area education

A group of St. Cloud area middle and high school students have been hard at work recently developing their own Android mobile apps. Students spent five days last week developing, testing and downloading their apps on mobile devices. Instructer Frank Ayers says this is the first time that he's taught a summer camp like this

The District 742 Local Education and Activities Foundation (LEAF) is kicking off its "Adopt a Classroom Project" for this year. Supporters can "adopt" a classroom in the district by making a tax deductable $250 donation for needed classroom supplies.

The Albany school district is bringing a $33 million bond referendum to voters on Tuesday. If passed, the money will be used to update school security, add more parking, add more gyms, expand classroom space, build a new 800-seat auditorium and create more community space.

St. Cloud Technical and Community College president Joyce Helens has signed a new three year contract with the school. Helens is now in her 10th year with the college. She says they've added several new programs over the last decade.

The St. Cloud Technical and Community College is seeking $625,000 in state funds to expand and update three classrooms. The college will ask for legislative funding in January and would hope to receive the money next summer. The three classrooms used to be dental labs before the health and finances building was updated.

Over the past two weeks, elementary students have been learning how to create their own inventions at Talahi Community School. The students have been taking part in a program called Camp Invention. The program focuses on STEM (Science, technology, engineering and math) and encourages kids to imagine and create their own inventions.

The St. Cloud area school district has picked Debbie Erickson to fill an empty seat on the school board. Erickson is co-chair of the District 742 bond referendum committee and was a member of the high school task force. She is also a board member of the local education and activities foundation (LEAF).

The St. Cloud area school district is planning to sell the Tech High School building and put in a new building on Clark Field. The school board will review and is expected to pass the plans during their meeting on Thursday night. The district is planning to sell the Tech High School and media services buildings.

Four schools in the St. Cloud area school district were honored by the Minnesota Department of Education on Wednesday. Oak Hill Community School, Apollo High School, Talahi Community School and Westwood Elementary School were among 36 schools recognized for their work using the positive behavioral intervention and supports (PBIS) program.

The Apollo High School athletic field and track will see some much needed improvements this summer. District 742 buildings and ground supervisor Bryan Brown says the rubber track is falling apart and desperately needed to be fixed. The plan is to eventually put turf in on the football field-all of the summer modifications will work towards that goal.