One of the biggest projects undertaken this year in the New Ulm Public Schools was at the CTE Center. New HVAC systems were installed in the buildings. Superintendent Sean Koster said they were needed to ensure air quality is good for students who are welding, woodworking, or dealing with machinery of any type.

The middle school has received a new set of classroom displays. The flat-screen televisions replace overhead projectors, and match the ones already placed in Jefferson and the Washington Learning Center. Koster said screens are cheaper than new projectors, and the need to replace projector bulbs is eliminated.

After a discussion with maintenance and other employees, Koster said the middle school greenhouse will be repaired instead of torn down. While this is still in the early stages, they took necessary steps over the summer to ensure it is usable. This included replacing the steps on both sides, as one set was broken down and the other side had no steps at all.

River Bend Alternative Learning Center is adding an online school program through its Area Learning Center. Coordinator Chris Bodick said they had previously used an independent study model but weren’t satisfied with the program’s results. He said the online school will function like the school’s current in-person day program, with six class periods and an advisory.

New Cathedral Math and Technology Teacher Dr. Mark Abadiano (left) talks to students and parents. Abadiano is part of a teacher exchange program from the Philippines.

Across all programs, River Bend has seen growth. With that, Bodick said a need to expand has arisen. Starting after Christmas break, their RISE program will move across the street into the building behind what was former Nicklasson’s at 1217 South Broadway Street. The space is currently being renovated to ensure it’s ready in time. The area RISE vacates will be filled by the expanding Raptor program.

A middle school program is being re-added. Bodick said they had shuttered the program around eight years ago due to lack of participants. He said the need has arisen again, so River Bend is stepping up to the place.

At the Cathedral schools, work was completed on a preschool playground. Sister Julie Brandt said their preschool program has expanded from part-day to full-day preschool in recent years. As such, they wanted to provide a safe space for little kids to play.

On the high school side, Cathedral has received a cultural exchange teacher. Dr. Mark Abadiano has come from the Philippines to teach high school math and technology.

Big picture, the administration is looking toward a capital campaign for major renovation of their current building. Brandt said the current high school building is 70 years old. This means infrastructure needs major updates, and air conditioning needs to be added. After a feasibility study brought back positive results, Brandt said the school is in planning stages, looking to start fundraising in November.

Superintendent Sean Koster points out the middle school greenhouse’s condition, and what they will be doing in the future.

Minnesota Valley Lutheran has completed its field house after two years of construction. The Storm Field House features 14 basketball hoops and three volleyball courts within 2,500 square feet. Athletics Director Craig Morgan said it was a need. Kids were staying later at night, sharing spaces with others, and needing to rent other buildings for practices.

In addition to sports, the field house will host events such as their Veterans Day program and Graduation.

The school’s theme this year is Partners in the Gospel. The message rings home, as the school and many others have extended their faith to new teacher Rev. Stephen Kuehl after the tragic death of his wife, 5-year-old daughter, and four family members. He will begin his position Jan. 1, before which MVL teachers will both partner together and seek help to cover his position.

Sleepy Eye Public will be introducing a new curriculum for Language Arts and Phonics. Superintendent John Cselovszki said the changes come as Minnesota recently passed the READ Act. The curriculum is called Wit and Wisdom, and teachers have undergone training for the new material.

An issue with the gym floor was patched over the summer, with a full replacement coming next year. On the horizon, Cselovszki said they are looking to add a new building. It would contain a rec center and fine arts performing center, with six new classrooms. He said they are going to do a survey in mid-September and decide next steps based on the results.

With GFW embracing AI in the future, computers and headsets like these two students are wearing will continue to be commonplace.

Work continues to be done on the renaming front. Storm has been chosen as Sleepy Eye’s new mascot. The conversion must be done by Sept. 1, 2026, as state statute dictates public schools cannot have or adopt names, symbols, or images referring to American Indians afterward. Cselovszki said they do not have any materials made yet.

Sleepy Eye St. Marys had a very busy summer. Principal Peter Roufs said AC and HVAC projects, which had been installed in phases, were completed. Work on five classrooms, two offices, and their field house gym were also on the checklist and checked off. On the security side, additional cameras were installed and the doors were re-keyed.

Roufs said one of their school buildings is over 100 years old. With support from the parish community, he said all of their buildings are in great shape.

In addition to changing curriculum for the READ Act, St. Mary’s is also expanding the robotics curriculum they added last year. With curriculum expansion, robotics clubs for grades 3-8 are being added as an extracurricular option.

Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (GFW) is looking to get ahead of cutting-edge trends. Interim Superintendent Kelly Smith said their district is looking to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for both teachers and students with education AI company GuardRailz. Staff will be trained in the first part of this year, and by second semester it will be introduced to students for educational enhancement.

Smith said AI is becoming more prevalent daily. He said people have been concerned about its use for cheating, and he wants to face that head-on. By teaching students how to use it effectively, he said GFW is looking to get ahead of this while providing vital information on AI’s strengths and weaknesses.

Work has started on the new pre-K-12 building in Gibbon. Smith said footings and construction work are the focus right now. After the framework goes up in September, the next steps will be to erect concrete walls and enclose the building by December so work can be done inside through the winter. All goes well, the building will be open Fall 2025.