South school briefs: Board seat open after member resigns

The Inver Grove Heights school board is seeking to fill a vacancy in its ranks caused by the resignation of Bridget Cronin.

The 15-month appointment will begin in late September and end Dec. 31, 2015. Candidates should submit a letter and résumé by 4 p.m. Aug. 29.

Submissions go to Melissa Cherney by e-mail (melissa.cherney@isd199.org) or by mail: District Office, Attn: Melissa Cherney, 2990 80th St. East, Inver Grove Heights, 55076.

Candidates must be at least 21, be registered voters and have lived in the district for 30 days and may not be a felon or sex offender. They may not hold another elected position, except for township board, or have a financial conflict of interest with the district.

Candidates will be voted on and announced at a board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and sworn in on Sept. 22.

A District 196 task force of administrators, including principals, will convene to review the district's facilities and equipment.

The group will also look at future needs to support the district's strategic goals for the next five to 10 years.

The group will review enrollment, school capacities, opportunities to expand STEM and early learning programs, and recommendations from various groups related to technology, integration and equity, and emergency preparedness.

This will be the first review of facilities and equipment in more than 10 years, officials say.

The committee is chaired by Jeff Solomon, director of finance and operations; Mark Parr, secondary education director; and Julie Olson, elementary education director.

Public input meetings are tentatively scheduled for early October and mid-November. The task force will begin meeting this week.

A new technology plan in District 196 will launch this fall, giving students in 46 classrooms access to an iPad Mini for daily use at school and for homework.

Classes getting iPads this year will be spread throughout various schools and grade levels. In year three, students in grades 4 through 12 will each receive one.

Recommendations regarding a way to pay for the technology when it expands to grades four through 12 will be discussed by the Strategic Facilities and Equipment Task Force.