By Meryn Fluker, Staff Writer

A Montessori by any other name could be just as sweet, according to Karen Fisher.

“There are a lot of schools that use [the Montessori method] but don’t call themselves ‘Montessori,’” she said. “There are differences in Montessori. There are differences in training.”

By Meryn Fluker, Staff Writer

After a long process of trimming $3.7 million from the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District’s budget, students, staff and parents will begin to see the effects of those cuts when the new school year begins next week.

School starts Tuesday, Sept. 7 for students in grades one through 12 and Wednesday, Sept. 8 for kindergarten students. When the bell rings, there will be changes – most of which Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver is excited about.

The first Laker football home game is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10 at Dan Patch Stadium, Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St., Savage.
Some of the activities and events include:

Youth night: Punt, pass and kick events for all PLAY players, 5:30 p.m.
PLAY football player recognition during half time.

Wear your Prior Lake football jersey and get into the game for free
Food vendors – starting at 5:45 p.m.

For more information, call the high school at (952) 226-8600.

U.S. Congressman John Kline, State Sen. Claire Robling, and State Reps. Mike Beard and Mark Buesgens will meet with Prior Lake-Savage Area School District administrators at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 13. The meeting will take place at the District Services Center, 4540 Tower St., Prior Lake.

Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver will represent the district at the meeting, alongside School Board Clerk and Treasurer Eric Pratt, Jeffers Pond Elementary School Principal Cindy Solberg, Hidden Oaks Middle School Principal Sasha Kuznetsov and Prior Lake High School Principal David Lund.

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School District schools have various back-to-school events tonight.

All six elementary schools will have open houses today. Open houses begin at 3:30 p.m. for Five Hawks Elementary School, Glendale Elementary School, Jeffers Pond Elementary School, Redtail Ridge Elementary School and WestWood Elementary School. Grainwood Elementary School's open house will begin at 4 p.m. Open house is an opportunity for students and parents to look around the school, visit classrooms and meet teachers. Glendale will also have a grade 3 curriculum night beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Construction is set to begin the week after Labor Day on a picnic shelter near Jeffers Pond Elementary School.

The project was mentioned as part of a report on the Jeffers Waterfront development during Monday’s joint meeting be-tween the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board and the Prior Lake City Council. The shelter will be located within 500 feet of the school and, while no completion date has been set, Public Works Director Steve Albrecht said the shelter should be complete by early October.

- Meryn Fluker

Families are invited to “Down on the Farm,” a Family Center event at Edgewood School, 5304 Westwood Dr., Prior Lake, set for 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 11.

Walton's Hollow will be on sight with 40 to 50 animals for the whole family to interact with and enjoy. In addition, the Family Center classrooms will be set up with a variety of farm-related activities designed for fun and learning. No pre-registration is necessary.

By Meryn Fluker, Staff Writer

One of the most commonly used words in regards to the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District’s budget has been “cut.” Earlier this year, the district cut staff positions in order to trim $3.7 million from its budget.

Dave Tuma found out last spring that he was among those staff members.

“I wasn’t happy, but I understood,” he said. “It’s the world we live in. There’s not enough money to go around.”