Free the Pee open forum answers questions, leaves changes uncertain
Abby Banks, Print Editor-in-Chief
April 24, 2019
Monday, April 1 marked the date bathrooms at Stillwater Area High School closed during class times, except for those next to the Red, White and Black Pony Centers. After the viral success of the "letuspee" Instagram account protesting the closures, the administration held an open forum in the cafeteri...
Long-Range Facility Planning Task Force need volunteers
Paige Sanders, Photography Editor-in-Chief
April 22, 2019
To better our district and community as a whole and furthermore better the future of our facilities in the district, volunteers will help make this possible. The district is covening new members for a Long-Range Facility Planning Task Force. This new wave of volunteering community members will include parents and staff w...
Tech team proposed innovative plan to teach in snowy conditions
Emma Urban, Photographer
April 18, 2019
This school year there were only two snow days allotted and the district has exceeded the limit. The district technology team is exploring an idea that if each student had reliable technology at home that an online learning day could be a solution in the case of a snow day. Online learning days would count as a full school day, when often it would be a snow day. If each student at the high school had their own reli...
The Partnership Plan hosts annual Partnership Party
Emma Sneden, Business Editor
April 15, 2019
The Partnership Plan is celebrating 30 years of providing educational opportunities for classrooms during its annual fundraising party at the JX Event Center April fifth. They hope to raise money and recognize years of hard work by making this year's gala an 80's theme. The Partnership Plan is a nonprofit organization that b...
Innovations team visits Mounds View, investigates Pathways
Grace Silbernick, Layout Editor
April 15, 2019
“I want to inspire curiosity in all learners through educational programming that is personalized, student-driven, and highly engaging,” John Perry Director of Learning, Technology, and Design Systems said, and that is the mission of the Pathways program that the Innovations team wants to get more ...
Middle school students learn about holocaust from firsthand story
Chas Morgan, Layout Editor
March 30, 2019
Eighth graders Berit Serle and Kennedy Tope from Stillwater Middle School had the opportunity in March to have Holocaust survivor Fred Amram talk to their class about his experience during the Holocaust. Amram grew up in Germany during the Holocaust and shared what it was like growing up Jewish in Hannover,...
Academic Vision team proposes new grading policy draft
Ellsa Ohmann, Layout Editor
March 20, 2019
In January, the school's Academic Vision team created a draft for a new school-wide grading policy. The draft was distributed to staff around the building to gather constructive feedback. Ideas for this draft arose when administration and teachers were getting multiple questions and comments from par...
Budget cuts severely diminish professional and curriculum development plans
Abby Banks, Print Editor-in-Chief
March 15, 2019
The school board voted 5-1 to cut $348,000 from the district's budgeted professional development (PD) days at a March 7 business meeting. This was on top of the $500,000 cut with combined PD and curriculum development budget that occurred Dec. 20, 2018. This cut accounted for roughly 56 percent o...
Josiah Hill makes a run for State Senate, District 39
John Franklin, Copy Editor
March 1, 2019
English teacher Josiah Hill started his campaign for State Senate Jan. 31. Hill will run for the District 39 seat currently held by Karin Housley, who has held the position since 2012. Hill, who currently teaches English and serves at the St. Croix Education Association Union President, wants to improve t...
Superintendent Pontrelli addresses concerns of trust among board members
Abby Banks, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 27, 2019
"I’m well aware that three of you did go and talk to our lawyers, and I don’t believe that all of you are aware of that," Superintendent Denise Pontrelli said at the school board retreat Feb. 11. The new school board took office in January. With the newest school board having only been in offic...
School board further reduces 2019-2020 budget to fill deficit, still does not comply with policy R 5.4
Lilly Sample, Online Editor-in-Chief
February 26, 2019
During the 2017-2018 school year, the board fell into a $2.4 million deficit pit. Meetings to address the deficit began in early October, and are still continuing into late February. Being $2.4 million in the hole, the board needs to make cuts for operations to return to normal for the 2019-2020 school...
Board meeting red-out: students stand in support of Student Council President representation
Abby Banks, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 25, 2019
Inspired by senior Isabella Portelli, Student Council Senior Officer, many students showed up in red to the Stillwater School Board meeting Feb. 21 to support student leader representation at board meetings. A brainstorming suggestion to rotate the Student Council Presidents from their current seats...