A Team Staff,

As we come to the conclusion of this school year, I want to say thank you to our students, staff and families. We kicked off the year with the theme of Be A Cardinal. Be A Champion. That meant being your best in your area of passion and being an advocate or champion for that area. Our student accomplishments continue to amaze me - from state championships to international competitions in Texas and Florida to math masters competitions and spelling bees. Across our activities and classrooms, students strive for excellence with the support of adults at home, in school, and across our community, creating a culture where students can thrive.

As the parent of a graduating senior, it also creates time for reflection. I am so grateful as a dad for all of the support from our staff and community members to help our daughter and her peers in the class of 2025 find and follow their passion. The future is bright for this group of graduates. As we welcome the class of 2038 next fall, I am also excited for all of the opportunities for our young people this summer. Through programs offered by our schools, community education, and countless other opportunities in our region, our students are fortunate to have so many ways to find their areas of passion or try new activities. I added pickleball to my activity list in the past few years. After watching several of our archery competitions, I think that seems like a great lifetime activity. I may need some tutoring from some of our students before I take my first shot.

Congratulations to our graduating class of 2025 students and families. Wishing you all a great end of the school year and a safe start to summer.

Rick

Thanks to those who were able to join us for this celebration. Please take a moment to complete this survey and provide feedback on this event.

We continue to monitor the legislative session, and now special session as our board will approve a preliminary budget for 25-26 that we do in June of each year. We have shared this 3-minute video about school finance with our school board, and we believe this is helpful information for our staff, parents, and community as it provides some context around the complexities of school funding. We have made some challenging decisions this spring as we seek to manage our expenditures and, ideally, not shock the student experience. With the lack of resource stability at the state and national levels, we will continue to create stability for our students, staff, and community. I appreciate our relationships with our local legislators who have been working hard at the capitol, as they have a good understanding of our experience in Alexandria and our region. If you have specific questions about Alexandria Public Schools or any of the content in the video, please feel free to reach out. The video was created through a partnership with the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) and Captivate Media for MASA members to use in their communities across the state.

We welcome the following individuals to our A-Team Staff:

• Brooklyn Bruner: .25 FTE Theatre Teacher, AAHS, effective 8/25/2025
• Rebecca Carlson: EL Teacher, District-wide, effective 8/25/2025
• Mitchell Kaeter: Custodian V, AAHS, effective 5/15/2025
• Joseph Koroll: Music Teacher, AAHS/DMS, effective 8/25/2025
• Nicole Magnuson: Kitchen Assistant, DMS, effective 4/30/2025
• Trish Perry: Assistant Superintendent, District Office, 7/1/2025
• Michael Swartz: Industrial Tech Teacher, AAHS, 8/25/2025
• Linda Walter: Special Education Teacher, TBD, effective 8/25/2025

Policy 414 - Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse

Policy 415 - Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults

Policy 506 - District-wide Student Discipline

Policy 806 - Crisis Management

The Curriculum/Policy Committee reviewed the policies at their committee meeting and supports the additions and revisions.

The following policies received a first reading at the April 21, 2025 board meeting:

• Policy 301 - School District Administration
• Policy 302 - Superintendent
• Policy 303 - Superintendent Selection
• Policy 304 - Superintendent Contract, Duties and Evaluation
• Policy 305 - Policy Implementation
• Policy 308 - District Decision Making Process
• Policy 315 - Emergency Closing

• Vanessa Solarz of Sowing Roots Childcare, located in the Early Education Center, provided a program update to the Board.
• Lynn Jenc, Director Of Community Education, and Angel Manzano, coordinator of Community Education Shenanigans, shared highlights from Shenanigans with the Board.
• Kevin Brezina, Technology Director; Darcy Josephson, Assistant Superintendent — Teaching & Learning; and Jan Finazzo, AAHS Business Teacher, shared information about an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidance Framework, the outcome of a cross-functional task force that was created to help provide direction and guidance to all staff on these new tools.
• Trevor Peterson, Director of Finance & Facilities, provided the Board with a Buildings & Grounds update.
• The Board accepted the bid for Abdo to be our audit firm for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
• The Board approved the final fiscal year 2024-2025 budget revision.
• The Board adopted a resolution placing a continuing contract/tenured teacher on unrequested leave of absence.
• The Board accepted the A Comp Report as presented by Darcy Josephson, Assistant Superintendent — Teaching & Learning.

Two teams of 5th graders placed in the top five at the regional Math Masters competition in April:

• 3rd place: Jaxen Gobernatz, Carson Knight, Griffin Nikolaisen, Cain Severson and Aikin Swaggert (Woodland)
• 5th place: Brooklyn Beebout, Hallie Engblom, Connor Friday, Kellen Ost and Levi Steimann (Voyager)

Additional teams competing in the team portion:

• Kaden Bartlett, Wyatt Birr, Nolan Keding, Aurora Nettleton and Cora Simon (Woodland)
• Elin Barnett, Emmett Hemann, Joshua Flaten, Olivia Flaten and Otto Folkestad (Miltona)
• Ensley Peery, Grayden Petersen, Levi Peterson, Kajsa Sugden, Kendall Thiery and Hadley Beving (Garfield)
• Ely Andreasen, Cylus Brezina, Jaina Felton, Kayden Larson and Beatrice McDonald (Lincoln)
• Mason Horning, Amelia McDonald, Hazel Reif, Luke Scegura and Hayden Staples (Lincoln)
• Sylvia Deterding, Emmitt Good, Edwin Heyn, Dylan Justice and Sophie Kunz (Carlos)
• Ella Byron, Liam Gilpin, Ava Gripne, Katie Kappmeyer and Brynn Lorentz (Voyager)

In the individual problem solving competition, Aikin Swaggert took 3rd place. Other students placing in the top 30 included:

• Aurora Nettleton (WES)
• Nolan Keding (WES)
• Wyatt Birr (WES)
• Emmitt Good (CES)
• Ava Gripne (VES)
• Ensley Peery (GES)
• Emmett Hemann (MES)
• Olivia Flaten (MES)
• Joshua Flaten (MES)
• Connor Friday (VES)
• Liam Gilpin (VES)
• Cain Severson (WES)
• Kayden Larson (LES)
• Edwin Heyn (CES)

In the Fact Drill competition, Ella Byron placed 3rd, with the following students placing in the top 20:

• Griffin Nikolaisen (WES)
• Wyatt Birr (WES)
• Kayden Larson (LES)
• Liam Gilpin (VES)
• Kajsa Sugden (GES)
• Cora Simon (WES)
• Kaden Bartlett (WES)
• Ely Andreasen (LES)
• Hallie Engblom (VES)

Three Discovery Middle School students excelled in the statewide MN on the Map Contest, using ArcGIS to create Story Maps for self-selected topics. Emilia Scegura took 4th place overall and honorable mention. The duo of Joni Vanderheiden and Ada Dahlseng took 3rd place overall.

Miltona cook Sarah Smith has received her Level 3 Certification by the School Nutrition Association, while AAHS cook Marie Linow received her Level 1 Certification.

The following students were recognized as All-State Musicians and will perform at the at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis as part of the MN Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic in February 2026:

• Natalie Travis (French Horn)

• Joshua Makalinao (Violin)
• Alex Rodriguez (Violin)

Band and Orchestra students participated in their respective Solo/Ensemble Contests over the past weeks. In the Orchestra competition, the following students earned a Superior rating:

• Aaron Bjerkaas (Violin)
• Nathan Cook

In Band, the following students earned a Superior rating:

• Evelyn Stockford (Trumpet)
• Eliza Bernards (Marimba)
• Lars Dahl (Snare Drum)
• Shaelyn Groen (Flute)
• Carter Olson (Alto Saxophone)
• Carter Gamm (Trumpet)
• Natalie Travis (French Horn) - was also named Best in Site!
• Otto Henrich (French Horn)
• Lucas Steimann (French Horn)
• Gavin Chelin (Clarinet)
• Mary Sprengeler (Flute)
• Andrew Mayer and Carter Olson (Saxophone Duet)
• Eliza Bernards, Esther Bernards, Lars Dahl, Mara Duscher, Isaac Grieve, Atti Hoven, Gunner Sellnow and Jackson Waltzing (Percussion Ensemble)
• AAHS Jazz Ensemble

One entry received the second-highest Excellent rating:

• Shaelyn Groen, Madison Harrison, Bridger Klavetter, Anna Lindwall and Leah Olberding

Athletes recognized this past month as Central Lakes Conference Performers of the Week in their respective sport include:

• Ellie Sticha - Girls Golf: medalist at Willmar, shooting an 80
• Evan Zabel - Baseball: batted 4-7, with 2 home runs and 6 RBI’s
• Lydia Oldenkamp - Track & Field: threw Shot 41’3" at Monticello for best throw in State in AA
• Cadence Simon - Girls Golf: shot 84 at Alexandria and 79 at Brainerd

Track & Field True Team was held earlier this month. Event winners include:

• 400m: Elliott Kent
• 110m Hurdles: Otto Anderson
• 300m Hurdles: Otto Anderson
• 4x200m Relay: Trey Negen, Dane Olson, Layne Johnson and Daniel Jackson
• 4x400m Relay: Otto Anderson, Isaiah Jackson, Erick Bergerson and Elliott Kent
• 4x800m Relay: Izzy Nei, Quinn Hills, Emma Bassen and Evelyn Kuhnau
• Shot Put: Lydia Oldenkamp
• Long Jump: Evan Kludt and Kaija Schneider

Our Adaptive Bowling Team earned a trip to the State Bowling Tournament.

Our Robotics Team also earned their way to the State Robotics Meet.

Our Boys Golf Team took 1st place at the Central Lakes Conference Meet, with a team total of 292.

Individually, Rachel Bowen shot a 76 at the Girls Central Lakes Conference Golf Meet to earn the best score in the field.

May 21: AAHS Spring Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., AAHS PAC

May 22: DMS 6th Grade Bands Concert (Purple/Gold), 6:30 p.m., (Red/Blue), 7:30 p.m., DMS Gym

May 22: Last Day for AAHS Seniors, Class of 2025.

May 26: No School PreK-12; Compass Closed; Memorial Day.

May 28: Baccalaureate, 7:00 p.m., AAHS PAC.

May 30: Last Day of School for PreK-11 Students; Last Day of Compass; End of 4th Quarter/2nd Semester; Graduation, 5:30 p.m., AAHS Gym. Ticket required.

June 2: PreK-12 Prof. Development Day

June 3: Summer Compass Begins

Make this summer unforgettable with Outdoor Gear Rental! We offer a wide selection of high-quality gear, from Aqua Mats to exciting party games like Bean Bag Toss, Life-size Connect 4, and Giant Jenga with rental prices for only a few dollars a day! Add humor and life to your celebrations! (320) 762-3310 ext. 4242.

Our Mission is to achieve educational excellence and to inspire a life-long passion for learning.

Our Vision is to be an extraordinary school district that tailors learning for all, by working together!

Email: jjohnson@alexschools.org
Website: www.alexschools.org
Location: 1410 South McKay Ave., Suite 201 Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: 320-762-2141
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmnschools/

Instagram: @alexmnschools

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_iI9ts5_R87BvAMxvlM69A