The Byron Buzz

This week is one of the greatest weeks of the year for our schools: Homecoming Week. The staff prepare their lessons knowing that there will be distractions and changes in the schedule all week and the students spend each day showing their Bear Pride and having fun with classmates. It is weeks like this that bring the Byron Community together to celebrate our schools and our community. Many events will happen throughout the week with Friday's parade and the football game capping it all off.

Please take some time during this week to dress in black and gold and attend an event to support our students and community:

Girls Soccer on Monday at 7:00 (Home)

Boys Soccer and Volleyball on Tuesday at 7:00 (Home)

Parade: Friday at 1:30 starting at the middle school and ending at the primary school

Tailgating Party: Friday at 4:30 at the High School

Football Game vs. Holy Family at 7:00 at the High School

Let's Have A Fantastic Week - Go Bears!

Dr. Mike Neubeck, Superintendent

Email: mike.neubeck@byron.k12.mn.us
Website: https://www.bears.byron.k12.mn.us/
Location: 801 Frontage Road NW, Byron, MN, USA
Phone: 507-775-2383
Facebook: facebook.com/byronbears
Twitter: @neubecksupt

The Byron Bears are excited to welcome a very special guest to next week's Homecoming festivities on Friday, September 27th. John Millea, Senior Content Creator and Storyteller from the Minnesota State High School League, will be in attendance to cover the excitement and passion around Homecoming in Byron. John is well known for his efforts to promote the involvement of extra-curricular activities within schools through extensive coverage of Minnesota Athletics and Activities across the state. He writes a column entitled “John’s Journal” where he captures the highs, the lows, the quirky, and the record-breaking of students involved in activities in Minnesota. He is retiring after 15 distinguished years with the MSHSL and made it a goal to visit new and favorite places in his last year on the beat. We are very excited to have him visit the community of Byron and the new high school stadium, meet our fantastic students and community members, enjoy food at the B-Town Bistro and other vendors at the PTO Tailgate, watch the football game, and experience how awesome the Byron community is.

As the data comes in from this past spring's MCA testing, we continue to celebrate the great work of our students and staff. Students in 5th, 8th and 10th grade take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment in the area of Science.

• 5th graders were at the 93rd percentile
• 8th graders were at the 87th percentile
• High school students finished in the 99th percentile

These are awesome results and our students and staff should be very proud because their hard work is evident in these results.

We mentioned this last week as well; but, while these results are impressive, they represent just one part of our overall vision. Our district is committed to providing students with a strong foundation of knowledge, coupled with the authentic and meaningful learning experiences highlighted in our Profile of a Graduate. This approach ensures our students are equipped not only with academic excellence but also with the skills they need to thrive in the future.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the success of our students. We are proud of these results and excited about the continued growth and achievements ahead. Way To Go Bears!

• Residents are being asked to approve a 10-year levy, with inflationary increases, to help cover operational costs. This levy is structured to raise $1.9 million annually, based on a contribution of $800 per student.

As we plan for the future, securing these funds is crucial. We will be facing several challenges that we need to prepare for:

• Rising Health Insurance Costs: This year, we’ve seen a 28% increase, with another estimated 20% increase projected for next year.
• Expected Unfunded Mandates from the State: We expect that funding will stop or decrease in the area of unemployment for hourly employees and the district will have to pay out of our general fund for Paid Family Leave in 2026, adding to our financial burdens.
• Rising Operational Costs: Expenses for services like snow removal and mandatory inspections are on the rise.
• Attracting Quality Staff: To remain competitive in the area and retain our high quality staff, we need to ensure we can offer attractive compensation and benefits.

Currently, our funding from the State is insufficient, making it more than likely that we would have needed to pursue an operating referendum in the near future. If the State would have kept up with inflation over the past 20 years for student funding, our district would have had an extra $3.4 million last school year. Your support for this levy is essential to ensure we can continue to provide a high-quality education for our students. Together, we can strengthen our district, support our students' futures, and keep Byron a great community for its families.

To view information about our referendum please visit our website!

On Monday, September 16th, the Byron School Board held its meeting. Here is a review of the meeting:

• The board approved to video record board meetings and have them posted to our district website within two days after the meeting.
• The board meetings will continue to be held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. For the remainder of the 2024-25 school year, all meetings will be listed as Board Meetings and start at 6:00 PM. Listening sessions will still occur 30 minutes before the board meeting on the first Monday of each month.
• The Board approved closing open enrollment for all grades for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. Families who want to open enroll for the 2025-26 school year may apply now with the first round of acceptance to be at the second January board meeting.
• The board approved moving forward with the formation of a budget committee. The details of that committee and the frequency of meetings is yet to be determined.
• PLEASE NOTE: The board will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, September 23rd at 6:00 at the high school to receive levy certification information and take action on the levy certification.

The Byron PTO will be hosting a "Meet The Candidates Night" this Wednesday Night, September 25th, from 6:30 - 8:00 at the Middle School. The six candidates running for the Byron School Board will be available and you will have the opportunity to meet them and ask them questions. We are planning another opportunity for the community to hear from the candidates on October 23rd. Details will be sent out when they are made available.

Beginning this fall, you are able to skip the ticket lines and purchase your tickets for any varsity activity/athletic competition online. We encourage people to use this online ticketing so we can serve you faster and more efficiently. Before attending a game, go to this link: Byron Athletic Homepage where you can pay for the tickets and download them to your phone. Skip the lines and get a better seat for the big game.

Monday, September 23 - Girls' Soccer - 7:00 Dover-Eyota (Home)

Tuesday, September 24 - Boys' Soccer - 7:00 Cannon Falls (Home)

Tuesday, September 24 - Volleyball - 7:00 Medford (Home)

Thursday, September 26 - Boys/Girls Cross-Country - 4:00 at Zumbrota

Thursday, September 26 - Boys' Soccer - 7:00 at Red Wing

Friday, September 27 - Football Game - 7:00 Holy Family (Homecoming)

GET PAID FOR HAVING FUN AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN'S LIVES!

Our school age child care program is seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic, and caring individuals to work with awesome kids in grades Preschool through 5th! Hang out, play games, and lead fun activities! Enjoy a part-time schedule during the school year, with hours available before and after school, as well as during non-school days. Work up to 40 hours per week in the summer. No nights or weekends! Must be 18 years of age or older and have a H.S. Diploma or GED. We have students on the waiting list for Project Kids and more assistants would allow us to serve more students.

Learn more about this opportunity and start your application today! CLICK HERE (Job ID 327)

Interested or have questions? Please contact Jeff Wytaske at 507-208-9501 (no texts) or jeff.wytaske@byron.k12.mn.us.

Hurry! Registration is closing soon for classes that start during the week of September 30-October 6.

• Knitting 101
• Strategy Games Workshop for Intermediate Students
• Adventures in Imagination: Learning Dungeons & Dragons for Intermediate Students
• Karate
• Blend it up: Smoothie Science
• Preschool Pals
• {YEL!} Industry Dance
• Saturday Morning Fun - Messy Art
• Spooktacular Cookies for Middle School Students
• Spooky Treats - Cookie Decorating

It's here and we are so excited to share it with you!

The new Byron Early Learning Library will open for lending on September 30th.

• The Byron Early Learning Library is a lending library of developmental toys and books for young children. The collection has been curated by ECFE Parent Education, Ann Miksch.
• Toys and books can be checked out for up to 15 days. Monthly and annual memberships are available and are required to use the library.
• Come to the Library's Open House on Saturday, September 28th at 9 am - Noon to preview toys and books and learn about this amazing new resource for families with young children.

This evening class is meant to be an introduction to a classroom setting with a focus on socializing with other children in a structured environment. Your child will have a chance to meet other children, begin to learn the concepts of sharing toys, taking turns, personal care skills, and participating in story time. An approved curriculum is used to teach age-appropriate, developmental standards. While the focus is on social experiences for children, they will learn academic content through play and exploration.
Dates: Thursdays, October 3-December 12 at 5:30-7 pm

Location: Community Education Center

Ages: 3-5

Fee: $48

REGISTER