Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Census Figures Say Eagan is Boom Town - .7, tititit>.Ilil ,
Census figures say
Eagan is bw
to n
,
I This is the third in a series of s<
articles on the growth and �'.•
development in Eagan.)
By JUDY STRACHAN
Staff Writer ,
EAGAN--"Eagan is like a
boom town right now," said 4."
JoAnne Ellison, School District '�`�,
196 census supervisor. ��., -e
About 70% of the population of
Eagan is under 20 years of age. I
I And that's a high percentage,
said Ellison. "There are a lot of
babies there; over 1000 children
under four years of age, that we fix'
know of she said. _
Considering those figures, it is "-'.. A F
no wonder that the citizens of
Eagan are concerned about their i.
schools. The District 196 School
Board has approved looking for a
site in Eagan for another junior
high and a high school," said m p
Ellison. �,e4,
The recommendations from the •,,•^
facilities review committee in-
cluded the purchase of another
site in the northern half of the JOANNE ELLISON,the census su isor for the Dist. 196
district (Eagan) for a third high �^'
school as soon as possible; and school system, explains the demographics of predicting
reserving the remaining 20 acres school-enrollments and population trends within the
of the Northview site for a fourth . district.
middle school. residents believe the lack of a the area of Eagan which is within
District 196 currently has two high school in Eagan is at the root the Burnsville and West St. Paul
schools located in Eagan, Nor- ;of their identity problem. school districts are already
thview and Thomas Lake . According to Ellison, District developed.
Elementary Schools. 196 has no definite sites for the "Eagan is also increasing in
District 191 operates three new schools yet,"but we've iden- household size," said Ellison.
schools in Eagan.Cedar Elemen- tified tentative good locations." "That area now has 3.12 people
tary, 2140 Co. Rd. 30; Rahn Ellison projects that the per unit. And that's high in this
Elementary,4424 Sandstone Dr.; district may have to build future day and age," commented
and John Metcalf Junior High at facilities "in the middle 80s or Ellison. "There are new families
Co.Rd.30 and Hwy.13. early 90s.The demographics pro- with young children. The
Pilot Knob Elementary School, ject that the senior high schools average, district wide, is 3.2 per
operated by District 197 in West will be at capacity by the mid household."
St. Paul, is located at 1436 Lone 1980s, but we're watching that
Oak Rd. continuously," said Ellison. She Those new families with young
"The jagged boundaries date was quick to note,however,"that children will need schools,and all
back a long time," explained we cannot build without a bond three school districts are
Ellison. "When the district boun- issue." prepared to face those
daries were drawn,farmers were Ellison said that 18,5% of the challenges, although District 196
allowed to designate which school District 196 enrollment is from faces the greatest challenge with
would have jurisdiction on their Eagan, "and that's pretty high increased growth and the need
land." Even if those boundaries for that area," said Ellison. for increased facilities. Perhaps
don't seem very practical now, "Eagan is developing faster than when there is an Eagan High
those are the boundaries Eagan any other area in the district." School,that area will gain its own
has to live with. About 62%of Eagan is within the identity, just as Lebanon Hills
The school district boundaries District 196 boundaries,including Township did when Orrin Thomp-
and the political boundaries of those areas that are least son helped to create Apple
Eagan do not coincide,and many developed at this time. Most of Valley.