School briefs

CHASKA

The Chaska School District recently released a second boundary proposal for its high schools that attempts to balance socioeconomic and racial diversity when the new Chanhassen High School opens in fall 2009.

Residents can comment on both proposals -- the first of which focuses on keeping students from the four main cities in the district together -- through the school district's website, at www.district112.org.

District officials estimate that 12 percent of students who attend Chaska High now qualify for free- and reduced-price lunches, a common measure of poverty used by districts. Under the original school zone proposal, officials estimated that more than 21 percent of the students at Chaska High would qualify for free- or reduced-price lunches while around 7 percent would at Chanhassen High.

Under the second school boundary proposal, those percentages would be 15 for Chaska High and 13 percent for Chanhassen High, school officials said.

For more information, go to www.district112.org or contact Nancy Kracke, community relations director, at 952-556-6121 or kracken@district112.org.

HOPKINS

Hopkins School District will hold a parent forum on diversity, race and student achievement from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Hwy. 7, Hopkins.

The forum is open to all Hopkins parents and staff members. Hopkins staff members and representatives from the West Metro Education Program will lead discussions about the changing dynamics of the metro area and how it affects Hopkins schools.

Free child care will be available but participants must register by Friday. For more information, contact Cathy Rude at cathy_rude@hopkins.k12.mn.us or 952-988-4081.

MINNETONKA

The Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation recently awarded $51,000 in grants to fund innovative projects proposed by Minnetonka teachers.

The foundation's Teacher Initiated Enrichment Grants are funded by its annual fundraising campaign, which is supported by hundreds of west-metro donors.

Grants range from $250 to $3,000 and will be distributed in every building in the Minnetonka School District.

For more information or to view a full list of Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation grants, go to www.minnetonka foundation.com or call 952-401-5040.

BLOOMINGTON

The Bloomington School District will host the annual Learning Link-Up Picnic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Valley View Middle School's outdoor playground at 90th Street and Portland Avenue S. in Bloomington.

The picnic will celebrate diversity with live dancing and songs from various cultures, children's games, face painting, caricature artists and other activities. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be on sale for $1.

For more information about the picnic, go to www.blooming ton.k12.mn.us or call 952-681-6412.

PATRICE RELERFORD