Willmar Public Schools Launches New Podcast: Willmar Wisdom: Beyond the Classroom

 

Willmar Public Schools is excited to announce the launch of its new podcast, Willmar Wisdom: Beyond the Classroom, hosted by Superintendent Dr. Bill Adams. This monthly podcast will feature a variety of guests from the district, offering listeners a deeper look into the stories, challenges, and successes that shape Willmar Public Schools.

Each episode will explore relevant topics for staff, students, families, and community members. From inspiring student journeys to insightful conversations with staff, Willmar Wisdom provides a platform to share the heart of Willmar Public Schools with the community.

When to Listen:
The first episode of Willmar Wisdom: Beyond the Classroom is available now! New episodes are released monthly. You can listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Apple Podcasts.

Who Should Tune In?
This podcast is for everyone! Staff, students, families, and community members can tune in to stay up-to-date on Willmar Public Schools news and culture.

Episode 1: Now Live!
Episode one, “High School Hidsight,” features recent Willmar graduates Richie Becker, Rebecca Dawson, and Tyler Evans, who share their experiences at Willmar Public Schools and offer advice for current students. Don’t miss this insightful discussion from our newest alumni!

Listen and Subscribe:
Visit www.willmar.k12.mn.us/podcast to listen and subscribe today!

Willmar Public Schools Celebrates Minnesota School Board Recognition Month

 

The Willmar Public Schools will join school districts throughout the state in saluting their local school board members during Minnesota School Board Recognition Month in September.

This commemorative month is designed to recognize the invaluable contributions made by Minnesota’s school board members, including the Willmar Public Schools Board, who are entrusted with the governance of public education under state law.

Minnesota school board members are elected or appointed by their communities to lead local schools, with responsibilities that include oversight of district finances, policy-making, and ensuring that the district adheres to state and federal education laws. Their decisions directly impact the quality of education for more than 870,000 students across the state, including our 4,000+ students in Willmar, as well as the working conditions of over 57,000 teachers and thousands of administrators and support staff.

These dedicated volunteer leaders spend countless hours in board training programs and personal study to enhance their understanding of the complexities of school finance, budgeting, and the ever-evolving landscape of education. Their commitment ensures that our schools are well-governed and that our students have the best possible opportunities for success.

We extend our deepest respect and appreciation to the members of the Willmar Public Schools Board for their unwavering dedication to serving our students, staff, and the broader community. Their leadership and commitment to effective governance play a crucial role in the success of our district.

Please join us in saying thank you to our school board members during Minnesota School Board Recognition Month: Justin Bos, Board Chairperson; Mike Reynolds, Vice Chairperson; Tammy Barnes, Treasurer; Dr. Mary Amon, Clerk; and Directors Randy Frederickson, Jay Lawton, and Scott Thaden. Your service and dedication to our schools and community are deeply appreciated.

Kennedy Elementary School Earns Level 1 Certification in Marzano High Reliability Schools™

Kennedy Elementary School proudly announces its achievement of Level 1 certification in the Marzano High Reliability Schools™ (HRS) program. This prestigious certification signifies that Kennedy Elementary has established a "Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture," a critical foundation for all subsequent levels of the HRS framework. Ensuring such a culture is essential for optimizing student achievement and the daily operations of the school.

The HRS program, developed by Marzano Resources, is designed to transform schools into proactive organizations dedicated to student success. The program employs a five-level hierarchy, backed by over 50 years of educational research, to help schools assess, monitor, and confirm their effectiveness. By achieving Level 1 certification, Kennedy Elementary has demonstrated its commitment to fostering an environment where all students can thrive and acquire the skills necessary for success in college, careers, and beyond.

Mrs. Shelly Boelter, Principal of Kennedy Elementary School, expressed her pride in this accomplishment, stating, "I am incredibly proud of our staff, students, families, and the entire Kennedy Elementary community for their dedication to creating a safe and collaborative learning environment. This certification is a testament to their hard work and commitment to student success."

Mrs. Boelter also acknowledged the instrumental work of retired elementary principal Kristin Dresler, who initiated and led the process. "We owe a great deal of gratitude to Kristin Dresler for laying the groundwork for this achievement. Her leadership was pivotal in guiding us to this point, and we are building on the strong foundation she established."

In addition, Mrs. Boelter extended a special thank you to the committee members who worked alongside her and Mrs. Dresler in this process: Rachel Dunlavy, Michelle Hardebeck, Angie Michelson, Michaele Stoeberl, Tiffany Tollers, and Paula Ulicsni. Their dedication and collaboration were essential in achieving this milestone.

Superintendent Dr. Bill Adams also praised the efforts of the Kennedy team, stating, "I am immensely proud of the work done by Principal Dresler, Principal Boelter, and the entire Kennedy Elementary team in prioritizing a safe, supportive, and collaborative culture. Their dedication to this foundational aspect of education is truly appreciated. Achieving Level 1 certification in the Marzano High Reliability Schools program is a testament to their unwavering commitment to student success and the diligent effort they put into the certification process. This accomplishment reflects the high standards we uphold across our district, and I am grateful for their leadership and hard work."

The HRS framework allows schools like Kennedy Elementary to make significant, lasting improvements in student achievement by integrating multiple initiatives into a cohesive system. Certification at each level is determined by Marzano Resources analysts, in collaboration with school data teams, ensuring that schools like Kennedy Elementary continue to meet high standards of excellence.

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.