Board Bulletin

• The big picture: The School Board recently reviewed and approved the revised budget for our current fiscal year. This budget updates our financial projections based on actual changes we’ve seen since the Board adopted our preliminary budget last summer.

• Why it matters: As you may recall, our school system had to make difficult reductions to our budget this year. The good news is that we have returned our school district to financial stability and replenished our budget reserve. This will put our school district in a position of being able to make strategic investments in key areas as we consider next year’s budget.

• Read it here: FY 2024 Budget Book

• The big picture: Join the School Board and district leadership in supporting Educare at their 2nd annual golf fundraiser on June 24th.

• Why it matters: The Educare Foundation provides financial support to MAPS that goes beyond the normal operating budget to fund programs and activities that enhance educational opportunities for all students.

• Register: Opportunities exist for golfers and non golfers to participate in this event and support our schools. Registration and more information.

• The big picture: Literacy continues to be a major focus for MAPS. For a few years now, our district has been gradually implementing a new evidence-based practice known as the Science of Reading to teach reading and writing skills. This effort accelerated with passage of the READ Act by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023. The Mankato Free Press recently spent a day in Kennedy Elementary reporting on how this effort is yielding positive results for our kids.

• From the Article: “We are seeing significant growth at both kindergarten and first grade,” said Principal Steve Rustad. “Particularly again at Kennedy, we’re a very diverse school. Specifically in first grade, we’re seeing our students of color responding really well to this instruction. We’re seeing our kids in poverty responding very well to this instruction.” He said many kids have moved out of the intensive group just from fall to winter.

• Thanks to teachers: What the public may not see is that the training required for our teachers to master these new Science of Reading methods is particularly demanding. Our School Board wants to express our thanks and gratitude to our teachers for all of the work they are putting in to improve their skills and, ultimately, to ensure our students are successful.

• Check it out: Be sure to Read the Free Press Article and to thank your child’s teacher for their work.

• The big picture: Last month’s Board Bulletin highlighted the launch of Project Success at our middle schools - a new initiative to boost student’s life and career skills. The Star Tribune recently ran a feature on this new program. Thanks to our MAPS staff for continuing to put our schools at the leading edge of innovation to better serve our students.

• Read the article: Minneapolis nonprofit Project Success expands to Mankato schools after record $3 million donation

• The big picture: A new law in Minnesota provides each student one free breakfast and one free lunch per day. We wanted to check in with the Director of Nutrition Services Darcy Stueber on what this has meant for our students and the other great things her and the team are ‘cooking up’ at MAPS.

• How many meals?: Last school year, MAPS served 211,000 breakfasts and 844,600 lunches for a total of 1,055,600 meals. This school year, MAPS has already served 190,300 breakfasts and 631,500 lunches for a total of 821,800 meals. With two months of school left, MAPS will easily surpass last year’s numbers - which is good news and will help ensure that every student has the nutritious meal they need to engage fully in their learning.

• Farm fresh!: The school facilities bond includes the construction of a full-service production kitchen at the Center for Learning that will enable additional local farm to table produce options for our students district-wide. Nutrition services is in the process of working with our past farmers and also looking for new local farmers to team up with as they are planning their planting season (please contact Darcy if you have an interest in supplying MAPS). The new kitchen will have the ability for our farming partners to pull up to our loading docks and unload in one location. The new kitchen will then be used to clean, process and store the food. Once processed, it can either be refrigerated, frozen with our blast chiller or sent directly to the schools to be served in the next few days. Fresh local produce is a wonderful way to feed our students and help the local economy.

• The big picture: In preparation for MAPS Employee Appreciation Week May 6-10th, we invite you to thank our MAPS employees!

• Why it matters: These individuals have made an incredible impact on our students' lives and continue to show up every day with devotion, determination, and dedication. Their commitment to inspiring creativity, empowering resiliency, and engaging our community is an integral part of our school system. Anyone that works in MAPS can be recognized!

• How you can help: If you would like to participate in showing your appreciation, please fill out this form and include a picture if you wish! All submissions will be posted on social media in May!

• The big picture: Our School Board recently heard presentations from Monroe and Kennedy Elementaries on their performance and key initiatives they are pursuing to advance learning and the student experience.

• Zoom in: Each school is seeing amazing growth in student learning - we encourage you to check out the presentations below to learn more about:

• Kennedy Elementary

• Monroe Elementary

Congratulations to Esther, our School Board Student Spotlight!

Esther is an 11th grade student at Mankato East High School who shows exceptional leadership qualities. She has shown initiative by organizing meetings with school leaders and classmates to enhance the student experience at East.

She has been pivotal in amplifying student voices and leading initiatives like the student-led podcast project. We are grateful for Esther's leadership and eagerly anticipate the exciting opportunities she will continue to bring to our school community. Thank you, Esther, for your invaluable contributions!

Join us in honoring Dr. Kevin Haggerty, our March MAPS School Board Staff Spotlight! With over 20 years of dedicated service to our district, his impact over the past two years at Future and SUN Schools has been remarkable.