School briefs

Volunteers sought for curriculum council District 196 is looking for parents to serve on its Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Council. Three elementary and two middle school parents will be chosen to serve three-year terms on the council, starting in July. The council meets up to five times a year at the district office in Rosemount, usually from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To get an application, go to www.district196.org or call 651-423-7621. The deadline to apply is May 30.

North principal hired on permanent basis Marne Berkvam will stay put as principal of Lakeville North High School. Berkvam, who has served as interim principal since Julia Espe left a few weeks before school started in 2006, will keep the job for good, the school board said last week.

District leaders took well over a year to fill the position because they considered it poor form to hire a school administrator after a levy referendum failed in the fall of 2006, leading the district to cut more than 100 staff positions, said district spokeswoman Linda Swanson. The district also conducted a complete principal search for the job, she said.

Berkvam started as a health and physical education teacher with the district in 1994.

A new way to talk to school board members The Lakeville school board will start holding community conversations before the second regularly scheduled meeting of each month. The talks will run from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and are a chance for residents to ask questions and raise issues with two or three board members in an informal setting.

People who wish to attend should contact the superintendent's office in advance and leave a name, contact information and the topic they wish to discuss. The next sessions are May 27 and June 24.

District seeks to honor "friends of education" The Lakeville school district seeks nominations for the annual Friends of Education Awards honoring people who have served the district as volunteers, civic leaders, business owners or artists, or in other roles.

Nomination forms are available at the district office or online at www.startribune.com/a4251. They're due back at the district office by April 22.

Awards will be presented at the 2008 Staff Recognition Reception on April 30 at Century Middle School.

Diversity celebration to feature food, dance Lakeville North High School is hosting the ninth-annual people's fair on April 24 to celebrate diversity. Festivities include music, dance, exhibits, food, games, storytelling and art. The free event is from 4-7:30 p.m.

District discourages taking kids to work The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school district is encouraging families to keep their children in school on "Take Your Child to Work Day," which is April 24 this year.

Many students will be taking state standardized tests that day, and the district wants parents to realize that they can take their children to work with them during school breaks or in the summer, when school is not in session.

"We strongly discourage participation in this event when school is in session because it is very important that students are in school and learning for all 172 days of the school year," Superintendent Ben Kanninen said in a press release.

Seat belt challenge Shakopee High School is participating in the second-annual Scott County High School Seat Belt Challenge this month. The program, which encourages students to wear seat belts, involves seat belt checks at the start and end of four weeks of activities organized and conducted by students in each school.

The activities are organized and conducted by members of the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) organization. Winners will be announced the week of May 12.