starting salary: $116,351 School: Orchard Lake Elementary New principal: Marilynn Smith Experience: West St. Paul-…

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Election 2012

Updates: Kline Wins; Lakeville Council, Board too Close to Call

Some races can't quite be called.

Rep. John Kline (R-Lakeville) has defeated DFL challenger Mike Obermueller for the Second Congressional District. The Associated Press declared Kline the winner, and as of 1:35 a.m., he was up by 11,000 votes and nearly 5 points, with 71 percent of precints reporting. In other Lakeville races, incumbent Kerrin Swecker and challenger Doug Anderson were in the lead for seats on Lakeville's City Council, with David Bares in third. To see the numbers, check our Lakeville election results page. With 16 of 22 precincts reporting in the Lakeville School Board election, incumbents Bob Erickson and Judy Keliher, along with challenger Terry Lind, were in the top three positions for seats on the board. Jennifer Harmening was a few points and more …

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Lakeville School Board Salary to Remain the Same

A week after the City Council voted to increase their expense accounts by $250 per person, Lakeville's School Board opted to keep their pay checks the same as they've been for the past six years.

Lakeville's School Board Members will again receive $5,850 as their salary this year, and 2012 marks the the seventh consecutive year that Board Members receive the same salary. The vote, held on Jan. 10 during the group's regular meeting, was routine, but drew added significance after Lakeville's City Council voted to increase their expense accounts by $250 per person last week. The council's move drew the ire of some, both on the board and in the community, especially after the council let go of an employee as a cost cutting move. Lakeville's School Board and City Council have different compensation rules. Board members receive a flat salary of $5,850 a year, with no other compensation. Council members receive a salary of roughly $8,600…

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Lakeville School Board to Walk Through Site of Crystal Lake Elementary Today

The former elementary school may house the district's Early Childhood Family Education program.

Today the Lakeville Area Public Schools Board of Education will conduct a walkthrough of the former Crystal Lake Elementary School. “It’s just to give the board a sense of what the building looks like now and then what it would look like with recommended changes and remodeling,” said Tony Massaros, director of administrative services for Lakeville Area Public Schools. Crystal Lake Elementary closed at the end of the 2010-2011 school year as part of the $15.8 million in budget cuts announced in February. Shuttering the elementary school saves the district $750,000 annually. “It was something that was decided that we had to do,” said Massaros. “Now we’re turning that negative experience into a positive thing.” The board has discussed …

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School Board Faces Decision on Lakeville North Hockey Coach

Contrasting community opinions threaten to split Lakeville School Board on hiring approval for Lakeville North hockey coach. Board also expected to hear ousted coach's grievance over his non-renewal.

Trent Eigner may have been fully exonerated in Texas back in 2003, but the Lakeville North boys’ hockey head coach candidate is still finding it difficult to not be found guilty in present-day Minnesota. The Lakeville School Board is expected to vote Tuesday night on whether or not Eigner will become the next head coach for the Lakeville North varsity boys’ hockey program. Eigner was selected for the position by Lakeville North High School administrators after an interview process last month but the School Board has yet to approve the contract. The School Board tabled the hiring of winter sports coaches at the Sept. 28 meeting for further discussion and a closed session was held by the School Board on Oct. 4 concerning potential issues …

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Lakeville Council to Hear Liquor Study Report

School Board also active this week. Closed sessions also on schedule for both entities.

The Lakeville City Council and Lakeville School Board both have an active week of meetings scheduled. Closed sessions are scheduled for both entities to discuss sensitive issues concerning each and important reports highlight the open meetings. Lakeville City Council The City Council will meet for a work session this evening beginning at 6 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room at City Hall. The Phase I results from the city-commissioned $25,000 liquor store study will be presented during the session. The council has been weighing the pros and cons of Lakeville’s municipal liquor store operation—an operation that contributes more than $1 million to city coffers each year—and the initial report conducted by Minneapolis-based Shenehon Company …

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Lakeville Schools Launching New Communication Initiatives

District focusing more on information availability and dissemination to better engage community.

The Lakeville Area Public Schools are poised to make good on a promise of increasing communication avenues with the community as well as improving the district’s internal communications. Linda Swanson, the district’s communications coordinator, addressed the School Board on Tuesday with plans that included multiple initiatives suggested by new superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder as well as developed by Swanson and new communications coordinator Katie Kaehler. Kaehler’s role is a new full-time position funded with a reallocation of monies within the already approved communications budget. Kaehler has a degree in journalism and marketing from the University of Minnesota and was hired by the district last week. “It’s made an amazing difference …

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Lakeville Schools to Talk About Tax Levy This Week

Special work session scheduled for Tuesday for discussion. District has previously said seeking a property tax levy was not in their plans.

The Lakeville Area Public Schools will hold a special work session at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 to discuss a proposed property tax levy. Details surrounding the proposed tax levy discussion were unavailable however district officials had stated to Lakeville Patch last week that they were not planning to seek a levy for the upcoming year. Those comments were made before the work session was scheduled. In a survey recently conducted by the Minnesota School Board Association, 133 districts in Minnesota stated they were seeking tax levies in the upcoming November balloting. That figure is the highest in a decade. Lakeville was not listed in the survey. The notification deadline for district’s that are planning to seek a property tax levy is …

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City Council Work Session, School Board Meeting This Week

Council continues 2012 preliminary budget discussion. School board welcomes new superintendent.

The Lakeville City Council will hold a work session tonight beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room at City Hall. The council will continue its discussion of the preliminary 2012 budget. The general fund, parks and recreation, economic development, and liquor funds will be among the portion of the budget being discussed. The Lakeville Area Public Schools will hold their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the district offices. The school board will welcome new superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder to her first official meeting.

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Lakeville City Council To Talk Budget While School Board Handles Superintendent Contract

The 2012-2013 budget is on tap for a council work session tonight. Lakeville's School Board is expected to approve a contract for the district's new superintendent Tuesday.

Lakeville's City Council and School Board both have meetings this week. Here's a run down of what to expect from them. Lakeville City Council The Lakeville City Council will hold a work session tonight to discuss the preliminary 2012-2013 budget. Council members will continue to review the 221-page preliminary budget that was introduced during the council’s July 25work session. The proposed 2012 tax levy in the preliminary budget is just over $24.2 million, a roughly $212,000 (0.9 percent) increase from the 2011 levy. An approximate $24.9 million levy is being proposed for 2013 representing a 2.8 percent increase. The work session will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room at City Hall. Lakeville Area Public Schools The …

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