South school briefs: Burnsville school board has vacancy for 2-year term

The Burnsville School District is looking for a new board member after Paula Teiken resigned with about two years left on her term.

Teiken, who was elected in 2010, is reportedly moving to Northfield. She announced her resignation earlier this month.

The school board is expected to appoint a replacement in coming weeks. Teiken's term expires at the end of 2014.

The new board member will be asked to hit the ground running as the district is looking at a variety of major changes in the next year or so.

Among the changes: hiring a new superintendent, desegregating one of its elementary schools, possibly changing attendance boundaries, and cutting about $15 million from the budget in the next three years.

The Travelers Companies has donated $100,000 to two community colleges, including Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights.

The school plans to used the money to provide work/study jobs on campus to 80 students. The grant will help students of color, first-generation college students and low-income students to pay for schooling.

A representative from Inver Hills said the jobs will help students gain important workplace skills and added that students who work on campus have higher graduation rates.

Century College in White Bear Lake, the other recipient of the grant, plans to use the money to help fund its Century Scholars program.

"Travelers has displayed a strong commitment to the success of underrepresented students," said Jason Hoseney, the vice president of student affairs at Inver Hills. "This grant is an excellent example of how industry and higher education can partner to achieve great things."