South St. Paul

District holds farewell ceremony for gym

After decades of basketball games and gym classes, the South St. Paul district is saying goodbye to the Secondary Building gymnasium, built in 1928.

At 5:15 p.m. on May 14, a brief program will commemorate the gym's history at South St. Paul Secondary School, 700 N. 2nd St., South St. Paul.

The school is going to build an addition where the current gym stands that will accommodate the district's sixth-graders, who will be moving to the secondary building.

The construction will be funded by a $26.68 million bond approved in a referendum last May.

West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan

Powell named Principal of the Year

Sue Powell, principal of Garlough Environmental Magnet School in West St. Paul, has been named Magnet Schools of America's (MSA) 2013-14 Region VI Principal of the Year.

The recognition is given based on a principal's contribution to the profession in the areas of promoting equity and diversity, providing equitable academic success for all students, leadership implementing and sustaining an innovative magnet program, and evidence of leadership within the district and magnet community.

Winners from each of the 11 regions in the United States are eligible to be named National Principal of the Year during the MSA National Conference in May. Region VI covers Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan

District receives $2.99 million grant

Last week, the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district was named as a recipient of a $2.99 million Youth Career Connect grant from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor intended to strengthen career and college preparation.

The grants were established to further President Obama's vision that students need to be prepared for success in both college and the workplace.

In Minnesota, St. Paul was the only other district to receive a grant, in the amount of $3.68 million. Across the U.S., a total of 24 districts will get the funding, with grants ranging from $2.247 million to $7 million.

Erin Adler