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DID YOU KNOW?
January is School Board Recognition Month!
Thank you, School Board members, for your service to the NPAS Community!
Staff! Please help us share NPAS highlights!
Please submit news for NPAS to feature via this Google Form: This could be news for our monthly communication or our social media channels!
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End of Semester 1
1/17/2025
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No School/MLK Day - Staff Work Day
1/20/2025
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No School/President's Day
2/17/2025
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K-5 No School / PD Day
2/18/2025
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K-5 Conferences
2/20/2025, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
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K-5 Conferences
2/25/2025, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
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High School Early Release - Conferences
2/27/2025, 11:10 AM – 2:40 PM
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Middle School Early Release - Conferences
2/27/2025, 11:15 AM – 2:45 PM
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CONNECT WITH US!
Check this link for the most up-to-date activities happening at our high school.
We are hiring! Please consider sharing our positions with friends and family who may be seeking employment!
Check this link for the most up-to-date school board agendas.
Click to view the SandCreek Employee Assistance Program. |
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FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT
Dear NPAS Staff,
On behalf of the School Board, I extend warm greetings. I hope the Holiday Season was meaningful and gave you ample time to rest and recharge as we prepare for a productive 2025 together!
I am pleased to share some good news regarding the status of our overall budget. Over the past two years, we have collectively shared the challenges of reducing over $6 million dollars, or roughly 14%, of our operating budget. At the December School Board meeting, the decision was made to not seek additional structural budget reductions again at the end of this academic year.
As a point of reference, at the end of last Spring’s Planning for Success process, when asked, “what’s next?” we shared the possibility of needing to make an additional $2 million dollars in reductions. Several factors have contributed to not needing to make this significant budget reduction this year, including strong financial management; higher-than-expected student enrollment; and lowering our overall costs due to structural reductions implemented as part of the Planning for Success process.
This is good news and we believe it will provide short-term stability at a time when there continues to be many uncertainties. Keep in mind, in the short term, we will continue to look for ways to contain our overall costs as we keep our tradition of being strong stewards of taxpayers’ investments in our schools. This will include reviewing our current staffing model in relation to future student enrollment, identifying less expensive ways to provide services, etc. Long-term next steps will include studying additional structural changes that may be necessary going forward without an increase in revenue, whether it be through funding and/or increases to our overall student enrollment.
Please feel free to reach out to me or your site administration if you have any additional thoughts or questions regarding this topic or other school district-related topics throughout the remainder of the school year. Thank you again for all you do as we work together to achieve our vision of being a premier school district that models excellence and prepares all of our students for life’s opportunities. Again, welcome back and take care.
Sincerely,
Andrew Vollmuth
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DISTRICT NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NPAS Calendar 2025-2026
We are collecting feedback from our families and staff regarding their preference for starting school before or after Labor Day. Please take a moment to complete our brief survey and share your opinion by Tuesday, January 7th.
To begin the school year before Labor Day, New Prague Area Schools (NPAS) must submit a request to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The start date for the school year will depend on MDE approval, followed by approval from the school board. Thank you for your input!
Facilities Task Force Planning
The New Prague Schools are in the process of updating our long term facilities plan to identify and prioritize the future needs of our district facilities. As part of this process, a Facilities Planning Task Force is being formed to gather input from various stakeholder groups.
Task Force participants will review information about facilities, tour buildings, help prioritize needs and provide a recommendation for the School Board to consider going forward. Meetings will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 PM at the District Office:
- Thursday, January 30
- Thursday, February 6
- Thursday, February 13
- Thursday, February 27
- Thursday, March 6
The goal is to have representation from a broad section of stakeholder groups - staff, families, and community members - to ensure any recommendations are both forward-thinking and reflective of the values of our greater communities. Ideally, we would have at least one NPAS staff member representing each of our school facilities.
If you are interested in participating, please indicate your interest via this Google survey: NPAS Facilities Planning Task Force questionnaire. To ensure efficient and effective meetings, the group size will be limited to approximately 20 participants. Those who express an interest will be notified of their status before the Task Force’s first meeting on Thursday, January 30.
More information can also be found on the New Prague Area Schools’ website: Facilities Planning 2025. NPAS staff are also encouraged to check in with your building administrator to gather more information if they are interested.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Virtual Information Session: Learn about our trusted partner scholarships here.
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