A divided South Washington County School Board on Thursday voted against extending Superintendent Mark Porter’s contract.

The sudden move came toward the close of a meeting Thursday when board members were expected to take up the approval of a contract renewal for Porter. In a statement Friday morning, Porter called the decision “unfortunate” and confusing.

Those who voted to end his tenure when his current term ends in June said little publicly about the move. One board member who supported Porter called it a bad decision that could hamper the recruitment of a high-caliber replacement.

Porter, who has led District 833 for the past two and a half years and has held a number of positions over more than two decades, said he was surprised by the vote. He wanted to serve another three years.

“That was certainly my intent,” Porter said in a brief interview after the meeting. He declined to discuss the move in detail, only saying he was surprised that the decision was made even though the board had not given him a formal performance evaluation.

“It is unfortunate, in light of the excellence taking place across the district in terms of student achievement, financial stability, enrollment growth, labor relations and future planning, that a change in leadership is perceived as necessary at this time,” Porter wrote in part to reporter. “While I have great respect for the school board and their authority, I am confused by the decision in light of several missing steps in the process, including proper notice and evaluation. I also find a strong disconnect between the recent elections to re-elect incumbents who ran on a ‘stay the course’ platform and this abrupt leadership change.”

 Leslee Boyd, the board’s chair, was among five members who voted against renewing Porter’s contract. She was joined by Ron Kath, Marsha Adou, David Kemper and Tracy Brunnette on a roll-call vote.

Boyd did not say why she voted against renewal, citing state data privacy laws.

“It would be inappropriate to elaborate on personnel matters,” Boyd said.

Kath read a prepared statement prior to the vote, thanking Porter for his service in the district but saying he wants a new leader.

“I feel the time is right to bring in a new voice to lead us,” Kath said.

That is going to be difficult, predicted board member Jim Gelbmann, who with Laurie Johnson voted against the non-renewal.

Gelbmann has publicly disagreed with Porter’s administrative recommendations more than any other board member. Still he defended the superintendent, saying the district is doing well and Porter deserves credit for that.

“It’s one of the worst decisions the board has ever made,” said Gelbmann, a 16-year veteran. He said the board’s action will be a concern for highly qualified superintendent candidates who may be interested in the position but want to know about the board’s dynamics.

Gelbmann said the board’s work moving forward will be to “find the best person possible – who will agree to take the job.”

Porter has been at the district’s helm during a series of major – and sometimes controversial – changes in the district. In the past few years the district redrew its attendance boundaries, opened East Ridge High School, changed its grade configuration, watched its Spanish immersion-language program grow, weathered a difficult budget climate and was beginning to plan for the expiration of property tax levy measures in the coming years.

The board’s action came after members voted Thursday for new contracts for a number of employee unions, including one representing District 833 teachers. A majority of board members also agreed to move forward with the estimated $4.5 million purchase of a vacant commercial building across the street from Liberty Ridge Elementary School in Woodbury to be used as overflow for the crowding grade school.

Porter’s first three-year contract is set to expire June 30 and were required to give him six months’ notice if they were not going to renew.

Porter has served in a number of positions within the school district and was assistant superintendent handling human resources and legal service prior to getting the top position, which paid him $159,900 when the contract began.

The vote Thursday followed more than a week of board activity. The three-member personnel committee met in recent weeks and then sent out a performance evaluation for each board member to complete, Gelbmann said. Those were discussed at a closed meeting prior to Thursday night’s regular public meeting. Personnel information about Porter was given to board members prior to the vote – as is allowed under state law – but even knowing that data did not change Gelbmann’s mind to support Porter, he said.

Asked about the board’s plans moving forward, Boyd said: “We will be discussing that.”

A Cottage Grove resident was arrested early Friday for alleged drunken driving and drug possession after he followed home a juvenile driver whom he claimed had cut him off and then caused a scene outside the home.

According to a Cottage Grove police report:

The father of a juvenile male called police at 12:04 a.m. Friday to report that a vehicle followed his son home and that the driver was parked outside the residence honking the horn and yelling at him. The suspect then fled.

Police located the suspect, a 48-year-old man, at his Irish Avenue home. The suspect said the juvenile driver had cut him off. An officer detected signs of alcohol impairment, and the suspect admitted he had been drinking. A test showed his blood-alcohol level at 0.125; the legal driving limit is 0.08. During a search police recovered a small amount of marijuana and a small pipe in his pants pockets.

The suspect was ticketed for fourth-degree drunken driving, disorderly conduct, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities were looking for a male suspect who allegedly assaulted a St. Paul Park woman after forcing his way into her home over the weekend.

According to St. Paul Park police: A 42-year-old woman was awoken by noise around 12:15 a.m. Saturday at the back of her residence in the 1400 block of Blossom Lane. When she went to investigate the noise, a male intruder wearing a mask forced his way into a door at the back of the home and physically assaulted her.

It was not immediately known what injuries the woman sustained, but they were not life-threatening, St. Paul Park Police Chief Mike Monahan said Monday. The suspect was not armed. The woman was home alone at the time.

After forcing his way inside, the suspect ransacked the home and stole several items. Police did not release information about the stolen items, citing the pending investigation.

The alleged victim said that when she believed the suspect had left, she fled her home and later sought medical care.

“At this time it appears to be an isolated incident,” Monahan said.

No arrests have been made. Police did not have a description of the suspect.

“He had a mask on so it’s going to be difficult,” Monahan said.

Monahan encouraged citizens to contact police if there is suspicious activity in or around their home and property.

Anyone with information about the reported burglary is asked to call St. Paul Park police at (651) 459-9785.

Police were called Sept. 2 after a dog was struck by a car in the 8400 block of 80th Street. The dog was unleashed. The owner took it to a veterinary hospital.

Police were called Sept. 7 to the 7700 block of Hinton Avenue after a Cottage Grove struck an apartment building while backing up in a vehicle. The vehicle had mechanical problems, according to the report.

Counterfeit money

Rainbow Foods, 7282 East Point Douglas Road, reported Sept. 4 that the store received a counterfeit $100 bill. The case is under investigation. Suspects were captured on video.

Shoplifting

A 20-year-old Hastings man was cited for shoplifting after allegedly trying to steal a bottle of men’s cologne from Kohls, 7990 Hardwood Ave.

A 21-year-old Red Wing woman was cited for theft after allegedly trying to steal a $20 bracelet from Kohls, 7990 Hardwood Ave.

A 17-year-old Cottage Grove boy was cited Sept. 9 for shoplifting at Kohls, 7990 Hardwood Ave.

A 13-year-old Cottage Grove boy was referred to the Youth Service Bureau for shoplifting after he was stopped Sept. 14 for theft at Rainbow Foods, 7282 East Point Douglas Road.

Thefts

The 80th Street Crossing Shopping Mall, 6990 80th St., reported Sept. 9 that painting equipment was stolen from a construction trailer parked at the property. Loss: $4,000.

Police were called to the Cottage Grove Cemetery, 10999 70th St., on Sept. 9 on a theft report. Sections of old iron fencing, totaling an estimated 600 feet, had been stolen from behind a storage building. The theft likely occurred within the past month. Police have a suspect. There was no estimated value reported.

Holiday gas station, 8101 Hadley Ave., reported a $50 gas drive-off Sept. 12. Police identified the owner of the suspect vehicle, but have not identified the driver during the incident.

Drug activity

Police were called Sept. 6 to the 9500 block of Islay Avenue on a report of drug activity in a vehicle. Police located and stopped the vehicle. Subsequently, a 21-year-old Woodbury man was ticketed for possession of drug paraphernalia and being in possession of a knife that violated the city of Cottage Grove’s weapons ordinance. The knife resembled a switchblade.

A 15-year-old Cottage Grove boy was cited Sept. 9 for possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia at Park High School. The teen was stopped after an assistant principal received information about the drug possession.

A 14-year-old Cottage Grove girl was referred to a peer court program for being in possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia on Sept. 9 at Park High School.

Pedestrian accident

A 64-year-old Cottage Grove man suffered minor injuries after a vehicle struck him in the right knee while he was walking at the intersection of Hillside Trail and Janero Avenue about 8 a.m. Sept. 9. The female driver stopped to make sure the man was OK. He did not require medical transport. The driver said the sun was in her eyes, causing the collision. No citations were issued.

[By: Scott Wente, South Washington County Bulletin]

Candidate Ages – 10-12

Candidate Ages – 13-16

Candidate Ages – 17-20

The Cottage Grove Strawberry Fest Ambassadors will make a difference in the community in which they live. They will promote and represent our Festival and the City of Cottage Grove.  They will assist with fundraisers and encourage the development and education of young women. Throughout the year, the CGSF Ambassadors will travel around the State of Minnesota and Wisconsin representing the CGSF and City of Cottage Grove. Time will be spent volunteering inside and outside of our community. They will have the opportunity to make lifelong friends, gain valuable social skills, gain community service hours, develop relationships with people of all ages, learn about other communities and speak about our local businesses that support us! Along with working within our community with dedicated people, they will strive to make the City of Cottage Grove a more friendly and more wonderful place to live.

 Key Dates:

Registration Deadline – Friday, May 13th

Informational Meeting Cottage Grove City Hall – May 17^th  6:00 PM

Candidate Get Together , – May 19^th  6:00 PM

Potluck Dinner VFW Thurs.-  June 2^nd 5:00 PM

Individual Interview Cottage Grove City Hall – June 4^th  1:00 PM

Strawberry Fest Kick Off Dinner Mississippi Dunes Golf Links – June, 13^th  6:00 PM

Strawberry Fest – Teen Dance Kingston Park/Pavilion – June 16^th  6:00 PM

Strawberry Fest Parade Parade Lineup – June 18^th,  10:00 AM

Coronation Rehearsal The Alley – 7955 Ivystone Ave – June 19^th  – 6:00 PM

Coronation The Alley – 7955 Ivystone Ave – June 20^th  – 7:00 PM

 To obtain an application, visit our website at www.cottagegrovestrawberryfest.com.

For additional questions, please contact the Strawberry Fest Committee at ambassadors@cottagegrovestrawberryfest.com or contact, Lori – 651-260-1881, Carrie – 651-271-0544 or Christy 651-274-8623.

            “They are going to have grass on the roofs and a windmill.” This statement is almost true. South Washington County school districts have put together a wish list to ensure the energy efficiency of our schools. This includes new windows, updating heating and electrical systems, a wind turbine at East Ridge, and more. This wish list racks up a bill of about $22.7 million dollars. None of these plans set in stone, as it is only a WISH LIST. So yes, this rumor is not a complete lie, there is a possibility of a wind turbine at East Ridge.

            “They are going to have laptops for every single student and a SMART board in all the classrooms” This is a half truth. Yes laptops will be available for students to use but not enough for everyone to check out. According to Gretchen Romain, former art teacher at Park and intern at East Ridge, “Our library will have a college feel.  Students can come in and checkout laptops and chill while they study and research. Our whole site is wireless, so many kids will bring in their laptops from home (since we will not have enough for the whole student body to checkout)” Also, there will be SMART boards in most of the classrooms, but not all.

            “The coaches aren’t teachers!” This is true. The coaches have been selecting from around Minnesota to have the best, but they will not be teaching the students they coach. The girl’s tennis coach is the #1 ranked wheelchair tennis player in the world and is a two-time Paralympian (2004 & 2008) and an eight-time United States Wheelchair World Cup team member. A list of the coaches can be found on the East Ridge High homepage. http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ERHS/

            “Their bathrooms have glistening, golden urinals!” Not a chance. As great as this new facility is, there will not be golden urinals with the funny water fountain. But they do have some pretty great automatic hand dryers that Romain said are, “strong and efficient,” but you can check that out for yourself.

            It seems there may be some truth in the rumors going around. Just don’t let it get the best of you Park. This is still the home of the Wolfpack.