Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
711685
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 VOL. 125 NO. 47 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
SHORT-STAFFED: Sports feeling impact of fewer officials PAGE 8
Back To School
MARY KAY SOBCINSKI | SUBMITTED
Residents near Priebe Lake say the once-beautiful lake is now polluted and unusable.
Filling the Learning Gap
Tiny lake finally getting some attention
It’s that time of year when students are heading back to school. Press Publications asked four school districts, including White Bear Lake Area Schools and the Mahtomedi School District, about challenges in learning gaps among students in their district and how schools plan to respond to these challenges during the 2021-22 school year.
Q. With the challenges of teaching last year during a pandemic, some are reporting learning gaps of 30% or more in math and possibly other subjects. Do you anticipate learning gaps among students? If so, how will your schools know which students need additional instruction and which students do not? A. Throughout the 2020-21 school year, our building and district leaders engaged in conversations and training around our multi-tiered systems of support. While we have always examined gaps in learning among students, the pandemic has given us an opportunity to accelerate changes in our system to ensure that we are prepared to support our students as we enter the upcoming school year. Each school leadership team conducted a needs assessment. This needs assessment data was utilized as we examined resources
and support structures entering this school year. Educators plan for students learning at different rates every year. We do anticipate that we’ll see larger learning differences. Our initial data assessments, use of data throughout the year, and continued support of educators collaborating together to discuss strategies for our students are of even greater importance as we enter 2021-22. We have a robust academic screening process for students in grades K-8 that was in place prior to the pandemic. All students are screened in reading and math skills three times per year. We use this data, along with information from teachers, to inform instruction both at the classroom level and for students who might need additional support. We continue to gain a deeper understanding of our students and will provide targeted support so all students find suc-
cess. We will continue our K-12 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to ensure core instruction is rigorous for all students. This enables alignment of supports at each grade level and at each high school campus. Teachers will continue to monitor students for progress, provide support, and extend learning. Q. Is your school district making any curriculum changes as a result? A. We will continue with our curriculum review process as planned prior to the pandemic. Our priority will be on literacy. We will review and align our assessments to ease communication with families on student learning. Also, we will continue to provide teachers with professional learning on the science of reading. We will continue to implement the 2018 Minnesota K -12 Standards in the Arts and Physical Education. Teachers are
BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER
Wayne Kazmierczak, Superintendent
working with content experts and leadership to implement the new standards and co-create innovative student experiences. Q. What advice do you have for students or parents to fill in any gaps and make the most of the new school year? A. In the school district, we have a strong focus on literacy. We will continue to partner with families to build reading and writing
STOP & SAVE
See store for details
THE BEST SERVICE • SELECTION • VALUE
To Protect our Customers and Staff we are following all safety procedures.
OIL, FILTER, LUBE, 4 TIRE ROTATION
1899
$
& MORE
Temporary Hours: 7:30am - 5pm M-F • 7:30am - 2pm Sat • GPMINNESOTAWHOLESALE.COM
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
SEE PRIEBE LAKE, PAGE 13
SEE BACK TO SCHOOL, PAGES 12-13
TIRE SALE GOING ON NOW !!
BEST OF THE PRESS
3955 Hi Highway i h 61, 61 White Whi Whit B Bear L Lake, k MN (651) 426-4518
WHITE BEAR LAKE — Long ignored, Priebe Lake is due for some much needed repair. A good start is a Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) project to replace an outlet structure. It's part of the district's 2020 management plan. "We've been working with city staff for a couple years to lay the groundwork for a replacement of the outlet," RCWD Project Manager Kyle Axtell told City Council members Aug. 24. Located in the southeast corner of the city, south of Cedar Avenue and north of County Road E, little Priebe Lake was created from a natural wetland when a farm carved out land for a singlefamily subdivision in the ’60s. The outlet system, or outfall as it was called then, was constructed in 1979-80 in response to a 1976 petition by both White Bear Lake and Birchwood Village asking RCWD to fix a problem with repeated flooding of homes in the vicinity of Riviera Drive N. and East County Line Road. Pipe buried 40 feet deep carries stormwater from the surrounding neighborhood into the lake, which is on the state's impaired waters list. The stormwater system crosses from Priebe through Mahtomedi on its way to Hall's Marsh in Birchwood. In 1980, the project was amended to include an outlet that controls flow from the marsh into White Bear Lake. "Since its construction, the system has been largely ignored, aside from a few major outlet
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
See store for details + 2.00 shop supplies/2.00 waste oil filter disposal. Oil filter: up to 5 qts. of SW30. Rotate 4 tires. Check air pressure. 20 pt. Safety Inspection. Must Have Coupon. Exp.9/30/21.
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
Offer Excludes
3999 $ 99 65 $
Full Syn Ams Oil
Set of 4 Shocks and/ or struts installed
$5000
OFF
ASE Certified Mechanics
• Alignment • Select Batteries Napa & Interstate
$1000
OFF UP TO
• Brakes $6000 See store for details
OFF
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 artmanager@presspubs.com
Expires 9/30/21.
712605
White Bear Lake Area Schools