School briefs: Red Rock Elementary in Woodbury earns School of Excellence honor

Red Rock Elementary in Woodbury was one of four schools to be named recently as a 2014-15 Minnesota School of Excellence by a statewide education group.

The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association has bestowed the annual honor on schools that undertake self-examination and then develop an improvement plan in a collaborative effort between principal, staff, students and community.

"Red Rock's school community and Principal Andy Caflisch have shown an incredible dedication to personalized instruction and the well-rounded success of their students," South Washington County Superintendent Keith Jacobus said in a news release. "This external validation of a hardworking, caring staff is outstanding."

Jon Millerhagen, the association's executive director, said that the School of Excellence program is "the premier opportunity in the state for validating greatness in a school community. This school improvement program examines the entire school community, as opposed to making decisions based solely on students' assessment data."

Red Rock students have performed well on standardized exams, with more than three-quarters being proficient in science, math and reading, according to 2014 state test results. The school's reading scores were up, and math and science results down, compared with 2013.

According to state data, 6.5 percent of Red Rock students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

"Moving forward, the staff, community and, most importantly, the students will benefit from the work that went into completing the School of Excellence endorsement," Caflisch said. A community celebration is expected to be held in the spring.

Fourteen students earned an IB diploma in 2014, up from three students in 2012-13.

In addition, the district said, Park High students earned 92 IB exam scores of 5 or higher this year. That is equal to 736 credits at the University of Minnesota, for a total savings of $341,386 in tuition costs, a district news release said.

Park's IB program now is in its fifth year.

The 2014 diploma recipients were: Eric Brinkoetter, Iris Burbank, Autumn Carlson, Gina Carson, Haily Cisneros, Molly Gallahue, Amanda Grein, Nathan Grosse, Will Kickhafer, Anna Kimball, Elliot Mohler, Carleigh Rand, Lauren Rein and Erin Sanislo.

Earlier this year, Grein and Grosse were among five IB French students at Park High to win an award from the Minnesota Zoo for a French Language Day skit involving raccoons and black bears. As part of the annual event, upper-level students use costumes, music and props to interpret various animal exhibits. The Park High team was honored for "most creative presentation."

"His loss will impact many staff and students at East Ridge — and also Woodbury High School," where he taught previously, the news release said.

No cause of death was given.

According to his website, DuGarm, 53, co-taught ninth-grade physical science.

East Ridge said DuGarm also served as a department leader, assisted with a homework club and supported the Link Crew, a program aimed at helping ninth-graders with their transition to high school.

A League of Women Voters chapter is hosting a forum for North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school board candidates on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Five candidates are running for three seats on the Nov. 4 ballot. They include incumbents Amy Coborn and Michelle Yener, and challengers Caleb Anderson, Bennie Bennett and Danny Porter.