School board covers Bash, CACR

The spotlighted topic at the December work session was presented by Brett Prescher who spoke about heading up, along with his wife, this year's Bluejay Blast (BB) held on Nov. 22. Prescher told the board he came home one morning and his wife told him that she had “done something,” which is how he found out last spring he and she were in charge of the fundraiser, now in its fourteenth year. 

 

The Preschers, along with the other BB committee members, decided to bring back the adults-only event in the evening in hopes of getting more of the community involved, as well as the usual pancake breakfast and carnival for families during the morning hours. Also new this year was the ability to bid for auction items in an online format. 

 

Prescher said the committee had contingency plans the entire time, since planners knew the Bluejay football team might be playing on the same day in the state tournament. “Everything worked,” Prescher said. The fall event netted $32,300, bringing the total for 2025 to almost $57,000. Proceeds from the event are distributed to all the public schools.

 

A representative from public finance consulting company Ehlers  gave a report on the refunding of some of the bonds from the November 2015 referendum.  The company’s report determined that due to current market conditions and probable lower interest rates, the proposed issue of refunding the 2027 through 2034 maturities of the General Obligation School Building Bonds would reduce property taxes by approximately $226,731. Actual results will be determined based on market conditions on the day of sale. 

 

Superintendent Eric Hudspith reported on the state-required Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) program, previously known as the World’s Best Work Force. Hudspith reported the CACR outlines the goals of all children being ready for school, all racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed, all students are ready for career and college, all students graduate from high school, and all students are prepared to be lifelong learners. 

 

The data from the 2024-25 school year shows that 93 percent of the Waseca district’s children entering kindergarten are ready to do so, 82 percent of the graduates felt prepared for life after high school, 93 percent of students graduated from Waseca JS High school, and 86 percent of graduates reported feeling prepared for life-long learning.