Eden Prairie Schools released their budget cuts for the next two years Tuesday night at the district's school board meeting. To the dozens of students and parents in attendance, the cuts seemed sudden and deep.

The group attended the meeting to protest cuts to the band programs at Central Middle School and Oak Point Elementary, just one of dozens of cuts to jobs and spending that allowed the district to balance its 2010-11 budget.

The district predicted a $10 million budget deficit in January, which by December had been reduced through wage freezes and spending reductions. The district announced the final $4 million in cuts at the Dec. 15 meeting before the assembled parents could try to influence the process, some complained.

Class sizes will go up by 1.5 students per class in grades one through 12, which will save $1.5 million. Custodians, media specialists, administrators and volunteer coordinators will lose their jobs.

"For us to continue with business as usual is simply not an option," Superintendent Melissa Krull told the crowd packed into the room. She warned future cuts were not out of the question without more help from the state. "This is probably just the beginning."

Board member Carol Bomben said the district would have to tighten its belt.

"We can't tax our way out of this, we can't spend our way out of this. We have to find a new normal," Bomben said.

To read the full story check out this week's Eden Prairie Sun-Current, also available online at www.mnsun.com.

Missing Edina man found

Good news in the search for a missing 84-year-old Edina man.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 15, Jerome Granlund placed a call to his family from the Westin Hotel in Edina, ending his 30-hour absence.

It appears that the frightened and confused Granlund, who has dementia, spent the night in his car, possibly as far north as Aitkin, but managed to find his way back to Edina after four tanks of gas, according to the Edina Police Department.

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