Kennedy News
10/18/2023
Addressing Rumors: Facilities Bond Referendum Nov. 7
In recent weeks a Minneapolis-based political action group has been sharing inaccurate information about the district and the proposed referendum. We are working hard to address the misinformation they have mailed and broadcasted in our community.
The Minneapolis-based group has questioned our planning process and raised a concern about unchecked spending.
TRUTH: The District has been working through a long-range facility planning process for several years, with an intensive process beginning in 2019. This work has been reported regularly at MAPS school board meetings. The proposed projects were submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education through the required Review and Comment process and received a favorable review. This legislative requirement ensures the District follows an appropriate planning process and the funds requested align with the proposed project. This process ensures accountability of all bond funds.
The mailings and ads funded by the out-of-town group suggest that Mankato residents must choose between academics and facility updates.
TRUTH: Educating students is our business. Our mission statement makes it clear that our commitment is to ensure all students have the knowledge and skills to be successful and contributing citizens. Our staff works hard every day to deliver quality and meaningful lessons that align with our curriculum. We are constantly looking for ways to improve. Updates to our facilities are one of those ways. The bond referendum allows us to address facility needs, which in turn improves the learning experience, all while safeguarding the operating budget funds designated for teaching and learning.
We are committed to making sure you are getting accurate information and that your questions are answered. Most importantly, exercise your right to vote on or before November 7.
How Misinformation Impacts Kennedy
Misinformation about the bond referendum hurts our students. This referendum will provide three major improvements that will directly impact our Kennedy students. Please read through these and consider how important they are to our kids.
- Safe and Secure Entrance: Kennedy does not have a safe and secure entrance. Relying on locked doors and a door buzzer system is outdated and does not meet current safety and security expectations for schools. Buzzing someone in and allowing them to enter directly into the school building leaves our students and staff vulnerable in the event that we have a visitor with negative intentions. The new secure entrance creates a system that forces all visitors to come through the office before being allowed near students and staff.
- Updated Special Education Spaces: Learning spaces designed in the 1960s were not created to meet the unique needs of special education students. Currently, the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) program at Kennedy is located in what was originally designed to be a library. Although we have made the space work for our students, this area has some significant shortcomings. The new space would include a dedicated handicap accessible bathroom and more flexible learning spaces. These updates would dramatically improve the school experience for students with unique needs.
- Upgrade Cyber Security Networks: We strive to create a safe and secure learning environment for our students both in person and online. With updated infrastructure, we will not be putting our students, families, and staff in a vulnerable position when it comes to their private data. Online security breaches in several large districts have made us more aware of the need to protect the private data of our school community. We now live in a world where nearly all confidential student information is housed in online systems. It is imperative that we keep student and family information confidential and secure from hackers.
As the principal of Kennedy, it's not my job to tell you how to vote but it is my job to set the record straight on how this referendum impacts our students. These proposed impacts at Kennedy are not "luxuries" for our students. Safety and security in person and online as well as improved learning spaces for our most unique learners are future focused solutions to existing building problems. I encourage you to come out to the community informational meeting at East High School on Thursday, October 26th to get all the facts about this great opportunity for our school district.
Kennedy families, please make a plan to get out and vote! Early voting is already open. Visit www.isd77.org/vote2023 to learn more!
Future Focused Bond Referendum Community Information Meeting
Thursday, Oct 26, 2023, 06:00 PM
Mankato East Senior High School, Hoffman Road, Mankato, MN, USA
Mr. Rustad Can Answer Your Referendum Questions!
Do you have questions about the upcoming referendum? Email me! If I don't know the answer, I will get it for you.
Steve Rustad: srusta1@isd77org
September Kennedy B.E.S.T. Students of the Month
The students who were selected as Students of the Month for September were celebrated last week. Students are selected by their teachers for show B.E.S.T. at school. Check out their pictures below!
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Kennedy Spiritwear Store is Open for Business!
This store will be open and accepting orders all year long, at any time! All orders will be shipped directly to your home and 10% will come back to our Kennedy PTO. Take a look:
https://1stplacespiritwear.com/.../collection_detail.html...