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Prior Lake News Compass

Prior Lake News Compass

Informed. Engaged. Connected.

Prior Lake News Compass

Schools

Koehlmoos nominated, accepted into national band directors association

August 27, 2025

Keith Koehlmoos, Band Director at Prior Lake High School for 26 years, has been accepted into the prestigious American School Band Directors Association. Membership in the organization is by peer nomination and reserved for directors who demonstrate...

Youngsters attending the Back-to-School Celebration held Aug. 18 enjoyed many tasty treat options.

It’s time to get back on the bus

August 27, 2025

The summer months have flown by and most children in the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District will return to the classroom sometime next week. For the second year in a row, staff, students and parents were invited to the Back-to-School Celebration...

PLHS German students visited Linderhof, one of the palaces built by King Ludwig in southern Germany in the late 1800s.

European adventures

Renee Winick
August 20, 2025

Prior Lake High School German teachers Mary Dooley and Lisa Becker shared photos and highlights from the German Club’s recent 12-day trip to Germany, Switzerland, France and surrounding regions. The presentation occurred during the “Laker Pride”...

Two file for PLSAS board seat; some polling places temporarily changed

Two file for PLSAS board seat; some polling places temporarily changed

August 13, 2025

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board will have a new member come January who will serve for one year. Two newcomers filed as candidates for the special election that will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Affidavits of candidacy were filed by the 5 p.m....

Laker Educational Foundation to celebrate 20 years of supporting schools

August 13, 2025

The Laker Educational Foundation will celebrate 20 years of supporting staff and students within the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District on Thursday, Aug. 21. The event is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center,...

The PLSAS District Services Center is located on Tower Street.

Filings for seat on PLSAS board close on Aug. 12

August 11, 2025

Filings will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for those who wish to fill the Prior Lake-Savage School Board seat in 2026. A special election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4. One person will be elected to fill the vacancy in the term expiring Jan....

Future Lakers got to meet members of the PLHS football team during last year's back to school celebration. (Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools)

PLSAS to host ‘Back to School Celebration’ on Aug. 18

August 6, 2025

The 2nd annual "Back to School Celebration" is being planned by Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools for Monday, Aug. 18, 5 to 7 p.m., in the lower level parking lot of Prior Lake High School. Sponsored by the Prior Lake-Savage Optimist Club, the free community...

Cothern hired as PLSAS Executive Director of Admin Services

July 30, 2025

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Superintendent Michael Thomas announced on July 29 the hiring of Rob Cothern as the district’s next Executive Director of Administrative Services, pending school board approval. Cothern will officially begin his new...

The PLSAS District Services Center is located on Tower Street.

Major school changes approved for 2026-27 year

Renee Winick
July 23, 2025

Several decisions made at the July 14 meeting by members of the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board will impact the district in the coming year, with major changes approved for the 2026-27 school year. After discussing budget-cutting options for more...

WestWood Elementary School

Restructuring plan approved

Staff report
July 21, 2025

The following information was sent out to parents and school personnel last week following board approval by the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools to restructure school facilities beginning in the 2026–27 school year. This decision is part of a broader...

Brooklynne Thorson has a positive outlook  following a recent diagnosis of brain cancer.

‘No one fights harder than Brooklynne’

Maggie Stanwood
July 9, 2025

Gymnastics was Brooklynne Thorson’s life. So much so, that in 2018, when she began having vision problems where the vault table looked farther left than it was, or the beam seemed as small as a spaghetti noodle, Brooklynne was more worried about being...

Jake Domer and Henry Michaelson pulled in a first place win in the qualifer tournament held on Prior Lake June 11.

PLHS fishing teams claim top two places in state championship qualifier

July 2, 2025

Prior Lake High School's fishing teams earned the top two places in the first state qualification round of the Southwest Metro division of the Minnesota Junior B.A.S.S. Nation Conference. First place was awarded to the team of Henry Michaelson...

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