The Saints Scene: GRIT in Action

I hope this message finds you enjoying a peaceful and relaxing summer. As the 2025-2026 school year quickly approaches, I again, want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve as your new Superintendent. Having spent the past six years at Northside Elementary, I carry into this role a strong belief in servant leadership, transparency, and leading with purpose—and I’m excited to begin this next chapter with you.

At St. James Public Schools, our mission is clear:

This Smore newsletter is part of that commitment. It is designed to be a practical and proactive communication tool, helping keep you connected to what is happening across our schools. In this August update, you'll find important reminders and new information related to the beginning of the school year. Items that may be covered in future updates could relate to student attendance, curriculum updates, health and safety guidelines, technology tools, athletic information, budgeting priorities and more. These aren’t just updates—they represent how we’re aligning everyday decisions to our shared values and long-term vision.

Whether you're a new family joining our district or a longtime Saint, I want you to know this: your voice matters, your students are known and cared for, and we’re in this work together. My core leadership tenants are: Listen Deeply, Lead Purposefully, Grow Together, and those tenants will center around collaboration, clarity, and building a culture where every student thrives.

Please take a moment to read through the sections below, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We’re here to support your family, and we look forward to a year filled with growth, connection, and success.

In Saints Pride,

Liam Dawson, Superintendent

Want to review the entire calendar for next year? Find what you need here: 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.

• The first day of school for the MSHS (6-12) will be Tuesday, September 2nd.
• The first day of school for Northside Elementary School will be Wednesday, September 3rd.

School supply lists for the upcoming school year can be found here:

Northside Elementary School

• Northside Supply List (English and Spanish)

St. James MSHS

• Middle School Supply List (English)
• Middle School Supply List (Spanish)

St. James High School

• Students will need writing utensils (pens/pencils), notebooks, and folders.

Registration for 2025 fall sports opened June 18, 2025

To prepare for fall registration please:

Parent Signature Eligibility Forms

• 2025-2026 Eligibility Form - English

• 2025-2026 Eligibility Form - Spanish

Physical Forms

• 2025-2026 MSHSL Physical Form - English

• 2025-2026 MSHSL Physical Form - Spanish

To make things quicker and easier for everyone, all St. James Public Schools events and activity events will continue using GoFan for digital ticketing.

Here’s how to get started:

✅ Visit https://gofan.co/app/school/MN19245
✅ Search for St. James Public Schools
✅ Buy tickets ahead of time or right at the gate on your phone
✅ Download the GoFan app for easy access and ticket storage

Season Activities Passes are Available:

https://gofan.co/event/3854728?schoolId=MN19245

• $75 for Adult activities Pass
• $50 for Senior Activities Pass

Questions related to the ticketing process can be directed to the activities office.

Reminder for parents interested in purchasing Chromebook insurance for the 2025-2026 school year.

Chromebook Insurance Rate

• $20 for MSHS students
• $10 for K-5 students

This insurance covers ONE accidental repair no matter the cost.

You can purchase Chromebook insurance until Friday, September 19, 2025; after this date, we will consider families as having turned down insurance and any repairs will be the responsibility of the family.

You can purchase insurance online through the parent portal, or with the following link: https://www.stjames.k12.mn.us/page/pay-chromebook. Parents can also pay by cash or check by stopping in the main office at Northside or the High School.

New Infinite Campus Links Due to Updates to Servers

Staff Portal Log-In: https://stjamesmn.infinitecampus.org/campus/stjames.jsp

Parent Portal Log-In: https://stjamesmn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/stjames.jsp

Student Portal Log-In https://stjamesmn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/students/stjames.jsp

Minnesota Free School Meals Program

Families will still need to apply to qualify for more educational benefits.

The Minnesota Free School Meals program will cover the cost of one breakfast and one lunch for every student on school days; however, the cost of à la carte items such as an additional milk, other drinks, or extra meal items will not be covered. Students will need to have funds in their meal accounts to purchase any additional food items.

If you believe your household may qualify, please complete and return the application for educational benefits to the nutrition services office or to your child’s school. You can also apply in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal by clicking on the "More" tab, then the "Meal Benefits" tab.

If you have questions, contact Baily Davis, bdavis@isd840.org in Food Service.

Monday, September 1

• All Schools and District Offices Closed - Labor Day

Tuesday, September 2nd

• K-5 Entrance Conferences
• 6th - 12th Grade Students First Day of School

Wednesday, September 3rd

• K-5th Grade Students First Day of Schools
• 1:45 Early Release

Week of September 15th

• Homecoming Week

As I begin my role as Superintendent of St. James Public Schools, I want to hear directly from you. Whether you're a student, staff member, parent/guardian, or community member, your voice matters — and I’m committed to listening and learning.

Throughout August, September, and October, I’ll be offering opportunities for 1:1 conversations with anyone who would like to share insights, experiences, questions, or ideas that can help shape the future of our schools.

To express your interest, please use the survey linked below or scan the QR code:
https://forms.gle/gJbbPQSnjaH128fR9

I look forward to connecting with many of you and gaining a deeper understanding of what makes St. James special — and where we can grow together.

-Liam Dawson, Superintendent

Minnesota school finance is complex, and this informational video provides a high level explanation of how it works.

School Finance in Minnesota

Elementary and secondary education in Minnesota is financed through a combination of state-collected taxes (primarily income and sales taxes) and locally collected property taxes. Revenue for school districts is received in these major categories:

• General Education Aid: The largest share of the education finance appropriation, general education aid, is intended to provide the basic financial support for the education program.
  
  
• Categorical Aids: Categorical revenue formulas are generally used to meet costs that vary significantly between school districts (i.e., special education) or promote certain types of programs (i.e. intergration, adult basic education).
  
  
• State Paid Property Tax Credits: Property tax credits reduce the amount of property taxes paid. To make up for this reduction, the state pays the difference between what was levied in property taxes and what is actually received in property taxes to school districts and other taxing districts.
  
  
• Property Tax Levies: Property tax levies are usually determined as part of a formula that includes state aid. The largest share of the levy is from voter-approved levies—the operating referendum and debt service levies.
  
  

Funding normally comes from the federal government, state government and via local voter-approved initiatives. Our primary source of funding comes from the State of Minnesota. The legislature decides the state's E-12 basic funding levels, as well as directing what services schools must provide. In determining how much funding we receive, the legislature uses a complex formulas that considers the number of students, special needs within our district, property wealth and several other factors.

Our School Board, after receiving administrative support, determines how our monies are allocated. General education funds pay for operating expenses, including salaries, benefits and supplies. Funds are also distributed to schools and sites. When there is not enough funding within the budget, the School Board may ask voters to approve an operating referendum levy.

We recommend that to help understand the complexities of PreK-12 funding in our state, please take time to read the following Minnesota Department of Education documents:

• Minnesota School Finance: A guide for Legislators
• Minnesota School Finance History

St. James Public Schools is committed to proactively maintaining our facilities to ensure safe and supportive learning environments. As part of this commitment, we are utilizing the new Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) levy authority to support critical roofing repairs at both Armstrong School and the Middle/High School (MSHS).

These roof repairs address aging infrastructure and are essential to protecting our buildings from further deterioration. By using the updated LTFM levy mechanism, the district can responsibly plan and fund this necessary work without relying on additional voter-approved bonds.

We thank our community for supporting long-term stewardship of our facilities and ensuring that our students and staff have well-maintained spaces to learn and grow.

The repair work on the roofs would take place in the summer and/or fall of 2026.

Enjoy the final weeks of your summer!

Go Saints!

Liam Dawson, Superintendent