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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,April 16,2012 Page 5 tools as they became available; however, she noted the challenges in that legis- lative decision-making and their timing to decisions for the District. Superintendent Hoverman reviewed the Districts emphasis on educational equi- ty and student achievement regardless of demographic changes. Superintendent Hoverman reviewed 2008-2011 ACT stores, with the School District participa- tion in a free administration of the ACT on-site, thanks to a grant received from the Metropolitan Council's Education Foundation. Superintendent Hoverman noted that, according to recent U. S. News & World Report rankings, the Mounds View High School system had been ranked in the silver category. Several brief videos were shown to support STEAM efforts for science, tech- nology, engineering, arts, and math student achievement at the middle school level. Superintendent Hoverman noted the goal of closing the gaps by provid- ing opportunity, expectation, aspiration, and achievement with an emphasis on post-secondary success planning for all students. One of these efforts included offering students the opportunity to achieve their AA degree along with their High School graduation certificates, at the school's cost, to encourage post- secondary education. For additional information, contact: www.moundsviewschools.org; subscribe to e-newsletters dan.hoverman@moundsviewschools.org 651/621-6002 Councilmember Johnson commended the District on this interesting and pro- active idea for the compression of grade 9-14 education and graduating High School students with a college-level AA degree; and questioned how they had modeled this program. Superintendent Hoverman advised that there were few other models, with the exception of a similar program in TX; however, he noted that the Irondale Campus was a hybrid model targeted to the middle student demographic. Su- perintendent Hoverman advised that students would normally need to leave the campus to participate in such a program; however, he praised the cooperative efforts of Anoka-Ramsey for the participation, with the only cost to the Mounds View School District for collaborating teacher/mentor costs, estimated to be an absolute maximum amount of$60,000 annually. Ms. Jones noted the success and achievement of the goal in finding significant interest for post-secondary education from students previously not considering it, as well as the ACT options, empowering students in their future job and ca- reer choices. Councilmember McGehee thanked Superintendent Hoverman and Ms. Jones for their excellent report and impressive program.