Family May 2026 Knight Line

Thank you for a fantastic school year and for the incredible partnership, support, and trust you continue to share with STMA Schools. It has been a tremendous privilege to work alongside you in support of your child’s learning, growth, and success. We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us each day and for the strong home-school partnership that helps make STMA such a special community. Together, we continue to create meaningful opportunities and experiences for our learners both inside and outside of the classroom.

As the school year comes to a close, we wish your family a safe, relaxing, and joy-filled summer filled with time to rest, recharge, and make lasting memories. Thank you for being such an important part of the STMA family. Go Knights!

Dr. Ann-Marie Foucault

STMA Superintendent

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we are excited to announce several leadership transitions within the admin team. While this level of change is somewhat new for STMA, given the longstanding stability of our leadership team, these transitions also bring exciting opportunities for growth, innovation, and fresh perspectives. Change can naturally create questions and a range of emotions, but it also sparks new ideas, strengthens collaboration, and inspires continued growth as we remain focused on putting students first and building an even stronger future for STMA.

I am incredibly grateful for the outstanding leaders who have helped build the positive culture and strong foundation that exists across STMA. Because of their dedication and the collective commitment of our staff, our schools remain in a very strong position moving forward.

Please join me in welcoming the following individuals to their new roles and to our STMA leadership team:

• Mr. LJ Jennissen – Middle School West Principal

• Ms. Jennie Kelly – Director of Teaching and Learning

• Ms. Alison Koshiol – Fieldstone Elementary School Principal

• Mr. Andy Merfeld – High School Principal

• Ms. Sherri Schendzielos – Middle School East Principal

• Ms. Jamie Wiitala – High School Assistant Principal

We are excited for the leadership, experience, care, and commitment they will bring to our schools and district. We are confident they will build upon the strong foundation already in place and continue the important work happening each day in our schools.

Together, we will continue moving the future forward with purpose, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Congratulations to this year’s retirees! Together, they represent an incredible 515 years of service—years spent inspiring, supporting, and educating thousands of children. Their steadfast dedication and devotion have helped shape the success of our learners both in and out of the classroom.

We are deeply grateful for the lasting impact they’ve made on our schools, our children, and our community. Best wishes to each retiree as they begin this exciting new chapter in life!

Congratulations to the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees, Ms. Rita Stahlmann and Dr. Wayne Hoistad ! Ms. Stahlmann and Dr. Hoistad both have a longstanding history of service to the district and have contributed to the district’s tradition of excellence. Their commitment to STMA students and the district is infallible and their work is a promise of a bright future.

Congratulations to the students recognized at the 2026 STMA Scholarship Awards Ceremony! This year, 150 students were awarded scholarships totaling more than $166,000, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of local businesses, organizations, staff, and community members. These scholarships not only celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our students, but also reflect the strong, ongoing commitment of our community to support their future.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every donor for putting students first. Your partnership, generosity, and belief in the power of education make a lasting impact on the lives of our learners. Thank you for helping us uphold our tradition of excellence at STMA.

It was clear from the beginning that the 2026 legislative session would be challenging for public education, and that certainly proved to be the case. The session concluded just before midnight on Sunday, May 17, with limited new funding approved for schools across Minnesota.

The final agreement included approximately $660 million in primarily one-time funding for FY2027, while also including reductions of nearly $294 million in the 2028–2029 biennium. While several education-related provisions were included in various bills throughout the session, the overall outcome provided very modest new investments for public education.

A small supplemental education finance bill (HF2433) was approved and includes:

• $10 million for a scaled-down compensatory revenue hold harmless provision

• $5 million to support implementation of anonymous threat reporting systems

• $4 million in grants for school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools

In addition, the legislature approved a ballot question that would amend the Minnesota Constitution related to the Permanent School Fund (PSF). If approved by voters this November, the amendment would allow schools to receive additional funding from investment growth, including capital gains, rather than limiting distributions only to interest and dividends under the current structure.

The session also included several policy additions and changes that will impact STMA. As additional guidance and information become available from the Minnesota Department of Education and other state agencies, we will continue reviewing the implications for our district and determining any necessary adjustments to procedures, practices, and policies.

We will continue to monitor the impact of the legislative session and advocate for sustainable, equitable funding that supports students, staff, and public education across Minnesota.

We’re excited to invite students, staff, families, and community members to follow the St. Michael-Albertville School District on social media! Our social platforms are a powerful way to stay informed, celebrate student and staff achievements, and share the many great things happening across our schools.

We have three official social media accounts:

As we head into summer, families look forward to a well-deserved break filled with sunshine, relaxation, and time together. But with that long break can come the “summer slide” - a gradual loss of academic skills when students are away from school routines. The good news? A little intention can go a long way in keeping learning active and fun throughout the summer months.

Here are some simple and enjoyable ways to help your child stay engaged and curious all summer long:

1. Read Something Every Day
Reading doesn’t have to mean only books. Encourage your child to explore a wide range of materials: recipes, sports articles, poems, travel guides, comic books, or even song lyrics. Whether it's 10 minutes or an hour, what matters most is making reading a consistent and enjoyable part of each day.

2. Follow Their Interests
Children are more likely to read and explore when the subject matters to them. If your child loves animals, check out a book on wildlife. Planning a summer road trip? Listen to an audiobook about your destination together. When learning connects to their passions, it becomes both meaningful and memorable.

3. Turn Math into Play
From card games to cooking, opportunities to strengthen math skills are all around us. Try measuring ingredients together in the kitchen, playing board games that involve counting or strategy, or budgeting for a family outing. Real-life math makes concepts stick, and it’s fun!

4. Everyday Math for All Ages
For younger children, even small actions make a big difference: count steps on a walk, sort laundry by color, or compare sizes of fruit at the grocery store. For older students, practice multiplication facts with a deck of cards or solve real-world problems like calculating distances or converting measurements during a DIY project.

5. Make the Library a Summer Destination
The St. Michael Library offers more than just books - it’s a hub of discovery. Attend storytimes, check out learning kits, or sign up for a summer reading challenge. Regular visits can help build excitement around reading and keep learning momentum going strong.

With just a bit of creativity and encouragement, summer can be a time of joyful learning and exploration. Let’s work together to make this summer a season of curiosity, growth, and fun!

Reading over the summer is essential to keeping young minds active, curious, and ready for the next school year. Even just 15–20 minutes of reading a day helps students maintain the skills they’ve worked so hard to build during the school year, preventing the “summer slide” and promoting a lifelong love of learning. Families looking for fun, engaging ways to support reading can check out FYCC’s Reading in the Park—a wonderful opportunity for children to enjoy stories outdoors, connect with others, and build their reading confidence all summer long.

St Michael Town Center Park: June 16, July 14, and August 4, 9:00 am

Albertville Lions Pavilion at the Depot: June 24, July 22, and August 5, 9:00 am

Hanover Settlers Park: Every Thursday starting June 11 until August 6, 9:00 am