Willmar Public Schools Announces Filing Period for School Board Seats Has Closed

Willmar Public Schools is pleased to announce that the filing period to run for a seat on the school board has ended. Four seats were available in this election cycle, and four incumbents with expiring terms have filed for re-election. The incumbents who have stepped forward for consideration on the ballot include:

• Tammy Barnes, Current Treasurer
• Justin Bos, Current Chair
• Mike Reynolds, Current Vice-Chair
• Scott Thaden, Current Director

Superintendent Dr. Bill Adams expressed his gratitude for their commitment, stating, "We are grateful that people choose to serve our students, staff, families, and community through civic involvement. As a district, we couldn't be more proud of our incumbents for choosing to be considered for an additional four years."

Having only the four incumbents file for the available seats demonstrates the strong support and confidence our community has in their leadership and dedication. Their ongoing service ensures continuity and stability as Willmar Public Schools continues to strive for excellence in education. To learn more about the Board of Education, please visit the Willmar Public School website.

Empowering Independence: The FOCUS House Transition Program

Willmar Public Schools is proud of our FOCUS Transition Program which is designed to equip students with the essential skills needed to live semi-independently or independently within their communities. Through a variety of hands-on learning opportunities in real-world settings, students can autonomously apply these skills in their daily lives.

Participants engage in diverse work experience rotations tailored to their specific interests within the community. In a supportive environment, with guidance from job coaches and program instructors, students develop job readiness and job-specific skills necessary for meaningful employment. Additionally, they learn vital social skills for workplace success, such as communicating with employers about scheduling, managing illness, and resolving job-related issues.

At the FOCUS facility, students acquire essential life skills for independent or semi-independent living. They participate in activities like budgeting for food, planning weekly menus, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. Through practical experience, they learn about healthy eating, nutrition, safe food handling, kitchen tools, and maintaining a clean kitchen. Students also gain basic home management skills, including regular cleaning, laundry, and home maintenance.

The program emphasizes community involvement and resource utilization, integrating recreational activities and access to local health organizations like fitness centers. This holistic approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded experience, preparing them for a successful transition to adult life.

A testament to the program's success is highlighted in the Focus House 23-24 Ambassadors 4 Respect (A4R) Report. The report showcases the incredible work done by our students and staff through the A4R program. This initiative strengthens self-advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities and amplifies bullying prevention efforts in elementary schools. Students at the FOCUS Transition Program learned about bullying prevention and developed training sessions for fourth graders in the district. These Ambassadors were even paid stipends for their peacemaking efforts within the school community.

Focus House Team Outcomes for Students Trained by Focus House:

• 97% of 4th graders could list three ways to include others.

• 96% could list three ways to advocate for themselves and others.

• 93% indicated they learned how to use Person First Language.

A teacher's thoughts from the report echo the program's impact: "This will help many kids with bullying. Awesome opportunity for students to learn about inclusion and first-person language. It's an educational, scaffolded, engaging, and developmentally appropriate presentation. Bravo!!"

We are incredibly proud of the positive work our staff and students are doing. Their dedication and hard work are truly making a difference in our school community.

Source:

Willmar Public Schools. (2024, July, 30). Focus House. Willmar Public Schools Website. https://www.willmar.k12.mn.us/departments/special-education/focus-house

Embarking on a New Journey: My First Day as Superintendent of Willmar Public Schools

Today marks the start of my journey as your new superintendent. Having served as the assistant superintendent for the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of you and becoming deeply familiar with both the academic and operational facets of our district.

The transition plan approved by the school board over two years ago initially met with some skepticism, including my own reservations. However, this experience has demonstrated the school board's remarkable foresight. Traditional superintendent transitions involve a search and selection process where the board might not fully know how well the candidate will align with the district’s standards, nor can the candidate be sure of the fit. Our approach—a two-year, on-the-job evaluation—has proven to be an invaluable decision-making process for me, the board, and our community. I am thrilled to now lead Willmar Public Schools into its continued success.

In spring 2022, when I first applied for this position, I had hesitations as I was quite happy as the Superintendent at New London-Spicer Public Schools. Yet, the unique opportunities that Willmar offers—its programming, support, and commitment to serving all students—drew me in. Recognized by Niche as the 8th most diverse school district in Minnesota, Willmar is positioned to prepare our students for a future in an increasingly diverse United States. I am striving to leverage this diversity to enhance our students' growth and development.

As I step into this role, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Holm’s impeccable leadership over the past nine years. His dedication has significantly shaped our district, and I am grateful for his service.

I extend my appreciation to the school board, staff, students, families, and the entire community for your trust in my leadership. I am committed to advancing our educational system and creating positive relationships across all sectors of our wonderful community.

Together, let’s continue to inspire and prepare all learners for their future in our community and the world!

Behind the Scenes: What Happens in a School District Over Summer

Over the past 12 years as a superintendent, I've often been asked, "Do you work in the summer?" When I answer yes, the response is usually one of surprise. So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share what takes place in a school district each summer. Happy reading!

Finance

A school district's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Each district in Minnesota is required to have a school board-adopted budget by June 30. Consequently, the spring and all of June are spent finalizing the new fiscal year budget. Additionally, throughout the summer, our finance department works diligently in preparation for our annual audit. Needless to say, the finance department is busy during the summer months.

Technology

The Technology Department is currently inventorying new and used equipment while planning to update student iPads in grades 6-12. Additionally, they are onboarding a new phone system for our school district as the current one needs replacing. This year is more complex in the technology world as we transition from the Little Crow Telemedia Network to the Southwest West Central Service Cooperative for high-speed internet. This transition requires due diligence to ensure our network stays operational.

Buildings and Grounds

Aside from the Willmar Middle School gymnasium project, the Buildings and Grounds Department is busy with annual routine cleanings. This includes stripping and waxing floors, cleaning carpets, and other deep cleaning. There are also larger projects such as asbestos abatement, indoor air quality installation, key fob transitions, and several others taking place this summer.

Human Resources

The summer months are busy with benefits open enrollment fulfillment, payroll payoffs, hiring including orientations and New Teacher Induction, updating of the website and employee handbook, and other administrative projects in the Human Resources Department. The HR department also supports the audit process and fulfilling data requests, as about 75% of our annual budget relates to employee benefits and payroll. Additionally, the HR department operates several technology tools that require transitioning to the new year in preparation for our staff returning to the buildings. This year specifically, the department is completing retroactive payments for the teacher settlement and is beginning the negotiation process with all other groups as well.

Community Education

Our Community Education Department is busy running summer programming for our students, families, and community, while also planning activities for the fall. This department also runs our Cardinal Place School Age Childcare program, which provides summer childcare for many of our students.

Teaching and Learning

The Teaching and Learning Department is busy inventorying new curricula and developing staff development plans to ensure our staff continues to deliver high-quality teaching and learning experiences for our students. This department is also working to develop our standards-based learning program in our pursuit of a competency-based learning system.

Special Services

Our Special Education Department is running extended school year programming to minimize learning loss and ensure students can start the new school year strong. Our Special Education department also has state reporting requirements to the Minnesota Department of Education that are completed during the summer months. Just like all other departments, they are also working to prepare for the next school year.

Food and Nutrition

The Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Department is actively concluding the previous school year while preparing for the upcoming one and managing the summer food service programs. This summer, FNS has adapted to provide meals in non-congregate settings, enabling children to take meals home. To maximize community outreach, the team has initiated a "mobile route" delivering meals directly to children at three apartment complex clusters within the community. Expanding from the usual five sites, there are now 17 locations this summer, ensuring that as many children as possible have access to free breakfast and lunch meals, available to all children 18 years and under. For more information on locations and meal times, visit our FNS website at https://bit.ly/wpsfoodservice.

Superintendent

As for the superintendent, I'm busy reviewing the last legislative session to ensure our policies and handbooks align with current state statutes. I'm also supporting all our department heads. We have school board meetings throughout the summer, and creating the agendas for these meetings is essential to ensure smooth school operations. My main responsibility throughout the summer is to ensure our operations are running smoothly and that we are prepared to start the new school year successfully, providing our students with what they need to succeed.

Contrary to popular belief, the summer months in a school system are extremely busy and full of activity. All of this work is crucial to ensuring we have an aligned system functioning at a high level to achieve our mission of inspiring and preparing all learners for their future in our community and the world.

Year in Review at Willmar Public Schools

As we close out the year at Willmar Public Schools and I transition from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent on July 1, 2024, I am filled with pride for our students and staff. It is with deep gratitude that I share this reflection.

Operating Levy and Bond Referendum

On November 7, 2023, our community made a powerful statement about the value of education. We were delighted to announce that both Question 1, the operating levy generating $3,000,000 annually, and Question 2, the $6.1 million bond referendum for new physical education space at the middle school, were approved. This marked a crucial step forward for Willmar Public Schools.

Standards-Based Learning Work

At Willmar Public Schools, we were and will continue to be dedicated to balancing various teaching methodologies to enhance student learning. Our focus included mastery-based learning, trauma-informed instruction, and “all means all” teaching.

Mastery-Based Learning: This approach allows students to progress at their own pace, ensuring a deep understanding of each topic before moving forward. It supports an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Trauma-Informed Instruction: Recognizing that students have diverse backgrounds and experiences, our educators create safe, supportive, and understanding classrooms, helping students feel safe and ready to learn.

“All Means All” Teaching: This method acknowledges and values each student's background by incorporating differentiated materials and perspectives into the curriculum, fostering engagement and appreciation of diversity.

Building Proficiency Scales and Standards-Based Learning: We developed clear expectations for student learning, providing a roadmap that guided teaching and assessment. This project was supported by ten dedicated memoranda of understanding days over the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. Our teaching staff and principals made remarkable progress in these areas.

By integrating these approaches, we aim to create a comprehensive and dynamic learning environment that meets the needs of every student at Willmar Public Schools.

Embracing Diversity: Lessons from A Children’s Book

Like all years, I dove back into elementary classrooms to read which was a highlight for me. This year, I Want to be Spaghetti by Kiera Wright-Ruiz caught my eye. The story’s message about the beauty of being oneself won me over, proving the age-old lesson: never judge a book by its cover. The theme of acceptance resonated deeply with our students. Each year I offer the teachers this opportunity, and I was welcomed by 40 classrooms this year. It’s always a blast!

Honoring Our Retiring Superintendent

Finally, I want to recognize our retiring superintendent, Dr. Jeff Holm. During my time as superintendent at New London-Spicer, I got to know Dr. Holm well. We often communicated about the weather, and through these conversations, I became familiar with his sense of humor. Over the past two years, I’ve learned how important ethics and character are to Dr. Holm. He led with integrity and a commitment to doing what was right. Willmar Public Schools has been in good hands under his leadership. It is now my job to carry that forward, and I take this responsibility very seriously. I wish Dr. Holm the best in all his future endeavors and look forward to leading this great district.

Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to an exciting future for Willmar Public Schools.

Exploring Calendar Options: Willmar Public School District's Upcoming Survey

The Willmar Public School District is planning to conduct a survey regarding our school calendar among staff, eligible students, and the community. To ensure maximum participation, we've decided to postpone the survey until next fall. This delay will help us gather thorough feedback from the entire community.

Minnesota offers several alternatives to the traditional school calendar for districts to consider:

45/15 Calendar
This year-round schedule has students attend school for 45 days followed by a 15-day break, repeating throughout the year. While maintaining the same number of school days as a traditional calendar, this model distributes breaks more frequently, potentially reducing summer learning loss and providing regular rest periods for students.

4-Day School Week 

Under this model, students attend school for four extended days per week, which can help districts save on operational costs. This schedule is particularly favorable in rural areas where students face long commutes.

Pre-Labor Day Start

Starting school before Labor Day requires a waiver from the state, as Minnesota law generally prohibits such early starts. Districts may seek this exception to align more closely with post-secondary schedules or to better prepare students for standardized testing periods.

The survey aims to understand community preferences regarding these calendar options. The results will guide the school board's decision-making process. If there is a preference for alternative calendars, the district must hold three community hearings for further feedback before any changes can be implemented.

As the survey period approaches next fall, we will provide detailed information on how stakeholders can participate. Our goal is to ensure a transparent process that considers all voices in our community.

Embracing Diversity: Lessons from A Children’s Book

Recently, diving back into elementary classrooms to read has been a highlight for me. As a former elementary teacher, nothing compares to the joy of sharing a new compelling story with enthusiastic students. This year, "I Want to be Spaghetti" by Kiera Wright-Ruiz caught my eye. Despite my initial hesitation, the story's message about the beauty of being oneself won me over, proving the age-old lesson: never judge a book by its cover.

The narrative follows a ramen noodle packet's wish to be spaghetti, leading to discoveries about the value of individuality and the importance of accepting others. This theme of acceptance struck a chord, not only with me but also with our students, who could nearly unanimously pinpoint it as the story's theme.

This reflection on acceptance brings me to the beautiful diversity within Willmar Public Schools. Our student demographics are as follows: American Indian (1.0%), Asian (3.9%), Black or African American (15.0%), Hispanic or Latino (43.6%), Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (0.1%), White (34.3%), and Two or More Races (2.0%). Our students also include English Learners (24.5%), those in Special Education (19.9%), recipients of Free/Reduced-Price Meals (69.4%), and the homeless (0.5%).

These numbers paint a picture of a vibrant, diverse community, exemplified by a plasma-cut metal display of the world in Willmar Senior High School. This display, decorated with pins marking our students' origins, highlights the global reach of our school community. Acceptance is not just a principle here; it's a practiced reality, fostering countless friendships and enriching our educational environment.

The story of our boys' soccer team, as featured by Michael Lyne, alongside the commendation of educators like Mesay Doyamo, spotlighted in the University of Minnesota's article "A Quest for Equity in Ag," emphasizes our efforts to reflect our student body's diversity among our staff. These are examples of how we are working to create a staff that is reflective of our student body.

Additionally, we're excited about the future development of a teacher apprenticeship program. This initiative is designed to encourage our students to consider teaching careers, offering a pathway that includes dual credit classes, apprenticeship experiences, and the possibility of becoming licensed teachers who reflect the diversity of our student body.

Our diversity is one of our many strengths which fosters an environment of acceptance and understanding. Willmar Public Schools is a place where every individual is valued, and our collective diversity is celebrated. We are proud of our community, where acceptance and collaboration pave the way for a brighter future for all. #WillmarProud