At Austin Public Schools, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every student has the support they need to achieve excellence. With the lowest operating levy in the region ($42.70 per student), the District has exhausted other funding options. Staffing levels, class sizes, and student programs are impacted without an increase in the operating levy.

The Need: Protecting important student programs and services

Our Goals: Moving forward with a long-term vision for our future

The Plan: Voters will consider an operating levy increase of $470 per student

The Impact: The result of the November 8 referendum will be felt directly by our 5,000+ students, 800+ employees, families, and community members

The Cost: Protecting services while maximizing value for residents

Vote: Make your voice heard on or before November 8!

Please visit AccelerateAustin.org for information about the proposed levy increase, including the benefits, the cost, and how you can make your voice heard on Election Day. If you have questions or feedback, don't hesitate to get in touch with the District on the Connect page.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

An operating levy increase would help protect our successful student programs and services. Learn more about the District’s proposed plan and its cost at AccelerateAustin.org.

Note: If you want to schedule an informational presentation or have a question, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Page.

A coalition of community leaders is leading our Hometown Food Security Project - an effort designed to address the barriers that lead to food insecurity for Mower County residents. The first step of the Hometown Food Security Project is to assess existing food resources through a community survey. The goal of the survey is not to assess whether or not an individual is food insecure, but rather to learn what food resources are used and/or needed by community members. Please complete the survey at the following link: https://bit.ly/foodassets.

Congratulations to our Livestock Evaluation team on earning a silver rank! Team members were Gloria Hansen, Abby VanPelt, Cassidy Shute, and Riley Hetzel. Thank you to the FFA coaches Kim Schechinger, Nick Schiltz, and John Carroll.

Check it out! The Ellis Drama Club is excited to present Murder in the House of Horrors by Billy St. John. Shows will run November 11 and 12 at 7:00 PM in Ellis Auditorium, and tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults (and free for kids 5 and under).

November 10, 2022, is National Community Education Day. Community Education is home to programs that are unique within Austin Public Schools. We serve students from birth through adulthood with the following programs. Austin Adult Learning offers a variety of classes to support adults in our community, from English language classes, GED prep courses, and digital literacy. Community Education offers enrichment and recreation opportunities for youth and adults, including More Than Pink and travel. Early Childhood education offers programming for children from birth through kindergarten, including Early Childhood Family Education, Home Visiting, and Preschool. Finally, Community Education is the home for School Age Child Care (Kids Korner) that offers wraparound childcare services for interested families who attend our schools from preschool through grade four.

Thank you to all the staff in our Community Education programs serving our community. If you would like to learn more about Community Education, please contact Jennifer Lawhead, Community Education Director, for more information.

The Parenting Resource Center is a non-profit organization serving southeastern Minnesota. The Parenting Resource Center, Inc.'s mission is to provide resources, services, and prevention education to promote healthy, safe lifestyles for families within communities. PRC serves people of any race, creed, gender, ethnic background, age, income, or geographic location. Check out the PRC and their helpful Mower County Resource Guide.

Millions of eligible families may easily claim the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) until November 15, 2022. Eligible families can claim the CTC at GetCTC.org/mn.

The simplified tool GetCTC.org/mn is for families/caregivers who do not have a 2021 filing requirement – typically, income is below $12,550 if filing single or $25,100 if filing married. The traditional filing method is still available until 2025. The November 15 deadline is for those interested in using the electronic portal.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program, now in its 59th year, is the oldest and most prestigious recognition program in Minnesota to honor excellence in education. The program chooses one teacher to represent Minnesota's thousands of excellent educators. You can nominate an Austin Public Schools teacher here.

Austin Public Schools has tremendous student talent led by incredible staff. We are proud to provide public performances throughout the year and invite the public to come and see the wonderful productions our students and staff put on.

Austin residents 65 and older can get a free pass that will allow you entry to home sporting events, drama productions and music concerts. The pass is not accepted for tournament play and some special concerts. We hope to see you at our activities, events and performances this year.

The City of Austin is currently updating the City's Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan. The City is asking for help from the entire Austin community to help develop your plan and is currently seeking input utilizing an online survey.

Please take a few minutes to complete a survey! Your feedback is crucial as it will help our community create goals and policies to guide Austin's future growth.

Thank you for your time and thoughts!

In this week's Alumni Spotlight, we catch up with alumnus Hayden Lunt.

Are you an alumnus of Austin Public Schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

We're excited to hear about your accomplishments and are eager to share your successes and advice with our current students, families, and the Austin community. Please take a few minutes to complete the quick questionnaire at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/alumni-spotlight regarding your current position and your career trajectory.

Thanks, and we look forward to hearing all your wonderful stories!

At Austin Public Schools, our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate every one of our learners, and we know that the only way for us to reach this goal is through the efforts of all our incredibly hard-working staff.

In this week’s Staff Spotlight, we’re highlighting Austin High School math teacher and cross country coach Tony Einertson.

"Tony is a fantastic teacher, an amazing coach, and a mentor to so many. He goes above and beyond every single day for his students and athletes and it shows. Every high school athlete should have a ‘Coach Tony’ in their lives!"

Congratulations!

If you’d like to nominate an outstanding Austin Public Schools staff member for our weekly Staff Spotlight, please take a moment to fill out the form at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

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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.

Are you interested in having an impact on students' lives? Check out our Employment page to see our current openings!

You can review previous issues here.