'A Tragedy in Connecticut That Affects Us All'—Spring Lake Park Schools

Reaction to Newtown school shooting from Fridley area, MN

Minnesotans in the Fridley area and across the state voiced sadness and sympathy in response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT Friday. Here are a few of those statements. Add your comment below. Spring Lake Park Schools: "Our hearts go out to all those in the Newton, Connecticut school community affected by Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. We are all affected by news such as this, when tragedy visits a school in another state or anywhere. "So we wanted to take just a moment to remind you that providing a safe environment in each of our schools, and providing for the safety and security of our students and staff is always our number one priority. We care about these students as if they were our …

• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)
• Documents (1)

VIDEO: Westwood Middle Schoolers Get Their iPads

The Spring Lake Park School District, which includes part of the city of Fridley, is rolling out the levy-funded technology program in phases.

Spring Lake Park schools started the process of putting an iPad in the hands of each student in grades 3–12 Monday, with 500 students at Westwood Middle and Westwood Intermediate schools. It's the first phase in a multiphase rollout of the district's 1:1 Digital Learning Initiative, funded by a 2011 referendum that voters in the district (which includes part of the City of Fridley) approved in the November 2011 election.

• Videos (1)

She Looked Down at Car Radio, Up at Stopped Bus: Fridley Police Blotter

A car rear-ended a school bus on the first day of school for the second year in a row.

For the second year in a row, a car rear-ended a school bus in Fridley on the first day of school. According to the officer's account in the Fridley Police Department's incident log for Sept. 5, 2012: I responded to a property damage crash involving a school bus in the 1500 block of Osborne Road. No injuries were reported and a Commercial Vehicle Inspector was dispatched. One of the driver's was cited for inattentive driving (Depending on students' school and grade levels, Sept. 4 and 5, 2012 were the first days of school for many Fridley-area students.) Lt. Mike Monsrud offered more detail about the incident: The driver who crashed into the rear of the bus was cited for inattentive driving. She told police she looked at her radio to …

• Photos (1)

LINK: In Spring Lake Park, an iPad in Every Backpack

By next February, SLP 3rd–12th graders will carry tablets home.