Author: Jim Bayer

The reduction in residential tax is largely due to a property valuation increase of $462 million for all properties in the district – residential, commercial, industrial – spreading tax payments over a broader base, according to Jason Mutzenberger, executive director of business services of the Eden Prairie School District.

Eden Prairie Schools Eden Prairie Schools reports updated 14-day COVID-19 cases among students and staff every Friday. EPLN will report that information each week. 12/4 – 12/18 Staff – 9 cases Students – 18 cases (Note: Eden Prairie Schools has 1,825 staff members and 8,768 students. Total staff is all district employees, including coaches, advisors, and reserve staff.) City of Eden Prairie/Hennepin County and Surrounding Cities Hennepin County and the City of Eden Prairie report 14-day COVID positive rates per 10,000 residents. EPLN will report information for Eden Prairie, Hennepin County and a few cities contiguous to Eden Prairie each…

Distance learning continues Jan. 4 for Eden Prairie students in grades 3-12. However, the district’s youngest students will be back to school in person Jan. 6 and grades 3-6 will follow within a month, according to a post on the district website Dec. 19. Kindergarten and 1st grade students will return to in-person learning Jan. 6 following two days of teacher planning after winter break. Second grade students return to the hybrid model on Jan. 6. Grades 2-5 will return to in-person learning on Jan. 20 and grade 6 on Feb. 3. Grades 3-6 will not have school Jan. 15…

Eden Prairie School Board Member Veronica Stoltz has apologized for conduct following the Aug. 24, 2020 board meeting . On Nov. 9, the school board determined Stoltz’s Aug. 24 conduct violated several Code of Conduct policies. Starting in late November, posts on social media have expressed confusion about what led the school board to take actions on Stoltz’s Aug. 24 conduct, as noted in a previous EPLN article. Discussion prior to Dec. 14 apology statement Before reading her statement at the board’s Dec. 14 meeting, Stoltz asked the board for clarification as to her ability to speak publicly about the…

Eden Prairie Schools Eden Prairie Schools reports updated 14-day COVID-19 cases among students and staff every Friday. EPLN will report that information each week. 11/27 – 12/11 Staff – 13 cases Students – 13 cases (Note: Eden Prairie Schools has 1,825 staff members and 8,768 students. Total staff is all district employees, including coaches, advisors, and reserve staff.) City of Eden Prairie/Hennepin County and Surrounding Cities Hennepin County and the City of Eden Prairie report 14-day COVID positive rates per 10,000 residents. EPLN will report information for Eden Prairie, Hennepin County and a few cities contiguous to Eden Prairie each…

Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) and Central Middle School (CMS) will start from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes later next year if the school board approves the recommendations of a district task force in January. The school board is accepting comments on the EP school start time plan through Jan. 15 on its website. Research that the task force used in making its recommendation also is available on that site. If recommendations are approved, CMS would start at 9:25 a.m. and end at 4:07 p.m. EPHS would begin at 8:35 a.m. and end at 3:20 p.m. under…

When my wife and I first started our walks on the beautiful trails of Eden Prairie back in March, the trees were barren and winter wind cold. Snow seemed to disappear as quickly as bad news appeared. A mysterious disease making people sick. Schools closing. Family members that we could no longer hug, or even visit. Walking was our escape, our moment of quiet, and our moment of sanity. We changed up our routes in order to explore the many trails Eden Prairie has to offer. But one became my favorite – a chunk of blacktop, four feet wide, little…

Eden Prairie Schools Eden Prairie Schools reports updated 14-day COVID-19 cases among students and staff every Friday. EPLN will report that information each week. 11/20 – 12/4 Staff – 4 cases Students – 16 cases (Note: Eden Prairie Schools has 1,825 staff members and 8,768 students. Total staff is all district employees, including coaches, advisors, and reserve staff.) City of Eden Prairie/Hennepin County and Surrounding Cities Hennepin County and the City of Eden Prairie report 14-day COVID positive rates per 10,000 residents. EPLN will report information for Eden Prairie, Hennepin County and a few cities contiguous to Eden Prairie each…

The Eden Prairie School Board has concluded that member Veronica Stoltz engaged in actions which were “not ethical, or business-like, and did not display appropriate decorum.” The actions occurred at an August 24 school board meeting that, according to school board documents published by the district on Nov. 23, exposed the school board to “significant risk” of committing a legal violation. The matter will be taken up further at the December 14 school board meeting. November 9, Working Meeting Actions As a result of Stoltz’s actions at the Aug. 24 meeting, the school board voted on Nov. 9 to take…

Eden Prairie Schools will offer free meals beginning Dec. 4 to families with children up to age 18 who live in the district – even if they don’t attend school in the district. No income qualification is necessary and the program is open to all children. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program was initially scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2020. The program was recently extended until the end of this school year, according to the district’s website. Families may request meals through the district’s website. Parents or guardians can pick up bagged food from 10:30 a.m. to 1…