Board Bulletin

July 24, 2023

Welcome to the Board Bulletin

Welcome to the first edition of Board Bulletin. You may have noticed on the school district's social media pages a ramped up effort to give the public a window into the day to day activities in our classrooms and the amazing work being done by students and staff. This digital newsletter is designed to give you a window into the work of your School Board and is one component of a renewed effort on behalf of our School Board to significantly improve our communication with the public that we are elected to serve. Through this newsletter, we hope to keep you better informed about key issues before the School Board, ways that you can participate in the decision-making process, and describe the decisions being made by the Board.

School Board Work Session

The School Board held a work session on July 19 where we heard the results of the latest round of polling our district has been conducting of our community’s views on the long-term facility needs of the school district. Since 2017, district leaders, school staff, and community members have been actively reviewing the facility needs of our school buildings. Through this extensive process, the School Board has identified the following priorities to be put to voters at a likely referendum this fall.

Welcoming, safe and secure schools - focused on ensuring all schools have a secure entrance that requires all visitors to pass through the office before gaining entrance to the school.
Early Learning - increasing the capacity of the new MAPS Center for Learning and constructing a daycare at Eagle Lake Elementary.
West High School - phase one remodeling focusing on flexible learning spaces, music, gymnasium and replacing the pool, which is currently non-functioning
Improvements to co-curricular outdoor learning/athletic field needs are also under consideration

The most recent community survey results found strong support for a referendum that would address these projects. A final decision on whether to hold a bond referendum vote on November 7 will be considered by the School Board in August.

Additionally, the board met and heard an appeal to a curriculum challenge. Although rare, constituents may elevate concerns with district operations to the board level, in which case the board is able to fully utilize policy to walk through the procedures in place to respond to a community member's concern.

Congratulations to New School Principals/Leaders

As our families and staff know, a building’s principal and leadership team are an instrumental part of the success of any school. Over the summer, Superintendent Peterson has been busy getting in place new leadership at several of our district’s schools. The School Board is excited for the positive vision and renewed focus on the success and wellbeing of our students that these new leaders will bring to their respective buildings and teams. We offer our congratulations and encourage our school communities to give them a warm welcome and work closely with them to build a thriving school community.

Mankato East High School

Akram Osman, Principal
Will Remmert, Assistant Principal
Brittany Galetka, Dean of Students

Prairie Winds Middle School

Jason Grovom, Principal
Chelsea Anderson-Ball, Assistant Principal

Eagle Lake Elementary

Brian Hansen, Principal

Dakota Meadows Middle School

Aaron Hyer, Principal
Jessica Buttell, Assistant Principal

Central High School

Marti Sievek, Principal

Mankato West High School

Peter Wittmer, Dean of Students

Strategic Planning

To ensure that the Mankato Area Public Schools is serving our community in the best way possible into the future, the School Board has directed that our district undertake a comprehensive strategic planning process. Initial stages of that process are underway with several sessions already held on the desired daily experience of students, staff, and families. What is clear so far is that greater relevance, flexibility, and customization are emerging as key themes from all participants. This strategic planning process will continue over the next several months with additional opportunities for our greater school community to engage and provide their feedback. The School Board will continue to provide updates throughout the process.

Student/Staff Recognition

This past school year, the School Board began highlighting outstanding student accomplishments at our meetings. In May, we added a MAPS Staff Spotlight (see picture below) to honor staff members who go above and beyond for students and families. Pictures and backgrounds of upcoming honorees will be included here in the Board Bulletin!