The 2020-21 School Calendar was approved at the Feb. 19 Board of Education meeting. View the 2020-21 School Calendar.

NO SCHOOL: April 10 & 13

Inclement Weather Information

Spring is just around the corner, but there may still be some snow in store for us. Weather-related announcements will be communicated via the SchoolMessenger phone system, the District 742 website, the District 742 Facebook and Twitter pages, local radio stations and media outlets. For more information, click on Inclement Weather Guidelines on the District 742 website under Quick Links.

Are you receiving up-to-date information? Be sure to review and update your contact information in Skyward to ensure that you are receiving all current Skylert emails and phone messages.

In honor of Minnesota Bus Driver Appreciation Day, our transportation staff came together to enjoy a hot waffle and sausage breakfast provided by Trobecs, Spanier, Guardian and Voigt's Bus Services. Each day, approximately 9,000 students are transported by bus in District 742. Traveling over 1.6 million miles each year through more than 100 different bus routes, District transportation ensures the arrival and departure of students to and from school each day. 

Thanks for getting District 742 students to and from school safely each day! Check out the photo gallery.
 
Do you know someone with a good driving record and cares about kids? District 742 is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill multiple bus driver positions. Paid training is provided for successful applicants. See the job description.

“Love Your Neighbor” was February’s theme for St. Cloud Area School District 742 staff, and no one represents that better than Jack Peterson, special education supervisor. Whether he is doing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) work, Peterson exudes what it means to love students just like they are family.

Peterson describes himself as the nerdy kid who made all his cousins play school at his house when they were young.

“We’d go to their house; we’d play football and games,” says Peterson. “I even had my stuffed animals lined up as students. I was the teacher. My mom was the principal.”

He knew from an early age his path would lead him to education.

While a student at St. Cloud State University, he interned at Clearview Elementary School. His focus was in elementary education. However, when he worked with students with special needs in Ms. Gertsinger’s art class, he knew he wanted to switch gears.

He graduated with a teaching license in special education and took a position in the Twin Cities. However, he and his wife wanted to be back in St. Cloud, so he took a teaching position in District 742 and shortly thereafter began working on his school administration degree. He jumped at the opening for a PBIS coordinator with District 742.

“I’ve been pushing positive behavior supports for 14 years,” says Peterson.

Peterson’s students have always felt like family to him. In fact, family is the main theme of his life.

“Family has always been important to me,” explains Peterson. “Growing up – that was my favorite – hanging out with family. Going on trips, we’d had a place up on Mille Lacs. So, we’d spend a lot of time on weekends up there and going fishing.”

He and his wife wanted to expand their family but experienced unexplained infertility and then chose the adoption route. They were open-minded about gender and race but wanted to adopt a child between the ages of 5 and 9. But when sister and brother, Nya (age 15) and Kuerkow (age 14), were introduced, Peterson and his wife knew right away they were meant to be a family. Continue reading.