Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256
August 2025
GRADUATES WILL BE DIGITALLY FLUENT
A grateful Red Wing School Board on Monday accepted alumnus Dwight Diercks' groundbreaking $3.2 million pledge to help Red Wing Public Schools become a center of excellence in artificial intelligence education. This is one of the largest gifts in district history.
Diercks, a 1986 graduate of Red Wing Central High School and senior vice president of software engineering at NVIDIA, made the five-year commitment with his wife, Dian, to support “Flight Path 2030,” a districtwide initiative aimed at preparing students for a future shaped by AI. The pledge comes at a time when schools nationwide are exploring how to responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.
“This extraordinary gift lays the groundwork for bold thinking about how we prepare students for the future and support the staff who guide them. We’re deeply grateful to Dwight and Dian Diercks for investing in our district’s future,” Board Chair Ryan Riester said.
Superintendent Bob Jaszczak said the goal is that by 2030 every Winger graduate will be digitally fluent, ethically grounded, and workforce-ready.
Learn more about this gift by visiting the www.rwps.org homepage and scrolling down to the News and Video Feed sections.
Transportation routes are being drafted now
Red Wing Public Schools and First Student, our transportation provider, are working on bus routes. Please act on any of the following areas that apply to your family. Do not wait until the start of the school year, because bus routes are being assigned now.
Address Changes: If you have recently moved, please contact Melinda Johnson, District Student Services at majohnson@rwps.org or call 651-385-4520. NOTE: There are address limitations -- parents must select one address for transportation pick-up and drop-off between home and school.
Private child care: If a child’s home and child care are different, you must complete a transportation form.
Grade 11-12 reminder: If your student is going into 11th or 12th grade and wishes to ride the bus, you will need to complete a Transportation form.
Download transportation forms below:
If your child enrolled and attended classes last year in another district – including 5RiversOnline – but plans to return to Red Wing Public Schools for the 2025-2026 school year, you must re-enroll that child with RWPS Student Services. Note: This is a state requirement.
Find the enrollment forms online or pick up a packet at the District Office, 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Door 36. For information, contact Melinda Johnson at majohnson@rwps.org or 651-385-4520.
You can expect school supply sales to pop up this month, so start saving those receipts. Did you know that Minnesota families may get a tax break for the back-to-school supplies they purchase?
Families who purchase qualifying supplies might be eligible to claim K-12 tax benefits on their state income tax return, the Minnesota Department of Revenue says. Two tax benefits can help Minnesota families pay expenses related to their child’s education:
the refundable K-12 Education Credit (income limits apply) and
the K-12 Education Subtraction (no income limits).
To qualify for either program, you must:
Have a qualifying child attending kindergarten through 12th grade at a public, private, or qualified home school.
Have paid “qualified education expenses” during the year for that child’s education.
Note: You may not use the same qualified education expenses to claim both the subtraction and the credit. Learn more by visiting the Minnesota Department of Revenue website links highlighted above or consulting a tax professional.
Download your child's supply list below.
The School Board accepted the following grants and donations in July, the first month of the 2025-2026 academic year:
- Red Wing Lions Club, RWHS Medical Emergency Fund, $300.
- Gradient Engineering, STEAM Summer Camp Program, $1,500.
- AAUW-Red Wing Branch, Community Education Scholarships, $500.
- Aim to Achieve (Community Education), $2,000.
- Red Wing Lions Club, Burnside Elementary, $800.
To explore more classes, click on the catalog cover!
UPCOMING YOUTH CLASSES
Monday, Aug. 4: Level 3 & Level 4 Swim Lessons *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE*.
Puppet Power: Craft, Create, Perform!, ages 7-12.
Wednesday, Aug. 6: Driver’s Education Permit Test (Class D Knowledge Test),
Bob Ross "Wet-on-Wet" Painting Class, ages 12+.
Monday, Aug. 11: Creative Clay Wheel and Hand Building for Tweens, ages 9-13.
Wednesday, Aug. 13: Hamster Wheel Hustle at Colvill.
Art in the Park - Pine Valley Park, Ages 6-12 *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE*
UPCOMING ADULT CLASSES
Tuesday, Aug. 5: Practical ChatGPT Training for Everyone.
Wednesday, Aug. 6: Bob Ross "Wet-on-Wet" Painting Class, ages 12+.
Tuesday, Aug. 19: Cell Phones & Parenting: Balancing Connectivity and Safety
Tuesday, Aug. 26: Simple Soups.
Wednesday, Aug. 27: The A, B, C, and D's of Medicare.
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
Phone: 651-385-4565
About our district
Red Wing Public Schools strives to provide an innovating and meaningful educational experience that fosters curiosity; pursues and applies best practices; embraces diversity by respectfully engaging all students, families, and staff; and connects and partners with our community. We serve pre-K through grade 12.
Website: www.rwps.org
Location: 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 385-4500