Raider Families and Staff,
We’ve certainly experienced quite a range of winter weather this month! From unseasonably warm December days to extreme cold and freezing rain, it seems the only thing missing so far is snow. Despite the unpredictable weather, I hope many of you had a chance to enjoy one of the outstanding holiday concerts this past weekend or earlier in the week—what a wonderful way to celebrate the season.
In this week’s update, you’ll find:
A recap of last week’s small fire and evacuation at the high school,
A reminder about this week’s Truth in Taxation meeting,
Details about the upcoming 2025 community engagement tour, and
The usual calendar updates to keep you informed.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support and active participation in our school community!
Small Fire and Evacuation at the High School
Last Monday at approximately 11:30 a.m., a small fire occurred when an item was inadvertently left on a cooktop. A vigilant staff member quickly discovered the situation and attempted to extinguish the fire. Simultaneously, our fire alarms and suppression systems, including sprinklers, were activated as designed, ensuring a rapid response to the incident. This triggered a full evacuation of the building.
Thanks to the regular emergency drills, students and staff were able to exit the building safely and efficiently in under four minutes. However, we recognize that the unexpected nature of the situation added an additional layer of concern for many. The fire threat was neutralized almost immediately, but there were procedural and safety requirements that needed to be met before reoccupying the building.
To accommodate students during this time, the Hastings Bus Company provided buses to allow students a place to wait in a warm environment. Given the limited access to the building and the uncertainty surrounding the timeline for restoring the fire suppression system, the decision was made to dismiss classes for the remainder of the day. By approximately 5 p.m., all systems had been fully restored.
We view every event as an opportunity to strengthen our practices. Following this incident, we conducted a thorough debriefing involving key staff and emergency personnel. This week, we are implementing additional training and communication measures at our high school with our staff to further enhance preparedness and response protocols.
We want to reassure our community that student safety remains our top priority. Each emergency event has a unique set of complexities. In the event that the temperatures would have posed a significant risk to our students, we would have immediately relocated our students to an alternative site.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We also extend our gratitude to our staff for their professionalism, calm leadership, and commitment to student safety during the event. A special thank you goes to our local law enforcement, fire department, and the Hastings Bus Company for their response and invaluable assistance in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
Truth in Taxation:
The “Truth in Taxation” process, established by the legislature in 1988, aims to increase public involvement in Minnesota’s property tax system. On December 18th, the Hastings School District will hold its public hearing at 6:00 PM in the Middle School library.
Community Engagement Tour:
As we look ahead to 2025, the district's priorities, key initiatives, and strategic planning highlights will be shared across the community. If your organization, club, or group would be interested in hosting an on-site session, we encourage you to contact the district office to schedule a presentation.
Calendar Reminders
Upcoming calendar reminders:
December 23-January 1 Winter Break
No School January 20
No School January 21 Teacher Workshop
No School January 27 Professional Development
Raider Events
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