South school briefs: Burnsville district keeps its Aa2 bond rating

District keeps its Aa2 bond ratingBurnsville, considered one of the most financially sound school districts in the state, recently had Moody's Investor Services affirm its Aa2 rating, the district announced.

The Moody's ratings are used by investors to determine the relative creditworthiness of securities being sold by school districts and other entities.

"That is a very, very strong rating," Joel Sutter, executive vice president of Ehlers, Inc., told the school board at a recent meeting. "I believe there are only 10 school districts in the state of Minnesota that have higher ratings. You are in strong company there."

A bond rating is similar to credit scores for individuals. Better ratings result in more favorable borrowing rates. Bonds are being sold now for $16.9 million for deferred maintenance over the next two years at Burnsville High School and several other schools.

"We expect the district's financial position to remain satisfactory over the near term, supported by sound reserves and conservative budgeting," stated the Moody's report.

Harriet Bishop team claims chess titleHarriet Bishop Gifted and Talented Elementary School earned its first Burnsville School District chess championship this month during the annual competition at Metcalf Junior High.

Harriet Bishop has the biggest chess club in the district with well over 60 members. It is coached by teacher Jessica Perry.

Application deadline nears for magnet schoolsApplications for the Rosemount School District's three elementary magnet schools and the optional fee-based Kindergarten Plus program at all elementary schools will be accepted through 4 p.m. Jan. 18 for the 2013-14 school year.

The applications for both are available at all elementary schools, the district office and on the district website.

Enrollment at the magnet schools is determined by lottery and is limited to space available at each school and grade level, the district said.

The three magnets are Cedar Park Elementary Science, Technology, Engineering and Math School in Apple Valley, Diamond Path Elementary School of International Studies in Apple Valley and Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science in Eagan.

The district will host information nights for the programs on Jan. 3 at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Eagan and on Jan.7 at Southview Elementary School in Apple Valley.

Caduff named district teacher of the yearChris Caduff, a fourth-grade teacher at Riverview Elementary, has been named the Farmington School District's teacher of the year.

Caduff began teaching in Farmington in November 2001. He has worked at Farmington Middle School East, Akin Road Elementary, Farmington Elementary and North Trail Elementary. He transferred to Riverview in 2009.

Caduff served as a volunteer the Peace Corps, spending two years in southwest Africa. He also spent a year and a half with Volunteers in Service to America in Oregon as a conflict resolution coordinator and with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

Berg named as assistant principalJason Berg has been hired as assistant principal at Farmington High School. He takes over for Kerry Timmerman, who took the job of principal of Park High School in Cottage Grove.

Berg, who worked in Farmington as a math teacher and head girls' basketball coach from 2006-2011, is currently the principal of Lincoln Elementary in Owatonna.