Austin Packer Bulletin - 08/16/24

As the Superintendent of Austin Public Schools, I am pleased to welcome back students, families, caregivers, and community members to another exciting school year. At APS, our vision remains clear: we are preparing all learners to make a difference in the world. Together, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every student has the support they need to become the best version of themselves.

Our District, with nine schools, over 850 teachers and staff, and more than 5,100 students speaking 45 home languages, significantly impacts our community. While many rural school districts face declining enrollment, our student population is expected to grow over the next several years. This growth is a testament to the success of our students, staff, and programs and is proof of what our fantastic community has to offer.

This year, our school theme is "Connection." Connection to our work, each other, families and caregivers, and most importantly, to our students. These connections are vital to our success.

• Connection to our work means thoroughly engaging and passionate about our educator role. It's understanding that every lesson, every interaction, and every decision impacts our students' lives.
• Connection to each other means collaborating, supporting, and lifting each other. We are a team, and together, we can achieve more than we could alone.
• Connection to families and caregivers means building strong partnerships. We believe that positive relationships with our students' families and caregivers are essential to the success and well-being of our students.
  

We know connections are vital to fulfill our mission to Inspire, Empower, and Accelerate learning. As we look to the future, focusing on connection also aligns with our long-term strategic plan guided by four primary goals:

1. Providing support and resources for a safe and welcoming learning environment.
2. Creating a "Packer Profile" for all learners, embodying the qualities of responsibility, resiliency, eagerness to learn, effective communication, and active contribution to the community.
3. Ensuring district-wide, multi-tiered systems of support for all learners.
4. Demonstrating efficient and equitable management of dollars and resources.

To learn more about our strategic plan, please visit AccelerateAustin.org.

As we embark on this new school year, we look forward to embracing the theme of "Connection" in all we do. By harnessing the power of connection, our incredible community will create a nurturing, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment where every student can thrive.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

Following the recent school board retreat, I am energized for the upcoming school year at Austin Public Schools and eager to keep advancing the District's mission to inspire, empower, and accelerate student learning.

The school board retreat was facilitated by Dr. Sheri Allen, a leader in public education who started her teaching career in Austin. The retreat reaffirmed my confidence in the District's long-term strategic plan by focusing our discussions on three key themes – engagement, culture, and communication. It set a positive tone for the year ahead. As the board chair, I am deeply committed to making board processes and decisions more transparent. This will involve more communication during our monthly business meetings, additional public forums, and regular reminders about board availability and accessibility.

This year brings a number of exciting changes. It will be wonderful to see our kindergarteners welcomed into their neighborhood elementary schools and the introduction of science specialists in our elementary schools. As you know, we have an exciting update this year in our Grading and Reporting procedures for grades 5-12, which aim to increase the focus on formative assessment and practice work. Lastly, the District's new policy to remove cell phones from the classroom will help reduce screen time and potentially support stronger mental health among our students.

As always, our district and school board welcome your questions and feedback. For more insight into our strategic vision, please visit AccelerateAustin.org.

Dr. Carolyn Dubé
School Board Chair

The Austin School Board is a policy-making body responsible for the District's curriculum, personnel, and physical facilities. They work hard for Austin Public School students and encourage your involvement and feedback. The public is invited and encouraged to attend School Board meetings. Regular School Board meetings are held at 5:30 pm in the AHS Annex Recital Hall at 205 4th St NW. Please enter through Annex Door #1. Meeting dates are noted in the calendar. Please call 507-460-1900 with any questions concerning school board meetings.

The meeting agenda is posted on the district website and in the Superintendent's Office at 401 Third Avenue AHS three days before each meeting. School Board minutes are also posted on the district website and published regularly in the Austin Daily Herald. The Regular Meetings are live-streamed on the APS YouTube channel, and the link will be made available on the meeting agenda and via social media. Please note that only regular monthly meetings are live-streamed (this does not include study sessions).

During each Regular School Board meeting, the Board will allow audience members to address the Board. Don't hesitate to contact the Superintendent's office at 507-460-1900 to address the School Board.

Austin Public Schools and Palmer Bus Service have launched a new parent/guardian app called Stopfinder that will allow parents and guardians to track their children's school bus in real-time accurately. The easy-to-use app is secured so only authorized users can access school bus information.

APS Stopfinder Support
507-433-5358
trinar@palmerbusservice.com

Of course, school district employees are free to engage in political activities outside the school day, work hours, or school activities and campaign and run for political office.

However, employees shall not allow any such political activities to interfere with properly performing their school duties. They shall not use school time, supplies, or equipment in these activities.

See Board Policy 909 for more information.

A reminder that this day refers to a school day where teachers and students communicate online or set up prior learning expectations instead of coming to school, and the students continue their learning from home. Teachers can opt to do this off-campus or in their classrooms.

For more information, see the policy for complete details and visit the Remote Learning Days site for review and/or possible updates.

Check out the new Hometown Food Security Mobile App, an innovative tool to advance our efforts. Explore nearby food resources and volunteer/donation options, and get important notifications on the go.

Do you know a child who might meet the criteria under the McKinney-Vento Act? This federal law is designed to protect and support students who lack stable housing. If you're unfamiliar with it, please watch this video for guidance on what to look for in your students. If you suspect that a student may not have access to regular, fixed, and adequate housing, please reach out to our McKinney-Vento Coordinator, Sheila Berger, at 507-460-1923 or email her with any questions or for assistance.

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Please consider joining me and the school board chair, Dr. Carolyn Dubé, at the Coffee House on Main for coffee and conversation.

Dates:

• 9/16
• 10/21
• 11/25
• 1/27/25
• 2/24
• 3/31
• 4/30

Time:
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM

You can reach me at joey.page@austin.k12.mn.us or call 507-460-1900 to schedule an appointment.

APS offers a wide range of student activities, including competitive athletics, intramurals, academic clubs, fine arts, and performing arts. View schedules and learn more here.

The school district strongly encourages anyone interested to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations are available to access job openings or apply for a job. Click here to learn more.

You can review previous issues here.