Washington County school briefs: Park High seeks input on possible conference change

Park High School in Cottage Grove is exploring whether to let its Wolfpack join a new conference beginning in 2014-15.

The school now is part of the Suburban East Conference, along with two other South Washington County School District high schools: Woodbury and East Ridge.

Recently, however, Park administrators learned that eight schools, including seven from the soon-to-disband Classic Suburban Conference, are planning to start a new conference in 2014-15. Park is considering joining them.

Students, parents and community members are invited to speak on the issue during a "community input night" on July 22. The meeting will be held in the Park High lecture hall beginning at 7 p.m., a district news release said.

The eight schools planning to be part of the conference are Hastings, Henry Sibley, Hill-Murray, Mahtomedi, North St. Paul, Simley, South St. Paul and Tartan.

Park is weighing the move due to changes in student demographics and a desire to both increase student participation and to create an "appropriate competitive balance for all activities," the district said.

People who cannot attend and wish to provide e-mail comments can do so by writing to info@sowashco.k12.mn.us by Aug. 1.

The hall is open to athletes who graduated at least 10 years ago and coaches who retired from their positions at least five years ago. Community contributors are "immediately eligible," according to the school.

Nominations are being accepted until Aug. 20. Forms are available electronically at the high school's website under "activities" or at the school's activities office.

Roderic "Eric" VanScoy, who served nine years as band director at Lake Middle School in Woodbury, is the school's new assistant principal.

He took on the role July 1 upon the retirement of John Schmidt.

In addition to being a band director, VanScoy, 35, has served in various leadership roles, most recently as the school's administrative intern in 2012-13. He has music-related degrees and has completed a K-12 principal licensure program through the University of Minnesota.