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Will Jasper High School become boarding school?The current owner of the former Jasper High School building, Dick Haase, and Steve Rodriquez met with the Jasper City Council last month to discuss Rodriquez’s plans to purchase the building and convert it into a private boarding school for students in grades 9-12.Haase is still the legal owner of the building, but Rodriquez has signed a promissory note to purchase it.According to the Jasper Journal, Rodriquez got into education in 1998.Prior to that he was a practicing attorney and had worked in various political campaigns in Florida.After the 1998 elections he became a partner with a couple of friends, and they purchased a bankrupt school in the Orlando area. The group now has schools in Florida, Virginia and Georgia.Prior to finding the Jasper property, Rodriquez had also looked at two facilities in Wisconsin.Although the school is zoned for educational purposes, the council would have to look at some zoning issues if the students were going to be housed in the facility.The four-year college preparatory school would be called The Concordia Preparatory School.Initially Rodriquez envisions the enrollment will consist of 100 percent foreign students, but with a five-year plan of 60 percent U.S. students and 40 percent foreign students.To date, 22 students have enrolled, but Rodriquez is hoping for 60 with a possible high end of 80.Current enrollees include Russian, Korean, Japanese, German and Latin American students.The average cost per student would be about $40,000.Classes are planned to start Aug. 28.Do you know an outstanding senior citizen?The search is on for the 2006 Outstanding Senior Citizens of Rock County, according to selection committee chair, Jane Wildung.If you know of any senior citizens who go out of their way to help anyone in need, you may want to consider nominating them for 2006 Outstanding Rock County Senior Citizen.Both a man and a woman, who are 70 by Aug. 1st, will be selected "because their outstanding community involvement can serve as an example to others in the county."The man and woman selected will be honored at the Rock County Fair on Aug. 4th.The honorees will also receive special certificates of commendation from the governor, and their names will be submitted to the Minnesota Board on Aging for the state selection process for the Outstanding Senior Citizens.Eligibility criteria:
Nomination forms must be submitted by July 21st.
Judging will be based primarily on the number and variety of contributions nominees have made to their communities after age 65
Nominees must be residents of Minnesota and residents of Rock County. Previous county winners, not selected as a state winner, are now eligible to participate again at the county level. This is a change from previous years.An official nomination form can be picked up at Rock County Family Services, or by contacting Carol Wulf at 283-5076.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com