South school briefs

School board approves gifted services changes The Lakeville school board has unanimously approved a proposal to revamp services for gifted students at the district's elementary and middle schools.

The changes include a new full-time program for profoundly gifted students that will launch with one classroom in the fall of 2011. The district's three middle schools also plan to expand their honors program, shifting away from pull-out classes for gifted students and instead offering more honors courses that are infused with lessons and teaching strategies for gifted kids.

Challenged books stay in school libraries A committee in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District voted 10-1 last week to reject an Apple Valley parent's request to remove a book series from elementary school libraries.

Ramona DeLay had objected to author Jeff Smith's "Bone" novels after her fifth-grade son checked out a copy of "The Dragonslayer" from the library at Southview Elementary. At the committee meeting, she argued that the books contain age-inappropriate references to drinking, smoking and gambling, according to the district. Twelve of the district's 18 elementary school libraries have at least one of the challenged books.

District policy lays out a process for any resident, parent or employee to ask for the removal or addition of a book. The requests are reviewed by a committee that includes parents, teachers and librarians.

The district has received 20 such requests in the past two decades but has not granted most of them, said Steve Troen, the district's director of teaching and learning. The last time the district removed a challenged book was in 1997, he said.

New principal named at Oak Ridge An instructional assistant at Rosemount Elementary will be the next principal of Oak Ridge Elementary in Eagan.

Hannon is retiring after 34 years in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District, including 11 years as principal of Oak Ridge.

Scallon came to the district in 2003, when she was hired as a fourth-grade teacher at Rosemount Elementary.

McColl Pond learning center wins LEED gold The McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center has been awarded LEED Gold Level certification, the City of Savage announced last week.

The city received a plaque for the honor at a ceremony Saturday.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a national program that promotes the design, construction and operation of environmentally friendly buildings.

Jackson Elementary construction begins The Shakopee school board held a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the site of what will be the district's sixth elementary school.

Jackson Elementary, located near the intersection of 17th Avenue and Marystown Road, is slated to open in the fall of 2011.

Construction started a few weeks ago, said Superintendent Jon McBroom. Wold Architects of St. Paul and Met-Con Cos. of Faribault are key contractors working on the $15 million project.

Board nixes standard T-shirts at school Students at Shakopee Middle School will not wear standardized T-shirts this fall, the school board decided last week.

Principal Mike Neubeck had proposed a stricter dress code with T-shirts in the school's colors -- red or black -- as a way to foster community spirit and cut down on the distractions posed by inappropriate clothing.

The idea drew criticism from school board members when they reviewed it last month. The board's policy committee recommended last week that the school stick with its existing rules, and the board affirmed that judgment.