Hastings Public Schools

🛍️ 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

Staff Spotlight - Temira Butler, Special Education Teacher, HHS In Hastings Public Schools, our educators wear many hats, but few have a collection as impressive as Ms. Temira Butler’s. Since joining ISD 200 in 2007, Ms. Butler has been a cornerstone of our district, pouring her energy and expertise into every role she takes on—and there are many! She currently serves as a Special Education teacher at Hastings High School, teaches social studies during summer school, works as a Homebound teacher, participates in the Native American Parent Advisory Committee, and represents our district on the Insurance Committee. Ms. Butler’s dedication to education spans nearly two decades. “After 15 years of teaching multiple subjects, I am now a resource teacher at both the high school and HAHS, and I also co-teach English 10 and Algebra 2 Essentials,” she shares. Her flexibility, passion, and drive to meet student’s individual needs are evident in every role she fulfills. Over the years, she has witnessed the evolving landscape of education. “At ISD 200, I’ve embraced technology to support student learning. However, I’ve also seen how it can negatively impact students' social, emotional, and academic development. What our students need now more than ever is our full attention—and a partnership between educators, parents, and the greater Hastings community to help hold students accountable and support rigorous learning.” Ms. Butler’s belief in Hastings High School runs deep—so much so that she paid out-of-state tuition so her youngest child could attend HHS, graduating in 2023. Her decision speaks volumes about the high regard in which she holds her colleagues. “The staff at Hastings High School are exceptional. Dana Strain, Christine Meister, Patty McNamara, Callie Lawrenz, Todd Levos, Christian Waage, Anthony Letourneau, Jackie Morrison, Jessie Holm, and Brianna Dietz are just a few who inspire me daily with their thoughtfulness, skill, and dedication.” Outside the classroom, Ms. Butler leads a vibrant and active life. She enjoys camping, reading, collecting Funko Pops, raising exotic animals, and exploring the diverse cultures across Minnesota—both Indigenous and immigrant communities. Ms. Temira Butler exemplifies the passion, commitment, and heart that define our Hastings staff. Her impact stretches far beyond the classroom, touching the lives of students, families, and colleagues alike. We are incredibly grateful to have her as part of our ISD 200 family. Thank you, Ms. Butler, for all you do!

The School Board of Hastings Public Schools is conducting a search for a new superintendent. The School Board contracted with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to guide and provide assistance throughout the process. The School Board met on April 3, 2025, to plan the search. To ensure all constituents in the district have access to accurate information regarding search processes and expectations, MSBA will host a virtual Q & A with MSBA at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Click here to join the Zoom session at that time. All interested individuals are invited to attend the live session; however, to accommodate busy schedules as well as ensure access to search information, the session will also be recorded and made available on the district website for the remainder of the search. Questions about the search process can be submitted anonymously in advance by clicking here: Submit Questions About the Search Here. The deadline for submittal of advance questions is Wednesday, April 16 at noon. Questions may also be submitted during the session using the chat box. We hope you can join MSBA for this overview of the upcoming search process. If you are unable to join us live, please visit the district website to watch the recording at a later date. Contact Barb Dorn, MSBA Director of Leadership Development and Executive Search, at 507-508-5501 with any questions. For more information, visit our website at: https://www.hastings.k12.mn.us/page/superintendent-search Thank you for your interest and participation in the superintendent search process!

Staff Spotlight, Mary Shrader, Parent Educator, Tilden We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Mary Shrader to the ISD200 family this year as a Parent Educator! Mary is joining the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program in Hastings, where her work is already making a profound impact on children, families, and the community as a whole. "I am constantly inspired by the ECFE and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teachers here in Hastings," shares Mary. "My colleagues are incredibly skilled professionals who make a lasting difference for young children and their families every day." At Tilden Elementary, Ms. Shrader’s role is centered around building and strengthening relationships—both with and within families. As Mary puts it, "The most meaningful learning for both children and adults happens within the context of relationships. In our supportive groups, parents explore science-based approaches to parenting. They work to build on their own strengths, learn from one another, and stay open to new ideas and strategies." One of Mary’s key goals is to expand access to ECFE, especially for working parents and those with school-aged children. She is passionate about exploring important topics such as self-care, self-regulation, co-regulation, positive discipline, media and technology use, fostering a growth mindset, child-led play, and early literacy. These are just a few of the many valuable areas Mary addresses with the families she supports. The work Mary and her colleagues do extends far beyond the early childhood years. The foundation they lay helps our youngest learners build the skills and confidence necessary for long-term academic success—impacting their entire educational journey. When she’s not working to empower families and foster young minds, Mary enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren. Her hobbies include biking, kayaking, hiking, reading, and crafting. Thank you, Ms. Shrader, for helping to prepare our children for a bright and successful future. Our community is truly stronger because of you!

Staff Spotlight, Kailyn Gernes, Paraprofessional, Pinecrest At the heart of our school community are the paraprofessionals—dedicated individuals who play a crucial role in helping our students achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and reach their fullest potential. This month, we’re thrilled to celebrate one such outstanding team member: Ms. Kailyn Gernes, a paraprofessional at Pinecrest Elementary. For the past three years, Kailyn has been a vital part of our Pinecrest family. Her passion for supporting students goes far beyond the classroom, as she works tirelessly to help them thrive. Kailyn shares, "Watching our students succeed is the best part of my job! No goal is too small, and when our students reach those goals, it's incredible to celebrate with them. Positive feedback and reinforcement are what keep us all going. Being able to motivate and encourage excellence, while helping create a safe and supportive environment for our students, is what drives me every day." A proud graduate of Hastings High School, Kailyn grew up in the community she now serves. She reflects fondly on the incredible teachers she had as a student and is deeply honored to now work alongside them. "My co-workers inspire me with their innovative ideas and their unwavering dedication," Kailyn says. In addition to her role as a paraprofessional, Kailyn also coaches the Middle School volleyball team, where she brings the same dedication to fostering student success both on and off the court. Outside of school, Kailyn enjoys playing volleyball, attending concerts, spending quality time with her family, and soaking up the outdoors. Kailyn is deeply inspired by her hardworking parents, and it's clear that she, in turn, inspires the students she works with every single day. Kailyn, thank you for everything you do to make Pinecrest Elementary a better place! We are grateful for your passion, commitment, and the positive impact you have on so many.