Superintendent Summer Update

Dear New Buffalo Families,

I hope this message finds you enjoying a relaxing and fun-filled summer! While school may be out for students, the work behind the scenes continues in full swing. From major facility upgrades to exciting collaborations that could shape the future of employee benefits, this summer has been full of energy, planning, and progress.

As always, thank you for your continued support of New Buffalo Area Schools. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to welcoming everyone back soon for another great year.

Warmly,

Adam Bowen
Superintendent
New Buffalo Area Schools

We are excited to share that significant improvements to both the city’s softball field and the school’s baseball field are scheduled to begin in July. These upgrades are the result of months of planning, meetings, and collaboration among the New Buffalo Area Recreation Authority (NBARA), the City of New Buffalo, New Buffalo Township, and the school district.

NBARA was established many years ago with a vision to improve recreational facilities within the community—particularly at Oselka Park. This upcoming project marks one of the most ambitious undertakings in NBARA’s history, and we’re proud to see it finally taking shape.

Thanks to a DNR Passport Grant secured by NBARA, the city-owned Field Four will undergo major accessibility improvements. NBARA has secured a 50-year lease for this field, ensuring long-term stewardship and use. Additionally, we are thrilled to share that private donors—through the newly formed New Buffalo Community Education Foundation—have committed significant funding to support the installation of artificial turf on the infield. These generous contributions will help transform the softball and baseball fields into state-of-the-art facilities.

This project is more than just a renovation—it’s a symbol of what can be achieved through strong partnerships between schools, local government, and our community. We hope this initiative marks the beginning of many more collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents and creating top-tier amenities for our youth and families to enjoy for generations.

We are truly excited about what lies ahead and grateful for the support that is making this vision a reality.

As summer moves along, we wanted to share a few exciting updates on the behind-the-scenes work happening across New Buffalo Area Schools.

Our Operations team has been hard at work preparing our buildings for the upcoming school year. Classrooms are undergoing a thorough deep cleaning to ensure a fresh, welcoming environment for students and staff this fall.

Here are just a few of the projects currently underway:

• Upper elementary coat rooms, work rooms, and the Gross Motor room are being stripped and waxed for a refreshed look.

• Middle school hallways are getting a fresh coat of paint.

• Updates continue in the Spanish room, including the planned removal of windows as part of an upgrade.

• The Gold Gym and Elementary Gym floors are also being stripped and waxed.

We’re grateful for the hard work of our custodial and maintenance teams, and we can’t wait for families to see the improvements when school resumes.

Looking Ahead: Our 2025–2026 Goals

At New Buffalo Area Schools, we’re committed to continuous improvement in everything we do—from academics to facilities, and from staff support to student well-being. As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, we want to share the key goals we’re working toward as a district.

Academics: Supporting Student Growth

Helping students succeed in reading and math remains a top priority. This year, we’re focused on increasing the number of students who reach proficiency on the state assessments in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Our team will use data to guide instruction and ensure that every student gets the support they need to grow.

Growth and Sustainability: Planning for the Future

We’re also focused on strengthening our internal systems and planning ahead to support long-term success. This includes:

• Improving our employee experience, based on districtwide feedback

• Encouraging departments to share more stories and achievements through our marketing team

• Developing a clear PK–12 curriculum review cycle to guide instructional updates

• Conducting a full evaluation of our district facilities to create a long-term improvement plan

Culture and Community: Building a Positive Environment

Creating a safe, inclusive, and connected school environment is essential. This year, we’re working to:

• Launch a district-wide anti-bullying program for all grade levels

• Foster more open and honest communication throughout our organization

• Introduce age-appropriate cannabis education for elementary, middle, and high school students

• Complete renovations to our softball and baseball fields

• Ensure that each school and department partners with a local community organization

We’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful for your continued support. Together, we’re building a stronger future for every student at New Buffalo Area Schools.

In 2010, New Buffalo Area Schools established the NB Educational Trust. The Trust was created to provide each graduate of New Buffalo Area Schools (School Code 11-200) an opportunity to attend postsecondary education or a certification program including trade & vocational schools, apprenticeships, military, and college degrees. Since 2010, NB has financially assisted 517 graduates.

Summary of Trust Eligibility:

Residency is the primary criteria for eligibility. Students must reside within the school district boundaries at all times. Students must graduate from NBAS. Students who attend NBAS at a minimum of 5th-12th grade and graduate from NBAS are eligible for the full $25K. If they begin attending in middle school or high school, the amount is adjusted.Students who enroll at NBAS after their junior year, do not qualify. Enrollment must be continuous without interruption and the student must reside within the school district boundaries.

Students must graduate to qualify. Graduates have 10 years to use the full amount they qualify for. We modify the funds based on the students' individual needs. For this reason parents and students are encouraged to meet with Denise Tuszynski (269-469-6014) with any questions or plans on how to use the funds and determine their eligibility.

Extent of Benefits:

The funds will be granted on the basis of length of attendance and residency in the NBAS district.

1. $5,000/year for five years within a ten year period, not to exceed $25,000.

2. Military exception: number of military years within the ten year period will not be deducted from total.

3. Enrolled by grade 5 or before and then continuous enrollment: 100%

4. Enrolled by grades 6, 7, or 8 and then continuous enrollment: 90% Enrolled by grade 9 and then continuous enrollment: 80%

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Terms of Trust Fund:
This program provides up to five (5) years of post-secondary educational expenses (per the scale above). The student must complete a minimum of six (6) credit hours per term. Individual summer school classes will be covered as long as the class applies toward the degree or certification program in which the student is enrolled and is taken at their designated school. A special permission must be granted and approved in order to take summer classes. The post-secondary education must be completed within 10 years of the date of high school graduation. Exceptions to this requirement are granted for military service (equal to one additional year for each year of active military service).

Documentation Requirements:

Eligible Recipients must submit:

• NBET application form (attached for reference, available on district website)

• Transcript from previous term indicating at a minimum; grades and credit hours for those classes and cumulative GPA.

• All changes to contact information as they occur. This includes home and school addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.

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Distribution of Trust Funds:
All funds will be paid directly from an invoice to institutions or programs. Funds are not paid to individuals. Any refunds due to the program will be paid directly to the New Buffalo Educational Trust.

Exceptions:
No exceptions to the above requirements will be allowed unless approved by the New Buffalo Educational Trust Board, its Appeals Committee or their designee. Appeals are initiated by contacting the New Buffalo Educational Trust Executive Administrator. Funds do not cover technology or clothing.

New Buffalo Day Camp ran from June 30 to August 1, offering five fun-filled weeks of activities every Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Each day, campers participated in hands-on enrichment specials like Cooking, Spanish, Makerspace, Art, Geography and more!

Wednesdays were always a blast with our weekly Dress-Up Days, where campers came in everything from their favorite sports gear to mermaid and pirate costumes, adding tons of spirit and smiles to the week!

We also made the most of summer weather with weekly visits to the New Buffalo Township Splash Pad, and special field trips to the local movie theater, bowling alley, and the St. Joe Carousel!

To wrap up our program, we hosted an exciting Field Day packed with outdoor games and team fun, followed by a camper-led Talent Show where our stars shined on stage!

A big thank you to all the campers, staff, and families who made this summer so memorable—we loved every minute and can’t wait to see you next year!

Check out some fun photos from camp below!

New Buffalo Area Schools just wrapped up an exciting five-week summer school program that brought 44 students, from kindergarten all the way through high school, back to campus for learning and fun.

This year’s program focused on keeping kids engaged through interactive games, hands-on activities, and the use of new technology. Students worked on academic skills while also building friendships and learning how to work together.

Our goal was to make summer learning something students look forward to. It’s all about helping them feel confident going into a new school year.

From technology challenges to team-building games, these summer school sessions have given students a chance to learn in creative ways and stay connected with their classmates over the summer.

Over the past year, the Technology Department has been focused on enhancing district-wide security and infrastructure. One of our main initiatives has been the implementation of keycard access on all interior and exterior doors, marking the beginning of a phased approach to eliminate traditional physical keys.

We have also upgraded and expanded our security camera system at the middle/high school to increase coverage across the district, with additional camera installations planned at the elementary school to provide more coverage.

In parallel, we are developing a new emergency management system that will integrate our intercoms, door access controls, and communication tools to improve responsiveness and coordination in critical situations.

Additionally, over the coming months, we will be upgrading our network infrastructure to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity throughout the district.