We have celebrated several achievements over the past month at Austin Public Schools. As part of the Minnesota Department of Education's new Direct Admissions program, seniors at Austin High School and Austin Online Academy opened envelopes that listed which colleges they were preapproved to attend. What an exciting moment!

Austin was one of the first schools in Minnesota chosen for the program due to our District's socio-economic diversity. I am eager to see the impact of this program and how it will boost the confidence of our talented students as they consider their futures.

In addition, Austin Public Schools' More Than Pink program won a Regional Project Award from the Minnesota Community Education Association. More Than Pink is a six-week summer program for girls who have completed grades 3-6. The program combines training for a 5K run with lessons that empower girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, and embrace their gifts.

Finally, Community Education Director Jen Lawhead received the Regional Community Educator Award from the Minnesota Community Education Association, a well-deserved recognition of her and the team's commitment to serving our school district and community.

We have so many reasons to be proud of our students, staff, and community every month of the year. If you're curious about our long-term vision for the future of our District, don't forget to visit AccelerateAustin.org.

Austin is truly a special place. Thank you for being so supportive of our schools.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

The Austin School Board is a policy-making body responsible for the District's curriculum, personnel, and physical facilities. The School Board recently approved a new Governance Handbook.

The School Board works hard for Austin Public School students and encourages your involvement and feedback. The public is invited and encouraged to attend School Board meetings.

Regular School Board meetings are held at 5:30 pm in the AHS Annex Recital Hall at 205 4th St NW. Please enter through Annex Door #1. Meeting dates are noted in the calendar. Please call 507-460-1900 with any questions concerning school board meetings.

The meeting agenda is posted on the district website and in the Superintendent's Office at 401 Third Avenue NW three days before each meeting.

School Board minutes are also posted on the district website and published regularly in the Austin Daily Herald. The meetings are live-streamed on the APS YouTube channel, and the link will be made available in the meeting agenda and via social media.

Please note that only regular monthly meetings are live-streamed (this does not include study sessions).

During each Regular School Board meeting, the Board will allow audience members to address the Board. Don't hesitate to contact the Superintendent's office at 507-460-1900 to address the School Board.

Austin Public Schools is happy to announce that Mr. Todd Lechtenberg will become the next Executive Director of Finance and Operations.

Todd has worked as a school business manager with School Management Services for over a decade. During that time, he helped support multiple school districts by monitoring fiscal needs, helping develop goals and strategies to meet strategic planning initiatives, and implementing process improvements to help drive operational growth. He holds an MBA with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Phoenix.

"I am incredibly excited and honored to be joining the great team at Austin Public Schools as the Executive Director of Finance and Operations," says Todd. "I look forward to contributing my expertise and working collaboratively with this exceptional admin team and community to ensure sound financial management and operational excellence."

"Mr. Lechtenberg's accomplished background thoroughly positions him for this critical role," says Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page. "His financial management and strategic thinking align with our District's objectives, and his dedication to a people-first approach and ability to address challenges will undoubtedly enrich our school system. His consistent track record in developing solid partnerships with an emphasis on a team-based environment are attributes that Austin Public Schools will appreciate."

In this podcast, you'll hear about APS Communication Coordinator Ryan Mayers' journey from a math teacher to a technology integrationist to an award-winning communications coordinator for the Austin Public Schools.

Recently, the Hormel Foundation board of directors approved record distributions of $25.6 million for nonprofit agencies in the Austin/Mower community for 2024.

The Austin Public School District is thankful for the Hormel Foundation's ongoing support. This year, the District received over $1.7 million in allocated funds to various programs like technology in the K-12 settings, REACH, gifted and talented, professional development, and supporting our music programs. Learn more here.

During Inclusive Schools Week, it is important to commemorate schools' progress in providing quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. Inclusive Schools Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else could be done to ensure that their schools continue improving their ability to educate all children successfully.

This year, the theme of Inclusive Schools Week is "Draw Me In!" Participating in art provides a pathway to self-discovery, and sharing art opens doors to understanding and respecting different ways of thinking. Do we see the faces of all children and youth drawn into the canvas of our schools and society today?

The need to belong is a basic need of all students and an integral component of effective, inclusive schools. To be inclusive implies a fundamental commitment to building relationships among students, families, educators, and the community to support safe and positive learning environments. As we celebrate Inclusive Schools Week 2023, let us respond—Draw Me In! (Source: MDE)

The proclamation will be published on the Governor's proclamations webpage.

Did you know that there are a wide variety of assistance programs for those in need? Mower County Public Health is working to spread the word about assistance programs such as EBT, SNAP, the MN Childcare Assistance Program, and more. Please visit https://mnbenefits.mn.gov to apply for these and more.

Health care assistance is also available via MNSure at https://www.mnsure.org.

Please check out the flyers below for more information.

New this year - thanks to an MN pilot program, more people than ever are eligible to be substitute teachers!

During the pilot, individuals with an associate's degree in any field and educational support professionals (paraeducators) with a high school diploma who have worked at APS for at least a year are eligible for a short-call substitute license.

Call us at 507-460-1903 or email us for more information!

Austin Public Schools strives to address your questions and concerns quickly and effectively. Therefore, we have developed communication protocols to promote direct, open, and respectful interactions to resolve problems and concerns efficiently. Please visit our Report A Concern webpage to review our communication protocol.

In 2022, the United States transitioned to the new three-digit dialing code 988 to reach crisis support. The change is part of a nationwide effort to transition the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline) to a phone number people can more easily remember and access in times of crisis. The shift also includes an online chat feature and a new texting option.

The new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline code will serve as a universal entry point so people can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help regardless of where they live. Anyone can dial or text 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to reach crisis support or to use an online chat feature to connect with crisis support. People can dial 988 if worried about a loved one needing crisis support.

For more information, visit Mental Health and Well-being.

• Mayo Clinic Minute: What a Mayo Clinic pediatrician says about the flu vaccine and kids
• Mayo Clinic Minute: How change in sunlight can affect your mood
• A doctor's warning about the dangers of vaping

In this week's Alumni Spotlight, we catch up with alumna Nicole Boldt.

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.

All you need to do is take a minute to answer a few quick questions at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/alumni-spotlight.

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 Sumner Elementary School Grade 1 teacher Jake Vela.

"Mr. Vela brings a positive energy to his class. You can tell he genuinely cares for his students and will go above and beyond to help them succeed."

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!

• How teachers are utilizing, at times even embracing, AI in the classroom
• Five Habits of Humility
• Senators propose study on effects of cell phone use in schools
• Schools should ban smartphones. Parents should help.

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.

Please Note:

We are currently between the fall and winter sports seasons.

Austin Public Schools is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values the diversity of its employees and does not discriminate against any employee or candidate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status or membership or activity in a local commission. The school district strongly encourages anyone interested to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations to access job openings or to apply for a job are available. Click here to learn more.

You can review previous issues here.