THISWEEK April 1, 2011
District 196/from 1A “The formula is broken, and everyone agrees it doesn’t work,� he said. A 2005 legislative auditor’s report blasted the program for lacking focus and having little oversight. Specifically, the report stated that the purpose of Adelmann/from 1A over the five decades she grew and sold it. “She had customers all over the state and all over the country,� Mike said. “There were a couple of pilots that lived in Alaska that would stop by for sweet corn every time they were in town.� The secret, Bruce said, was in the seeds. “We spend the money for the seed. Most places don’t so they can sell it for more of a profit,� he said. Adelmann was also known for her gourds, on which she would paint faces each fall. “She sold thousands of them,� Mike said. Even after her children
the program is “unclear� and that districts “vary widely� in how they use the revenue. It also claims that school districts do not have adequate methods for assessing the program’s effectiveness. Garofalo co-authored an education finance bill, which recently passed in the
House, that repeals integration funding. Instead, the funding would be called education innovation funding and focus on improving achievement among all students regardless of race or ethnicity. “The focus should not be on who is sitting next to Johnny,� he said. “It should
had grown and her husband was moved to a nursing home, and in spite of weekly dialysis treatments, Adelmann continued to earn her living through her market. Her one-acre corner gained a fair bit of media attention in 2003 when it was targeted for a future MVTA bus garage. Her property was adjacent to several acres that the Met Council purchased from the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the project. When Adelmann refused an offer on her property, the Met Council began eminent domain proceedings on behalf of the MVTA. But mounting public and legislative criticism caused
the Met Council to back off from Adelmann’s land, and the MVTA instead built a smaller bus garage right behind her house. Now the MVTA will expand the existing garage to hold an additional 40 buses, bringing the total number of buses stored on the property to 100. Work on the project is expected to begin this summer and be completed next year, Spear said. Bruce said that while he’ll miss his mother’s market, he’s considering opening his own market in the Farmington area. “It was fun doing it,� he said. “And we were taught by the best.�
fied faith in action without seeking recognition, said the Rev. Michael Tix, St. John’s head pastor, who got to know Ed Giles before he died in 1995 at age 65. “Ed was a larger-thanlife figure here who got stuff done,� Tix said. “That’s a family trait that continues — there’s nothing that can’t be done. It might require some creativity and ingenuity, but with a little faith, we can do this. And they’ve helped those things over the years to be able to happen here.� The Giles family is also part of Burnsville history. Ed and Loretta grew up on Burnsville farms. Ed’s father, Henry, was an early township policeman and maintained Burnsville roads for 20 years. Ed was Burnsville’s first full-time employee, working for a time as constable and
districts meet the cultural needs of its diverse population. “This makes a significant difference for teachers in understanding cultural differences,� he said. “We cannot dismiss the importance of racial integration.� Thomas said he believes the Legislature should look
at ways to improve the existing program rather than changing it completely. “This is not something that is going to happen over one or two years,� he said. “There is still work to be done.� E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
Photo by Erin Johnson
Erin Johnson is at eagan. In 2003 Adelmann successfully fought the taking of her property – which included her fivethisweek@ecm-inc.com. bedroom home – for a bus garage, which was ultimately built around her property.
then as public works superintendent for many years before he retired, Williamson said. Ed and Loretta farmed part of the land that is now Burnsville Center and, later, farmed land across Burnsville Parkway from the former Jet Plaza (now Valley Ridge Shopping Center). Ed stopped farming in 1964, and 40 years ago the family moved to a home on Williams Drive where son Chris now lives with his family. Ed served on the St. John’s School Board and was involved with school additions over the years. He served on the committee for a new church building that opened in 1984. Loretta, now 80 and living with her daughters’ families, organized many funeral luncheons, delivered Meals on Wheels and was active
Giles/from 1A
be on whether Johnny is improving.� Thomas disagrees that race and ethnicity should not be part of the program’s focus. Thomas argues that cultural liaisons and culturally responsive teaching certificates, which are paid with integration funds, help
11A
with the Home School Association, the Altar and Rosary Society, the St. Girard’s Guild and Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Assuming cemetery duties from his father in 1966, Ed continued as caretaker for 12 years. “That was one of Dad’s major passions, the cemetery,� Williamson said. “And Memorial Day, that was like the major holiday, the highlight.� Chris and Dan now do most of the work, including digging graves, mowing, trimming and removing snow, she said. In a Giles family tradition, they dug by hand the graves for close family members — Ed, Ed’s oldest son and their brother, Dwayne, and Williamson’s husband.
Members of the Giles family received the Spirit of St. John’s Award on March 12. Submitted photo
John Gessner is at burnsville. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
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