School briefs

On Thursdays this summer, elementary school principals from the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district will read to kids in the park as part of the Rockin' Readers program.

The book selections are geared toward elementary and preschool children.

The free events will take place at 11:15 a.m. at Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville's Heart of the City.

After the reading, families can stay for the free Rockin' Lunch Hour concerts, sponsored by the City of Burnsville.

The lineup: July 10: Jon Bonneville, Hidden Valley; July 17: Brad Robb, Vista View; July 24: Drew Goeldner, Sky Oaks; July 31: Lyle Bomsta, William Byrne; Aug. 7: Jeff Nepsund, Marion W. Savage; Aug. 14: Elizabeth Vaught, Edward Neill; Aug. 21: Barbara Borer, Rahn.

Eagan and Apple Valley high schools were both honored at this year's National Speech and Debate Association (formerly the National Forensic League) national tournament, held on June 15-20 in Kansas City.

Eagan was one of 10 schools in the country to be named a School of Outstanding Distinction and Apple Valley was one of 21 schools to be named a Speech School of Excellence.

Of the 25 students who qualified for the tournament, two made it to the final rounds in their event and three others advanced to semifinals.

Laurel Scott of Eagan finished as national runner-up in original oratory and Moti Begna of Apple Valley took fifth in original oratory. Adam Stromme of Eagan finished ninth in U.S. extemporaneous speaking and earned an award for being a four-time qualifier for the national tournament. Stephanie Kahle of Apple Valley was a semifinalist, taking 10th place in humorous interpretation, and Nikhil Venkatasubramanian of Eastview High School was a semifinalist in congressional debate.

Four school board seats, currently held by Todd Sorensen, Stacey Ruelle, Richard Wolf and Lee Shimek, expire at the end of 2014. Each of these terms are four years.

There is also a two year board seat open, which will fill a vacancy. That seat currently is held by Mike Murray.

The filing period for all open seats is July 29 to Aug. 12.

To file, visit the District Services Center, 4540 Tower Street SE, Prior Lake, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information contact Martha Walz at mwalz@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us.

Joni Hagebock was selected as next principal of Somerset Elementary School and began her new role this week.

Hagebock is a familiar face in the district, having been principal of Friendly Hills Middle School since 2007.

While at Friendly Hills, Hagebock implemented student-focused and research-based programming, like Advancement Via Individual Determination and Project Lead the Way, an engineering program. She has also introduced many service-learning opportunities at the middle school, such as Make a Difference Day.

The district has started looking for a new Friendly Hills principal and plans on completing the process by the end of July.