Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The District 196 school board approved Superintendent Jane Berenz's new contract by a 6-1 vote.
The District 196 school board on Monday approved a new, three-year contract for Superintendent Jane Berenz that includes a 3.78 percent pay raise. Berenz’s annual salary will increase to $192,000 beginning July 1; for the past three years, her annual salary has been $185,000. The board approved the increase on Monday night by a 6-1 vote. The contract includes no automatic salary increases annually, board Chairperson Jackie Magnuson said, but the board could consider awarding them each year. Magnuson said the aim is to pay the superintendent at least the average pay of superintendents in comparably sized districts. A comparison of eight districts showed an average superintendent salary of about $190,000, she said. “She led the pack in doing…
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Levy dollars are being used to establish a stronger district-wide wireless network.
District 196 is making an effort to include more technology in day-to-day learning, despite the steep cost of a tech-savvy education. “Kids grow up with technology now,” said Jane Berenz, superintendent of schools for District 196. “That’s their preferred mode.” The district is in the process of implementing a range of high-tech tools and systems, said Edward Heier, who is the district coordinator of technology. These tools and systems include interactive whiteboards, video projectors, document cameras, teacher sounds systems, student response systems, electronic distance learning and improved wireless access. For example, students and staff at Greenleaf Elementary School view the morning announcements via Smartboards in their classrooms, …
Friday, January 27, 2012
A new collaborative program between District 196 and Inver Hills Community College will bring dual enrollment courses to Rosemount, Apple Valley and eventually Eagan.
High School students receiving Bs or Cs in their classes are the target of a new partnership between Inver Hills Community College and School District 196. Those students, labeled the "academic middle," will have a chance to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously by participating in a series of "dual enrollment" courses that will be rolled out over the next several years in Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan. In some ways, the courses will be similar to the Advanced Placement program of the University of Minnesota's College in the Schools programs, which allow students to accumulate college credit while in high school by taking more rigorous courses. But this pilot program will focus on first-generation students, students …
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The proposal will be formally approved at the March 28 school board meeting.
When the District 196 school board met on Monday night, the most pressing topic of discussion was the same one that has dominated all of the board’s meetings in 2011: the proposed budget adjustments (or reductions) for the 2011-2012 school year. The district is facing a $8.5 million shortfall in the upcoming budget and the school board has worked through a number of possible solutions to the problem. After discussions at a number of school board meetings, several focus groups with parents as well as communications with teachers, the final plan was presented on Monday. As District 196 Superintendent Jane Berenz noted, the details of the proposal have been publicly known for several weeks. Monday’s presentation to the school board was their …
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
While the board passed a $352.1 million budget on Monday, much of the meeting discussion revolved around future budgets.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district school board on Monday unanimously passed its 2010-11 final budget to the tune of $352.1 million, which includes all funds. But the work will begin again for the board and district, as officials begin to delve into the 2011-12 budget. Board members will meet Jan. 24 to go over its five-year budget plan. With the current state budget deficit of $6.2 billion, there's “a high likelihood that education will be impacted” for 2011-12, district Director of Finance Jeff Solomon said. Superintendent Jane Berenz said at Monday's meeting that even if the state doesn't make any cuts to education this session, the district still will have to cut or find revenue for $14 million for its 2011-12 budget. …
Monday, January 10, 2011
Though it just passed its $352.1 million budget for 2010-11, the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district board is looking ahead to the 2011-12 budget.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district school board on Monday unanimously passed its 2010-11 final budget to the tune of $352.1 million, which includes all funds. But the work will begin again for the board and district, as officials begin to look at a five-year budgeting plan and delve into the 2011-12 budget. Superintendent Jane Berenz said at Monday's meeting that even if the state doesn't make any cuts to education this session, the district still will have to cut or find revenue for $14 million for its 2011-12 budget. With the "strong possibility" that the Minnesota Legislature will make cuts to education, that number could be almost $23 million, Berenz said. Gov. Mark Dayton will announce his state budget on Feb. 15, and while the…
