The Saints Scene: GRIT in Action

Saints Community,

As summer moves quickly toward a new school year, our buildings, programs, and staff are preparing to welcome students and families back. This work includes classroom preparation, professional learning, activities registration, technology updates, and several significant facility projects.

This edition of the Saints Scene focuses especially on how St. James Public Schools is responsibly investing public resources. Our responsibility is not only to meet today's needs, but also to protect community owned facilities, plan thoughtfully for the future, and clearly communicate how taxpayer dollars support students.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of St. James Public Schools. By listening deeply, leading purposefully, and growing together, we can continue building a district that serves our students and community well.

In Saints Pride,

Liam Dawson, Superintendent

St. James Public Schools

The 2026–2027 school year is right around the corner! Please mark your calendars for these important back-to-school dates:

Middle/High School Open House | 4:00–8:00 p.m.

Students and families in Grades 6–12 are invited to visit the school, meet staff, locate classrooms, and prepare for the new school year.

Northside Fall Open House Conferences | 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Northside families will meet with teachers, receive important school information, and prepare for the year ahead. Families should follow the scheduling information provided by the school.

Sixth Grade Jumpstart and Family Day | 8:30-11:30am - Little Theater

Incoming sixth graders will have an opportunity to become familiar with the Middle/High School, meet staff, learn about daily routines, and take an important first step toward a successful transition to sixth grade. Families should watch for additional event details from the school.

First Day of School! Welcome back, Saints!

Families are encouraged to watch district and school communications for additional details, transportation information, supply lists, and event-specific instructions.

St. James Public Schools is completing several important facility projects this summer through Long-Term Facilities Maintenance, commonly referred to as LTFM.

LTFM is a funding program established by Minnesota law that allows school districts to address long-term building needs through a state-approved ten-year facilities plan. Eligible uses include items such as roofing, accessibility, health and safety improvements, and the replacement or maintenance of aging building systems. The district annually reviews and updates its plan, and the School Board must approve the proposed expenditures before they are submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education.

This process helps the district prioritize needs, plan projects before building conditions become more costly, and use public resources responsibly.

The district’s summer roofing project is moving forward at St. James Middle/High School. Project staging and equipment delivery are expected during the final week of July, with roofing work beginning in early August.

The first area of focus will be the roof above the main second-floor hallway. This project addresses roof sections identified through the district’s long-term facility review as priorities for replacement.

Investing in roofing is not always a highly visible improvement, but it is essential to protecting classrooms, equipment, and other community assets inside our schools. Completing this work proactively also reduces the risk of more expensive water damage and emergency repairs.

During the preconstruction review of planned roofing work at Armstrong School through district LTFM funding, the roofing contractor identified concerns with the roof deck above the auditorium and stopped work before placing a crew in the area.

A subsequent structural inspection found significant deterioration in Roof Section AH, including the roof deck, supporting wood members, and portions of previously repaired wood trusses.

Following a meeting with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), the district has closed and secured the Armstrong Auditorium and Gymnasium and its associated occupancy and access areas. These areas will remain inaccessible until the required structural repairs and roof replacement have been completed or an alternative plan has been determined.

DLI confirmed that the remainder of Armstrong School may continue to be occupied and used. District operations outside the affected area may continue as normal.

The district is working to retain the appropriate architectural and structural-engineering support and develop a safe, comprehensive repair and replacement plan. A final design, cost estimate, and construction timeline have not yet been established. The state has allowed the district to proceed through a responsible planning process as long as progress continues toward completing the required work.

The district has received confirmation that the remainder of the scheduled roofing project may continue on all roof sections outside Section AH.

We are grateful that the concern was identified before construction crews accessed the affected roof. The safety of students, staff, contractors, and visitors remains the district’s highest priority. Additional information will be shared as the repair plan, cost, and timeline are developed.

Please see the article below for more information.

We are excited to share that the track resurfacing and striping project is now complete, and the track is open for use!

Because the supplier’s black surface material was backordered, the final track surface was upgraded to red. This represented an estimated $10,000–$15,000 enhancement that the district received at no additional cost.

The newly resurfaced track provides a safer, higher-quality facility for our students, student-athletes, physical education programs, and community members. We are grateful for this investment in our school community and look forward to seeing the track enjoyed for years to come.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation throughout the project. We invite our community members to enjoy the newly completed track!

Responsible stewardship requires more than completing individual projects. It means carefully evaluating the condition of all district facilities, prioritizing needs, comparing options, and understanding the long-term financial impact of each decision.

At its August meeting, the School Board selected ICS to complete a comprehensive facilities site assessment. This assessment will provide the district with reliable information to:

• Evaluate the condition and remaining useful life of building systems.

• Identify immediate, intermediate, and long-term facility needs.

• Develop reliable cost estimates.

• Examine opportunities for greater energy and operational efficiency.

• Compare repair, renovation, and replacement options.

• Support the development of an educationally sound and financially responsible long-range facilities plan.

Selecting ICS is an important step in the district’s planning process; it does not represent a decision regarding any specific facility project or long-term direction. The assessment will give the School Board and community a clearer understanding of our needs and options before major decisions are considered.

This work is further supported by the district’s recently upgraded “A” bond rating. The rating recognizes the district’s sound financial management and may strengthen its ability to finance future approved facility projects at more favorable rates. Maintaining strong financial practices helps ensure that more public resources can be directed toward supporting students and improving facilities rather than financing costs.

During the 2026–2027 school year, St. James Public Schools will begin a community-centered strategic-planning process to help establish the district’s priorities and direction for the years ahead.

The process will examine important areas such as student learning, school culture, family and community partnerships, communication, facilities, and fiscal responsibility. Input from students, families, staff, School Board members, and community partners will be essential to developing a plan that reflects the strengths, needs, and aspirations of the entire Saints community.

The district will form a Strategic Planning Advisory Committee to help guide this work. We are seeking individuals who are willing to listen thoughtfully, share different perspectives, examine district information, and work collaboratively on behalf of students and the broader community.

Community members, parents and guardians, staff, students, alumni, and local business or organizational partners who are interested in serving on the advisory committee are encouraged to contact Superintendent Liam Dawson at ldawson@isd840.org to express their interest.

Additional information about the process, meeting schedule, and opportunities for broader community input will be shared as planning moves forward.

Together, we have an opportunity to create a clear and purposeful roadmap for the future of St. James Public Schools, one that honors what our district does well while identifying how we can continue learning, growing, and succeeding together.

St. James Activities is Now Using Bound

St. James MSHS Activities and Athletics is now using Bound, an all-in-one platform for athletics, activities, and facilities management.

BOUND

St. James is now using Bound, an all-in-one platform that replaces multiple systems with one easy-to-use platform. It brings all things athletics and activities into one place including: schedules, ticketing, scores, standings, communication, and even fundraising, creating a more seamless experience for our Saints/Spartans/Wings United Community.

GET STARTED: Bound Public Website

To begin, visit and bookmark our Bound public homepage:

https://gobound.com/mn/schools/stjames

This site will serve as your go-to-hub for everything related to Saints activities.

Activities Registration

To register your athletics and arts participants for the 2026-2027 school year:

• Click the "Registration" link at the top of the Bound homepage
• Connect your family accounts (parent and student)
• Update demographic information
• Upload current physicals
• Complete required forms
• Select activities your student plans to participate in

TICKETS AND PASSES (DIGITAL FIRST)

For the 2026-2027 school year, St. James will continue using digital tickets for all events.

What this means:

• Purchase tickets or passes online in advance
• Or pay at the gate using credit/debit cards or mobile pay (Apple Pay, etc)
• No case needed-no last-minute stops required.

To get started click "Ticketing" at the top of the Bound site.

St. James Public Schools Ticketing

Minnesota voters will see a proposed constitutional amendment concerning the Permanent School Fund on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot.

The Permanent School Fund is one of Minnesota’s oldest sources of support for public education. The proposed amendment would change how certain proceeds from school trust lands are distributed. If approved, the change is expected to increase annual support for public schools without creating a new local property-tax levy.

Estimated annual increases for Watonwan County school districts are:

• St. James Public Schools: $31,084.85
• Madelia Public Schools: $17,123.75
• Butterfield-Odin Public Schools: $6,091.23

The superintendents of the three Watonwan County school districts have collaborated on a factual, nonpartisan article explaining the Permanent School Fund, the proposed amendment, and what it could mean for local schools. The district encourages residents to learn about the proposal before voting.

Superintendent Dawson continues to host monthly Saints & Sips sessions, at Encore, unless otherwise noted.

Tentative Dates for the 2026-2027 School Year

• September 15th @ 10:30am - Coffee with the Mayor - Strategic Planning - (Location: Community Building)
• October 12th @ 10:30am- Permanent School Fund
• November 23rd @ 10:30am - Community Education Programming
• December 21st @ 10:30am - Athletics & Activities
• January 25th @ 10:30am - Mathematics Curriculum Review
• February 22nd @ 10:30am - Facilities
• March 22nd @ 10:30am - Technology in Schools
• April 19th @ 10:30am - Literacy
• May 24th @ 10:30am - Looking ahead to the 2027-2028 School Year

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain among the highest priorities of St. James Public Schools. Creating safe schools takes all of us, students, families, staff and community members, remaining attentive and sharing concerns when something does not seem right.

To support that shared responsibility, the district has added a new Anonymous Tip Reporting section to its website. The reporting tool is available 24 hours a day and gives students, employees, parents, guardians and community members a way to anonymously report bullying, threatening behavior, safety concerns or other potentially harmful activity.

The system also allows for anonymous two-way communication with members of the district’s school-safety team. This means designated personnel may request additional information without requiring the person submitting the tip to disclose their identity.

Whenever possible, we continue to encourage individuals to speak directly with a teacher, counselor, principal or another trusted adult. Strong relationships and open communication remain essential to a safe and supportive school environment. However, we also recognize that individuals may sometimes feel uncertain, afraid or uncomfortable identifying themselves. The anonymous reporting system provides another pathway for making sure important information reaches those who can respond.

The webpage includes examples of concerns that may be reported, including:

• Threats of harm to oneself or others
• Weapons or acts of violence
• Bullying, harassment or intimidation
• Concerning changes in behavior or mental health
• Substance use or other potentially harmful activity
• Safety concerns observed in person or online

This resource also supports Minnesota’s newly enacted anonymous threat-reporting requirements for school districts. While compliance is important, the greater purpose is prevention: giving members of our school community an accessible way to speak up so concerns can be reviewed and appropriate support or intervention can occur.

The reporting tool should be used responsibly and is intended for genuine student and school-safety concerns. It is not intended for routine questions, personnel concerns or complaints about school operations, which should continue to be directed to the appropriate teacher, principal or district administrator.

The anonymous reporting system is also not an emergency service. If there is an immediate danger or urgent threat, call 911.

As we begin using this resource, the district will continue to monitor the reporting and response process, evaluate its effectiveness and make improvements when needed. By looking out for one another and speaking up when concerns arise, we can continue building schools where every student feels safe, supported and ready to learn.

Click the Buttons below to access the Academic Calendars and the supply lists for the 2026-2027 school year.

Enjoy the final week of your summer before we welcome students back!

Go Saints!

Liam Dawson, Superintendent

Volume 1, Issue 4 - May 2026

Volume 1, Issue 3 - February 2026

Volume 1, Issue 2 - November 2025

Volume 1, Issue 1 - August 2025