News & Publications

Eric Songer was named the 2021 Teacher of the Year by the District 112 Foundation as part of their Excellence in Education Awards. Songer is a music teacher at Chaska Middle School West, teaching music and band to 6th through 8th graders.

This has been an extraordinary year for our nation, our state, our community, and our schools. We’ve weathered many storms together, learning in a pandemic, moving into and out of different learning models, adjusting to mitigation strategies and a temporary new normal. As a new superintendent, it has been amazing and inspiring to me to see the partnership between our schools, our parents, and our community to do everything we can to support our students. 

In early 2019, the School Board approved a proposed two-year cost containment plan for the district. The failure of the November 2019 Operating Referendum, along with inconsistent state and federal funding, continue to impact the district’s budget. At the April 12 School Board Work Session, DeeDee Kahring, Director of Finance and Operations, presented an updated report on budget cuts for the current fiscal year and proposed budget cuts for the 2021-22 school year. In addition to the $6 million cuts to the budget for this current school year, the district must cut an additional $3.1 million in next year’s budget.

The District 112 Foundation has announced the top five finalists nominated for the 2021 District 112 Excellence in Education Award

Congratulations to the Chanhassen and Chaska students on their accomplishments!

As many of you may be aware, last night the Minnesota Department of Health put out a press release warning of an outbreak of a variant of the COVID-19 virus centered in Carver County. MDH’s press release calls for a two-week pause for all Carver County school and youth sports starting Monday, March 8, and also includes additional measures, including keeping secondary students in a hybrid model.  Our district leadership has been working over the weekend to go through these recommendations and determine next steps. 

Over the last week, district staff have been working through the state’s revised Safe Learning Plan, analyzing our district data, and doing careful and thoughtful planning around our district learning models.  On Monday, March 22 we will be welcoming back our middle and high school students in-person, four days a week.  Wednesdays will remain a distance learning day for our secondary students.

We are thrilled that a significant number of our staff will have the opportunity to get their vaccination on Friday.  As the clinic is during school hours, it puts a significant strain on our ability to provide in-person learning. As a result, Friday, February 26 will be an asynchronous learning day for ALL students, including those in the Online Learning Academy.  

As many of you have likely heard, earlier today Governor Walz announced more changes to Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan. Much of his update today focused on potential changes for our middle and high school students. You may be wondering how this will impact your students. For the moment, nothing will change.  We have been thrilled to have all our elementary students back full time as of February 1. Tomorrow, February 18, we look forward to welcoming back our “B” students at the middle and high schools back in-person in a hybrid model, with our “A” students returning on Monday, February 22.