The Byron Buzz

Recent media reports regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) potentially using school records to investigate the immigration status of families have raised concerns across our state. Schools should be a safe and welcoming place for all students, and as a district, we remain committed to protecting the privacy and security of our students while they are in our care.

At Byron Public Schools, we strictly adhere to Policy 515: Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records and Policy 519: Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies. These policies are designed to safeguard student information and ensure that outside agencies, including law enforcement, follow appropriate legal procedures before accessing student records or speaking with students on school grounds.

Understanding Our Policies

• Policy 515: Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records
  This policy ensures that student records are kept confidential and can only be accessed by authorized personnel or agencies with proper legal justification. The district does not share student information with outside entities without following strict legal guidelines.

• Policy 519: Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies
  This policy establishes clear procedures for when law enforcement or other outside agencies request to meet with students during the school day. Such requests are carefully reviewed, and parents or guardians are notified unless legally prohibited. School administrators will always act in the best interest of the student, ensuring they feel safe and supported.

District-Wide Discussions and Commitment to Student Safety

In light of recent concerns, many school districts in our area have reviewed their policies and confirmed that they will follow similar procedures to ensure student safety and privacy. These discussions reaffirm our collective commitment to keeping our schools as safe environments where students can learn without fear or disruption.

Byron Public Schools remains dedicated to upholding the rights of all students and families, ensuring that every child has a safe place to learn and grow. If you have any concerns or questions regarding student privacy, please do not hesitate to contact the district office.

We will continue to protect and support all of our students.

Go Bears!

Dr. Mike Neubeck, Superintendent

If you have a child who will be eligible to start kindergarten in the fall or know a family interested in Open Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year, now is the time to register!

Early registration is essential for effective planning, ensuring that Byron Public Schools can provide the best possible learning environment for all students.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process, please contact the district office at (507) 775-2383. We look forward to welcoming our newest learners to Byron Public Schools!

Byron Public Schools has a preschool program that is right for your child! We believe parents should have the ability to choose the preschool option that is best for their child. Therefore, we offer a variety of opportunities for students. Preschool programs are available to children who are ages 3-5 by September 1, 2025. Our programs run from September through May, following the K-12 school district calendar closely. Registration for the 2025-2026 preschool year will open at 8 AM on February 20, 2025.

Important Deadlines: Registrations received by March 7 will be notified on or before March 14. Byron residents who complete registration on or before March 7 will receive priority placement in our preschool classes. After March 7, placements will be made based on class availability. You will receive a placement notification within 14 business days. If you would like your child to start on the first day of Preschool - September 2, please complete registration before Friday, August 8. Any registrations received after August 8th will be processed as time permits and will not guarantee placement for the first day of Preschool. Learn more about Byron Preschool at the Information Night on Tuesday, February 18th at 6:00-7:00 PM.

A few months ago, Byron Public Schools transitioned to a new website provider following the announcement that our previous provider would no longer support their platform. This change ensures that our website remains modern, user-friendly, and accessible, allowing us to better serve our students, staff, and community.

Improved Communication with Integrated Messaging System

One of the key benefits of this transition is the introduction of an integrated mass messaging system designed to enhance district-wide communication. This system allows us to send school closure announcements, emergency alerts, and important updates more efficiently by consolidating text messages, phone calls, emails, and even social media posts into a single platform.

Cost Savings and Efficiency

Last Friday, we conducted a test message to ensure all information transferred correctly from the previous system. Following this test, we received questions regarding the need for a new messaging system, especially in light of the district’s commitment to financial responsibility.

It is important to clarify that this new system streamlines communication by eliminating the need for multiple platforms. Since it allows us to send text messages, phone calls, emails, and Facebook updates from one unified system, we were able to discontinue a separate service, ultimately reducing costs for the district.

We appreciate the community’s engagement and feedback as we continue to improve our communication tools. For any questions regarding the new website or messaging system, please visit our district website or contact the district office.

On Tuesday, January 28, the Byron School Board officially launched the search for the district’s next superintendent. In collaboration with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), the board established a detailed timeline to guide the selection process.

The primary goal of this meeting was to outline key milestones and ensure a transparent and structured approach to hiring the district’s next leader. Once finalized, the full timeline will be posted on the district website, allowing the community to stay informed and follow each step of the process.

Key Dates in the Selection Process:

• February 3: Application window opens.

• March 16: Application deadline.

• February 3 - February 24: Community input survey available online and in hard copy at the district office.

Community Involvement is Essential

One of the most crucial steps in this process is gathering input from the Byron community. On February 3, MSBA will distribute a community survey, providing an opportunity for parents, staff, students, and community members to share their thoughts on the qualities and priorities they value in the next superintendent. The survey will remain open through February 24, with options to complete it online or via hard copy at the district office.

While this process will move efficiently, the school board remains fully committed to selecting the best candidate to lead Byron Public Schools into the future. We encourage all community members to stay engaged and provide their valuable input as we work to find the next leader for our district.

For more information and updates, please visit the district website.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner...Are you looking for a gift for a friend or loved one, a co-worker or classroom volunteer? Look no further! The BHS Floral Shop class has been busy planning our Valentine's Day arrangement sale and we are looking forward to fulfilling your floral needs!

Floral arrangements are available to pre-order today through next Friday, February 7th by 9AM.

Arrangements are available for $15 each, and will be available for pickup or delivery on Thursday, February 13th. **Pickup ONLY, will be available on Friday, February 14th, in the BHS Main Office

Please complete the Valentine's Day Arrangement Order Form (link below) and send payment to Brooke Bordelon at the high school - checks can be made payable to BHS.

Thank you so much - Student floral designers appreciate your support and are very excited to make your special Valentine's Day arrangements!

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScTgB21LmBCfw.../viewform

Volunteers: Important People.

Yes volunteers are important people when it comes to making big projects work out. This is so true of helping out in the concession stands at an athletic event. The Byron Booster Club organizes the concessions stands under the leadership of Jane Coe.

What is the Byron Booster Club you ask? The Byron Booster Club is made up of delegates from each of the 22 athletic and fine arts programs within Byron schools, from baseball to robotics to trapshooting. From the sale proceeds of concession food, the Byron Booster Club gives back to those 22 programs in the form of capital requests. The capital requests are items that the coach or director is in need of but their budget doesn’t have the available funds to purchase those items. Whatever is purchased through the capital requests are beneficial to Byron students in grades 7 through 12.

How can you help? A delegate of the Byron Booster Club could be contacting you if your child/children is/are in a sport or fine arts program in grades 7 through 12 to work in the concession stand. Jane Coe works out a schedule of each activity to cover a night of concessions. The activity provides concession coverage several times throughout the school year. For example, concession workers are needed for a girls’ basketball game. This is the timeframes needed for workers:
1 worker from 4:30 – 6:30
2 workers from 5:30 – 7:30
6:30 – closing 2 workers (closing is after half-time of the game)

Jane Coe is there most nights to help out. Her schedule gets a little hectic in the fall when there is a volleyball game and a soccer game going on within the same timeframe.

Why is it important to volunteer to help? If the concession stand doesn’t have workers, the concession stand would not be open and funds from sale of food aren’t available for the Booster Club to give back to the sports or fine arts. In prospective, here is the dollar amounts of what the Booster Club has given back to 22 programs in the past three years:

2021-2022 $10,749.13
2022-2023 $19,076.81
2023-2024 $21,497.46

Please consider being a VIP for working in the concession stand. You don’t have to pay to get into a game if you’re working concessions. You won’t work it by yourself and it’s a great way to meet new people.

Beginning this fall, you are able to skip the ticket lines and purchase your tickets for any varsity activity/athletic competition online. We encourage people to use this online ticketing so we can serve you faster and more efficiently. Before attending a game, go to this link: Byron Athletic Homepage where you can pay for the tickets and download them to your phone. Skip the lines and get a better seat for the big game.

Monday, February 3: ~ No events ~

Tuesday, February 4:

🏒 7:00pm - Ice Hockey: Boys Varsity Game @ Lourdes (Away)

🏀 7:15pm - Basketball: Girls Varsity Game @ Lake City (Away)

🏀 7:15pm - Basketball: Boys Varsity Game vs Lake City (Home)

Wednesday, February 5: No Events

Thursday, February 6:

🤼 7:00pm - Wrestling: Varsity Match @ Cannon Falls (Away)

🏒 7:00pm - Ice Hockey: Boys Varsity Game vs. Osseo (Home)

Friday, February 7:

🤼 5:00pm - Wrestling: Girls Varsity Section Tournament @ Century (Away)

🏀 7:15 - Basketball: Boys Varsity @ Stewartville (Away)

Saturday, February 8:

10:00am - Varsity Gymnastics @ Caledonia (Away)

🤼 10:00am - Wrestling: Girls Varsity Section Tournament @ Century (Away)

🏒 2:00pm - Ice Hockey: Boys Varsity Game vs. Southwest Christian/Richfield (Home)

🏒 7:00pm - Ice Hockey: Girls Varsity Section Game vs. TBD (Home)

First Friday at the Food Pantry

The Food Pantry will be open for drop in shopping on Friday, February 7 at 6-8 pm.

Don't miss out on these upcoming classes:

Safe Driver Class - February 10th

Middle School Cooking Workshop: Sweethearts' Treats - February 14th

Valentine's on the Wheel: Love at First Throw - February 14th or 15th

Emotional Release for Inner Peace - February 17th

Enjoy an extra special evening with your little sweetheart and make amazing memories together! Our Sweetheart Dance will feature snacks, activities, and music to dance to! Our youngest children in the community are invited to attend. Children in grades PreK-5 are also welcome to attend with their special someone. We encourage you to put on your party clothes!

SIGN UP

Tickets: 1st couple (Adult - Child): $12.00 (total 2 participants) ; Extra Adult: $5.00; Extra Child: $5.00

Location: Community Education Center

Parenting a teenager can be one of the most rewarding—and frustrating—experiences. With so many changes happening for both you and your teen, it can feel like communication, connection, and understanding are harder than ever. This class series is designed to help you navigate the challenges of parenting a teen with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

• Session 1: Emotionally Challenging Communication (March 3)
• Session 2: Low-Intensity Parenting (March 10)
• Session 3: Just the Two of Us (March 31)

ONLINE SERIES - All three sessions for $30!

This series is led by Ammon Fawson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and local Byron resident, who shares what he's learned from over a decade of working with adolescent clients and their families.

Learn more about this online series