Raider Update
May 19, 2024
Greetings Raider Families and Staff,
This week's Raider Update includes several important reminders and announcements:
A reminder about the calendar amendment for our middle school students.
Interim Middle School Principal, Trent Hanson, has been named the 2024 Capitol Division MS Principal of the Year.
The launch of our new website.
An update on the READ Act 2.0 legislation.
Senior student end of the year events.
Reminders about end-of-year events.
Calendar Amendment to the 23-24 School Calendar - Over the past few months, significant efforts have been underway to develop a new “house” model at our middle school. This model will see grade-level classes grouped together, fostering a more cohesive and supportive learning environment. In addition to classrooms, dedicated restrooms are being incorporated for each grade level within each house.
To bring this vision to life, numerous classrooms will be relocated. To minimize disruption to student learning and allow time for packing, the school board has approved a calendar amendment specific to the middle school. As a result, the last day of school for middle school students will be Wednesday, June 5. All other district schedules will remain the same.
Middle School Principal Announcement: The district is currently in the process of interviewing to select the new middle school principal. However, I couldn't be more pleased to announce that our interim principal, Trent Hanson, has been named the 2024 Middle School Capitol Division Principal of the Year. For context, Minnesota is divided into eight educational divisions, and Mr. Hanson has been honored in the Capitol Division. Congratulations, Mr. Hanson!
Hastings Website - We are extremely excited to announce the launching of a new website beginning July 1, 2024. Please note that while the main page will be up and running, there may be a few pages that are under construction until the final work is complete. We’re also grateful for our partnership with HCTV and their work to embed a high-quality district highlight video.
READ Act 2.0 - As a result of the 2023 legislative session, significant advancements were made in literacy education. A pivotal bill introduced two major components:
Mandatory Professional Development: Teachers are now required to undergo training through one of three approved programs: CAREIALL, CORE, or LETRS.
Curriculum: The original bill provided funding for districts for the purchase of approved curricula.
In line with these developments, Hastings has proactively engaged in this process. Teachers are set to begin CORE training this summer, and the district will implement the approved curriculum, Wit and Wisdom, alongside UFLI, starting in the 2024-2025 school year.
As the 2024 legislative session concludes, new provisions under the READ Act 2.0 have introduced additional policy language and funding formulas. The new language included in the supplemental finance bill is as follows:
Modifies the $33.225 million appropriation from the 2023 legislative session that was intended for curriculum and intervention materials and instead distributes funding to school districts, charter schools, and cooperatives as flexible aid equal to the greater of $2,000 or $39.94 times the number of students served based on the 2023 fall enrollment count.
Appropriates $31.375 million in new funding (FY25 only) for school districts, charter schools, and cooperatives, equal to $2000 or $36.06 times the number of students served based on the 2023 fall enrollment count for teacher compensation for training.
Requires districts to enter a memorandum of understanding with the exclusive representatives of teachers providing how the $31 million in new teacher training funding will be used. Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, stipends or payments based on a teacher’s hourly rate of pay and the hours necessary to complete the training.
Requires districts, charter schools, and cooperatives to place aid in a reserved account used to implement the requirements of the Read Act or for literacy incentive aid uses.
Expands eligible uses of literacy incentive aid to include stipends for teachers who complete READ Act training, employing intervention specialists, paying for approved screeners, and teacher stipends.
NOTE: Additional READ Act language is also included in the Education Policy Bill.
As the session closes, I will provide a complete overview of specific language that impacts MN School Districts.
Senior Students - Hard to believe that graduation is right around the corner with senior privileges well underway. The following highlights a number of key activities and dates, but please check out the high school web page for all the details.
May 13 - May 31 Senior privileges
May 31 - Last day for seniors with a number of special activities and a newly added Raider Walk.
June 7 @ 7PM - Graduation at Todd Field (weather permitting). The ceremony will be held at the high school if this year’s weather does not cooperate.
Calendar Updates and Reminders: Please review the district calendar and the event calendar to make sure you don’t miss any spring events.
In closure, thank you for your continued support of Hastings Public Schools. As always, please contact me with any questions or feedback.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tamara Champa
Superintendent
(651) 480-7001
Mr. Charlie Black - Middle School Counselor
Middle school is a time for rapid growth, curiosity, and significant personal development as students navigate new academic challenges, form deeper social connections, and explore their own interests. School counselors have a tremendous impact on our kids' success. They implement strategies and collaborate with school staff, parents, and the community to help kids maximize their personal and academic achievement. Counselors enhance learning and promote academic, career, and social/emotional development. Our school counselors are essential for students and the families they serve.
For over 20 years, Mr. Black has served the Hastings Middle School students as a school counselor. “I work really hard to make sure all students, staff, and families of Hastings Public Schools feel supported and valued. The best part of my job is seeing kids find their strengths and grow in their confidence,” says Mr. Black.
Charlie Black grew up in Hastings and loves this community. He’s also raising his own kids through the ISD 200, and his wife taught here for 14 years. In addition to serving kids during school hours, he’s coached youth sports for over 20 years. He and his family are actively involved in athletics and supporting other community activities as well. They certainly serve and contribute to our community in many ways!
While there’s no doubt that Mr. Black inspires many of his students, he himself is inspired by many former teachers, coaches, and colleagues. “I’m lucky to work with some of my biggest inspirations, including Trent Hanson and Pete McGinnis. Then, there is former staff like Bob Majeski and Jake Moore. There are so many other people that inspire me, but these are just a few,” says Charlie.
Mr. Black likes to spend his free time outdoors, camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and traveling. One of his favorite places to be is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Thank you to Mr. Black and all the other counseling staff for supporting and helping our kids achieve great things. We are fortunate to have such dedicated people helping the children of our community.
If your graduating senior leaves a balance in her/his meal account, it will be transferred to the next sibling in your family beginning on Monday, June 3rd. If you use auto pay, please go into your account and turn off the auto pay feature by Thursday May 23, 2024. IF you do not want this transfer made, please contact Krystel Ebel via email (kebel@isd200.org) by Friday May 31st, 2024.
Meal accounts of seniors will be closed after Monday June 3 rd , 2024 and will no longer be seen in My Payments Plus. These meal accounts are closed on this date in order to stop auto payments as the balances are transferred to siblings. Balances can still be seen by the Food Service office until June 29th , 2024.
If the graduating senior does not have a sibling to transfer the balance to, please request a refund or request it be donated to the District Angel Fund. The District Angel Fund seeks to provide short-term assistance to families in need by covering negative meal account balances and ensuring no child goes hungry.
- Balances may be transferred to the District Angel Fund. You may send an email to kebel@isd200.org to request this transfer. A reply will be sent after the transfer is made acknowledging the donation.
- A balance refund that is over $5.00 needs a written request sent to kebel@isd200.org
- Important: Please include your student’s name, student ID number, refund amount, and mailing address in all correspondence.
- Please call Krystel at 651-480-7050 to verify the balance left in the account.
- Refunds will be made through June 14th , 2024.
Thank you and good luck to the Class of 2024!
