Raider Families and Staff,

I hope this message finds you enjoying a restful weekend and feeling ready for the week ahead. In this edition of the Raider Update, you’ll find important information on several key topics, including the board appointment process, a reminder about our upcoming community collaboration events, details on the Minnesota Student Survey, an update on the superintendent search, and a preview of important dates and events on the horizon.

Please note: there will not be a Raider Update next Sunday, April 20.

Board Member Appointment Process

Thank you once again to all the community members who expressed interest in serving in this important interim role. The Board has selected Elaine Mikel-Mulder to serve as the appointee. In accordance with state statute, the appointee may not be officially seated for 30 days. The Board is currently working to finalize the exact date and time for her swearing-in.

Congratulations, Elaine, and welcome to the Hastings School Board!

Community Collaboration Events

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first session in our community series, which focused on the district’s draft strategic plan. Your feedback is truly appreciated and plays a vital role in helping us shape the final version.

This week, we continue with Session Two, which will focus on proposed budget adjustments for the 2025–26 school year. All sessions begin at 6:00 PM in the High School Lecture Hall. A full flyer with dates and topics is included below:

• April 15 – 2025–26 Budget Adjustment

• April 22 – Deep Dive into the District’s Strategic Anchors

We hope to see you there!

Minnesota Student Survey

At the regular March board meeting, representatives from Dakota County provided an overview of the Minnesota Student Survey and emphasized the importance of student participation. This statewide survey is administered every three years during the winter/spring to students in grades 5, 8, 9, and 11. The survey will be administered later this spring with all details shared from the respective buildings.  The surveys and the opt-out form are available for your review here.

For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Education website, linked here.

Superintendent Search

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 submission 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 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. Thank you for your interest and participation in the superintendent search process!

Calendar Reminders

• Upcoming calendar reminders:

  • April 18: No School

  • April 21: No School, Staff Development, Staff Appreciation

• 24-25 School Calendar in its entirety

• 25-26 School Calendar

Raider Events

• Raider Athletic Calendar

• Raider Events Calendar  

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of Hastings Public Schools. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tamara Champa
Superintendent, Hastings Public Schools

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 is working with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to guide the search process, and we want YOU to stay informed!

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 4:00 pm – MSBA will be hosting a virtual Q&A session to answer all your questions about the search process. You can join the Zoom session below at that time!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89517276367

Can’t make it live? No worries – the session will be recorded and posted on the district website for later viewing.

Have questions already? You can submit them anonymously in advance by clicking below – the deadline is April 16 at noon. You can also ask during the live session using the chat box.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uPz1FYxHWECZujMW8yK_DMILFgYWd9pAsMQnMNhzt5ZUQ0RLSTlFRFJVVzdEQU8wR0VGMUQ3M1RGNyQlQCN0PWcu

We hope you can join us for this important overview, and we truly appreciate your involvement in this process!

For more info, feel free to contact Barb Dorn, MSBA Director of Leadership Development and Executive Search, at 507-508-5501.

Dakota County is excited to host a presentation by Arc on Supported Decision Making and Guardianship for caregivers, support staff, and case managers supporting individuals with disabilities. The presentation will be held Wednesday, 4/30/25 from 7-8 pm via Microsoft Teams. Please see below for details and a registration link – a calendar invite will be sent out to those registered a couple of days before the presentation. Please reach out with any questions. Thank you!

Supported Decision Making and Guardianship with Arc

• Wednesday, 4/30/25 from 7 pm-8 pm via Microsoft Teams

• Description:

  • There are many options for how to support someone in making decisions. It is important to figure out what works best for each person. In this session, attendees will:

    • Learn the principles of Supported Decision Making

    • Understand the importance of customizing decision-making supports and the tools available to assist

    • Learn about supported decision-making, alternatives to guardianship, and types of guardianship

    • Understand legislative changes to guardianship 

Link to register: Dakota County Community Living Services: Guardianship and Supported Decision Making with Arc

We’re excited to invite your organization to participate in the Mobile Polar Plunge to support Minnesota Special Olympics and Unified Champion Schools at Hastings Public Schools! This event promotes inclusivity and brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together through fun athletic activities and social clubs.

When: Friday, April 25th

Where: Hastings High School

Schedule: Pep rally at 9:25 AM, plunging to follow (exact times to be sent closer to the event).

You can register as a team or individually at this link: https://www.plungemn.org/.../hastings-high-school-cool.../

Not ready to take the plunge? Consider donating to the cause or contributing prizes for student participants. Any support is greatly appreciated!