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Prior Lake News Compass

Prior Lake News Compass

Informed. Engaged. Connected.

Prior Lake News Compass

WestWood Elementary School. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

School district ironing out details of proposed school closure

Renee Winick
June 10, 2025

During the PLSAS school board June 9th study session, Superintendent Michael Thomas and other district administrators presented more details and answered questions regarding the proposed closure of WestWood Elementary and consolidation of district facilities. In...

Dan Edwards

PLSAS administrator leaving for superintendent role

Robb Jeffries
May 20, 2025

A top administrator for Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools will be leaving the district for a superintendent position. Dan Edwards, the executive director of academic services for PLSAS, will become the superintendent of the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted...

WestWood Elementary School. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

PLSAS proposing to close WestWood Elementary in 2026-27

Robb Jeffries
May 12, 2025

In a letter to staff and families in the district, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools superintendent Michael Thomas laid out a series of building closures designed to balance the district's budget amid rising costs and a failed levy vote. WestWood Elementary,...

Prior Lake's Dallas Handevidt and Lukas Aidas rally in an early season doubles match this spring. Courtesy photo / PL Boys Tennis

District gets USTA grant to upgrade tennis courts

Robb Jeffries
May 7, 2025

The United States Tennis Association announced Monday, May 5, that the governing body and its affiliates have awarded Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools a grant of nearly $50,000. The funds, totaling $48,075, will be used to resurface the eight tennis...

Early budget says school district back on balance

Early budget says school district back on balance

Renee Winick
May 6, 2025

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article stated the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District is facing a budget deficit for 2025-26; however, that did not take into account all revenue sources. The budget is projected to be balanced for that school...

DEI front and center at school board meeting

DEI front and center at school board meeting

Renee Winick
April 17, 2025

The subject of diversity, equity and inclusion took center stage at the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools board meeting on Monday, April 14, with the district finding itself caught in a difficult position on the issue. During his superintendent’s report,...

PLSAS puts cost-saving measures into action

PLSAS puts cost-saving measures into action

Renee Winick
March 26, 2025

The school board of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools continues to explore cost-cutting opportunities as the district’s budget continues to take shape. One key indicator of the district’s budget is kindergarten enrollment. At the March 24 school board...

PLSAS searching for early clues on budget forecast

PLSAS searching for early clues on budget forecast

Renee Winick
March 12, 2025

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools leaders are monitoring some key figures that help forecast the district's future budget. During the March 10 PLSAS school board meeting, Executive Director of Business Services Tammy Fredrickson discussed the next year’s...

Sides quiet after deadline for threatened lawsuit against PLSAS passes

Sides quiet after deadline for threatened lawsuit against PLSAS passes

Robb Jeffries
March 5, 2025

The deadline for a resolution to a threatened lawsuit by a Jeffers Pond teacher has passed, but it is unclear if a resolution has been reached. Attorneys for Brooke Zahn, a fourth-grade teacher at the elementary school, imposed a deadline of Feb. 28...

Laker Hall of Fame nominations now open

Laker Hall of Fame nominations now open

Staff report
March 5, 2025

The Laker Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the Class of 2025. The hall committee is accepting nominations for distinguished graduates and staff representing the areas of activities, athletics or as a distinguished individual with significant...

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools superintendent Michael Thomas explains the next steps for the district's budget process at a town hall meeting at Prior Lake High School on Jan. 29, 2025. Robb Jeffries / PL News Compass

School board reaches consensus on $4.1 million in budget cuts

Robb Jeffries
February 28, 2025

When a bond measure in 2024 to raise funds for the district failed, leaders within the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district set forth on the difficult task of finding budget cuts to keep the district on track. After months of deliberation and with...

PLSAS board building new handbook

Renee Winick
February 26, 2025

The Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools board will look to further refine its policies and create a legacy document for future use. In previous meetings, the board discussed creating a handbook for members to use as a reference when questions arose about...