Austin Packer Bulletin
October 2, 2026
If you were not able to attend a referendum informational meeting, you can watch the recorded presentation on the District’s referendum webpage. You can also scan the QR code with the camera on your smartphone to access the video.
As always, if you have questions about the referendum, please don't hesitate to reach out. Most importantly, exercise your right to vote.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent
The decision, announced last spring, was one of several budget reductions made to address pressure on the district's operating budget.
The Dome carries an operating loss of about $275,000 a year. At the same time, the cost of educating students and running our schools each day continues to grow faster than our funding. When costs outpace funding, we have to weigh every dollar against what it means for students in the classroom, and we expect more hard choices like this over the next few years.
We've heard from community members who are disappointed, and we understand. The Dome is a valued community resource, and it will be missed this winter. The District remains committed to exploring future options for the Dome, including partnerships that could help make it sustainable for years to come.
How should we measure a school district's success?
Academic proficiency and growth matter. Graduation matters. Attendance matters. Financial stewardship matters. Student experiences matter. No single measure tells the whole story.
That is the idea behind a new Austin Public Schools report, Looking Beyond the Average: Using Data to Ask Better Questions.
The report looks at APS through several lenses and compares Austin with Minnesota districts serving similar students and communities. The purpose is not to find comparisons that make Austin look better or worse. It is to understand our results in context, ask better questions, and learn from others.
There is progress worth recognizing. Austin's four-year graduation rate increased from 75.0% for the Class of 2024 to 80.6% for the Class of 2025. At the same time, our graduation rate remains below the statewide rate, and some near-peer districts are producing stronger results. We want to learn from them.
October is a good time to check in on how the school year is going.
If a student has started missing school more frequently, staff may reach out to better understand what support might help. These conversations are intended to strengthen partnerships with families/caregivers and remove barriers before attendance concerns grow.
Strong public schools require more than strong programs, responsible budgets, and quality facilities. They require an engaged community.
Austin Public Schools is a community institution, and we believe our schools are stronger when people take an active interest in their future. Parents and caregivers, residents, business and community leaders, alumni, and others who care about Austin all bring perspectives that can strengthen our work.
Throughout the year, community members can serve on district advisory committees and participate in other engagement efforts. These opportunities let you learn more about our schools, ask questions, share ideas, and contribute to conversations about the future of Austin Public Schools.
You do not need to work in education or have a child currently enrolled in our schools to participate. You simply need an interest in our students, our schools, and the future of our community.
To learn more, review the School Board Committees and other district advisory groups here.
Interested in getting involved? Contact the Superintendent’s Office at 507-460-1900 or email.
Public schools are strongest when the public is part of the conversation. We invite you to join in.
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) is seeking input from students and families about Minnesota’s financial aid programs. By filling out the survey, OHE seeks to better understand how students and families experience the state’s financial aid system and identify ways to make it easier to use, more predictable, and more accessible for Minnesotans.
Insights from this survey will inform future financial aid system improvements and policy proposals. The survey closes October 23. Take the State Financial Aid Survey.
