News

Attend a musical performance of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, adapted by Deborah Pick and performed by area youth and tour directors Jeremy James Day and Lauren Longyear at the Mankato Area Public Schools' East High School auditorium, 2600 Hoffman Road:

• 7 p.m., Friday, November 22
• 1 p.m., Saturday, November 23 

This event is hosted by Mankato Area Public Schools' Community Education and Recreation Department and performed by Prairie Fire Children's Theatre Company. Tickets will be available at the door one hour before the show and are $4 for adults ages 17 and older, $2 for youth ages four to 16 and at no cost for children ages three and under. The performance will last approximately one hour. 

Use complimentary "VIP Gold Card" to experience Mankato Area Public Schools’ concerts and events at no cost. The card is available exclusively for seniors (age 62 plus) who live within school district #77. To obtain a “VIP Gold Card,” simply contact Mankato Area Public Schools’ central office at 507-387-1868; or the activity offices at East High School 507-207-3628, or West High School 507-207-3921.

For more information contact Mankato Community Education and Recreation Department at 507-387-5501.

Mankato Area Public Schools will not have school on the following dates:

• November 26 (Tuesday):  grades K-5 do not have school for conferences
• November 27 (Wednesday): no school for grades K-12 because of conferences
• November 28-29 (Thursday, Friday):  no school K-12 for Thanksgiving holiday

For more information, contact Mankato Area Public Schools’ administrative offices at 507-387-1868.

Attend upcoming Mankato Area Public Schools' winter concerts.

Elementary school winter events:

Bridges Elementary School, 320 Garfield Ave, North Mankato
1 p.m., Tuesday, December 17. Featuring first, third and fourth-grade students.

Franklin Elementary School, 1000 North Broad Street
9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 13. Featuring third, fourth and fifth-grade students.

Hoover Elementary School, 1524 Hoover Drive, North Mankato
9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 13. Featuring first, third and fifth-grade students.

Kennedy Elementary School, 2600 East Main Street
9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 13. Featuring kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

Monroe Elementary School, 441 Monroe Avenue, North Mankato
9:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., Thursday, December 19. Featuring first, third and fifth-grade students.

Rosa Parks Elementary School, 1001 Heron Drive
9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Friday, December 20. Featuring first through fifth-grade students.

Performances at East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road
All events held in school auditorium.

• 7:30 p.m., Monday, November 11. Featuring Prairie Winds Middle School and East High School's seventh through 12-grade orchestra.
• 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 12. “Festival of Bands,” featuring Prairie Winds Middle School's seventh and eighth-grade band and East High School's symphonic and concert bands.
• 7 p.m., Monday, December 2. Featuring Prairie Winds Middle School's sixth through eighth-grade choir.
• 7:30 p.m., Monday, December 9. Featuring East High School's Cougar Choir, bel canto singers and symphonic band.
• 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 10. Featuring East High School's concert band, orchestra, concert choir and chamber.
• 6:30 p.m., Monday, December 16. Featuring Prairie Winds Middle School's sixth-grade band and orchestra.
• 7:30 p.m., Monday, December 16. Featuring Prairie Winds Middle School's seventh and eighth-grade band and orchestra.

Performances at Dakota Meadows Middle School, 1900 Howard Drive West, North Mankato
All events held in school gymnasium.

• 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 3. Featuring Dakota Meadows Middle School's sixth-grade band and orchestra.
• 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 3. Featuring Dakota Meadows Middle School's seventh and eighth-grade band and orchestra.

Performances at West High School, 1351 South Riverfront Drive
All events held in school auditorium.

• 7 p.m., Monday, December 2. Featuring Dakota Meadows Middle School's sixth through eighth-grade choir.
• 7:30 p.m., Monday, December 9. “Winter Concert,” featuring West High School's Scarlet Choir, concert and symphonic bands.
• 7:30 p.m., Friday, December 13. “Holiday Festival of Music,” featuring West High School's concert choir, wind ensemble and orchestra.

Use complimentary "VIP Gold Card" to experience Mankato Area Public Schools’ concerts and events. The card is available exclusively for seniors (age 62 plus) who live within school district #77. To obtain a “VIP Gold Card,” simply contact Mankato Area Public Schools’ central office at 507-387-1868; or the activity offices at East High School 507-207-3628, or West High School 507-207-3921.

For more information contact staff at 507-387-5671 or 507-387-3461.

Provide feedback about Mankato Area Public Schools' proposed school calendars and tiered busing system by Monday, November 4:

School calendars
View proposed options for school calendars:

• 2020 - 2021 option a
• 2020 - 2021 option b
• 2021 - 2022 option a
• 2021 - 2022 option b 

Tiered busing
Due to increase in student enrollment, Mankato Area Public Schools has researched a tiered busing strategy that involves running more than one pick-up and drop-off schedule. This results in proposed staggered school start and end times for students in grades kindergarten through 12:

• Elementary schools: 7:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
• Bridges Community School: 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.
• Middle schools: 8:25 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
• High schools: 8:35 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.

Potential benefits of tiered busing include less time on bus, decreased congestion on bus and at transfer sites, increased breakfast time available, peer-alike routes and fewer transitions. 

How to provide feedback:

• Complete online survey by 5 p.m., Monday, November 4. 
• Send written comments to Mankato Area Public Schools, Attention: Becky Bailey, Central Office, P.O. Box 8741, Mankato, MN 56002-8741 by 5 p.m., Monday, November 4. 

Next steps
The Mankato Area Public School board will review at their November 18 work session and discuss at December 3 board meeting.

For more information, or to receive a printed copy of proposed school calendars, contact Mankato Area Public Schools' administrative offices at 507-387-1868.

View "Help keep students safe as they enter and exit school buses."

According to the Minnesota State Patrol:
Stop:

• at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying red flashing lights.
• when school bus stop arm is extended stop at least 20 feet away from the bus.
• when school bus displays red flashing lights because it indicates students are entering or exiting the bus.
• for pedestrians.

Be alert for:

• children even if school bus is on opposite side of a separated roadway, such as a median.
• school crossing patrols.
• when school bus displays amber colored lights it signals that the bus is preparing to stop to pick up or drop off students.

Speeds are lowered within school zones for student safety. Student bus safety is a collaborative effort between Mankato Area Public Schools, City of Mankato Public Safety, Minnesota State Highway Patrol, Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department and law enforcement from the cities of Eagle Lake, North Mankato and Madison Lake, Yaeger Bus Service and Palmer Bus Company.