Learning About St. Croix River

A group of students at a table with an animal pelt.

EP Rock Elementary School 4th grade students used their observation skills to learn about the animals that live near and around the St. Croix River. Students discovered the interconnectedness of a river ecosystem, which humans are a part of, and they created an ecosystem model. Community resources, National Park Ranger Jamie Kern and St. Croix River Association Naturalist, Laura Istel taught the lesson.

A group of students at a table with an animal pelt.

A group of students making observations about turkey feathers.

Raider Spirit Across the District

High school football players and Pep Band at elementary playground

Raider homecoming spirit spread across the district today, as the Spirit Bus along with the football team, marching band and the Raidaires visited our elementary schools; promoting Raider Pride, sportsmanship and having some homecoming fun. Go Raiders!

Elementary students meeting football team and pep band members.Elementary students meet high school football team and pep band members.Elementary students meet high school football team, pep band and cheerleader squad members.Elementary students meet high school football team, marching band and cheerleading squad members.Elementary students meet high school football team, marching band and cheerleading squad members.High school football team, marching band and cheerleading squad at playground pepfest. Elementary students meet high school football team players.Elementary students celebrate homecoming with high school cheerleaders in a gym.  Elementary students meeting football players and high-fiving in a gym.Elementary students high-fiving high school football players and cheerleaders.Elementary student standing with arm around high school football player.Students sitting on gym floor for homecoming spirit rally.

 

Calling All Creative Kids!

Destination Imagination Maker Day Announcement with watch gears in the background

It’s that time of the year to get signed up for Destination Imagination!

We are hosting a DI Maker Day so you can find out what DI is all about. on

Drop in any time, stay for the fun. We will provide:

  • A room full of crazy, creative things for you to create with!
  • All the information you need to join a DI team or start your own team (between 2 and 7 kids, any grade, K through 12)
  • Copies of the New Challenges!

Questions? Contact: Liz Malanaphy at malanaea@hudsonraiders.org or Anita Stilwell at stilwea@hudsonraiders.org 

EP Rock Students Develop Tree Trek

Students seated in classroom listening to a presentation in the front of the class.

EP Rock 5th graders are partnering with the Hudson Urban Forestry Board to create a Tree Trek. The Tree Trek will be a self guided tree identification trail around the school. Students in Mrs. Shimon’s class began by learning how to identify tree types based on their leaf type, leaf shape, and a variety of other attributes. Students will work with a publisher to create a Trek Post with the description of the tree, its benefits to wildlife and humans along with other unique facts. Each post will have a QR code so people can read more information if they choose.

We hope to launch our trail this spring.

Annual Meeting Highlights

Dr. Ouellette and Board members seated on the stage for Annual Meeting.

Monday’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Education opened with Dr. Ouellette presenting highlights of the District’s achievements and the Board’s focus areas. Click here to view Dr. Ouellette’s presentation.

Presentations were also provided by Board Treasurer Heather Logelin and Tim Erickson, Chief Financial and Operations Officer. Together, they covered the 2019-2020 proposed budget and levy, budget challenges and assumptions, and the impact on property taxes.

Budget Challenges:

  • Address reduced state funding levels.
  • Address instructional needs for all learners including: staff professional development, curriculum adoption, resource materials, and services to meet student needs.
  • Maintain student to teacher ratios within class size guidelines.
  • Sustainable funding for long-term maintenance and capital improvement plan for all facilities.

Budget Assumptions:

  • State equalization aid is projected to be $836,000 less or 3.8% lower than last year and per pupil categorical aid has been increased by $88 per student under the first year of the biennial state budget or a $496,000 increase over last year.
  • The estimated mill rate of $10.35 is down 1.54% from last year’s $10.51. Overall property valuation is estimated to increase 10.09% compared to 3.7% last year. The state average is 6.0%
  • Total under levy stands at approximately $3,300,000, which is direct tax relief for property owners in the Hudson School District.
  • Salaries and benefits are budgeted to increase $1,830,000 or 4.0% over last and include new staffing, staffing reductions, Teacher Salary Structure, Support Staff Compensation System, Hudson Lead Salary Structure, and Board approved increase of 2.5%

Below is the Annual Meeting Booklet