Raider Update
A Weekly eNewsletter from Hastings Public Schools
Message from the Superintendent
Good afternoon Raider families,
By now, some of you may have been contacted by the firm conducting our community survey. Again, this survey is intended to provide the board with a broad spectrum of insight into how the community feels on a variety of topics. Because it is a scientific survey, it uses a randomized community sample. The board will be hearing these results at the April 13th work session.
If you didn't get a chance to check out our 2017 Bond website, you could see it here. As we move into the final stages of projects, we want to highlight all of the great things being accomplished due to the generosity of the Hastings area community's approval of the bond.
Finally, our calendars for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 have been approved and can be found under News and Events on our website.
Bob McDowell, Ed.D.
Superintendent
2017 Bond Projects Update
In November 2017, voters approved a $49.5 million bond to fund improvements for Hastings Public Schools. Five areas of need were addressed in the bond, including safety and security, deferred maintenance, 21st-century learning, community shared spaces, and technology. In addition, the bond promised some improvement at all schools in the district and addressed many needs identified in the district's Long Range Facilities planning process.
Due to the community's generosity, Hastings Public Schools has seen significant improvements that will benefit all students. All of the building projects promised in the 2017 bond issue are completed or nearing completion. Hastings Public Schools has kept those construction promises and worked hard to demonstrate good stewardship.
Hastings Public Schools takes pride in our facilities and is committed to maintaining our buildings and grounds. Among the many improvements, here are a few highlights from the completed bond projects: six roofs have been partially or fully replaced, 32 ventilation systems installed, five complete HVAC systems, seven parking lots repaired, exterior lighting installed at 54 locations, and synthetic turf installed on Todd Field. Information and photos from many of our projects can be found on our Bond Projects website.
The School Board Facilities Committee has done an exceptional job stretching tax dollars to go farther than promised. Thanks to the interest earned on the bonds, rebate programs, and the number of projects under budget, over $7 million in additional projects will be completed without affecting the taxpayer's levy rate. This means the district is returning more improvements to taxpayers than initially promised.
Hastings Public Schools will continue to be good stewards, keep our promises, and do our utmost to keep earning your trust. Again, we thank you for your support in providing an infrastructure that facilitates our students' best possible learning environment.
School Board Update
- The High School Wrestling team and Show Choir were recognized for their exceptional achievements.
- Plans for the ALC build-out project at the High School were presented to the board. The ALC Renovation and Build-out slideshow can be viewed here.
- The 2022-23 and 2023-24 have been approved and can be found under News and Events on our website.
You can view the March 23, 2022, School Board meeting here. The next regular school board meeting is on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 6:00 PM at the Middle School Media Center. For more information about the school board, meeting dates, agendas, and minutes, visit our School Board page.
Escape the Vape FINAL FIVE finalist
Our very own 8th grader at HMS, Isabella Larson, is an Escape the Vape FINAL FIVE finalist in the middle school division!
Public voting on which one of the FINAL FIVE will take first place in Escape the Vape 2022 starts today and runs through April 6th. Anyone can now vote on their favorite video in both the high school and middle school divisions.
Hastings Public Schools
- Tilden Community Center 651-480-7670
- Kennedy Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7221
- McAuliffe Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7390
- Pinecrest Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7280
- Hastings Middle School (5-8) 651-480-7060
- Hastings High School (9-12) 651-480-7470
- Hastings Alternative Learning Center 651-480-7690
*If you need any assistance in translating the Raider Update, contact us at kgorr@isd200.org.
Website: www.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 1000 11th Street West, Hastings, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hastingspublicschools