by Jeff Achen
Thisweek Newspapers

In 2006, a few of the major headlines in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District included a Quality Compensation for Teachers application, construction projects completed and success in the classroom.

Q-Comp

In 2006, a committee made up of Dakota County United Educators union members and District 196 administrators was busy hashing out details of a Quality Compensation for Teachers (Q-Comp) program tailored to the district.

Q-Comp was introduced by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and enacted by the Minnesota Legislature in July 2005. The program focuses on providing more time for teachers to observe other teachers and changes teacher evaluations to address what teachers need to improve on.

If approved, the state will provide $190 per student with the expectation that the district will levy $70 per student for a total of $260 per student in funding for teacher salaries and professional development. District 196 hopes to implement Q-Comp in the fall of 2007.

New addition

When students started classes Sept. 5, some schools in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District looked a little different.

Construction crews didn't take a summer vacation during the past three months, as work progressed at a rapid pace.

The largest project ($7.5 million) in the district this summer was an addition at Rosemount High School.

Rosemount gained 15 new classrooms to replace portable classrooms and accommodate growth. Students will also notice a commons/cafeteria expansion and an upgraded auto shop.

New science labs and classrooms will update learning environments for students and allow them to complete science projects in a much more efficient space.

Voter approval of a $68 million bond referendum in 2004 made possible the Rosemount High School building project and work at nine other school sites this summer. Other projects that were part of the bond referendum were completed in 2005.

The projects in phase one last summer and 2006's phase two centered around the need to have updated science classrooms at the secondary level, more flexible media centers and accommodate increasing enrollment at some locations.

This summer, the district's Area Learning Center alternative high school program and Transition Plus and Pathway special education programs moved from the Apple Valley Commons office building to a new building.

Marching band

The Rosemount High School marching band earned first place in the final and preliminary competition at the second annual Youth In Music Marching Band Championships at the Metrodome on Saturday, Oct. 28 in downtown Minneapolis.

The band was judged to earn awards for the Minnesota State Champion Marching Band, Outstanding Winds and Outstanding Color Guard.

In the Class AAA final, Rosemount tallied 94.9 points to outscore second-place Irondale by two points.

In the preliminary round, Rosemount led all bands with a 93.6 score.

Competing against 51 of the finest marching bands in the country, Rosemount placed seventh at the Bands of America contest Oct. 21 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo.

It was another feather in the band's cap during an eventful fall season that earned them first place in Champlin Park, Eastview, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Eden Prairie.

Rosemount was one of 14 bands to advance from the preliminary round against bands from 17 different states to vie for one of the top spots. Rosemount had 78.5 points while the top team had 89.8.

Cheerleading

The Rosemount High School competition cheer team advanced to the semifinals at the National Competition held in Orlando on Feb. 11.

This was the first time a Rosemount squad had advanced to the semifinal round. The team was the only Minnesota team to advance to the semifinals in its division. The girls missed advancing to the final round by only a few points but still placed 14th in the nation. There were 58 teams at the national competition.

The team punched its ticket for another trip to Orlando, Fla., for the National Competition after placing first at the Regional Competition at Minnetonka High School on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Jeff Achen is at av.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.