Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Choir Director Aaron Kapaun was targeted for a move to the elementary schools earlier this spring.
Henry Sibley choir advocates were given a reason to croon Monday night when Aaron Kapaun was cleared to stay on as the full-time choir director at the high school for next year. The District 197 School Board approved a list of partial unrequested leave of absences provide by the Human Resources Department that included only half of the original faculty members initally facing a subsequent reduction in hours. "Partial unrequested leave of absence" is the term used when a faculty member must take a reduced position resulting in fewer hours than their contract dictates. In budget maneuvering earlier this spring, Kapaun was targeted for a reduction of hours and a move to Somerset Elementary School, a drastic change from the high school program…
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Henry Sibley High School
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/henry-sibley-choir-director-can-stay-at-high-school
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Friday, May 20, 2011
Superintendent said he wants to find a solution by the end of the school year.
The position of the Henry Sibley Choir director wasn’t on the agenda this week at the District 197 school board work session, but it was on the minds of many. In the latest round of staffing cuts for next year, which included laying off 19 full-time probationary teachers and cutting the hours of several tenured teachers, Aaron Kapaun’s hours were cut to .7 time, but arguably more important to his students, he was moved into the elementary schools to continue teaching music. Kapaun is widely credited with building the high school choirs into one of the largest programs at the school. Students and parents have spoken at meetings and information sessions to convey that his rapport with students cannot be replaced. School board member Pat …
44.889057
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Henry Sibley High School
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/henry-sibley-choir-directors-position-still-in-forefront-of-district-discussion
1585402
/locations/4387026
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Blogging, Dist. 197 decisions, and sneakers were in the news last week.
Here's what you may have missed last week on Mendota Heights Patch: Patch rolled out our new blogging platform this week, with posts about rafting at the Grand Canyon, the learning curve of a first-term school board member, and the recently released redistricting plan. If you want to blog on Mendota Heights Patch, drop local editor Danielle Cabot a note at danielle.cabot@patch.com. Photos posted Sunday captured the evening of Visitation School's Prom. In Monday's first "Minute with the Mayor" segment, Mendota Heights Mayor Sandra Krebsach reminded residents of the importance of a severe weather plan. District 197's school board made preliminary staffing cuts to probationary teachers and approved unrequested leave amounts for tenured …
Friday, May 6, 2011
Speakers from a packed room of supporters said Monday they want to see the Sibley choir director stay at the high school.
Henry Sibley choir students, District 197 parents, and adults from the Gar Lockrem Community Choir spoke up Monday before the school board meeting at Mendota Heights City Hall in support of keeping Choir Director Aaron Kapaun at the high school next year. Among those positions being affected by staff cuts throughout the district, Kapaun has been identified for a reduction in hours and a move to the elementary schools. Another music teacher in the district is planned to take his place. The board ultimately approved all proposed preliminary staffing reductions and changes. The district is constrained in many ways by contract requirements for senior teachers and limits on reductions to support staff. The district’s human resources director …
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Henry Sibley High School
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/students-parents-implored-dist-197-school-board-to-keep-sibley-choir-director
1585402
/locations/4243918
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
No exception made for impact on Sibley's choir director, despite public show of support.
The District 197 School Board approved the non-renewal of 30 probationary teacher contracts and a preliminary list of unrequested leave of absences for tenured teachers at their meeting Monday night. Of the probationary contracts not renewed (teachers with fewer than one or three years in the district depending on contract) 19 are full-time employees. Six teachers were identified for partial unrequested leaves of absences totaling 1.55 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. Human Resources Director MaryAnn Thomas said that the action gives probationary staff an opportunity to apply for open positions within the district, and tenured staff time to appeal before both lists must be finalized by June 30. Between now and final approval, changes …
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Mendota Heights City Hall
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/preliminary-staffing-reductions-approved-by-district-197-school-board
1585410
/locations/4982006
44.889057
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Independent School District #197
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/preliminary-staffing-reductions-approved-by-district-197-school-board
1585576
/locations/4982007
Monday, May 2, 2011
Official staff cuts are scheduled to be released Monday night at District 197 school board meeting, but a petition circulating is already rallying against a staff move.
A petition is circulating to protest a budget-cutting measure that would reduce the position of Henry Sibley's choir director and send him to the elementary school level to teach. Aaron Kapaun teaches all five high school choirs, in addition to small groups before and after school. He is in his ninth year with the district. Official staff reductions are to be released to the public tonight, May 2 at the District 197 School Board meeting at Mendota Heights City Hall. The district is cutting $1.9 million for next school year, which will raise class sizes and affect a number of staff and faculty positions. Cuts are also expected to be made to the district’s band and orchestra positions, along with core curriculum impacts. Kapaun made the …
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Henry Sibley High School
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/petition-keep-henry-sibley-choir-director-at-sibley
1585402
/locations/4201676
44.884678
-93.147635
Mendota Heights City Hall
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/petition-keep-henry-sibley-choir-director-at-sibley
1585410
/locations/4201677
Monday, April 25, 2011
The mixed choir will perform their spring concert April 29, 30 and May 1.
The Gar Lockrem Community Choir is preparing for their spring concert, "Hymns and Anthems." Admission is free; donations are welcome. Shows are scheduled for: Friday, April 29, 7:30 p.m. Christ the King Lutheran Church 8600 Fremont Ave. S., Bloomington Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m. St. Marks’s Lutheran Church, 2499 Helen Street North Saint Paul Sunday, May 1, 5 p.m. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7600 Cahill Avenue, Inver Grove Heights
44.847961
-93.29609
8600 Fremont Ave S, Bloomington, MN
/articles/video-gar-lockrem-community-choir-presents-hymns-and-anthems
/locations/4130399
45.01654
-92.994859
2499 Helen St N, Saint Paul, MN
/articles/video-gar-lockrem-community-choir-presents-hymns-and-anthems
/locations/4130400
44.839465
-93.041357
7600 Cahill Ave, Inver Grove Heights, MN
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/locations/4130401
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Community choir founded by Henry Sibley High School alumna celebrates fourth holiday season.
Tuesday night practices of the Gar Lockrem Community Choir begin with a bustle of music folders, name tags and greetings in Henry Sibley High School's choir room. The energy quickly focuses however, once the clock strikes 7 p.m., and the singers settle down to perfect their lineup of both secular and sacred music. The mixed choir is preparing for their fourth holiday season with concerts Dec. 11 in Bloomington and Dec. 12 in Maplewood. The audience can expect to hear favorites from the choir's growing repertoire, in addition to new pieces. Liz Westlund, Sibley Class of '70, speaks with pride about the choir she founded in 2006. Westlund named the choir for former Henry Sibley Choir Director Garland Lockrem, who taught music and art in …
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Henry Sibley High School
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/gar-lockrems-tradition-lives-on
1585402
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Orit Rouache
10:26 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011
My lesson from this is that even though all my children have graduated, the district still needs my help. When the next referendum comes around I will spend my time explaining to my neighbors the importance of a strong school district, strong schools, and most importantly well educated youth in our community. Never assume people will do the right thing, do everything you can to enable it. I am … more ›