Summer session discussion

During the Sept. 4 meeting of the Waseca school board, superintendent Eric Hudspith reviewed summer programming within the district. He shared that 75 students attended summer school at Hartley and 45 at the intermediate school in June. Hudspith says summer sessions occur in June to take advantage of learning that’s happened over the previous school year, capitalizing on the gains students have made. Summer school for special education students extends into July.

 

Junior/Senior high principal Justin Johnston and Area Learning Center director Mandi Nohner spoke next. Johnston reported that during June, seventh- and eighth-grade students who have failed a core class over the last year have the opportunity to attend the session, with fifteen students doing so. Nohner said the Central building was the location for the three-week summer session for the 73 Waseca, WEM, and JWP students in grades 9-12. 

 

Board members next looked at the school calendars for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 years; due to the late Labor Day occurring in both years, the start to the school year could be later than expected. 

 

Hudspith reported having spoken with the superintendent of SouthWest Metro about future plans for the “setting four” special education district currently housed in the Central building and providing services for eleven core districts. Though no decisions have been made at this time, SW Metro is considering purchasing the former school building located in Morristown and relocating the program, which would require students from Waseca, NRHEG, Waterville, and Janesville to be transported to the new location. Hudspith told the board that if SW Metro purchased the building but did not have the support of the districts which would make use of SW Metro’s services, it would be at risk of losing revenue to pay for that purchase. 

 

Hudspith presented his working list of superintendent goals for the board’s feedback and consideration. On it were a strategic process or working toward the district’s priority areas, student success outcomes aligned with the vision card measures, and future readiness or increasingly preparing students for post-secondary education. 

 

The superintendent listed his thoughts for improving on his second goal of community engagement, and the last two goals centered on operations items such as the long-term facility plan and maintaining fiscal viability. The board will approve the superintendent's goals at the September business meeting.

 

Board members also discussed their role in keeping the district on track; district policy, operations oversight, board operations, superintendent relationships and public engagement. For the 2025-26 school year, the superintendent suggested “facilities” as a priority goal. The regular business meeting will be Sept. 18.