Superintendent's October News Release
District 721 schools give good return on public investment.
I grew up in northeastern Minnesota in a small community called Nashwauk. Nashwauk is located between Hibbing and Grand Rapids right in the middle of the Iron Range. While being a "Ranger" brings numerous jokes my way, it has also been a source of great pride for me and I continue to enjoy visiting my home country even today. Growing up in the 1950's and 1960's, my parents recognized the value of living in a community with strong public schools. Quality education provided opportunities for my sister and me, value for the property my parents owned and a vibrant community in which to raise their family. As a local business-owner, my father knew that investing in education, much like investing in his own business, would pay off many times over in the long run, and it has.

Today there are a number of K-12 school options available to parents and students. There are alternative schools, assorted private school choices, home school, open enrollment, magnet schools and the list goes on and on. Parents and students today can literally vote with their feet pigeonholed to a particular school.

With all the options, why select the New Prague Area Public Schools? The list of reasons is very lengthy. I do not have the space to share the list but below is a sampling.

Well-respected District Reputation
•Reasonable class sizes (Although through $1.6 million in reductions they have risen considerably over the past two years).
•Excellent, well maintained facilities
•Safe environment
•Financially well managed
•Money is spent on students
Education Program
•Opportunities for all learners
•Balanced program and comprehensive choice: academics, arts and athletics
•Excellent community education program
•Small community feel with big district opportunities
Curriculum
•Student growth maximized through revision and continuous progress
•Rising test scores
•Focus on growth for all students
Staff
•Committed staff focus on building relationships and increasing student achievement
•Staff focus on district's mission, vision and core values
Community
•Student centered focus
•Support in a variety of ways
•High parent involvement

While we are proud of the above mentioned items, we still have much work to do and we are always looking at continuous improvement and growth. A solid reputation is great but we know it can be gone tomorrow. The district has a deep seeded belief to keep the best and work on the rest. There will be no resting on our laurels. I guess that is one more reason why we believe this is a great place for kids!

As promised last month, the following is a small sampling of our achievements the past two years.
1.Developed Mission, Vision, and Value Statements for District 721
2.Nearing completion of a District Strategic Plan incorporating District priorities
3.Developed a Long Range facility Master Plan
4.Rewrote Board of Education Governance Model
5.Restructures Board Meeting format
6.Developed class size guidelines
7.Initiated a Five-Year Plan for technology
8.Initiated a Best Practice Study of Middle School to be completed by January of 2011
9.Consistent and ongoing hiring of exceptional staff members
10.Revamped philosophy of special education, holding program costs while greatly improving student achievement
11.Initiated a Board of Education Funds Balance Resolution and have exceeded the goal of 2%
12.Cut $1.6 million from the budget during the last two years while preserving the quality of programs and academic rigor
13.Increased open-enrolled students, thus bringing in new revenue to the district.
14.Founded the NPAS Educational Foundation
15.Increased Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment in Math Scores from 72.44% (08-09) to 76.52% (09-10) A district wide increase of 4.08%, currently 10.63% above the state average
16.Increased Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Reading scores from 77.69% (08-09) to 79.82% (09-10). A district wide increase of 2.13%. Currently 7.48% above the state average.
17.Increased Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Science scores from 58.49% (08-09) to 63.26% (09-10). A district wide increase of 4.77%. Currently 14.74% above the state average.
18.Increased Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Special Ed Math scores from 31.28% (08-09) to 40.6% (09-10).A district wide increase of 9.32%. Currently 7.96% above the state average.
19.Increased Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in Special Ed Reading scores from 32.12% (08-09) to 41.32% (09-10). A district wide increase of 9.2%. Currently 4.62% above the state average.
20.For the first time since 2005, New Prague Area Schools are not on AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), whether by individual school or the district as a whole. This is an achievement held by only a few school districts out of 340 state-wide.
21.Established priorities/goals for the Board of Education.
22.Collaborated to develop a district wide communications plan
23.Have presented our Long Range Strategic Planning Process to numerous conferences and state wide meetings.
24.Currently offering hybrid on-line classes at New Prague High School.
25.New Prague Middle School and Raven Stream Elementary were accepted into the exclusive Math and Science Academy
26.New Prague Area Schools Bus Drivers all passed the Defensive Driving course at Dakota County Vocational Technical School. A 100% completion rate.

These are just some of our many accomplishments we are proud of. It is my continued promise that we will continue to work hard on behalf of our 3750 "ambassadors" who enter our doors each day.