Pine Island Schools

Dear Pine Island Public School Families,

What a cold snap we are currently enduring here in Minnesota! It's always challenging to segue from the traditional "snow day" to the day of e-learning for both teachers and their learners. Everyone prefers those face-to-face connections that an in-person learning environment provides.

Speaking of connections, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible connections happening throughout our district. From the bus stop to lunch to the classroom to activities, our staff recognize the importance of valuing our students for who they are, and our connections are stronger than ever. These connections, built on care and commitment, are what make Pine Island Public Schools such a special place for our students and their families.

Stay warm (looking forward to next week's weather!),
Superintendent Tonya Constantine

PS: If you haven't already seen our new panther in the 5-12 gym, stop by!

Our high school construction class, under the guidance of teacher Ben Bauer, has teamed up with Derby Construction to build two luxury homes in the Pine Island area. This year's home, which is still in progress, has already been purchased by a wonderful couple who are new to Pine Island. But do not fret--you still have a chance to own House 24 (last year's home)!

House 2024 is now available for bidding! We want YOU to own this beautiful home (pictured below)!

Location: 919 8th St. SW-Pine Island, MN 55963

Details:

-1510 square footage first floor, 732 square footage 2nd floor

-4 bedrooms, 3 baths

-Custom cabinets, Marvin Elevate windows, office with barn doors, master bedroom has walk in closet and master bath with tiled shower and double sinks

Minimum Bid: $595,000

Bids due to: Pine Island Public School District Office 223 1st Ave SE, Pine Island, MN 5593

Bids due by: 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

Bids should include name, phone number, email, and bid amount. Bids will be open prior to the board meeting on Monday, March 10th, 2025.

If you would like a tour of the home or have any questions, please contact the district office at 507-356-4849.

Cold weather is upon us, and we have been closely monitoring the extreme temperatures. As always, the safety of our students is our top priority. Today's (February 18) closing is our third this winter, so we have moved to virtual, online learning for this and any future school cancellations this winter. If your child has problems making virtual connections, please contact your child's teacher or school.

Also, ensure your contact information is current with the district so you receive our automated call, text, and email notifications in the event of any future school correspondence.

We are excited to introduce you to three people in new roles here at Pine Island Schools! Kara Cordes has recently stepped into the position of District Administrative Assistant after an in-depth interview process. Kara has been in the district for almost 20 years and was most recently our Community Education Coordinator. She will continue to lead the Panther ladies golf team this spring! Look for Kara in the District Office or at our monthly School Board meetings!

Our in-house Transportation Department is the envy of Southeast Minnesota, thanks to the exceptional leadership, skilled mechanics, and dedicated drivers. Tammi Quintero recently stepped into the role of Transportation Supervisor, bringing years of experience to the position. Tammi joined our district in 2017 as a transportation coordinator, and in addition to driving, she has been the "wizard behind the curtain," creating efficient and safe routes for our students. Currently, Tammi and her team are working with a transportation consultant to review our stops and routes, with a particular focus on open enrollment. Tammi is a Pine Island resident and four of her children went through Pine Island Schools.

Adam Erickson, our new lead bus mechanic, brings extensive mechanical and transportation experience to the team. An ASE Master School Bus Technician, Adam most recently worked at Transdev as Transit Manager and First Student Transportation for a decade before that. Fun fact: Adam also spent 10 years at American Eagle as an aircraft technician, so perhaps we add a plane to our fleet? Adam is carefully reviewing our fleet with a fresh perspective and is deeply committed to ensuring the safety of our students. Adam lives in Oronoco with his wife and daughter.

Ms. Angela Organ's high school TZD Club, along with Wellness Coordinator Tom Horner, hosted another wildly successful Wellness Fair last Friday. We are incredibly thankful to the wide array of vendors who came out to support the cause and connect with our learners.

Our Community Education program has a wide variety of classes for people of all ages, and our family education opportunities continue to grow!

We will be interviewing for a new Director of Community Education at the beginning of March, so stay tuned to learn who the new leader of our Early Learning Center will be!

Our middle schoolers and their staff are always a busy bunch, whether they are spelling, skiing, or competing against other middle school engineers across the state. Way to go, kids!

NGWSD is celebrated annually the first week in February. Shout out to our current Pine Island female athletes and their coaches who mentor them!

Last month our school board welcomed new School Board member, Dr. Bryan Matera and posed in their new Pine Island shirts. Come on out to our monthly Monday Board meetings (second Monday at 6 pm) to see them in action!

(From L to R: Board Chair Rob Warneke, Dr. Patrick Johnston, Dr. Bryan Matera, Vice Chair Ron Peterson-Rucker, Emily Miller, Secretary Kristi Harney, Treasurer Ted Morrison).

We are excited to highlight the work of our newly formed Teaching & Learning Team (TLT), a dynamic group of teachers and administrators dedicated to enhancing professional development across our district. Led by our skilled Instructional Coaches, Scott Morgan and Josh Pederson, the TLT plans and facilitates monthly teacher gatherings called Connections. During these gatherings, educators come together to discuss key topics and set goals through their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). This collaborative approach to staff development is a source of pride for us, as it’s truly driven by teachers, for teachers, fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment where our educators can continue to learn from the best: each other.

CALENDAR