Hastings Public Schools

We're hiring Paraprofessionals/Pupil Support Assistant, Special Education at Multiple sites.

If you have a heart for working with students, a desire to make a difference, and enjoy being part of a supportive school community, we encourage you to apply.

https://www.applitrack.com/HastingsISD/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Support+Staff+-+Pupil%2fInstructional

Hastings High School is proud to recognize Eli Handrich, Madeline Paulson, Josephine Bauer, and Parker Stoltz as recipients of MSHSL honors!

Eli and Madeline earned the ExCEL Award for excellence in community, education, and leadership, while Josephine and Parker received the Triple “A” Award recognizing achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. All four will advance for additional state-level consideration.

We are excited to hear that Christy Baum, Special Education Teacher at Hastings High School, has been named Educator of the Year by the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. Christy, we couldn’t be prouder of you. We are lucky to have you with Hastings Public Schools! A big thank you to the Hastings Minnesota Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau for recognizing the outstanding educators who make a difference in our community.

🛍️ Shop Raider Pride!
The Hastings High School School Store is open to the entire community every Monday and Wednesday after school from 2:31–3:30 PM, now through Winter Break!
Come check out a great selection of Raider apparel and spirit gear, perfect for students, families, and fans alike. 💙💛
Please note: during these community hours, the store accepts checks or credit cards only.
📍 Location: Hastings High School
🕑 Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:31–3:30 PM
🗓️ Open through Winter Break

Our first round of Level Up Awards was presented to students and staff last week at Hastings Middle School!

Students receive a Level Up Award for demonstrating growth and for modeling the Raider Way. Staff members are recognized with Level Up Awards for going above and beyond in their work and for inspiring Hastings Middle School students to grow and succeed.

We’re so proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our HMS community—keep striving to level up every day!

Spanish and French Clubs met at the high school to celebrate Día de los muertos and La Toussaint. These holidays are both celebrations that aim to remember those who have passed before us and honor their memories. Spanish Club learned about different cultural traditions. French Club learned about the Parisian catacombs and built their own ossuaries. Both groups enjoyed sampling some spiced hot chocolate with pan de muerto.

Students in Ms. Knoll's 4th-grade class at Pinecrest got hands-on with their learning about the literal heart during Wit and Wisdom! 💓
They started by finding their partner’s pulse and then placed a piece of clay with a straw over the pulse point. By watching the straw move, they could see firsthand how the pulse works in the body. What a fun way to bring science to life! 👏

Congratulations, Ellie Gullicks, for being the Hastings High School Faculty Spotlight!
Thank you for all your work both in and out of the classroom. Ellie stepped up to teach the medical careers class for our students. She has been partnering with Regina Hospital to create a class to help our students learn more about medical careers and become CNA-certified. She has also devoted time to learn how to utilize our Anatomage Table in the classroom. Additionally, she has helped create a positive student experience outside of the school day, helping with fall danceline, show choir, track and field, and the Red Cross Club. We appreciate all you do for the students at HHS.

First graders in Mrs. Bachman’s class at Kennedy had bus training this week. Thanks to the Hastings bus company for coming to review bus safety and for getting kids to and from school safely each day!

Homecoming 2025 is just around the corner (September 23-26). Spirit Dress-Up Days will take place across our elementary, middle, and high school buildings, and the full schedule is listed below. We encourage not only our students but also our staff and community members to take part in the fun and show your Raider pride all week long!

Congratulations, Hastings Raiders Marching Band, for a FIRST place win out of 8 bands and earning Outstanding Percussion in your class! Hope to see everyone at the home show, Sept 20, 6 pm at Todd Field.

Chef Mike is back with more tasty treats to start the school year! He will be featuring the September Harvest of the Month and sampling "The Kids Made Green Beans!" to students at McAuliffe (9/23), Pinecrest (9/24), and Kennedy (9/25). Thanks for encouraging your student to participate!

Filling out the educational benefits application could qualify your family for reduced participation fees. Complete the application today: https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/HASS01

🚍 Raider Transportation Update: 2025–26 School Year 🚍

Planning for next year’s bus routes is underway! Families have been sent an email with Opt-in and Opt-out forms. Here's what families need to know:

✅ Grades K–4 & 5–8

Students in eligible areas will automatically be routed for transportation.

No action needed unless you’re NOT using district transportation — if so, please complete the OPT-OUT form by August 1, 2025.

Opting out helps reduce ride times, costs, and mid-year changes.

✅ Grades 9–12

Students must OPT-IN to receive transportation.

Complete the OPT-IN form by August 1, 2025 or your student will not be scheduled for a bus.

🚌 Courtesy Stops (Grades 5–12)

For students living within 1.75 miles of the schools.

Must complete the Courtesy Stop Registration by August 1 to ride at the start of the year.

Late registrations (Aug 2–Sept 5): service starts Sept 15.

After Sept 5: 1-week processing delay.

📅 Bus routes available in Parent Portal by August 18

📞 Questions or need to make changes? Call Hastings Bus Company at 651-437-1888.

📌 All forms and maps are on the district website. Help us plan efficiently—thank you!

🎓 Hastings Graduation Ceremony Update 🎓 Tonight’s graduation ceremony will be held OUTSIDE at Todd Field at 7:00 PM! 🌥 The forecast looks good — temps in the upper 60s to low 70s, overcast skies, light winds, and only a 5% chance of rain. Just in case, bring a poncho or rain jacket. 🎟 Details for guests: Gates open at 5:30 PM — no tickets required No elevator access, but the upper 10th Street gate will be open for bleacher-level access Restrooms are only available at the plaza level — guests on the bleachers will need to exit and re-enter Limited parking on 10th Street; you may drop off at the gate and park elsewhere Reserved seating along the bleacher walkway is available for guests with mobility needs — please keep those seats available for families who need them 📸 The ceremony is expected to last about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Families are welcome to meet their graduates on the field afterward! We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2025 with all of you tonight! 💙💛

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carrie Tate, School Board Chair, ctate@isd200.org Hastings School Board Selects Superintendent Hastings, MN— At a special board meeting on May 13, 2025, the Hastings School Board voted to select Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp Herman as the district’s next superintendent. Dr. Wehrkamp Herman is currently the superintendent of Royalton Public Schools. “Dr. Wehrkamp Herman has demonstrated that she not only meets but exceeds the hiring criteria established by our board. As the new leader of Hastings Public Schools, she will be able to build on past work and successes, and she is committed to moving the district forward. We are excited to welcome Kristine to our district and for this next chapter to begin,” said Carrie Tate, Hastings School Board Chair. Dr. Wehrkamp Herman added, “It is an honor to be selected as the next superintendent of Hastings Public Schools. I am committed to working in partnership with our staff, families, students, and community. Hastings has a strong reputation for excellence and community pride, and I’m excited to build on that foundation as we work together to support the successful outcomes of every student.” The school board will be conducting negotiations with Dr. Wehrkamp Herman and a contract is expected to be approved by the school board at the May 21 board meeting The pending start date for the new superintendent is July 1, 2025.

We are currently experiencing an issue with incoming phone calls to Hastings Public Schools. Callers may receive a busy signal when trying to reach our buildings, including the district office. We have contacted CenturyLink and they have opened a ticket to investigate the problem. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us via email if you need immediate assistance.

The Hastings School Board has unanimously selected two finalists to return for a second interview for the school district’s superintendent position. The finalists are: • Dr. Jeffrey Fleig, Superintendent, Fond du Lac School District, WI • Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp Herman, Superintendent, Royalton Public Schools, MN The finalists were selected from a pool of applicants based on criteria established by the school board. Five semi-finalists were interviewed on May 6, 2025. The school board has scheduled interviews for the finalists beginning at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The finalists will also be given tours of the district and community prior to their interviews. All interviews will be held at the District Office conference room (1000 West 11th Street in Hastings) and are open to the public. To ensure a level playing field for all candidates, the interviews will not be livestreamed or recorded. Contact: Carrie Tate, School Board Chair, ctate@isd200.org