Education

It might not feel like it due to the scorching heat lately, but summer is winding to an end and a new school year has begun. My kids have been telling me for weeks that they’re ready to go back to school and see their friends every day again. I hope they remain eager to go to school at least until they graduate high school.

Increasing in all three subject areas in 2022, the percentage of Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) students meeting state standards in math, reading and science declined in 2023. According to data released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on Aug. 24, 35.1 percent of PAS students met state math standards, 42.9 percent met reading standards and 33.3 percent met science standards. The scores in each subject area were lower than the statewide averages of 45.5 percent for math, 49.9 percent for reading and 39.2 percent in science.

Sept. 5, approximately 1,172 preschool through 12th grade students are expected to begin the 2023-24 school year at Pipestone Area Schools (see the breakdown by grade in the accompanying chart). That’s seven more students than were expected leading up to the start of the 2022-23 school year. There are...

Pipestone Area Schools will welcome eight new teachers to the staff for 2023. In this short video each of them provides a little information about themselves.

A special meeting of the School Board, ISD #2689, was held in Conference Room 1148, MS/HS on August 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present: Katie Wiese, Daphne Likness, Mark Hiniker, Lance Oye, Tyler Fruechte, and Brad Carson. Absent: Chrissy DeBates. Also present: Ex-Officio, Klint Willert, Deb Peschon and Nancy Stiles. Chairman Carson called the meeting to order. Motion by Wiese, second by Likness, approved the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Todd Huisman (rhymes with Houston) is the new middle and high school principal at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS). He replaces Cory Strasser, who left the district for a job in Rapid City. Huisman will be referred to as a coordinator rather than principal for now while he completes the licensure...

The Lyon County Historical Society received a generous donation from the late Mark Goodenow. Mark, a longtime Professor at Southwest Minnesota State University, former Lyon County Historical Society board member, and former Lyon County Commissioner, passed away at his winter home in Mesa, AZ on Feb. 2, 2023. Mark had named the Lyon County Historical Society a beneficiary of his retirement accounts. An undesignated total of $37,848.58 was given to the Lyon County Historical Society.

SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. A regular meeting of the School Board, ISD #2689, was held in the MS/HS Media Center on June 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present: Katie Wiese, Chrissy DeBates, Daphne Likness, Mark Hiniker, Lance Oye, and Brad Carson. Also present – Ex-Officio Kevin Enerson, Jacque Kennedy, Melany Wellnitz, Deb Peschon, Kyle Kuphal, Nancy Stiles, Tyler Fruechte, Jen Zupp, Carrie Schrecengost, Steve Pumper, Klint Willert, Sharon Wolff, and Daren Sievers (Zoom). Chairman Carson called the meeting to order. Motion by Wiese, second by Oye, approved the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Public Forum – None. Presentation – The board had requested a follow up survey for staff and parents. Daren Sievers with School Perceptions presented the results of the survey via Zoom. Motion by DeBates, second by Likness, approved all items in the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Items approved were minutes of the May 22, 2023 regular school board meeting; minutes of the May 22, 2023 and June 20, 2023 work session meetings; minutes of the June 5, 2023 special school board meeting; work agreements for Connor Holt and Adriana Gonzales Gonzales, summer custodians; Jessica Quissell, sped teacher; summer band – Colton Pottratz, Jamie Drey, Owen Minet, and Isaac Stiles, and 23-24 contract for Elementary Coordinator; resignations from Jamie Strasser, business teacher; Steve Rops sped teacher and coach; Crissa Fruechte, ag teacher; Meghan Erickson, middle school math teacher; and Lupita Arellano, student services assistant.

The annual Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) summer program is underway at Pipestone National Monument. The opportunity that currently employs five local high school students, began on June 5 and will run through July 28. Through the program, area students who apply and are selected gain hands-on paid experience working at...

After about eight months of discussion and research, the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board during its June 26 meeting identified projects it intends to take on with unused bond authority from 2019 and voted to proceed with the selling of bonds to finance the projects. School board members plan to...

Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their June 26 meeting approved a general fund budget with a projected deficit of $476,648.32 for fiscal year 2024, which began July 1. General fund expenditures are projected to be $16,453,076.16. The majority of that — $10,836,710.46, or about 66 percent — is...

SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. A special meeting of the School Board, ISD #2689, was held in Conference Room 1148, MS/HS on June 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The following members were present: Brad Carson, Katie Wiese, Chrissy DeBates, Mark Hiniker, Daphne Likness, and Lance Oye. Also present – Ex-Officio Kevin Enerson, Cory Strasser, Deb Peschon, Brock Erickson, Scott Boomgaarden, Travis Dethlefs, Rick Zollner, Wendy Peters, Natalie Resch, Zach Ploeger, Mark Moeller, Nancy Stiles, Kyle Kuphal, Tyler Fruechte, Jen Zupp, Lucas Lorenzen, and Todd Tinklenberg. Chairman Carson called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Motion by Wiese, second by Oye, approved the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

A work session meeting of the School Board, ISD #2689, was held in the MS/HS Media Center on May 22, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. The following members were present: Chairman Brad Carson; Directors Katie Wiese, Chrissy DeBates, Mark Hiniker, Randy Erdman, and Lance Oye. Absent – Daphne Likness. Also present – Ex-Officio Kevin Enerson, Deb Peschon, Kyle Kuphal, Brock Erickson, Nancy Stiles, Natalie Resch, and Kristofer Eischens. Chairman Carson called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Motion by DeBates, second by Oye, approved the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Brock Erickson with Kraus Anderson reviewed the estimated budget and answered questions on the proposed renovations and additions.

Tyler Fruechte is the newest member of the Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board. The school board approved a resolution appointing him to the position during a special June 5 meeting. He will fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Randy Erdman, who moved out of the school district.

The Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board during a special June 5 meeting discussed the possibility of asking voters for funds to improve school facilities. The school board has been discussing six potential projects that it could take on using $2,315,000 in available bonding authority that was approved by voters in 2019, but never used due to state law at the time. After hearing from school district staff about each potential project and touring the areas where those projects would take place, school board members expressed interest in taking on all six projects.

One day after students completed the 2022-23 school year on June 1, Interim Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Superintendent Klint Willert introduced himself to school district employees over the lunch hour. “I’m super excited to be here,” Willert told the PAS employees. He then addressed what he called “the...

Murray County Central Elementary School’s Brielle Plotz was recently selected as the sixth-grade semifinalist in the 32nd annual Zaner-Bloser Na- best cursive handwriting among all the sixth-grade entries throughout the country. Plotz was thrilled to learn about her accomplishment. “It’s exciting to be congratulated and awarded everything,” she said....

The #2 seed, Central Minnesota Christian, from the North half of the bracket, played the Murray County Central Rebels, the #2 seed in the South half of Section 3A in the baseball playoffs on Thursday night for the chance to advance to the Final Four. TMB defeated Lakeview in the game before the Rebels, with the winner of MCC vs. CMC taking on the Panthers, Saturday.

The Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board during its May 22 meeting approved with a 5-2 vote hiring Klint Willert as interim superintendent for the 2023-24 school year. School Board Chair Brad Carson said the negotiations committee, which included him, Daphne Likness and former school board member Randy Erdman, met with two interim superintendent candidates presented by the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA). He said the board chose not to interview a third candidate and that both of those who were interviewed were strong candidates with a wealth of experience.

Students of the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduating class of 2023 were honored for their achievements and presented with over $160,000 in scholarships and awards Friday, May 26 during the annual senior recognition program at the high school. Graduating summa cum laude, which means with highest distinction, with a grade...